CHAPTER 253: PUPPETS OF ROYAL FAMILY [1]

[Captial City, Aure Kingdom]

[Akamir’s POV]

Akamir sat within the carriage as he leaned his body back.

His crimson eyes remained fixed on the woman who sat on the seat opposite to him.

Her long hair remained tied as she seated with an awkward position.

Clearly she was very much afraid of him.

"Don’t be too nervous, princess." Akamir said, looking at her. "I am not going to eat you."

Sylari looked up to meet his gaze as her eyes met with his.

"You asked and I came without any words." She spoke firmly. "Can you not fuck with me even more?"

Akamir shrugged. "I am just sitting here."

She didn’t reply as she looked down once again.

"...What would have happened if I had told my parents about what you did to the Zagroth Household advisor?"

She questioned, looking back at his face.

Akamir didn’t even think before replying.

"You would be dead." He pointed at her shadow. "And be replaced just like the advisor."

A heavy silence settled back into the carriage after his words.

Outside, the city rolled past in tidy lanes and bright banners—Aure’s pride on full display.

Inside, the air felt small and sharp.

Sylari’s fingers dug into the fabric of her skirt. Her voice came out clipped.

"You think killing them makes you some kind of judge? You don’t get to decide who lives or dies."

Akamir’s smile was small, without warmth.

"I already decided," he said. "You surviving means you still serve a use."

He turned to look outside the window as he kept on speaking.

"You telling your parents would have made you useless." His voice remained cold. "Useful things are kept. Useless things are discarded."

She flinched as if he’d struck her, but anger flared quickly to cover the fear.

But when she looked at his face, her anger quickly faded.

She wasn’t stupid to talk back to someone who had her life in his hand.

She was brave but not stupid enough to play with her life.

Akamir turned to the outside window as he saw the people still being happy.

"Are you not aware of the outcome of war?" He asked curiously. "Why are they all so damn happy?"

Sylari followed his gaze outside.

Children darted between market stalls, laughter echoing, while merchants shouted their prices.

Flags waved in the wind, and soldiers in polished armor marched by with proud steps.

"They don’t know the outcome," she said quietly.

"They only know what my father lets them see. To them, Aure is strong. To them, war is just a word that doesn’t touch their homes."

Akamir smirked faintly. "Blind faith, then."

Her eyes narrowed. "Hope. There’s a difference."

"Hope?" he echoed, his tone amused. "Hope is just a pretty word for ignorance."

She wanted to argue but chose against it.

Instead she asked, "Why are we going to the royal palace?"

Akamir turned to look into her eyes.

"It’s time to execute the plan." He said softly.

She looked stunned. "You mean...."

"Yeah." He said, leaning back. "I am going to kill your family now."

Sylari’s hand went cold in her lap. The words landed like a stone.

"You—" she started, voice thin. "You can’t just—"

Akamir turned his head, the white mask hiding whatever flicker of feeling might have shown.

"I can," he said simply. "And I will. Quietly. Cleanly. So the blame lands where I want it."

Outside, the carriage slowed.

The palace gates—tall iron-laced doors crowned with Aure sigils—loomed ahead.

Guards in polished tabards stood at attention, unaware of the storm edging closer.

Sylari stared at him, her mouth opened and then closed.

Finally she let out a sigh as she rubbed her face.

She whispered, "I suppose that’s what they deserve."

Then she looked at his face as she asked, "Are you going to kill me as well?"

"No." Akamir spoke, shaking his head. "Why would I kill someone who is going to be the next queen of Aure."

She bit her lips but nodded nonetheless. "In the end I am just a tool?"

"Don’t be like that." Akamir said as the carriage came to a halt. "You will be free once I am done with the Zagroth family."

She didn’t speak but deep down she seems to accept her fate as nothing but a tool.

Akamir didn’t bother more with her as he opened the door and walked out.

As soon as a soldier noticed him, he rushed towards him. "Hey! Who are you—?"

He stopped when he saw Sylari walking out of the carriage as well.

"Princess?" He said before hastily bowing. "Is this man with you?"

Sylari nodded her head. "Yes." She spoke. "Is father and everyone inside?"

The soldier’s eyes widened, and his hands trembled slightly as he nodded.

"Yes... my lady, they are all inside. The household is... awaiting your return." His voice faltered as it trailed off, caught between duty and fear.

Akamir’s hand rested lightly on the hilt of his sword.

Sylari’s small hand brushed against his arm—not for comfort, but almost instinctively, as if seeking confirmation.

She lowered her gaze, knowing she had no power here. "Lead the way," she whispered.

The soldier swallowed hard, then backed away, motioning them toward the main doors.

"This way, Princess. Right this way." His voice wavered as he tried to sound confident, but the tension in his steps betrayed him.

Akamir walked beside Sylari, each step measured, calm, deliberate.

The heavy doors creaked as they pushed them open, revealing the grand hall beyond.

Candles flickered along the walls, casting long shadows across the polished marble.

Servants moved hurriedly, unaware of the storm about to descend.

Akamir kept on walking as the soldier led them further inside of the place.

He finally brought them to the door of the dining room.

"They are inside, lady." He spoke, his voice filled with politeness.

Sylari nodded as she ordered. "You are dismissed."

The soldier nodded as he walked out but just as he walked past Akamir he couldn’t help but glare at him.

Akamir tilted his head as he found it funny.

’Is this guy having a crush on princess or anything?’

He wondered but didn’t think too much about it.

Sylari opened the door of the dining room, her steps faltering.

When the door opened, her entire family sat at the dining table.

The man who was at the head table looked up at her.

"Sylari." He spoke, his voice deep. "Where have you been...."

His voice slowed down as he glanced at Akamir.

"...Who?"

"Ah, the King of the Aure kingdom." Akamir said with a slight smile on his face. "It’s nice to meet you again."

His gaze then shifted on the tons of food that were placed on the table.

"Wow, you guys are having a feast." He said, his voice amused.

"The business of selling your subjects must be booming."

The man at the head of the table stiffened, his face paling, but he tried to mask it with a forced smile.

"What... what do you mean by that?"

Akamir’s crimson eyes swept the room, calm and unyielding.

"You host a feast while the kingdom burns." He spoke gently. "The Zagroth must have spent a lot of money."

"Enough!!" It was the crown prince that spoke this time.

His gaze, however, was more on Sylari than Akamir.

"That woman has betrayed us." He spoke, his voice venomous as he looked at his father. "We need to kill them both now!"

The head of the family nodded his head in response.

The words left the crown prince’s mouth like a command. "Apprehend them."

In an instant, tens of beings emerged from all around the place.

They all rushed towards them, taking out their weapons as they moved.

Akamir didn’t waste any time as he just swept his hand.

With the hands made up of telekinesis, he quickly grabbed their bodies.

And—.

Crunch!

Crushed them all at once, leaving their broken bodies.

Akamir threw them away like puppets as he walked towards the king.

Akamir didn’t slow.

He walked through the crushed bodies as if stepping over fallen chairs.

Hands still moving, he reached the head of the table and stopped.

The room smelled of wine and fear. Voices had died to whispers.

The Zagroth king stared up at him, mouth open. For a moment he looked like a man who’d been pulled from a comfortable dream into a nightmare.

Akamir leaned over the table until he could see the old man’s eyes clearly.

He spoke quietly, the sort of quiet that made everyone listen.

"I have a few questions to ask." He spoke, his voice calm like never before. "You answer me and I will go away without a single word."

The king just looked at him, his face still having no reaction.

He was too shocked to even react.

Akamir stared into his eyes as he asked. "Am I clear?"

The man looked at him for a second before he nodded. "....Yes."