Book 8: The Holy Stone The Kid Emperor of Occultoria

Chapter 7 - The Grand Duke and the Duchess' Deal

Duchess Elizabeth couldn't believe her luck. The Bishop of Magicka had simply handed over such a holy relic without even so much as a protest.

Back in her Ducal Palace, she held the stone in her hand.

Maybe the bishop is growing soft in his old age, she thought.

But it didn't matter.

The important thing was that she was now in possession of the Holy Stone. She could now wish for the Emperor to fall in love with her daughter and then Princess Sanchia could become the next Empress Consort of Occultoria.

It was too good to be true.

She was salivating at the very thought.

She was about to summon her daughter when the stone began to burn in her hand. It grew so hot that she immediately dropped it.

As she gazed at it, something clicked in her mind.

Wish-granting magical stones didn't normally burn. In fact, in the Supernatural World, burning was a sign that something was deadly wrong.

She was beginning to doubt that the Holy Stone had any magical powers.

She knew that it was too good to be true.

Now, she finally understood why the bishop had handed over the stone so readily. This so-called Holy Stone was, at the very least, cursed.

She wrinkled her nose.

She was disappointed.

This was not good.

Now, she had to find some other way to hoist her daughter onto the Occult Throne as the Empire's co-ruler.

At that point, an aide interrupted her thoughts. "Your Grace, the Grand Duke of Pyria is here to see you."

"What?!" she cried. "I wasn't expecting an audience."

Before her aide could reply, the Grand Duke of Pyria himself stormed into the Grand Hall.

"Elizabeth," he said, pointing a sword at her. "Hand the stone over or face the consequences."

With an unctuous smile. Duchess Elizabeth picked up the stone and handed it over to him. "Here you go. It's all yours."

The Grand Duke scowled. Something was wrong. Why would the Duchess hand over such a scared relic so readily?

She withdrew her hand slightly. "But I want fifty leviathans from you."

"Done," said Attilo, grabbing the stone.

The stone was a little hot, but that didn't matter.

He was just excited that, if the rumours were true, then he would finally be the next Emperor of Occultoria, instead of his cousin Max, that little usurper.