The Overlords Witch {BL}

Chapter 40 - Prince Sera

For many days the weather was stricken. Black filled the sky and bolts of lightning constantly struck across it. Rain too flooded the ground. As if furious the weather tormented the land unlike anything anyone had ever witnessed, it continued excessively until it stopped all but abruptly.

However, it did leave behind a trace In its wake, farms were flooded, homes were beaten, even burnt. Never before had such a thing occurred so spontaneously and on such a devastating scale, there was no indication given, which allowed anyone to expect what spurred such a tragedy. Nor was there such devastation with the weather alone.
The crops now ruined, caused many of the farmers in Bel-Thar massive grief, as their main source of living was ruined. Which meant a drop in trading especially from the kingdom of Bel-Thar and the immediately poor, were to starve or sell what little they possessed for the upcoming winter. That is to say that the kingdom's emperor wouldn't help them (lower taxes). Taxes would push the most sumptuous farmer back in kind.

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Ares was now stressed and understandably so, there were gatherings on top of gatherings. Stress tended to be rather fond of someone of his personage. Each of his many meetings was mostly repetitive ramblings, ending with solutions nobody seemed satisfied enough with.

In fact, there was a subject where Sera was mentioned as being a possible cause to the situation, but it was briefly dismissed as shortly as it was brought up. Not because it wasn't believed, but because hearsay was particularly dangerous when it involves royalty.

A previously unknown being, initially introduced as a witch, was now formally known as Prince Sera of Bel-Ana, consort of Ares V Shapur Emperor of Bel-Thar. Bel-Ana is quite a small principality within Bel-Thar, famous for its sumptuous jewel tradings and spiritual roots.

Ares pressed between his eyebrows as he was finally left alone. There was another single thing he needed to do. But for now, he closed his eyes 'only for a moment' he thought.

"You evil child, how could you!" a shrill voice exclaimed. "How could you do such a cruel thing"

An emaciated woman swung her hands after the small child, over and over again. Each hit contained so much power it seemed as if her wrist might fall off after each strike.

The child barely responded or even let out a peep. He just crouched into a small ball and shielded his face. Through a narrow gap he could see, her eyes repulsion and fear over fury.

Despair couldn't escape him; it wasn't him at fault. She was supposed to be on his side, how could she fear him.

'It was them; all of them silver-headed misbegotten spawns, that shared their dirty blood. They released the dog to hurt him, so he killed it. So, what. It would've hurt him first. Should he have let it hurt him? but why.'

He wanted to make his mother proud if he could protect himself, she would see he could protect her too. But she feared him instead.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry" the anger and sorrow bubbled up in tears and snot, "Mother I won't do it again I'm so sorry"

She stopped beating him and her eyes softened so abruptly it was strange, her mouth even stretched into a crudely-sweet grin

"Why do you apologise so, my sweet child, you don't hate me do you. After all, you fill my heart so..."

Her voice faded into nothing.

"Your majesty. I have him with me shall I enter?"

"Ares let out a tired sigh, then slowly adjusted himself on his seat".

After a few minutes, Ares called them in, "You may wait outside" he addressed his knight. The man bowed then left.

Phyllis stood in front of Ares, "Your majesty" he acknowledged with and smile yet an undoubtedly level of grit in his tone. "It seems I can't place the previous moment I had been summoned to this room"