116: To return to the underworld

To return to the underworld

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Upon hearing a gasp emanate from the lifeless man on the bed, everyone became shocked and confused. Speechless, they continued to stare in silence. 

Anastasia's throat went dry when she saw King Maxwell sit upright on the bed. His eyes slowly peeled open, revealing their now dull blue hue. She had never realised the extent of Dante's demon's power, capable of defying the very essence of death by bringing his brother back to life. 

Did that mean… Marianne could be brought back to life too? Could Dante do that? If that were a possibility, Anastasia would willingly choose to remain in the palace and wouldn't fight for her freedom anymore. She wouldn't even mind if she were cast aside once his soulmate appeared. 

While Dante appeared calm and collected, his red eyes unwavering, the others watched nervously as Maxwell's gaze slowly shifted to take in the individuals present in the room before his eyes widened as they landed on the first prince. 

Addressing Maxwell, Dante stated, "This woman here claims she is your soulmate, when she isn't. She would like to hear it directly from you."

Lady Evin's face, previously marked by sorrow, swiftly transformed into an expression of sheer horror and, overcome by fear, she stumbled backwards. She couldn't comprehend how this was possible, considering that the man had been dead until now! Her lips trembled as she managed to utter, "W—what is happening?! Is this a gh—ghost?" Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah, who had followed their daughter, were startled almost to the point of a heart attack. 

Dante responded, "You wanted to hear the truth from the man himself." 

Maxwell's eyes landed on Lady Evin with an air of unfamiliarity, as if he didn't recognise her. He shook his head and, breaking his silence, spoke for the first time, "You are not my soulmate, and you never were...You are nobody to me." 

Beyond merely registering his rejection, Lady Evin descended into hysteria at the sight of Maxwell's ghost inhabiting his body. Overwhelmed by panic, she let out a piercing scream before running out of the room as fast as her feet could carry her. 

"What is the meaning of this, Prince Dante?" Mr. Jeremiah asked warily before the man's red eyes fixed on him with an intense glare. 

"It isn't as complicated as you think it is," Dante addressed the man in an eerie tone that sent shivers down his spine. "Queen Maya lied and orchestrated a deception, fabricating a false soulmate to secure the throne. Given your daughter's involvement, it would be best for you to take your family and return home, unless you wish to see her hanged for treason. Leave before my patience reaches its limit."

Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah were still digesting the sight they had just witnessed and processing all they had heard. Nevertheless, without any delay, they decided to find their daughter in order to start packing and leave this palace of death and apparitions. 

"Brother Maxwell, you are back!" Emily's heart felt a sense of relief as the weight of melancholy seemed to lift from her chest. 

The Mother Queen remained perplexed, but it didn't mean she was any less happy. Taking a step towards her grandson on the bed, she said, 

"Was his soul floating around? Is that how you were able—"

But Dante interrupted her, cautioning, "Don't." The older woman halted in her tracks, turning to cast a questioning gaze at him. He clarified, "That's not Maxwell."

The confusion only deepened further as people in the room stared at the awakened Maxwell. Was it his ghost? they silently questioned in their minds. Dante approached the still-seated Maxwell and placed his hand on his brother's head before guiding him to lie down on the pillow. He explained, 

"Maxwell is dead. His soul has already crossed over and is no longer here. The one who spoke is an imp from the underworld. Migdre." Dante called the creature, and Anastasia noticed something jump on the ground. 

A jolt of surprise caused everyone's hearts to leap to their throats. Before them stood a creature whose height barely reached their knees, possessing horns, a tail, and orange eyes. Cloaked in a black robe, it offered a deep bow to Dante, pointedly excluding the rest of them. 

"It appeared unlikely that the woman would leave without trying to get herself killed, so I chose a more effective method to encourage her departure. Not to mention, I doubted my half-demon and half-earthling family would appreciate another blood-spilling incident in less than two hours since the last one," Dante stated before his eyes fell on Anastasia, whose heart was pounding loudly. "I thought it would avert another bloodbath here. Migdre worked for me when I used to reside in the underworld. You are scaring them, Migdre."

Facing Dante, the creature clasped its hands together and inquired, "Shall I transform myself into something innocent, Master? Perhaps a rabbit or a deer?" 

Upon receiving a glare from Dante, the imp shrank back. "Rabbit is reserved. An earthling will suffice," he stated. The creature didn't appear particularly pleased about adopting a lower form, but in the next second, the imp transformed into a five-year-old boy. 

The imp looked around, noticing the expressions of disappointment in the eyes of these half-earthlings, when in truth, it harboured greater disappointment that its Master was living here with his 'family', while his true family remained in the underworld along with itself. 

The Mother Queen had the urge to sit somewhere before she received any more shocks for the day. But instead, she composed herself and ordered the servants, 

"Have King Maxwell brought to the royal courtroom."

After seeing the king wake up, speak, and then return to his lifeless state, the servants wanted to flee and distance themselves from the deceased. But they had no other option but to fulfil the task of placing the king on the stretcher before heading to the courtroom. Addressing Dante, the Mother Queen said, 

"I am glad that you didn't kill sleeping beauty. We've had our fill of deaths for the year. I will go and ensure that the glass case is placed at the centre of the room. Aziel, see to it that the Jeremiahs don't leave anything behind here." And just before departing, she turned to Lady Sophia, who appeared frozen like a statue, saying, "Sophia?"

"Huh?!" Lady Sophia's hair was rapidly turning grey from the succession of shocks she had received, and she believed it was only a matter of time before she would bite the dust. 

The Mother Queen stepped out of the room, accompanied by Aziel, Lady Sophia, and the servants carrying Maxwell. Princess Emily announced, "Brother Dante, please excuse us as well. We will go see how our sister is doing." And after a courteous bow, she caught Anastasia's hand and pulled her out of the room. Not a moment later, Aiden followed them, leaving Dante alone with the imp. 

In the corridors, away from the king's chambers, Lady Sophia, walking alongside the Mother Queen, expressed her thoughts, 

"In no time, this palace will teem with creatures, and it will be nothing like it used to be. How could Dante do that, to be so cruel by deceiving us into believing that Maxwell was alive?" She shook her head in dissatisfaction. 

"That wasn't an act of cruelty, Sophia," the Mother Queen stated as her eyes landed on Maxwell's lifeless body. 

"Are you saying you are fine with what he did?" Lady Sophia wondered whether she was the only one panicking here, given the apparent lack of concern from the others. 

The Mother Queen took a deep breath before exhaling, and her eyebrows lifted. She said, "I am far from being okay, and though I feel an ache in my chest for losing one of my grandchildren, that doesn't excuse me from thinking rationally."

Back in the room, the Mother Queen was sure that Dante would kill the woman, but as glad as she was that he hadn't claimed another life, she was simultaneously upset by the fleeting sense of hope and contentment she had briefly experienced. Speaking solemnly, she stated, "To resurrect a weak soul that had lost hope and been immersed in humiliation and anguish… Maxwell would ensure misery."

When they reached the royal courtroom, Maxwell was positioned inside the prepared glass case that was placed on an elevated platform in front of the throne. They watched the dead man, who appeared to have gone back to sleep, his skin growing increasingly paler with every hour that ticked by. 

While the Mother Queen and Lady Sophia were soon joined by Lady Noor and Prince Victor in the royal courtroom, the other prince and princess were nearing the dining room. Not far away, Princess Niyasa was only half done with her task of cleaning the floor. She leaned on the mop for support, feeling an ache in her back. 

"Looks like we won't be having dinner in the dining room," Aiden commented. 

"Did you think I am trai—" Niyasa began to complain until she caught sight of Anastasia standing there alongside her siblings. "What is she doing here?" 

"She's here to provide you with tips on how to finish your task quickly," Aiden replied in a playful tone, which only elicited a glare from Niyasa. "Isn't that right, Anna?" 

Anastasia observed how the second princess was covered in dried blood, looking like she was smeared with dirt. It was oddly satisfying watching the spoiled princess who looked down at her and others now engaged in menial chores. 

"You don't have to be scared of her," Emily whispered, "You are now of equal standing. So don't hesitate to speak your mind from now on."

"What are you looking at?" Niyasa demanded, her eyes narrowing at Anastasia. 

This was the same princess who'd hurt and belittled her in the past. The same princess who had gone so far as to whip and humiliate her in public. It was remarkable to see how times were changing. 

"I don't think she needs any tips from me," Anastasia responded to Aiden before adding, "She seems to have an inherent skill, as if she were born with it."

Niyasa had the urge to approach them, but instead, she tightened her grip on the wooden handle of the mop, casting a harsh glare in their direction before focusing on finishing her cleaning task so she could return to her mother. 

Anastasia didn't care much about the second princess and her plight, her mind preoccupied with other matters. She felt Princess Emily grasp her hand and guide her to the side of one of the pillars. The princess said, 

"You must be quite shocked after everything that has happened today."

"Everything feels like a… dream," Anastasia responded. "You and Prince Aiden seem to be handling it better than me."

Emily offered her a small smile and then confided in a hushed tone, "I wouldn't say that. I have grown up seeing such things at times. Aiden, on the other hand… he jokes to hide his feelings." 

Back in the king's chambers, the imp reverted to its demon form before it quickly got on its knees and pressed its head against the marble floor, saying,

"Welcome back, Master! I have been waiting for your return!! I've had little sustenance since I was sent back from here." 

"You seem to be doing well, Migdre. How are things back home?" Dante asked the imp, whose tail swayed back and forth. 

"The lowly demons have been causing neverending trouble and have seized control of some areas, Master. I and the others have been working to fend them off the towers. With you gone and the other two nowhere to be found, Nathaniel has assumed command," the creature reported. 

"You haven't seen Magnus?" Dante questioned, and the creature innocently shook its head.

"Not since we returned. Many believe he has lost his powers and is in hiding," Migdre answered dutifully before saying, "Master, now that you are back, let us return to the underworld!" Its orange eyes shone in excitement. 

"Not so fast," Dante interrupted the imp's enthusiasm. "There are a few matters to attend to before I consider returning. For one, go back to the underworld and find out what mischief Magnus is up to. But most importantly, locate the woman of the forest who trapped me here for all these years."

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