Chapter 94: Reckoning of Allegiances
"Why did you stop, Duke? Is this the extent of your strength?" the ruler said, furrowing his brows, but the Duke remained calm. He got up from the bloody battlefield with no weapon in his hand.
"I surrender, ruler of the tribal empire. You can keep me as a prisoner, but let the prince go. I know you want to take revenge on the emperor for making you do things, despite you being one of his subjects. I know. I will help you seek revenge. I will do whatever you want, just let the prince go," the Duke said, looking down at the ground.
"Why? Why would you help me seek revenge against the emperor? Aren’t you one of the emperor’s loyal subjects?" the ruler asked.
"I was, but not anymore. I have realized what I’ve lost during this phase, and I want to reclaim what’s important to me," the Duke stated as he walked forward, approaching the ruler without making any argument.
"I can trust you, even after how you betrayed the princess?" the ruler inquired.
"That was a terrible mistake on my part, and I accept it. I shouldn’t have done that. But please, release the prince. We can work together to achieve our mission," the Duke pleaded.
"Duke Alexavier, although I have no desire to join forces with you, your words sound sincere, and I’m willing to give you a chance. I will allow you to take the prince in the hope that our mission to destroy the Duclea Empire can proceed," the ruler said. He then led the Duke to the prison where the prince was held, hanging and bleeding.
The Duke rushed to the prince’s side, unshackling him and helping him down.
"Alex, what have you done?" Maximus could barely speak, but he managed to utter the words.
"I let her go with you so that you could bring help, but what did you do? You put her in prison instead. Is that the Duke I knew? I can’t recognize you anymore. I don’t remember the man I once knew," Maximus said in a low, sorrowful tone, his Adam’s apple moving with the effort of speaking.
"I apologize for what I’ve done," the Duke said through clenched teeth.
"This apology won’t take you anywhere, Duke. From now on, the respect I had for you has vanished. You are no longer the man, the friend I once knew," Maximus said, pushing the Duke’s hand away, trying to move toward the prison door, though he was trembling on the verge of collapsing.