Chapter 15: Attack

Killian's pride as a nobleman and swordsman was hurt. 

Being hit by someone who sneaks into the residence is an insult in itself.

"How dare you sneak into a duke's residence? Do you know that death is the price for your reckless actions!" Killian threatened. 

Killian quickly picked up the sword hanging on the wall. He prepared to face the man he thought was the hitman. Killian began to attack and then showed his sword skills to face Curtis. 

"I will kill you without mercy."

They clash in a fierce battle. Only the flash of the sword was clearly visible in the dimly lit Killian room. Curtis had deliberately extinguished most of the candles so that his face could not be seen clearly.

He continued to attack Curtis mercilessly. However, Curtis responded indifferently. And at one point, Killian found his body thrown hard against the wall. Killian surpised because he didn't even have time to see his opponent's movements. He only realized when his body felt crushed when he hit the wall.

Curtis, who had let Killian attack him, became bored. 

And attacked Killian with a hard kick.

Killian tried to get up. But his chest became tight and blood spurted from his mouth.

"Uhuk!"

Unfortunately Curtis had no mercy on the man who dared to touch his luna mate. He vowed to teach the man who had the audacity to touch his soulmate a lesson.

"Don't come any closer!"

Killian felt horror as Curtis approached.

"Guards!" Killian screamed. 

Unfortunately, in one blink of an eye, Killian felt a sense of horror in his hand. It was so painful that he fainted.

"That's what you get for touching my girl," Curtis hissed. His eyes were full of hostility towards the unconscious Killian. 

His blood burned as he remembered how boldly this man's hand had touched Swana. He gave Killian another punch. The punch to the face was a reward for kissing Swana. Then his foot kicked Killian in the stomach until there was a cracking sound. That was the price for daring to desire his girl.

It wasn't long before the guards came storming into Killian's room. They were horrified to see their lord lying unconscious. But far more horrifying was the condition of their lord's hands. Everyone began to wonder what had happened and who had done such sadistic things to their lord.

"What happened?" The butler immediately came to check what happened after receiving the report.

"Duke Killian was attacked. He's injured!"

"What!? Who dares to do this!?" The butler screamed. He checked on Killian and found his lord to be a mess. A swollen and blue face, a bloodied mouth and horrible-looking hands.

"We didn't know. When we came, it was already like this."

"Call a doctor!"

The situation became chaotic. This incident soon spread among the nobles. Rumors circulated that the Killian duke's attack had something to do with the deployment of troops.

Swana also heard about Killian's situation at the palace. She was shocked by the news.

"What, Duke Killian was attacked?"

Noel who was drinking tea with Swana told her all the rumors.

'Good, I should use this to make Noel suspicious of Killian,' Swana thought.

"Why would someone hate Duke Killian like that? Could he have done something wrong?" said Swana. She put her hand in front of her mouth to cover her mouth. But her eyes were watching Noel's reaction.

"I don't know, maybe this has something to do with your Majesty's troop deployment," Noel replied.

His brow furrowed as if thinking about all the possibilities of why Duke Killian was attacked.

"Really? If it's related to the deployment of troops, wouldn't the one to be attacked be His Majesty? I think the attack on Duke Killian was for personal reasons."

"Why do you think that?" asked Noel.

Swana pretended to let out a long sigh. She made the saddest face possible.

"I heard that Duke Killian likes girls even when they are engaged. Many even canceled their engagements because they suspected that their fiancées were having an affair with Duke Killian, it's possible that one of the girls is seeking revenge because she felt cheated by Duke Killian after being used."

Noel fell silent again. Her face looked tense and thoughtful.

'Good, I seem to have succeeded in planting suspicion in Noel's mind,' Swana thought.

"Well, who wants to be betrayed after being used? I hope no fool will use him again," said Swana. "Because I know very well that he is very good at influencing people's minds."

Swana stopped her speech when she saw Princess Yerenika coming. She looked where she and Noel were sitting.

"Swana, why didn't you tell me you were coming?" asked Yerenika with a frown.

"Sorry, beautiful princess. Prince Noel seems to have missed me so he invited me to enjoy tea first," Swana replied with a giggle.

Noel seemed to feel guilty for monopolizing Swana. He honestly wanted to talk to Swana about the condition of his fiancée who was attacked by a mysterious person.

"I'm sorry. I am done with Miss Swana. Now you can talk," Noel said. He left but Swana gave Noel a message. A message that made Noel freeze.

"Our prince must work hard to gain support and strength. Because I heard that His Majesty is trying hard to influence the nobles to support your ascension to the throne. Perhaps he is afraid that there is someone who has more support than you, Prince," said Swana.

Noel's body shivered. She knew what Swana meant. It was as if the girl was saying something she hadn't thought of.

"In a chaotic situation like this, it's possible for human greed to blind a person. Especially one who has a lot of support. The throne is something that everyone wants."

There was a special message contained in Swana's words. 

"Swana, do you realize the consequences of what you said earlier?" said Noel. This time his face was no longer friendly. His tense face began to change into an angry expression.

"I know what you don't even know, Noel. I hope you haven't forgotten that I love my mother's family members very much." Swana replied with a genuine smile. She wanted to show him a side of her that Nole had never thought about. Moreover, she started trusting the wrong man. Unfortunately, that man was her fiance.

Noel left after hearing Swana's message, or should I say a warning. It was clear that the person Swana was referring to who had more supporters than her was Killian. He began to think that what the girl was saying was true. But he couldn't just believe it either. Because Killian was her best friend.

"Is it impossible for Killian to betray me?" Noel murmured.

"But what if what Swana says is true? Swana would never tell a lie about her fiance."

Noel's head was spinning as she thought about the problem. He was hit with a hammer by Swana's words. If Swana's words were true, he would regret for the rest of his life planning to rebel against his father.

"I must investigate before deciding on my course of action."

Noel headed to the office. He wanted to think about what he would do to investigate Swana's words.

Yerenika blinked in amusement as Swana and her brother talked seriously. She, being so innocent, didn't understand what they were talking about. So she asked Swana.

"What are you talking about? It seems very serious." Yerenika had always been protected by the empress, so she didn't know about royal matters at all.

"Nothing serious. I advised Noel to build support and improve relations with His Majesty."

"So, I can't stay here for long. My fiancé is currently ill. It would be rude of me not to visit him," Swana said.

Actually, she was glad Killian was hurt. It could delay her move to Killian's residence.

"Oh, I heard that too. That's a pity. Please give my regards," said Yerenika.

"Thank you for your concern Yerenika. Then I'll take my leave."

Swana headed to the horse-drawn carriage. This time she had to go to Killian's residence as a form of courtesy as a fiancé. But when she arrived at Killian's room, Swana had no idea that Killian's condition was much worse than she thought.

Killian was completely battered.

Tbc.