Both men looked to him. Fermak gently placed fingers on the Duke's neck to check his pulse.
"…He's gone," the doctor said. Then, respectfully, he closed the Duke's eyes with one hand.
"I'll go inform the others."
"I'll stay here until his family arrives. Is that alright?"
"…Of course," Gustav nodded and left the room.
Silence fell.
Fermak remained seated, unmoving, saying nothing. Eventually, he thought, I should cover the body. He pulled a white sheet from the bed and draped it over the Duke.
Just as he finished, he noticed Anna standing in the doorway.
He quietly gathered his things and left the room, making his way downstairs. Gustav was waiting.
"You're leaving already?" Gustav asked. "I've prepared a carriage for you. It'll take you home safely."
"Thank you," Fermak replied.
As they walked outside toward the carriage, Gustav added, "I share your sorrow."
"I only hope that…" the doctor began, but trailed off.
"I understand," Gustav said. "Take this secret with you to the grave."
"You have my word." The doctor nodded solemnly.
"That eases my heart." Gustav turned to Scott. "Scott, take this gentleman home. Then return quickly."
"Yes, Sir!" Scott climbed up, cracked the reins, and the carriage rolled off.
Gustav returned inside and headed straight for Alaris's room.
"Sir Valorant, what happened?"
"Unfortunately, he got away."
"…What?! What do we do now?"
"We have to find him. Quickly. Otherwise, he'll be a serious threat."
"But he couldn't have gotten far—it hasn't been long."
"I don't understand how he escaped. Suna and Anna were right outside the door. There's no way they didn't see him."
"Then… who's lying in the hallway?" Gustav asked, shocked.
"It's a body, yes… but not the real one. Not the main body. If we can locate the original, destroying him will be much easier."
During this time, Anna had finally calmed down. The fear that had gripped her began to fade. As she overheard the conversation between Valorant and Gustav, it felt to her as though they were talking about her grandfather like he was an object.
Infuriated by their words, Anna snapped.
"What are you saying? What happened to my grandfather? Tell me everything—right now!" she shouted at Valorant, demanding an explanation.
"We don't have time for that," Valorant replied firmly. "We must either find Alaris's main body and destroy it, or leave this place at once."
"If you don't explain everything to me right now, I'm not going anywhere!" she yelled. "Tell me—why did he try to kill me?!
"…Perhaps we should explain," Gustav interjected cautiously.
"That would only waste time," Valorant grunted.
"He couldn't have gone far. I'll search for him. You explain everything to Anna."
"Check every corner of the mansion—leave no room unchecked. I'll tell her."
"Understood." Gustav nodded and rushed out of the room.
"Anna," Valorant said as he turned to her. "Listen to me. I'll tell you everything I know before Gustav returns. You'd better sit down."
He began recounting the truth.
Years ago, when Valorant had just turned sixteen, he enrolled in the Chronos Academy. His family held a respected position within the Flame Kingdom, so admission hadn't been an issue.
Not long after enrolling, he met Alaris—who at the time was a prince of the royal family. Eventually, the two became close friends.
However, once they graduated, they went their separate ways. Valorant joined the Flame Kingdom's military division dedicated to combating demons. His talent and discipline quickly earned him the respect of his superiors, and the general at the time named him his successor.
Years passed. Valorant rose through the ranks, and one day, fate brought him face to face with Alaris once more. But Alaris had changed—not just his appearance, but his aura, his very presence.
One day, as Valorant was walking through the palace, he encountered Alaris in a corridor.
"Ah, my old friend! Valorant, how are you?"
"Good day… Prince Alaris," he replied formally.
"Come on now," Alaris chuckled. "Let's drop the formalities. We're friends, aren't we? There's no need for all that etiquette when speaking to me. Just call me 'old friend,' that's enough."
"I… can't do that."
"Yes, you can! I give you permission. Next time we meet, call me that. Deal?"
"…As you wish."
"Well then, I must go. There's still much to be done. Farewell!" And with a wave, Alaris walked off.
But rumors about Alaris soon began to spread—whispers that he was dabbling in dark magic. The accusations reached high places, and eventually he was stripped of his claim to the throne. Instead, his younger brother, Victor, was crowned king.
Alaris wasn't angry by this. His father granted him the title of Duke and gave him vast lands to govern freely. He became immensely wealthy.
Then, years later, the Flame Kingdom was attacked by Astaroth, one of the top demon generals under the Demon King. His forces devastated the northern cities.
At the time, Victor sat on the throne, and Valorant had already been promoted to general. As the war reached its peak, King Victor was killed in battle. The morale of the army plummeted, and the soldiers began to fall in defeat.
The kingdom was being overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Still, Valorant managed to defeat the enemy general, Astaroth, during battle—though it nearly cost him his life. But even after Astaroth's death, the demons did not retreat.
Because of his injuries, Valorant could no longer fight. Seeing the situation grow desperate, Alaris made a fateful decision.
"No matter what it takes," he had said, "we must win this war."
And so, he turned to forbidden magic—Soulless Necromancy.
Soulless Necromancy is a form of dark magic that raises the dead not by calling back their souls, but by utilizing the lingering knowledge and instincts left in their bodies during life. Like puppets, they moved and fought intelligently, obeying only their master's commands.
"Thus," Valorant explained, "the Flame Kingdom won the war. But no one was told how. Those who did know were ordered to keep silent. What Alaris had forgotten was this: dark magic always demands a price. The greater the spell, the greater the cost."