The Grand Duke Seeks Death

The Saintess

Seven days more of traveling by horse, King Matthew and his army finally arrived and were warmly welcomed by the citizens of Hydra Kingdom. Confetti dropped as they marched towards the Royal Palace, where politicians and various nobilities of different ranks are waiting to celebrate and glorify the King.

While Matthew waved at his subjects with a glowing smile, flashing every bit of his charisma, making women swoon over him, The Grand Duke can no longer hide his discomfort and fatigue. The warmness of the people's welcome, and the brightness of the sun felt too much for him. All he can think about now is the healing bath that he has been looking forward to.

But despite his gloomy aura, some women are still sighing in love as Genesis passed by them.

"Look, Grand Duke Genesis looks so cool."

"I really dig his rugged, fatigued look. How can someone be so hot and cool at the same time?"

"Girls, OMG! Is it me or is he looking over here?"

The girls squealed excitedly at the top of their lungs when Genesis teasingly smiled at them. Sir Randall, who was watching him the whole time, sighed as he bobbed his head approvingly.

"So much for liking your women pure." Randall teased.

"This is what His Highness calls service Ran. Besides, being popular has its perks." Genesis explained.

"And they call me Casanova."

"It’s your fault for being careless. Anyway, send word to the Holy Church. I shall partake a healing bath as soon as we’re done debriefing."

"You won't attend the evening ball?" Randall asked.

"Those noble suck ups are more of His Highness' forte. It’s not my job to entertain them. I will never play politics with those grumps."

"If I didn't know better, I'd think that you're just avoiding prospect marriage talks." Randall stated.

Genesis chuckled. "Maybe. Maybe not. I don't really give a damn. But instead of worrying about my personal life, we should worry about His Highness. This Kingdom needs a Queen soon, don’t you think? But then again, I don't really care."

Randall smiled; he immediately knew what Genesis was talking about.

"If you got the message, then work on it fast. I'm out of here."

Randall shakes his head as he watched Genesis take a short cut, bypassing the crowd and head for the Royal Palace alone because he can no longer endure the slow march and the attention of the people.

"So that's how you want to deal with our next opponent. You really care for this Kingdom, Grand Duke." Randall muttered while he continued to bask into the cheering and attention of crowd.

Upon arriving at the Freedom Castle, the butlers and maids immediately tend to Genesis as he headed for his room. His appointed maids quickly stripped him of his armor. Drenched in sweat, he stripped his inner clothes immediately, without any regard to the maids around him. As soon as he realized that he hasn’t dismissed them, he turned towards them, unknowingly flashing his muscles and abs before them.

"Is my bath ready?" he asked.

The maid nearest him, red as a ripe tomato, stammered. "Y-yes Y-your Highness."

"I see. You all are dismissed."

After bowing, the maids left him alone, giving him the privacy, he's been wishing. The warm water on his tub felt good against his skin. The chamomile scent calms his nerve for a moment.

"Y-your H-highness?"

Genesis sighed. He clearly remembers telling them that they all are dismissed. "What?" he answered in an annoyed tone.

"M-may I be permitted to wash y-your back Y-your Highness?"

Genesis titled his head slightly, still annoyed."...fine."

The maid who was red as a ripe tomato earlier came in, with her head held down, avoiding looking Genesis in his eyes.

The maid propped herself behind him, as she gently and silently moved Genesis in a position that exposed his back for her to access. Allowing the maid to apply some cleansing soap on his back, Genesis decided to emanate his pheromones. As a result, he can sense her nerves tense as she rubbed the loofah against his back.

"Why are you nervous?" He asked, with his eyes closed.

"I... Uh..."

"Do I scare you?" he asked.

"N-NO your Highness!" She blurted.

"Then what is it?" He asked.

"I-it’s just... I really admire you, Your Highness." the maid stated with her tiny voice.

"Is that a fact... Then, who do you admire more, me or the King?"

The maid froze at his question. She was rendered scared stiff when Genesis turned to face her and looked at her directly in her eyes. His deep dark eyes felt hot against her senses.

"Why did your hands stop? You should shampoo my hair." Genesis instructed, never averting his gaze from her.

As the maid did her duties, she felt the frenzy of his pheromones with every contact her hands made against his skin. It’s like his gaze is stirring her desires to give herself to him. Before she knew it, she felt something wet dripping down between her thighs as she rubbed the soap down his stomach.

"Are you sure you can handle what's down there?" Genesis asked naughtily.

Genesis is known to be popular with the ladies, not just because of his handsome face and nice body, but also the borderline illegal sexiness he makes once he fixed his gaze into someone. Rumors say that women felt impregnated just by meeting his eyes.

Men often state their envy for Genesis and Matthew, who were blessed with beauty, brains, and mana. Both are so blessed, that they are dubbed as Hydra Kingdom's most eligible bachelor.

"Y-your... H-highness..."the maid struggled to breathe and fainted.

Genesis stoically looked at the maid as she lay unconscious on the cold floor. "I guess I teased her too much." he rose from the tub and finished cleansing himself.

Meanwhile, the aristocrats and bureaucrats are arguing with King Matthew in the middle.

"Harold, where is the Grand Duke?" Matthew asked. "This debriefing is growing tiresome."

"I believe his Highness is on his way, Your Majesty." Harold, the King's retainer, answered.

After a few minutes, Genesis finally arrived. He purposely attended late and came only just in time to discuss the strategy for the next Kingdom that the advisors of Hydra, think is an appropriate target.

Just as he expected, the aristocrats want to declare war against the Kingdom of Winds, Ventus. But the bureaucrats wish to keep Ventus as an ally.

"Grand Duke may I remind you that tardiness is never a good trait for-"

"Yes, yes. I get it. I'm tardy. You all are mad. But I won't apologize, so... Moving on, Your Highness, I propose that we take a diplomatic route in dealing with Ventus."

"That is not possible! Ventus is an ambitious nation! You may not know this, but they intend to rule the skies with their magical wings!"

"Isn't that more reason that we keep them as allies? Ventus and Hydra has been on friendly terms since the beginning of times. And the aristocrats want to end that? For what? Possible world domination? Who's being ambitious now?" Genesis argued.

"Gen, language." Matthew warned. "But the Grand Duke is right, Duke Carey, Ventus has been our ally. Do you have any idea about the weight of what you are suggesting?"

"With all due respect Your Majesty, we've been far too passive with our expansion, and I based this on a fact that Ventus Kingdom is currently struggling to produce an heir! Without a proper heir, who knows when will the aristocrats of their Kingdom take over." Duke Carey stated.

"You say it so confidently, almost too sure that there will be an impending power struggle soon." Genesis stated with suspicion evident on his tone.

"Grand D-duke Genesis! I am merely stating facts." Duke Carey defensively argued.

"Need I remind Duke Carey that the King of Ventus is of the same age as our mighty King Matthew." Randall stated. "As long as we're on the topic of diplomacy, Ventus Kingdom may have the means to meet our demands without resulting to violence." he added.

All politicians murmur in delight once they were reminded of that little fact.

Matthew eyed Randall widely, as if he’s warning him to thread carefully, but Randall answered with a coy smile. Matthew sighed exasperatedly, knowing where the conversation is now headed.

"May I suggest that our benevolent and mighty King pay the Princess of Ventus Kingdom, a visit." Genesis suggested with a ghost of smirk as he looked at Matthew.

"Your Majesty, you remember Princess Aurora, the one and only sibling of King Leonard." Sir Randall stated.

Duke Carey, who was pressing for a war earlier is now considering the possible marriage. "If I recall, Princess Aurora is as influential as King Leonard. Having her on our side may be better than waging war."

"And she is known for her unparalleled beauty." Randall added.

Matthew cleared his throat. "Courting and Marriage aside, does anyone wish to suggest otherwise?" he eyed Genesis, pleading.

But Genesis remained tight-lipped, and the King was answered with silence.

Matthew sighed. "Very well. I shall consider courting Princess Aurora. But you all should be prepared once she decided to not covet me. I will not tolerate humiliation."

"Worry not Your Highness, I believe the Princess expressed her desires to meet you since last Spring." Randall followed.

"And who would wish for such a blunder of turning our King down? They'd be declaring war once they did." Genesis added.

"Very well! If there's nothing else, this debriefing is adjourned. I expect ALL of you to attend the evening ball. I will not tolerate any absences." Matthew stated with finality on his tone.

"Our Majesty's angry, your Highness." Randall whispered.

"I expected as much. He hates being strong armed into a decision." Genesis stated.

"But a political marriage is bound to be presented, I don't get why his Majesty's upset?"

"Who knows... Maybe he has someone else in his mind.."

"Makes sense. By the by, I already arranged a carriage for you."

"A carriage? What happened to Luna?" Genesis asked.

"As much as you wish to be healed, so is your horse Luna, your Highness." Randall stated.

"Fine. I'll be staying there for a week anyways, so return to Dumont Castle along with our men. I'll be home after. Make sure to keep thing accordingly."

"Yes your Highness. Then, I shall prepare a carriage to fetch you within a week."

"That won't be necessary. I shall teleport to Dumont."

"But.." Randall closed in and whispered. "Teleporting is prohibited within Hydra Kingdom, Your Highness." he stated.

"Who do you think rebuffed the barrier formula?" Genesis answered.

"I know it was you your Highness, but don't you think it’s unfair that only you are able to teleport? I kind of want to teleport too. Horse riding can be painful too." Randall complained.

"Well, when you become someone like me, you get to enjoy these perks. Until then, you only get to travel through horse. Anyway, take care on your way back Randall. I expect you to lead our men home, safely."

"Yes your Highness." Randall answered.

Teleporting has been banned inside the Hydra Kingdom because it was used to assassinate of the previous King. The Barrier formula surrounding the entire Kingdom was not efficient enough to detect the identity of the teleporters, resulting to the untimely death of the previous King. What was worst is that the assassins easily teleported out of the Kingdom after they succeeded.

With Genesis' help, the barrier is now the tightest barrier in the whole world. Even birds have a hard time passing through the barrier. Anybody who passes the barrier, without being registered in Hydra's elemental system, will immediately be captured, and temporarily paralyzed for questioning.

Also, while the means of teleporting was convenient it was also exhausting. Only people with large amounts of mana are capable of teleporting. People with average and low mana tend to feel sick for a week after teleporting. Thus, the prohibition of teleporting for it weighs more towards cons rather than pros.

Meanwhile, The Holy Church is busy preparing for the Grand Duke's arrival. Though Genesis did not intend to keep his visits to the Holy Church a secret, he does not intend to make it publicly known as well. One of The Holy Church's doctrines make its own people swear secrecy and confidentiality regarding whomever seeks the Church's help, regardless of their status.

"Is our Saintess ready?" Father Gerard asked one of the nuns.

"I believe our Saintess is still preparing Father Gerard."

"Make sure she's presentable. The Grand Duke's generous donations are vital to our Church's survival." Father Gerard firmly instructed as he looked into the nuns' eyes.

The nuns bowed and made their exit to check on the Saintess.

The Holy Church has been struggling to manage their finances due to the recent war. They had to send their best healers to war, thereby cutting their workforce into half.

"Saintess..." Sister Belle knocked against Klia's door.

When she was answered with silence, Sister Belle entered Klia's room. In search for Klia, Sister Belle observed her room. Books are scattered everywhere, clothes lay crumpled on the floor, window curtains tightly closed, blocking the sun out. Sister Belle sighed exasperatedly.

"Saintess, the Grand Duke will be arriving soon." Sister Belle stated as she walked towards the window, abruptly opening the curtains.

As the sun rays entered her room, Klia groaned, her eyes pained from the sun.

"Sis...ter.. Belle?..." Klia groggily spoke.

Sister Belle approached Klia's bed. Looking down on her, checking if she's already awake. But as soon as she noticed that she was still not completely awake, Sister Belle grabbed the basin full of cold water and splashed it unto Klia's face.

Drowned, Klia abruptly rose as she gasped for air.

"A Saintess does not sleep through the day." Sister Belle said, taking her stick out and whipped Klia's back.

The stinging pain on Klia's back hurts more due to the water splashed on her. "F-forgive me Sister Belle." Klia apologized as she climbed down her bed.

"Just because Father Gerard favors you doesn't mean that you get to leisurely live like one, you filthy commoner!" Sister Belle ranted.

Klia bit her lower lip to prevent herself from talking back. It has been three years since she was named Saintess. Though it has been rewarding, it also garnered harsh criticism from her colleagues inside the Church. Most of the Nuns inside the Church came from houses of high nobility that had strong affinity to healing magic. All of them have the high hopes on becoming the next Saint or Saintess. That is why a commoner who was also a former peasant becoming the Saintess gathered the ire of the nobility.

"Make sure you are presentable before the Grand Duke arrives. I shall not tolerate any hint of slacking from you. If I see just a speck of disgrace in you, you are to kneel under grains of salt for a week. Do you understand?!" Sister Belle warned.

"Y-yes Sister Belle." Klia answered politely.

Sister Belle left Klia after whipping her once again. Crying, Klia took her healing bath and fixed herself, and after which, while combing her hair, she looks at herself in the mirror.

"I will see him again." she muttered. "The grand duke...he's home." she added, while practicing her best smile.

"I wish that we get to know each other. He's my only hope in getting out of this place.." Klia stated quietly as she brushed her hair.