Chương 57: Her Father’s Best Friend

Father Leandro had prepared a large pot of vegetable soup, its warm aroma filling the simple yet tidy room. Felicity, Leah and Xia sat around the wooden table while Leandro served each of them with calm, unhurried movements.

"So", Leah asked, breaking the silence, "how do you two know each other?"

"It's a long story", Felicity replied.

"Oh, yes", Father Leandro added as he set the last bowl on the table.

"A very long one". He took his seat and began eating.

"I've known her since the day she was born", he continued.

"I was her father's best friend". Felicity nodded.

"I used to play with his children whenever they visited the clan. By the way…how are they doing?" At that question, Father Leandro fell silent. He slowly raised a spoon to his mouth, chewed quietly, then looked back at her.

"They're gone", he said softly.

"They've gone to be with God". Felicity lowered her gaze.

"I'm so sorry…what happened?"

"They were taken from me", he replied, his voice steady but empty.

"Along with my wife. By a group of damned witches. They slaughtered them without mercy…right before my eyes". Xia watched him carefully. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Forgive me for asking", she said, "but…how did you survive?" Father Leandro met her eyes.

"I don't know. Maybe it was adrenaline or maybe it was God. All I know is that I managed to wipe them all out. Every last one of them. I butchered them and avenged my family". Felicity looked at him intently.

"You did what any father would have done". Father Leandro gave a faint smile and rested a hand on her shoulder.

"I believe", he continued, "that it wasn't only human soldiers who wiped out the Prinz Clan. The Prinz were far too strong. There were mages as well. The kingdom lied to us. We thought the witch hunts had wiped them all out, but they didn't. They're still alive. There are still many of them. And they're still dangerous".

"Not all of them are evil", Leah said. Father Leandro slowly turned toward her.

"Oh, my dear", he replied with the faintest smile, "the mages who seem good only want you to believe they are. There are no good mages. They are cursed beings, bearers of demonic power". He looked at each of them in turn before composing himself.

"But enough of such heavy talk. Let's eat. Let's speak of something else". Teresa was walking through the palace corridors when she saw a brown-haired woman leaving Oscar's chamber. She stopped in her tracks. Frowning, she hurried to her son's room and threw the door open without knocking. Oscar jolted in surprise, quickly pulling the sheets over himself.

"Mother?! Haven't you ever heard of knocking?!"

"Who was that woman?" she asked coldly.

"A servant. Why do you care?"

"Because this isn't like you", Teresa replied as she stepped into the room.

"You should be seeking a proper woman to bear your heir, not risking scattering your seed in the wombs of peasant girls".

"Why do you care so much about what I do?" Oscar snapped.

"I'm the King. I can do whatever I want". Teresa sat down beside him.

"Because I'm afraid".

"Afraid of what?"

"Afraid you'll end up like your brother", she said quietly.

"A passive king, enslaved by his vices. I couldn't bear to watch that happen".

"Don't you dare compare me to that fat fool", Oscar growled. Teresa cupped his face with both hands.

"Then don't let the crown change you the way it changed him. Be the man you were when you were still a prince. That was the man destined to rule this kingdom, not the one I see now". She leaned in even closer.

"I will always stand by your side. And only together can we win this war. Do you understand?" Oscar held her gaze before slowly nodding.

"I understand, Mother". Teresa smiled.