Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 247: First Life, Alice. (14)

Chapter 247: First Life, Alice. (14)

Evening

Springton.

*************

The evening shadows cast long fingers of darkness across the stone corridors of the knight’s quarters. The air was cool and heavy with the scent of burning torches, which flickered and danced in their sconces.

Conrad, a seasoned knight with stern features and a perpetual look of wonderment etched into his face, marched purposefully down the hall, his boots echoing ominously against the hard floor.

In this moment his mind was set on a singular task—confronting the knight he suspected of being a spy for the enemy kingdom of Firseria.

He reached a wooden door, slightly ajar, and pushed it open. The room beyond was dimly lit by a single, guttering candle on a desk cluttered with parchments and quills. Seated at this desk, his posture, one of dejection and anxiety, was a young knight with black hair that fell messily around his face. Holden.

Conrad’s eyes narrowed as he took in the sight of the coal lined eye, Holden, who was holding his head in his hands, clearly troubled. The younger knight looked up, startled, as Conrad entered, his eyes widening with fear.

"S...Sir Conrad," Holden stammered, attempting to rise to his feet, but his legs seemed unwilling to obey.

Conrad remained standing, his imposing figure casting a long shadow across the room. "Holden," he said, his voice cold and hard. "We need to talk."

Holden swallowed hard, his face pale in the flickering light. "I-I haven’t done anything wrong, Sir," he said, his voice shaking.

Nobody talked about him doing anything, they were merely supposed to talk as he had implied but based on Holden’s reply, it was

Conrad’s frown deepened, and he crossed his arms over his chest. "It was you," he said, his voice a low growl.

"S-Sir... Sir Conrad," Holden stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

He was ok with keeping secrets but when he was confronted, he could never lie.

"You are the spy that the Firseria prince has in the castle," Conrad continued, his eyes narrowing further.

"Sir Conrad," Holden pleaded, trying to find the right words.

"Are you or are you not?" Conrad demanded, his tone brooking no argument.

Holden took a deep breath, his voice trembling as he spoke. "Theodore is not a bad person," he began, looking Conrad directly in the eyes.

Conrad’s expression hardened. "That doesn’t change the fact that you’ve been spying."

Holden’s eyes filled with desperation. "Yes, I spied, but not because I wanted to betray our kingdom. Theodore does not want war. He is trying to find a way to end the conflict without more bloodshed."

Conrad’s frown deepened, but there was a flicker of something—perhaps curiosity—in his eyes. "If that is true, then you will arrange a meeting between me and Theodore."

Holden blinked, clearly taken aback by the demand. "A mm-meeting with Prince Theodore?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes," Conrad said, his tone brooking no argument. "If you’re truly not a traitor, then you will do this. You will bring Theodore here, and we will see where your loyalties lie."

Holden’s mind raced, the fear evident in his eyes. He knew the risks of such a meeting, but he also knew that refusing would seal his fate. "I shall do it," he said finally, his voice trembling. "I shall arrange the meeting."

Conrad nodded curtly, his expression unchanged. "Good. And Holden, know this—if you try to deceive me, there will be no mercy."

Holden nodded, swallowing hard. "I understand, Sir Conrad."

With that, Conrad turned and strode out of the room, leaving Holden alone with his thoughts and fears.

The door closed behind him with a resounding thud, echoing like a death knell in the stillness of the evening. Holden slumped back in his chair, his mind a whirlwind of anxiety and dread. He knew that the next few days would be crucial, not only for his own survival but for the fate of his kingdom.

*

* *

*

Borders.

Springton.

**********

Theodore moved swiftly through the dense forest, the moonlight casting a silvery glow over the rugged terrain. He navigated the familiar path back to his camp with ease, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of Alice and their recent escapade. As he approached the clearing where his men were stationed, the sounds of crackling fires and murmured conversations grew louder. The flickering light from the campfires illuminated the makeshift tents, blending into the shadows of the tall trees surrounding them.

Theodore stepped into the camp, and the men looked up, their faces reflecting a mixture of respect and curiosity. Timothy, a grizzled veteran with a gentle heart, was tending to the wounded cat they had rescued earlier. The creature lay nestled in a blanket, its small body rising and falling with each breath.

"Theodore," Timothy called out, his rough voice carrying a note of concern. "How is the girl?"

"She is safe," Theodore replied, a slight smile playing on his lips. "But we have more pressing matters to discuss."

He gathered his men around the largest fire, where the warmth seemed to chase away the chill of the night. The faces of his loyal warriors, hardened by years of battle, turned towards him, waiting for his words.

"We need to talk about Springton," Theodore began, his tone serious. "What have we learned so far?"

One of his men, a burly black soldier named Garret, spoke up. "Springton is stuck in the past, Your Highness. Their buildings are old, many of them crumbling. It’s like they haven’t seen a new structure in decades. The entire kingdom seems to be clinging to the remnants of what once was."

Another soldier, Benjamin, nodded in agreement. "Their defenses are outdated too. We’ve seen fortifications that wouldn’t stand a chance against modern siege tactics. It’s as if they’re blind to the advancements around them."

"But they have thousands of soldiers!" one of the soldier announced uninvited so he was ignored.

Theodore listened intently, his mind processing the information. "Good. This knowledge will be invaluable. We need to find their weaknesses, exploit them if necessary. But remember, our primary goal is not destruction—it’s understanding."

Before they could delve deeper into their discussion, a commotion at the edge of the camp caught their attention. Holden, the young knight from Alice’s kingdom, stumbled into the clearing, his face pale and eyes wide with fear.

Two of Theodore’s men flanked him, ensuring he posed no threat.

"Theodore," Holden gasped, struggling to catch his breath. "I have been caught."

The camp fell silent as Holden’s words hung in the air.

Theodore’s eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward. If he had been caught why was he let free? and why did he think to come here?

"Explain," he commanded instead of asking those burning questions.

Holden took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Alice’s knight, Sir Conrad, found out about my spying. He confronted me, accused me of being a traitor."

Theodore’s jaw tightened. "And what did you tell him?"

"I told him the truth," Holden replied, his voice trembling. "That you are not here to start a war, that you want peace. But he didn’t believe me. He demanded a meeting with you. He wants to see you in person."

Theodore considered this for a moment, his mind racing. "And you agreed to this meeting?"

"Yes," Holden said quickly, desperation in his eyes. "I had no choice. He would have killed me on the spot if I refused."

Theodore glanced around at his men, seeing the concern mirrored in their faces. "We can not ignore this," he said finally. "If Sir Conrad wants a meeting, we shall give him one. But we need to be cautious. This could be a trap."

Timothy stepped forward, his voice calm and steady. "We will have your back, Theodore. Whatever happens, we would not let you face it alone."

Theodore nodded, a sense of determination settling over him. "Prepare for the meeting. We will move at dawn. And Holden," he added, turning to the young knight, "thank you for your loyalty. We will make sure you arre protected."

Holden’s relief was palpable, and he nodded gratefully. As the camp began to buzz with activity, Theodore looked towards the horizon, where the first hints of dawn were beginning to break. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but he knew he had to face it head-on. For Alice, for his men, and for the chance of a lasting peace.

Afterwards, Theodore met with Conrad and although the prince didn’t know on which grounds the knight judged him, he passed the test and Conrad let the inside man go since Theodore insisted he was a good man.

Conrad was now his inside man despite the man would never admit that.

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