"The Witch’s Redirection"

"The Witch's Redirection" 4

Chapter 4

The moment Serafina stepped out of the palace, she collided with a "human wall" blocking her path. It was none other than her brother, Leon, the Commander of the Royal Guard. He stood clad in his gleaming ceremonial armor, yet his expression was worlds away from anything resembling "military decorum.""Serafina! My heart’s own charred fruit! Are you alright? Did anyone lay a finger on you? Tell me, and I shall turn this courtyard into a mass grave this very instant!"Before she could utter a single word, Leon had hoisted her by the waist, spinning her through the air as he inspected her like a priceless artifact he feared might be scratched."Leon! Put me down this instant! The knights are watching—you're killing your reputation!" Serafina cried out, feebly swatting at his armored shoulder.Leon set her down, exhaling with dramatic flair. "To hell with reputation! My sister was in the 'Chamber of Silence' with those council foxes, while I was forced to stand outside, smiling at the Emperor as if I didn't want to break the door down with my own head!" He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "By the way, did you spit in the High Chancellor’s face? Please say yes; I’ve already bet my deputy on it."Serafina shoved him toward the carriage, struggling to stifle a laugh. "I didn't. But I did make him question his own sanity. Now move—Father is waiting."Inside the carriage, a brief silence fell before Leon began trimming his nails with the tip of a small dagger. "Just so you know, Father is currently in 'Lethal Charisma' mode. He entered the study, drew the curtains, and is now sitting in the dark clutching a cup of coffee like he’s plotting a continental invasion. Brotherly advice: don't sneeze too loudly when you walk in."Serafina chuckled. "Is he angry with me?""Angry?" Leon paused, looking at her with comical gravity. "He’s been mobilizing a secret army in his head for the last two hours! Sera, you know Father thinks the world isn't worthy of the ground you walk on—let alone dragging you into an investigation.

The carriage arrived at the Etherion Estate. The massive doors swung open to rows of servants with bowed heads; the air was thick with a chilling majesty. At the far end of the hall, before the great hearth, sat Duke Etherion. He was a man who radiated authority—his silver hair perfectly groomed, his sharp gaze seemingly piercing through the very walls. He didn’t stir as Serafina entered, keeping his eyes fixed on the dancing flames with regal coldness.

"You have returned," the Duke said, his resonant voice echoing through the room.

Serafina stepped forward with poise. "I have, Father."

The Duke turned slowly. He stood and approached her with measured steps that sent Leon scurrying—quite unbecoming of a Captain of the Guard—to hide behind his sister’s back. The Duke placed a hand on Serafina’s shoulder, remaining silent for a moment as if reading her very soul, then spoke with terrifying calm:

"Which of them kept you waiting for more than five minutes? Give me their names. I wish to know who will be denied a promotion for the next ten years."

Serafina smiled thinly. "I am fine, Father. I handled the situation."

Leon chimed in from behind her, "Father, she said 'Fine' to Cassian with total indifference! She didn't cry! I swear to you, Serafina has been replaced by a war machine!"

The Duke shot Leon a look that silenced him instantly, then turned back to his daughter, a hint of affection hidden beneath his mask of gravity. "My daughter, your mother’s absence left a void in this house, but it did not leave you without a shield. If the Emperor wishes to play with the laws, let him know that House Etherion wrote half of them... and the other half doesn't suit us, so we shall change it."

He then snapped toward Leon. "And you, you failure of a Captain! How did you allow them to take her in the first place? Go and train until blood seeps from the joints of your armor!"

"Yes, Your Charismatic Grace!" Leon shouted, bolting for the door. "Serafina, I’ll steal you some cakes from the kitchen later to make up for the terror!"

Left alone, the Duke’s sharpness softened slightly as he sat beside her. "Now... tell me the truth. What do you intend to do with that little kitten... Elysia?"

Duke Etherion looked at his daughter intently, interlocking his fingers. "Elysia Raven has vanished, and all signs point to you, Serafina. That girl plays the victim as skillfully as your brother Leon ruins every formal banquet he attends."

"Hey! I ruin them with 'fun vibes,' Father!" Leon yelled from a distance, stuffing his face with a piece of meat.

The Duke ignored him entirely. "Serafina, Elysia is not just a pretty face. She is the daughter of Duke Raven, who lies in wait for us. Her disappearance is bait. If she doesn’t resurface, your head will be on the block for the assassination of the 'Empire’s Darling'."

Serafina stood up, her coldness spreading through the room like frost. "Then let her play the captive, Father. She is hiding somewhere, waiting for me to scream and beg Cassian to save me. But she forgot one thing."

The Duke raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what is that?"

Serafina smiled—a smile so chilling it made Leon stop eating. "She forgot that for a hunter hiding in the bushes, it is remarkably easy to burn the entire forest down over their head."

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While Leon was trying to convince Seraphina that "Dark Magic" wasn't so bad if used to chill juice, the castle walls shook with the sound of trumpets heard only on national holidays.

"Good grief," Leon muttered, swallowing a piece of cake in one gulp. "Either we’ve won the war, or the Emperor decided to come scold us in person."

Emperor Alexander entered the reception hall, a man wearing an aura of prestige that rivaled Duke Etherion’s. Their father, the Duke, stood like a mountain, bowing only as much as protocol strictly demanded, while Leon stood behind Seraphina, whispering to her: "Look at the Emperor's mustache; I bet he uses magic to keep it in place."

"Shut up, Leon," Seraphina pinched his arm, bowing with a grace the Emperor had never seen from her before.

The Emperor spoke in a deep voice: "Etherion... your daughter is the sole accused in the disappearance of Alicia. Parliament is calling for her head, Cassian is demanding justice, and I... I am here to see if the old friendship between us is worth protecting this girl."

At that moment, Cassian appeared behind his father, the Emperor. His golden eyes collided with Seraphina’s cold ones. Leon suddenly stepped forward, and instead of a military salute, he boldly—and provocatively—placed his hand on Cassian’s shoulder.

"Oh, Your Highness! Come to look for Alicia in our palace?" Leon said with a smug smile. "I’ve checked my closet and under my bed; couldn't find her. Maybe she’s hiding in your heart? Or perhaps she ran away because she got bored of your excessive seriousness?"

Cassian’s face flushed with anger, but he didn't turn to Leon. Instead, he kept his gaze fixed on Seraphina: "Is this a time for jokes, Captain of the Guard? Alicia’s life is in danger."

Seraphina replied with a coldness that even surprised the Emperor: "Is Alicia's life in danger? Or is it your pride that is at stake because you lost your favorite 'doll,' Cassian?"

A deadly silence fell. The Emperor looked at the Duke, and Cassian was about to snap back with something sharp, but suddenly... the hall doors burst open.

One of Leon’s guards entered, his face pale as death, holding a "torn silk scarf" stained with glowing purple blood—the color of Alicia’s unique mana.

"Sir... Your Majesty..." the guard said with a trembling voice, "We found this in the back garden of the Etherion estate... and beside it, a letter written in her blood that says: (Seraphina did this)."

All eyes—the Emperor’s, Cassian’s, and the Duke’s—turned toward Seraphina in shock. Leon lost his smile and placed his hand on his sword, while Seraphina remained unshaken. She looked at the stained scarf, then raised her eyes toward the window to see a black "raven" perched on the balcony, watching her with eyes that looked exactly like Alicia’s.

Seraphina thought to herself: So, you’ve started your suicide game, Alicia... Fine, I’ll burn your corpse myself.