Chapter 217 - Massacre

The spectacular landscape of the headland that housed the lighthouse fascinated Alexa's eyes for a moment. Alexander was tired, as he said, and she took back the command as they rode.

The waves sparkled on the unusually sunny day, and seagulls and other seabirds crossed the skies with their strange sounds. This vision gave Lex the hope that they could finally get out of the dark period that Holstein was going through.

Spring had come!

Wasn't it just that darkness and fear gave way to what was blooming and bright?

As the Prince Regent got off his horse in the lighthouse' courtyard and saw the military deployment come towards him quickly, all of them trying to appear composed and dignified.

Lex found it strange to find a new deployment to guard the lighthouse. Wasn't the witch dead?

'Did you know that, in a bygone era, they believed the flight of birds could predict the future?' Lex asked her soul mate.

'And can you read the omens?' Alexander asked, taking the bait.

'Yes,' she lied, making a small frame with her hands and looking through the square shape. 'It depends on their behavior, which way they go and what kind of birds they are. For example, seeing a bird fighting with another in the sky isn't auspicious... But there are other more subtle hints of the future.'

'And what are the omens for our future?' Alexander asked, eager to learn more.

Closing one eye and using only the other to peer through the square frame, Lex slowly turned. Maybe she could see something funny to cheer Alexander up before they entered the lighthouse.

The infinitely blue sky and the birds she had no idea what they meant came into view as she spun around.

The sea and the waves crashing on the rocks, at the other end of the shore, and the rocks near the lighthouse ... Nothing interesting or inspiring.

'Did you see anything?' the real prince asked, eager for an answer.

'Nothing important. I'm letting my intuition guide me, don't get in the way. '

Lex's sight inspected the Prince Regent's personal guard, led by Balbo, then the seven lighthouse guards and the janitors, lined up in nervous anticipation. In the background, the low-ceiling housing, made of stone, and…

'Alexa. Did you see what I saw? '

'Uh? What are you talking about? '

'A person at the window. A person peering out the window. '

Lex turned there, still peering as before, and only saw one window ajar. But there was no one there.

There was only one way to find out.

"Sergeant," the Prince turned to the man a little ahead of the others, "Is there anyone else here?"

The sergeant hesitated for a moment, but said,

"No, Your Highness. Everything is as ordered by the Sovereign Prince. Nobody but the caretakers."

'Pffff, no one respects a handsome Prince, see, Alexander?' it was boring to think even dogs obeyed Magnus' voice, and even though Alexander asked a direct question, as Prince Regent, the man lied so blatantly.

'Uh. They are very mistaken about me. I'm not just Alexander the Beau, I'm also an excellent swordsman! My master said that!'

She felt like she had heard something like this before.

'I shouldn't be out there ruining your reputation, Alexander, the Beau,' despite making a small provocation, Alexander was really a handsome man, and the title fits him very well. And Alexa was possibly screwing it up! As much as he told her they were the same, there were some important differences.

But, at that moment, the Second Prince needed to at least impose his authority as Regent. Turning towards the accommodation, the Prince warned,

"I am thirsty. I will take the opportunity to inspect your quarter's general conditions."

The silent but restless reaction from the lighthouse crew was only a confirmation of what Alexander had seen.

Signing for Balbo, the Prince went to the main door of the lodge.

Balbo opened the door and went in first, as expected.

Even before the Prince set foot on the doorstep, Lex heard the sounds of struggle, and apprehensively stopped. His guards surrounded him, protecting him from both the outside and the inside. However, the lighthouse soldiers did not move, only showing on their faces the apprehension of those who already knew they were in great, great trouble.

Balbo was pulling someone out, and the person was struggling and gasping. Only when it was brought into the light of day could the Second Prince's shock be greater with what he saw.

"Jette?!"

The troubadour lady was placed in front of the Prince by Balbo, who kept her secure by the collar of her flamboyant shirt. Jette Allegoria was scared and furious, and gasped when she was found there.

Lex felt Alexander's agitated state, and even though he didn't say it, she knew the first question was,

"What are you doing here?!"

"Your Highness! Allow me to present my reasons ...! "

A stab of headache throbbed in his temple, and Lex narrowed his eyes, turning his back on Jette for a moment,

'Alexander! Many rumors came out of that lighthouse, and I never knew the source. These men are either weak, or corrupt, or both. You need to tell me what you want to do about it! '

'You are right! These are also not the men who were here the other time. But I also don't like that they lied to the Regent, let alone that... ' after a sigh of a heart full of distrust and hurt, Alexander added,' They must be stopped and punished. Jette ... she needs to confess the reasons for being here. '

The Second Prince looked at Balbo,

"Captain, the detachment of the lighthouse disobeyed orders and thought they would get away with it. They must be punished."

Balbo nodded, and the artist's eyes widened,

"No! Don't do this, Your Highness. They are not to blame. I came here to entertain them. This is a lonely, isolated, and boring place. We sang songs, play dice, and…"

"Shut up, Jette! How dare you?! Did you find a new and very specific audience, so suddenly ?! What do you want here?"

Balbo threw her to the ground and ordered another soldier to watch her, while he turned to the group of lighthouse soldiers.

The troubadour looked at the spear pointed at her suspiciously, and then looked up at the Second Prince,

"Your Highness! It's not a lie! Your Highness knows me so well! But it's my fault, all mine! I've been coming here… why I wanted to write a song about your wedding! And some stories say that…"

'Do you really believe her, Alexander? I don't know what this woman wants, but I can't believe she is that innocent,' the heart in her chest pounded in a painful way as if a splinter was in the middle of her chest. Alexa knew how disappointed Alexander was.

"Jette! You really think I'm a stupid fool who will swallow all your words, don't you?"

"You… you're not Alexander! I know you aren't!" The troubadour's lady eyes took on a dangerous glow when she changed her posture, and revealed what she knew with sadistic pleasure,

"You are not Alexander and you did a spell in this place! You and the captive sorceress stole the Prince's body! This farce of Santa Alexa is just a scam, damn Satan witch! Listen, men! This is not the Prince! The witch possessed his body! And that man!" she pointed at Balbo, making Lex look over his shoulders. Balbo was bringing the sergeant to his knees in front of him, but he turned to them when she did it. Jette continued, literally spitting out the words,

"That man is the cathedral's marksman! He tried to kill Prince Magnus at the parade! I saw him! He's her slave!"

Jette's passionate words were spoken so vehemently that even the Prince shuddered. There were too many things at once, and Jette looked at the Prince with abject disgust and bloodshot eyes.

Many things happened in one moment.

The lighthouse soldiers, impacted by the words of the bard, left their state of astonished restlessness and submission.

A shout cut the air,

"It's not the Prince! It's the witch!" followed by a cry of a soldier rebelling and advancing with a spear towards the Regent.

Lex spun around in time to see Balbo cut the sergeant's head. Blood splashed through the air, in a perfect arc, and the slaughter began.

Soldiers take up positions to defend the Prince against the rising of the lighthouse detachment.

Jette took the moment to grab the soldier's spear and push him, running for the rocks.

The soldier recovered quickly and turned to capture her, but the Prince grabbed his arm, shaking his head,

"Leave her!" It wasn't Alexa, but Alexander, using everything he could to prevent Jette's death.

Balbo and the elite guard had little difficulty against the lighthouse deployment men. Lex witnessed a Thanaion other than his brother in action again, and Balbo Cerdán was eerily effective and clean in his movements.

In a matter of minutes, it was over.

Then everything went quiet, very quiet.

The sounds of swords and spears, the roars of men and the sounds of fighting, or the final gurgles seeking life, were no longer heard. There was only a red and grotesque scene on the ground in front of the lighthouse.

Nauseating.

'Balbo… tried to kill Magnus…?' both Alexa and Alexander asked themselves, in unison.

His heart ached more and more, so hurt, and everything became blurred and dark, while Balbo came towards the Prince Regent.