Black Magic

Chapter 64: Murder

MATT'S POV

I found myself in an unfamiliar territory as I stood before Emperor Randolf in a secluded chamber, the weight of the truth heavy on my shoulders.

The air in the room was filled with tension, and I could sense that Randolf was struggling to make sense of the revelations I was about to share.

"Your father, Emperor Albert, executed Eleanor's mother, Florence," I began, my voice trembling slightly as I spoke. "It was not for treason, as is commonly believed, but because she was believed to be a witch."

Randolf's eyes widened in confusion, and I could see the gears turning in his mind as he tried to reconcile this new information with the history he thought he knew.

I continued, my laughter echoing through the room, a dark and twisted reflection of the gravity of the situation.

"I was there, Randolf. I witnessed the execution firsthand. Your father, blinded by his own fear and prejudice, allowed himself to be manipulated by those who sought to maintain their power and control. Your family has nothing to do with our family's business"

Randolf sighs, "Who are you to them and how are you related to that family? Why are you this affected?"

As Randolf's confusion grew, he began to question my identity and the connections I held within their family.

"I am Florence's brother," I declared, the weight of my words hanging heavily in the air. "Eugene was my best friend, he married my sister, which makes Eleanor my niece."

Randolf's eyes widened in shock, struggling to process the revelation that the woman he had come to arrest for was, in fact, his blood-related family.

The implications of this newfound connection were immense, and I could see the internal conflict raging within him.

Randolf asked, "Then... Your daughter just married... A corpse?"

Sensing his discomfort, I continued, delving deeper into the tangled web of relationships that bound us all. "Now, regarding Thomas," I said, my laughter tinged with sadness as I recounted the story of my daughter's forbidden love. "Thomas was a simple peasant, one whom Astrid loved deeply, the worst part is, he is the son of my best friend's mistress"

As Randolf continued to grapple with the revelations about our family's history, he couldn't help but ask about the role Emperor Albert had played in their lives.

I responded with a bitter laugh, acknowledging the paradoxical nature of their relationship with the late emperor.

"Your father, Emperor Albert, was indeed a crucial figure in the lives of our families," I said, my voice heavy with sarcasm. "He brought wealth and prosperity, no doubt about that. But with that wealth came the seeds of our own downfall, as we allowed ourselves to be consumed by the very evil he had bestowed upon us."

Randolf, now more curious than ever, couldn't help but ask about the circumstances surrounding his father's death.

"Now, how did my father die?"

Despite the gravity of the question, I found myself unable to provide a straightforward answer, instead choosing to continue my laughter.

As Randolf's confusion grew, I decided to offer a cryptic response that would both intrigue and unsettle him. "Ah, your father's demise," I said, still chuckling. "A tale of intrigue, betrayal, and the consequences of one's own ambitions."

FLASHBACK:

As Florence pleaded with Nelson, her desperation to mend her relationship with Eugene visible, Nelson reluctantly agreed to concoct a potion that might help rekindle the love between them.