Chapter 171 - The Undead King's Heart

Faustina blinked.

Fortuna…torum?

Claire Fortunatorum?

Faustina's chocolate-brown eyes were pinned to Claire Almost everyone was deeply surprised at the revelation. 

Fortunatorum.

That name was engraved in every aspiring mage—the name of a prodigy who was taken by the Forsaken warlock and disappeared without a trace after the massacre of Feursturm's royal family. The ones who showed no surprise whatsoever in their faces were the nobles such as Anakin and the ones with Claire, and also Leviticus, whose observant eyes were unmoving from Claire.

"Are you guys aware of what the dark castle is?" Claire exclaimed. "If you're not aware of the story, then you might find it hard to believe my theory."

Leviticus turned to his group. They were all apprehensive and uncertain. Leviticus only gave them brief explanations, after all. They only absorbed factual information, like reading a single passage on a book without thinking that it is more than anything other than a fact.

--

"I think I have figured out how the undead royals operate. Their soul occupies the room they're fond of, or where they died." Claire exclaimed. "The queen is in the halls because it's her sanctuary. The princess is in her room because that is probably where she died. The undead prince is in places where his remains are scattered. All have corresponding places where they belong."

"So?"

Faustina blinked. How did Claire know about those things?

"So I figured, from the undead queen's memory, there is probably a hint where the undead king is."

"Definitely not the greenhouse," Leviticus answered. "We already checked there."

"Then where is the other place he goes?" Claire smirked. "Other than his queen's chambers..."

Faustina blinked.

"Th-the maid's quarters...?" Faustina uttered, which made Claire smile.

--

Claire said these words with sheer conviction. Although it was just a theory she hypothesized, she was confident that they were the truth. Leviticus stared at Claire with deep understanding.

"Let's hear you out," Leviticus exclaimed. "I know the story of the dark castle, but I'm unable to formulate a theory like yours."

Claire only smiled. "Alright then. We should start from the very beginning."

"Ever since the dawn of time, the inhabitants of the two continents opposed each other. Zuerst prided themselves as good and had a purpose to obliterate the people of the second continent. Zweite, whose populace used dark magic, was seen as evil. They had warlocks, demons, and monsters swarming their land. But the terrain wasn't all dystopia as the sun rises on the east. Zweite was a land of beauty and light—yet it has harbored gloom within its depths."

"For a course of three hundred years, Zuerstians and Zweitens fought." Faustina murmured.

"And so… the dark castle ranges back to the Great War where Zweite and Zuerst were fighting for the unification of the world—a battle that shall determine who will rule Earthland… well, at least they believed that kind of thing at that time. The two continents were at scuffle to which forces would dominate the other. From the holy scriptures, it was said that the two continents were two, separate and different worlds—but a certain royal family that was from a small island in Zweite believed otherwise."

"…It was the Dark Royals, who governed a country that was long forgotten."

"The Dark Royals were believed to be advocates for peace and were the critics of Zuerstians' self-righteousness."

"Oh. That's when his quote comes in," Leviticus murmured. Surprisingly, Claire heard it.

"Who dares to call themselves purely good, but fails to recognize no one is inherently evil?" Leviticus and Claire said in chorus as they stared at each other. Faustina glanced at the two of them, who were inevitably smiling as they speak.

"The king repeatedly asked those words to the populace. "No one in Zweite nor Zuerst can become a demon nor an angel, as we are all equal. The war is futile; people clashing amongst themselves is utterly foolish. Stop the Great War, for nothing good, will come out of it." Claire exclaimed.

"The king of that forgotten country spouted words that were virtuous and just… however, no one could take him seriously as he is a man of immorality. It was evident how he was having s.e.x.u.a.l affairs to the maids, noblewomen, commoners, and many others while neglecting his wife and children. He also had vices and had his country impoverished and his people being discriminated against."

"…He was a lowlife who even snatched married women from their husbands unwillingly by abusing his authority as a king. People lost respect to him and the royals from the two continents paid no heed to his advice as he is considered a hypocrite."

"…disgusting," Michelle said as she grimaced.

"Scriptures recorded only bits and pieces of the Dark Royals, barely mentioning anything about the fallen royal family. But there was something notable about them that still made the sections in several textbooks."

"The first royal massacre recorded in history," Anakin exclaimed and then blinked in surprise as he realized the group turned towards him. "W-what? That's the only notable thing about them, after all!"

Claire faked a cough. "In the Year 300 when the war was nearing its end, the Dark Royals were attacked by Warlocks. The whole family, including the servants, were killed so gruesomely. The maids were beheaded and their bodies were castrated and cooked. Their broiled bodies are then given to the reluctant royal family who is then forced to eat the stewed, human flesh."

"The first gruesome murder in history was only a small section in Magierstadt's textbooks, even considered as something insignificant. The royal family was then killed by the Warlocks and cursed for all eternity to have their souls wandering to the Dark Castle."

"Anddd this," Claire smiled. "This is what the textbooks did not include."

Faustina listened, connecting the story of Claire into the undead queen's memory which flashed before all of them minutes ago. Faustina then turned to Leviticus, who was deep in thought as he listened to Claire.

"The undead king froze his heart as well." She says. "Right after the maid was killed in front of him."

"Ooh..."

"Hm... that's what happened, huh," Leviticus murmured. 

"So… does that make sense?" Claire asked. "I hope it does."

"It does, actually," Leviticus exclaimed; caressing his chin. "Your theory is that the king is in the maid's quarter, right?"

"Yes," Claire answered. "Where could he be other than the place where he finds comfort the most? And it is likely he also died in there, considering he's a lecher. I bet he got killed on the act."

Faustina blinked. Anakin reddened, and the commoners were taken aback.

"Claire, your manners…" One of the nobles scolded.

"Oh, right. I was trying to hold it back earlier. Now the distance is closing, I can finally speak." Claire smiled at all of the flabbergasted people around her.

This… is a noble lady.

She was like an entirely different person a while ago… or is she? Faustina glanced towards Claire, who was now talking to Anakin and Leviticus, who were also formulating plans. Although it was a shocking sight to see—to have everyone actually cooperate in the end—Faustina still couldn't help but have her thoughts wander into another matter.

…Or another person, in this case.

Claire Fortunatorum… and Eula.

Other than the red hair and the green eyes, they didn't look much alike. But they way Claire spoken, and the way she brazenly articulated her words… it reminded her of Eula.

She was Eula's descendant.

A relative of her master.

"There is a possibility that the undead king is in the throne room as well," says Leviticus. "It's one of the obvious things one may consider. If we're heading to the throne room, it'll be easier since it's near this hall."

"I considered that as well," Claire exclaimed. "But I figured there were just too many hints pinning down the undead queen and his maid. The throne room could be a trap, given how obvious it is. I think it'll be safer to take a detour to the servant's room—and then—that's when we'll fight."

**

The group took a detour towards the servant chambers. And along the way, they encountered various monsters whom they had fought. And Faustina was surprised how easy it took.

Cooperation.

When they all reunited (at least, those who passed the exams), fighting cyclops, trolls, goblins, and ghosts, seemed to be a piece of cake. At that point in time, Faustina felt momentary ease. And it had lasted for a while until they neared the servant's chambers.

Faustina tightened her grip around her staff. On the way here, Claire, Leviticus, and Anakin already along with the groups already planned. They were divided into three groups. The first group would be Anakin, Claire, and Leviticus; the second would be the nobles (which included Faustina), and then the larger group would be the commoners.

The first group would be the one in charge of attack—the second group would be the support—whilst the third group with be the shield. The three most skilled will be the one to find the weak spot, whilst the nobles would serve as the baits and the general support. The commoners, given their number, would provide the shield to the ones in the front line.

It was a plan that mitigates the risk of anyone failing.

"Listen," Claire exclaimed. "Like the queen, the king's weak spot is also his heart."

"How do you know it's his heart?" Anakin asked.

"I am Claire Fortunatorum," Claire said, curving her lips as she opens the large door in front of them, which then revealed the darkness within.

"Of course. I would know. Besides... he froze his heart because he didn't want his heart to break, right?" Claire smiles. "It would only make sense to make something you don't want to get hurt as your weakness."