Everyone sat around the table, tension thick in the air, with Julius at the head. His usual calm demeanor bore the weight of unease as his gaze swept over the room.
"I am assigning the Black Bulls to research the Devils."
Charlotte crossed her arms, her sharp eyes narrowing,
"What do we have so far?"
Julius exhaled heavily, leaning back in his chair,
"I have a source that believes that the Spade Kingdom has Devils within it,"
The room fell into a stunned silence. Mynx's eyes widened in shock, but it was Aphi who shot up from his seat, his chair scraping against the floor,
"What?!"
Julius glanced at him, clearly unbothered by his presence,
"Yes. Now, if you would please sit back down,"
Aphi shook his head, his fists clenching,
"If there are Devils in the Spade Kingdom, everyone is in danger! We have to warn the other kingdoms before it's too late!"
Mynx reached out, placing a steadying hand on his,
"Riv-"
Aphi shook his head and looked at Julius,
"Tell me you plan on informing the other Kingdoms,"
Julius nodded,
"I have sent word to the Heart Kingdom, I am waiting to receive confirmation and an alliance,"
Aphi narrowed his eyes,
"What about the Diamond Kingdom?"
The room turned to him, expressions ranging from shock to disdain. Julius's brows furrowed, and anger flickered in his voice,
"The Diamond Kingdom? Why would we warn them? They are as much our enemy as the Spade Kingdom."
Aphi shook his head,
"Because they still have citizens—people who don't deserve to be caught in the crossfire! Do you really put yourself above humanity? The Spade Kingdom will trample the Diamond Kingdom! The Diamond Kingdom and Spade Kingdom have been enemies for a long time too! They fight more against each other more than the Clover Kingdom,"
Julius's eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping into his tone,
"And how do you know so much about the Diamond Kingdom's inner workings?"
Aphi looked at Mynx in surprise,
"He doesn't know?"
Mynx sighed, her gaze dropping for a moment, and Julius looked at her with hurt in his eyes,
"Know what?"
Fuegoleon stood, stepping beside Aphi and placing a firm hand on his shoulder,
"Aphi was born and raised in the Diamond Kingdom."
Gasps echoed around the room. Rill, Jack, and Kaiser's jaws dropped, and Charlotte's hand flew to her mouth in surprise. Julius stared at Aphi,
"Is that true?"
Aphi nodded his head,
"I'm not proud of what the Diamond Kingdom has done. But there are good people there—innocents who shouldn't suffer because of their rulers' mistakes. Turning a blind eye to their plight makes us no better than the Spade Kingdom."
Julius's face darkened as he met Mynx's eyes,
"You knew?"
Mynx crossed her arms, meeting his gaze without flinching,
YOU ARE READING
The Vice Captain of the Crimson Lions
AdventureWhat if there was a Magic Knight with Cosmic Magic? Who is she to the Vermillion Family? What is her story? Mynx was orphaned as a baby, abandoned by her family right outside of a familiar village. The only difference is that a certain eldest siste...
