Ch 8 - The Consequence of Action
*Meanwhile, at the Royal Paladin Academy*
Master Hanate approached the Royal Guard at the gate. "Welcome, how may I help you?" he asked them. "Where are Darling Charming and Tora Hanate?" one of the guards asked. "I'm sorry sir, they did not come here," Hanate told them politely. "Would you come with us then? The King will want to talk to you about this most recent event," the guard asked Hanate. "Alright then, if it is the King's order, then I cannot refuse," Hanate said, as he was escorted by the Guard towards the palace.
At the palace, Hanate was escorted by Axelson to the throne room. "Your Majesty, Headmaster Hanate of the Royal Paladin Academy," Axelson announced, before quickly leaving the room, closing the door with a quiet echo. "Charming," Hanate began, but was interrupted by Charming. "Hanate, what is the meaning of this?" Charming asked him. "What do you mean?" Hanate asked. "You've been like a brother to me, yet it seems as though your son doesn't have the same respect that you do," he said. "Impossible, my son is one of the most respectful young men I've ever seen," Hanate said. "Enough," Charming said, raising his hand. "It seems that as you haven't taught your son some manners, I will have to see that he learns them myself," he said. "What do you mean by that?" Hanate asked in surprise.
"I have decided to place a bounty on him," he said. "For his capture, 30,000 gem charms. I will have him brought to me, so that I can teach him some respect, in the dungeon," he said. "30,000 gem charms?! Are you insane? And you want to put my son in the dungeon? I will not allow you to do that!" Hanate said fiercely.
"Don't worry, I will also see to it that my daughter is punished as well for her disobedience of me," he said. "Your son won't be alone in the dungeon." At this declaration, Hanate was shocked. "What happened to you, Charming? Since when did your heart become so cold?" Hanate said in a desperate tone. "What happened, you ask? I'll tell you. The fact that my daughter has been keeping such a terrible secret from me is what happened. I blame myself for her rebellious attitude. So now, I have decided to fix my mistakes my own way. The only way I know how," he fired back.
"I was hoping that it would not come to this," Hanate said, drawing his sword, silent tears rolling down his cheeks. "You dare raise your sword at me, Hanate? I am your king," Charming said in a loud voice. "I have decided to protect both Tora and Darling," Hanate retorted. "I was wrong about you. I thought that you wanted the best for Darling as she is your one and only daughter, but it seems as though I misunderstood you," he said. Hanate charged at Charming, who in turn picked up his bow and raised it, the arrow pointed at Hanate's heart.
Charming shot the arrow, Hanate deflecting it with ease. As Hanate drew closer to him, Charming blocked his attack with the bow, and pushed Hanate back. Hanate staggered back, recovering from the recoil of being pushed backwards. Drawing a hidden knife from inside his breastplate, Charming lunged at Hanate, plunging the knife into Hanate's heart. Hanate screamed, as Charming stabbed him over and over again. As the life started to drain from his eyes, Hanate fell, backwards, blood gushing from his several stab wounds. Charming looked down at his old friend with cold eyes, staring at Hanate dying on the ground. "I will have order in my kingdom," Charming said coldly. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you, Darling, Tora," Hanate said weakly, gasping for air for the last time before the light faded from his eyes, the tears from his eyes turning blood red as they rolled down his face to stain the hallway floor.
"Axelson," Charming called, as his announcer came into the room. Axelson looked from Charming to Hanate and stared at the ground in abject horror. "Tell the maids, that I want the blood cleaned up, and the body buried," Charming ordered him. "Ah, yes, Sire, right away," Axelson said quickly as he ran out of the room. "I will have order in my kingdom," Charming whispered once again, sitting on his throne as he looked down at Hanate's body, as the maids entered the room with wide, horrified expressions and cleaning equipment.