The response from the Evernight family eventually arrived. They have agreed to talk. But they demanded the Regulus and Godwin come to the Evernight estate for the discussion. The two of them were suspicious, but the message also included that a royal family envoy will be present in the venue of discussion. The Evernight family allowed them to bring a number of bodyguards for their safety. Furthermore, it wasn't like they had a choice in the matter. So Regulus and Godwin picked twenty of the remaining bodyguards and left for the Evernight family. It had been two days and a night since they had left.
It was close to dusk. Cerdic stood on the balcony gazing towards the sky. The red hue made it look like the sky was soaked in blood. He was silent for a few moments. His eyes looking peaceful. Then out of nowhere, he punched the wooden railing with his fist.
"Damn it! Politics, philosophy, martial arts – I mastered everything at this young age. I am called a prodigy by all my teachers. Yet— " He gritted his teeth hard. "A random girl—lucky to be born with a spirit root—can turn all my hard work into nothing? She can uproot my family, which stood tall for centuries?"
The heavy breathing sound of Cerdic could be heard even from a distance. He took several deep breaths before he could calm down.
"How unfair..." He eventually muttered with a deep sigh.
Meanwhile, Regulus and Godwin had already reached the Evernight estate. They were currently waiting outside the Evernight family mansion's imposing gates. They had been waiting for over an hour already. But the gates were still closed, and the guards didn't even look at them.
"How long do they expect us to wait?" Godwin grumbled.
"As much as they feel like," Regulus said calmly. "We are here to discuss terms of surrender, Godwin. We are not on equal grounds. Don't show displeasure."
Godwin fell silent. He knew the Evernight family was intentionally making them wait. To humiliate them. But they could do nothing.
The Brightmoon family guards who came with them were all muttering in displeasure. The Evernight family guards looked at them in arrogance and disdain. At last, the gate opened with a creak.
Lucien Evernight walked out with a cocky grin, but he changed it into a polite smile as soon as he saw Regulus.
"Lord Regulus, Lord Godwin. Welcome to Evernight mansion," he said with a smile. "I hope we didn't make you wait."
"Ha ha. Not at all," Regulus laughed, hiding his feelings. "Will Lord Everard meet us now?"
"Of course, follow me, Lord Regulus," Lucien gestured as he led the way. Regulus followed in with Godwin right behind him.
The Evernight family mansion was smaller than that of the Brightmoon family. But still, it was a sight to behold with beautiful architecture. The courtyard was also spacious. Regulus noticed two royal knights in front of the mansion.
"So, the envoy from the royal family had arrived already?" Regulus asked.
"Ah, yes. They had arrived around three hours ago," Lucien said over his shoulder.
Regulus felt relieved for a second. But then his eyes narrowed. The royal family envoy was already here three hours ago. Then what were they doing all this time while they were kept outside? Was it just to humiliate them? He felt a sense of unease.
As they reached the front door of the mansion, Lucien turned to face them.
"Lord Regulus, you can't take all of the guards inside, you know. Take two of them. Rest will have to stay outside."
"Then let us keep our swords." Godwin demanded.
"Oh, no issues there," Lucien laughed. "But remember Lord Godwin. Trust is the most important thing in a negotiation."
Regulus nodded and turned to his guards. "Thane, Elias, the two of you follow us,"
The two of the elite guards followed Regulus and Godwin inside. The rest stayed out. Lucien led the way inside. They made their way towards the inner halls. Soon they reached a large room with a long table set in the centre. On the head of the table sat a handsome youth wearing a royal insignia. A royal knight stood right behind him. Everard Evernight sat next to him, looking composed. He only gave Regulus and Godwin a passing glance before turning his gaze away. Everard also had a guard standing behind him. He looked at Regulus and Godwin with clear disdain. But the two of them didn't have time to deal with that. Because the moment Regulus and Godwin had seen the young man, their eyes widened.
"Why is it him?" Godwin muttered.
Regulus took a few steps forward and bowed.
"Greetings, your highness."
Godwin followed suit.
"Lord Regulus, Lord Godwin. The crown welcomes your presence in this negotiation," the young prince said, smiling.
Regulus nodded, still feeling shocked. This young man was Prince Darius Ironvale. He was the second prince of the kingdom. He was also one of the most influential people out there. While Regulus requested a royal envoy to mediate for them, he didn't expect the second prince himself to be that envoy.
"Please take a seat, Lord Regulus," Darius said, gesturing for Regulus to sit down. "If your lordships are ready, let's start discussing the terms of this negotiation."
Regulus sat opposite Everard. Godwin sat next to him, their two guards, Thane and Elias, standing behind them.
"Lord Everard, shall we begin?" Darius asked, turning towards Everard.
Everard calmly sat, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table.
"Begin what, your highness?" he asked, feigning confusion.
"The discussion, of course," Darius said, smiling.
"Ah, the discussion," Everard chuckled. "I forgot; these two were here to beg for mercy, weren't they?"
Godwin's fists clenched under the table, but Regulus kept his cool.
"Lord Everard, the Brightmoon family is willing to withdraw from all the disputes we had with the house of Evernight," Regulus said. "Furthermore, we are offering half of our wealth as reparations. All we ask is for our enmity to end here."
"Enmity? What enmity?" Everard spoke as if he didn't understand.
Godwin was gritting his teeth. Regulus deeply exhaled to calm himself down before continuing.
"The century-old enmity between the Brightmoon family and the Evernight family. That's what I am talking about," he said firmly. "I know it has gone beyond the point where finding peace is near impossible. But I am asking you for the sake of both of our families. Please understand our sincerity and accept this deal."
"Ah, that enmity," Everard laughed. "Those ancient squabbles over land and resources. Of course I know."
Everard straightened his back with a sly smile.
"For that your offer is acceptable," Everard said, straightening in his chair.
Regulus could sense a different undertone in his voice.
"What else do you need?" he asked.
"The withdrawal from the disputes and half of your wealth. That is only enough for what your ancestors had done," Everard said. "Do you remember what you have done, Regulus? Do you remember your threats?"
Everard's tone turned cold.
"Do you remember threatening me about wiping out my family? Do you remember how overbearing you had been? Do you remember humiliating me before other nobles again and again? And most importantly... " Everard's eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. "Do you remember sending out an assassin to kill my daughter?"
Godwin was now clenching his jaw. Thane and Elias moved their hands to the hilts of their swords.
Regulus looked straight into Everard's face. "I did do all that," he said. "I can't take any of it back. So please accept my apologies."
Everard scoffed. "Apology? Who wants your apology? It's too late to apologise, Regulus. Way too late."
"Then what do you want me to do?" Regulus slightly raised his voice. "Name your price."
Everard pointed his finger at Regulus. "Your head," he said disdainfully. "That's all I want,"
There was a moment of silence. Then the weight of his words sank in.
"You son of a b*tch!" Godwin slammed his fist on the table.
Regulus glanced at Darius. The second prince was sipping a cup of tea as if none of this concerned him.
"Your Highness," Godwin said indignantly. "This is outrageous; there's a limit to how much humiliation we can endure."
Darius made no attempt to intervene. He chuckled.
"Lord Godwin, you have heard Lord Everard. The problems will be solved if you give him what he had asked for. Why hesitate?"
"Your highness! You..." Godwin stared at the second prince in shock.
"So, that's how it is," Regulus muttered. "You are not here to mediate at all."
"Please forgive me, Lord Regulus," Darius laughed. "But it isn't worth it to offend the Evernight family on your behalf."
Everard looked triumphant.
"So what will it be, Regulus? Will you offer your head willingly, or do you want me to take it with force?"
Regulus took a deep breath.
"Fine," he said. "You want my head; I will let you take it."
"Regulus!" Godwin cried out. "Don't be stupid."
"But," Regulus continued. "I want your word that nobody else in my family will be harmed. Including my brother here."
"You are dreaming, you idiot," Everard growled. "Do you think I called you here to talk peace? I called you here to deliver justice. And there are no negotiations in justice."
"I see, so you don't intend to spare my family?" Regulus' expression sank.
"Spare them?" Everard sneered. "Sorry, Regulus, it's too late for that. Their fate is sealed."
Everard stood up from his chair; the guard standing behind him pulled out his sword.
"Have you not realised?' Everard asked. "Most of your knights had already left you. You took twenty guards with you here. How many are left to guard your family?"
Regulus' heart stopped for a split second. Godwin jumped up in shock.
"You! You wouldn't dare to..."
"Why wouldn't I?" Everard smirked. "The esteemed Brightmoon family is now vulnerable. I won't miss my chance to destroy it from the roots."
"Bastard!" Godwin snapped. He also pulled out his sword. Then with a swift jump, he was on top of the negotiation table, swinging his sword at Everard's neck. Everard expected the attack and dodged the lethal sword swing from Godwin. The guard behind him lunged forward. But Thane and Elias were already moving.
The royal knight moved in to protect Darius. Regulus also got ready to attack. But his eyes were lingering on Darius. The second prince was unusually calm as he watched on. As if he was enjoying a drama.
Godwin, Thane and Elias were already surrounding Everard and his guard, but Everard also looked calm, feeling no panic whatsoever.
A moment later. Commotions were heard from outside as we. Sounds of metal hitting metal. Shouts of anger and screams of pain.
"They have begun too," Everard laughed. "Let's finish up here. Your highness..."
Darius, who was watching the show, finally put the teacup down. Regulus turned vigilant.
"Very well." Darius turned to his royal knight. "Finish it off. Don't take too much time."
The royal knight took a step towards his left. Godwin changed his position to keep both him and Everard in check.
"Your highness. If you can't meditate, why not stay neutral?" Regulus said as he also took a step forward, warningly towards Darius. But Darius didn't flinch. The royal knight turned towards Regulus. But Darius stopped him.
"Focus on what's in front of you," he said, pulling out his sword. "I can protect myself."
The royal knight hesitated but then turned to Godwin again.
There was a moment of silence.
Regulus faced Darius. Everard and his bodyguard were surrounded by Godwin and the two Brightmoon family guards. The royal knight stood a few feet next to Godwin.
And then there was a flash. Godwin was sent flying through the air. He hit the nearby wall and fell down with a thud. Both Thane and Elias were frozen in shock, and they didn't have any time to recover from it. Because the royal knight was already upon them. Two precise swings, and two heads fell and rolled down the floor. Regulus looked horrified as he watched the two headless corpses fall down. He stared at Godwin, who lay unconscious on the floor, and then shifted his gaze towards Darius. Darius gave him a cold smile.
"What, surprised?" Darius asked in a mocking tone.
Regulus was silent for a moment. Everard was looking at him with glee. Then Regulus turned towards the royal knight again.
"You are not ordinary," he said in disbelief. "Are you a cultivator?"
"Cultivator?" Darius answered. "I would say he is close. But not exactly there."
A moment later the door burst open. Lucien came in, followed by several Evernight family guards and the two Royal Knights they had seen outside. The swords of the two royal knights were dripping with blood.
"It's clear outside," Lucien said. "Only they are left."
Regulus was shocked. The whole twenty guards he brought... They were gone just like that?
While he was standing frozen in the middle, two more Evernight family guards had already dragged Godwin towards Everard. Godwin was still unconscious.
Regulus saw Everard pulling his sword out.
"Wait!" he shouted and charged at Everard.
Bam!
He felt like he was hit by a hammer. One of the royal guards punched his chest. He was knocked back and fell hard. In that very moment, Everard plunged his sword into the chest of the unconscious Godwin.
"No!" Regulus screamed in grief.
Godwin didn't struggle a lot. A few moments of pain, and his body fell still.
Everard then walked closer to Regulus, his sword still drawn. Two Evernight family guards dragged Regulus to a kneeling position before him. Regulus knew his life was going to end. He looked at his brother's lifeless body.
"Forgive me, Godwin," he muttered. Then his eyes turned cold and looked at the approaching Everard.
"One day," Regulus said in a calm tone. "One of my sons will drive a sword down your heart too."
Everard scoffed and thrust his sword.
"They won't live past tonight," he said as the sword pierced Regulus' chest.
The faces of his wife and children flashed before Regulus' eyes. He didn't scream.
"You must survive..." This was his last thought as darkness enveloped his eyes.