Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 979: Repercussions - Part 2

The queen of Elenaris was brewing her own trouble while Viola–the queen of Athenia was overjoyed by the return of her child. Lady Gray had confirmed the child’s health, and the due date wasn’t far either. In only a few months–if that–the new heir would be born, be a son or a daughter. Gray suspected a boy for more reasons than one, although she only spoke of this to Markus in confidence, as the child’s delivery was yet a cause for concern.

In case the babe was premature or had other complications, the lady healer had warned both Viola and Milo not to name the child or shop for any clothing. Their heartbreak in case of a stillborn would shatter their relationship–things would only get more tense since it was Raven’s child and not Milo’s. The complicated relationship among the trio involved in the child’s life made it quite a predicament–one where it was best to hope for the best yet prepare for the worst.

Burdened with the secret, Markus stood by the royals as they made important decisions with the nobles. His eyes never left the queen and the king, but the queen was distracted today–too occupied with her belly while servants, farmers, and nobility brought her gifts and asked for numerous favors. Milo was the one to answer them; all the while, Viola remained distracted.

”Moera, Luciela.” Turning his attention to the demon arms under his wing, Markus narrowed his gaze behind the helmet. ”Go tell Lady Gray to meet the queen in her chambers. I’m not convinced of the child’s condition, and she’s been acting weird. Could be a trick by that foul goddess, corrupting her mind, distracting her.”

”I don’t think Mistress’s magic works in that way but–” Moera gave herself pause as she noticed that she was still calling Nerva her mistress. ”I-I’m sorry, we’ll go and inform her this instant!”

Wasting no time, they quickly rushed out of the throneroom and headed for the private quarters. A few hours continued the same for Markus by the royal’s side, but as soon as the gifts and requests were done, he urged them to follow him back to their room. Not entirely surprised by his concern, Milo agreed, and while slightly more oblivious of his concern, Viola did as well.

Once the group had made its way to the private chambers, Lady Gray greeted them with a smile. She quickly shooed away the king, for the checkup was meant to be private. Alas, Markus insisted on remaining present even if his head was turned away and he was standing in a corner. Leaving Milo’s security to his two demonic underlings, he stayed by the queen’s side–worried that something had taken hold of her mind.

”Hmm, how are you feeling, my queen?” Lady asked, her head pressed against Viola’s bare belly.

”I’m fine; in fact, I’ve never felt better now that my child is back with me,” Viola replied, smiling ear to ear.

”That’s wonderful.” Running her hand across the queen’s belly, Lady Gray checked for any anomalies but couldn’t seem to find any. Pulling away from Viola, however, she reached into her bag and took out a glowing blue knife. ”If you won’t mind, I may need to take a sample of your blood.”

”W-with a knife?” Viola stared at the glowing blade, and the word Knife forced Markus to turn his head.

”Of course!” Laughed the old lady, her face changing shape and her body burning a dark, cloudy glow. ”HERE I GO!”

”NOT SO FAST!” Like a wave of mist, Markus’s body transformed into a burning gust of wind hurled at the old woman’s hand. Striking the blade away from her, he grabbed her by the neck and slammed her away from the queen. ”GET IN HERE YOU TWO!!”

”AHAHAHA!” The woman laughed as her body turned into a cloud of corporeal smoke. Her eyes remained dark as the abyss, and her skin was dazzling with sparks of a silver electric energy. ”YOU THOUGHT I WAS DONE! NOT EVEN CLOSE, YOU FOOLS!”

Right then, both Moera and Luceila rushed into the room–followed by Milo, who was just as confused. But the moment their eyes locked with the avatar of their previous master, their bodies went loose.

”KILL THE KING! NOW!” Equipping their weapons at once, the girls turned around to kill Milo. However, the moment the girls turned their weapons, a gust of cold wind froze their bodies into a thick block of ice.

Startled by the ordeal, Milo looked at Viola, who had her hand extended towards the demonic servants. Her powers as a winter spirit had frozen them temporarily, but already the ice was showing signs of cracking from their desperate movements within.

”THAT IS ENOUGH!” Balling up his fist, Markus set it ablaze with green necrotic energy and punched right through the woman’s chest. Reaching deep within her chest cavity, he felt a core burning against his undead fingers. ”GO TO HELL YOU MONSTER!”

Closing his fist around the core, he pulled it out of her chest with one swift movement. The lesser avatar of Nerva fell to the ground the very next moment, but that haunting laughter from her mouth continued to echo in everyone’s ears. Not wasting another second, however, Markus set his gaze on the demonic servants.

”I knew it was a mistake to take them in,” reminded of the court held to decide the fate of these two women, he cursed himself for ever agreeing to take them in. ”I will end them here and now!”

Pulling out his massive greatsword, he began walking towards their frozen bodies. Milo moved aside from behind, giving him a way to do what must be done–but then.

”Markus! STOP!” Viola stopped him.

”Your highness, we cannot afford these monsters to jeopardize your safety!” He rebutted, yet climbing off the bed, Viola shook her head.

”These girls wanted a second chance, and they’ve enough to deserve it.”

”Yes, but Viola! They tried to kill me!” Milo yelled out, still scared for his life after escaping death not less than a minute ago.

”Raven was cursed by Nerva’s influence; you heard about it too, right? Maybe these girls can be too; we just need to give them a chance.” Shaking his head, Markus could not believe what he was hearing. Had it been the last holy war, any amount of threat from an ally was treated as treason and thus ground for execution.

”Tch...I will send them to Erika for cleansing. Perhaps the goddess can do something–a blessing against mind control maybe. BUT IF NOT!” Screaming at everyone who was present, Markus hit the ice with the blunt end of his sword, freeing the girls from it. ”I will execute them the moment they return! And no royal decree will stop me!”

By the time he was done talking, the girls were lying unconscious on the ground, and Lady Gray–the real one–would be found by a servant. Barely alive and stuffed into a closet in her quarters. Needless to say, that night was anything but quiet, especially with horrors closing in on Athenian soil once again. The forest was their refuge, and only Athenia herself or the heroes could arrange a thorough cleansing.