140 Chapter 140: Death

He nodded at the guards waiting in front of the throne room, who immediately bowed. The guard knocked and opened the door allowing the ongoing loud debate to reach Usui's ears.

The guard announced loudly,

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince of Sun kingdom has arrived with Prince Zelal and a silver-haired lady."

King Julian who was sitting upon the throne, watching the events unfold in boredom, raised his eyebrow in surprise. 

'Why was that brat back?'

He sent a warning glare to his ministers, who knew nothing other than sticking their noses into places they needn't care. The ministers quietened down before Julian waved the guard to let them in.

The guard jolted in surprise before bowing and moving out of the way for Usui to enter. 

Everyone stared at the door and saw the arrogant Crown Prince enter the halls, followed closely by a grinning Zelal and breathtaking beauty with a kid in her arms.

Usui bowed down and greeted, "Long live, your Majesty"

Julian leaned back towards his chair as he observed the prince. He pursed his lips as he couldn't understand why the prince was behaving so strangely, unlike the first time.

For Usui, things were simple. He has to treat his future father-in-law dearly. 

He raised his head when he heard Julian ask, "What brings you here, Crown Prince Usui?"

Usui smiled before looking at Stella making Julian ask curiously, "And, who might this beautiful lady be?"

Stella stepped forward and smiled brightly, taking everyone's breath away. 

"My name is Stella, your Majesty"

"Stella?" Julian knitted his brows when he suddenly widened his eyes and asked, "Are you that hag's- ahem...Julie's daughter?"

Stella nodded making Julian clap his hands eagerly. He laughed, "I have always wanted to meet you. But your mother never allowed it."

Stella laughed along with the king and winked, "Mother can be quite childish, right?"

He agreed wholeheartedly, "Agreed"

Stella liked the King in her first meeting itself. He was kind enough to not announce the fact that she was an adopted daughter. He didn't make her lose face in front of all these vultures, who were always ready to tear a person apart with their poisonous tongues.

Julian smiled at Stella before turning to Usui with a frown, "So?"

Zelal chuckled as he whispered, "Looks like father-in-law doesn't like you, brother"

Usui confidently said, "It doesn't matter"

Zelal looked at him confusedly to which Usui smirked, "I'm the best out there for his daughter."

Zelal and Stella rolled their eyes at him.

Julian scrunched his brows as he looked at the sleeping kid on her shoulders.

Before he could ask, one of the ministers interjected and asked, "How can we believe your words? How can we be sure that you aren't here to harm us?"

"Tsk" Zelal tutted "Since when were ministers allowed to interject in your king's presence?"

The minister was taken aback before he glanced at the king, who had a darkened face. He hurriedly bowed and said, "My Apologies, Majesty. I was just too worried whether they were fooling us"

Stella glanced at him and coldly said, "Is this enough proof for you?"

The minister frowned at the obvious disrespect but when he turned around and saw what she was holding, he shivered.

It was the Princess's pendant that held the power of ordering their royal troops. How could the Princess lend it to some outsiders?

Little did he know that Hazel trusted these outsiders than the people wandering inside her castle.

Julian cleared his throat making the minister scatter to his seat. He looked at Stella and asked, "Who is this boy?"

Stella rubbed the little guy fondly and said, "We found him in a damaged house in Vernania city"

Julian widened his eyes and asked, "The place where the demons attacked?"

Stella nodded her head sadly. 

Julian sighed understanding fully well why his daughter made the boy come here. He shook his head before looking at the guard and ordered, "Bring the little prince here"

The guards nodded and left the room, leaving the throne room in silence.

Another one of the ministers looked at the prince and asked curiously, "How come you met our princess when you are from her rival academy?"

This time, Julian wasn't angry because he too wanted to ask this question. 

Usui looked at the minister before his eyes shifted to the king who was nervously waiting for his answer.

He smirked, "When I went back to my kingdom, I couldn't stay away from your daughter. So, I decided to change academies and joined the Royal Mages."

Julian clutched the chair tightly as his vein popped out from his forehead. 

He spat out with difficulty, "I thought you hated my daughter, Prince Usui"

Usui nodded and smiled, "I changed my mind"

Julian glared at him and wished he could stab this brat to death. He glared at the ministers who hurriedly got up on their feet and scattered out of the hall like mouses.

Usui whistled, "That was fast"

He turned around and saw Julian standing in front of him, his entire figure blazing in fury.

"Listen here, you brat-"

His words were cut short with the arriving footsteps. He cursed under his breath before putting his doting father's face and looked at the door.

"Come here, son" 

He waited for his son to come to him but to his utter disappointment, he saw his son's eyes brighten and hurry towards the brat. Instantly his face darkened as he glared at the brat for stealing his son and daughter.

Rin shouted happily, "Big brother" and raised his hands towards Usui. 

Usui smiled brightly and turned around, totally ignoring the fuming king, and lifted Rin in his arms.

"Hello, Little Rin. Did you miss me?"

Rin nodded his head, clutching his shirt happily before he asked excitedly, "Are you here to bring me along with you?" making Usui chuckle softly.

He pinched his cheek as he said, "No, we are here to keep you company."

Julian asked completely riled up, "Company? You are planning on staying?"

Usui grinned at Julian making the latter grit his teeth.

"Yes... we do plan on staying here for a while"

Rin tilted his head cutely and looked between his father and Usui before shrugging away.

His eyes shifted to the beautiful lady who was holding a boy on her shoulders. 

He knitted his brows as he asked curiously, "Who is he?"

Usui looked at Zack and said, "Your sister wanted us to bring him here, to give you a friend. You need to take care of him well because he is all alone in this world"

Rin looked at Usui and asked worriedly, "No one?"

Usui nodded making the latter purse his lips. Rin nodded his small head and said, "I will take care of him well"

Usui rubbed his head fondly and said, "That's my good brother"

"Now, come here, let me introduce you to my cousin, Stella"

Rin looked in the direction he was looking and saw the beautiful lady smile at him warmly.

He gaped at her and said, "Beautiful" making everyone chuckle. 

Stella smiled at the cute boy and said, "Thank you, sweet Rin"

But then her smile froze when she saw Rin stare at her in horror. She immediately looked behind her in warning but found no one there. 

She frowned and looked at Rin who was still staring at her in horror.

Stella looked at Usui worriedly before calling out, "Rin?"

Usui glanced at Rin who was staring into thin air, his green eyes widened as if he was in danger.

Julian who was standing some distance away, sulking that his son prefers everyone over him instantly turned to Usui with a frown.

He froze and his eyes widened as he thought, 'Could it be-

He hurriedly approached him and hugged his son in his arms before he glanced at the guards and ordered, "Guards, show them their rooms."

And he turned around to the three people and said, "Please leave and take some rest."

Usui frowned looking at Rin who was shaking in the king's arms, "What's wrong with him?"

Julian hugged his son tight and hurried them to leave.

"He is just tired. He will be better after some rest, so please leave for now."

Not waiting for their response, Julian immediately turned around to walk away. Usui knitted his brows wondering what was up with him when he saw Rin waking up from his daze and looking at him.

Usui froze at that one glance. His eyes... his eyes were golden. His entire demeanor seemed to change a little as Rin met Usui's eyes.

All of a sudden, a strange hissing voice echoed inside the room, stopping Julian in his tracks. The voice made everyone tremble as it said one word... one word which was enough to stop everyone's breath,

"Death"