CHAPTER 108 Where Is Henrietta?

Keith

Keith reminded himself that everything was going to be alright. He might have repeated it in his mind three times already, but it bore repeating.

Henrietta was someone he respected, including her choice to get kidnapped. He assumed it was a choice; even he would be hard-pressed to move her if she said no.

Chloe had come up behind him, ready to [Resurrect], but only as a last resort. She never would have offered if it wasn't for Grand Duchess Calisto's backing. Some nobles were … picky about resurrection. Unless it happened in a dungeon, many kingdoms in Valaria ruled that the second a person died, they were barred from inheriting. They were allowed to stay alive, but for all intents and purposes, they were legally dead.

He thought it foolish; how else was anyone supposed to rule for a hundred years as an undead horror?

Honestly, what idiot poisoned someone at the most popular gathering of high-level magic users on the continent anyway? When everyone with half a brain was ready for a poisoning? On second thought, there was a good possibility that all these milling nobles didn't even have half a brain between them. He tried to push through, and a young princess with a tiara and a gown covered in far too many ruffles put her hand on his arm.

"Oh, thank you, Dark Magician King. We were so scared! How did you know what to do?!" Her eyes sparkled, and her cheeks were flushed. Several other young ladies pressed against him.

He didn't have time nor care for explanations. Keith settled on the easiest solution: he released his royal aura from Dark Magician King and used a perk for added measure.

[You have activated the Perk: Intimidate. This has a cone-shaped Area of Effect. Targets affected by the Perk have the temporary condition Fear.]

"Move."

The group surrounding him flinched back, overcome by his attack. Those strong enough to resist were also smart enough to step aside of their own accord.

When an Arcane Sage commonly referred to as the Dark Lord told you to move, you moved.

Keith stalked off, barely hearing Chloe explain. "Her fingernails were turning green, she had pale spots on her neck with white foam on her lips, and it didn't kill her outright—that's wuarg poison. Keith gave her the antidote, so she'll recover. Worst case, she would have died after all of her organs failed, and then I'd have [Revived] her. It's not a nice way to go, though, so I don't recommend it."

"Monfort." Duchess Calisto was beside him as he reached the spot on the dance floor he'd last seen Henrietta. "What is happening?"

Henrietta was on the move, very quickly, and heading not toward their suite. In fact, she was going in the complete opposite direction. "Henrietta is missing. You might want to find her before her sword destroys—That's right, Jacqueline!"

Keith didn't know if the construct had been compromised. He could chase after it throughout the entire palace, or he could follow the sword. He raised an arm and recited the shortcut to a mid-tier spell, "[Haste]."

Mana wrapped around his legs and body. Keith nodded at the grand duchess, and then he was running. He wanted to be there for Ria if she needed him, so he rushed upstairs to their suite of rooms.

He was calculating the inevitable bill when she destroyed a wing of the palace dealing with whatever was happening.

Lilith, carefully cleaning and packing a pile of beauty products, was startled as Keith burst in. "Your Viciousness!"

Jacqueline Tiamat la Fleur lay undisturbed on Ria's bed. Keith stood there, panic worming its way through the pit of his stomach as he picked up the blade. It was restful in his grasp, which meant Ria probably wasn't in danger. She had chosen to walk out of the ballroom without him.

No … No … Trust. Take a deep breath.

He would go back to following the construct. Maybe they had a means to coerce her.

"Lilith," he ordered, "your mistress is missing. Inform the palace staff, block the exits as best you can, and for all the gods"—he picked up Jacqueline—"don't stand near any green tapestries."

He was off again as the final word left his mouth.

Grand Duchess Calisto worked fast, and by the time Keith had reached downstairs, attendants in organized groups were already being dispatched to search the palace grounds. The Spring Ball celebration continued in the ballroom, music echoing around him.

Jacqueline remained undisturbed at his side.

"King Keith!"

Unexpectedly, Gerda ran up to him wearing her flowing purple gown and holding an axe. With her free hand, she pointed at one of the staircases on his left that led exactly to where the construct was guiding him. "I lost Henrietta here, but then I saw the king and queen of Drendil running that way. Actually running. Their rooms are on the fourth floor."

He eyed the troll. She was Henrietta's friend, and a powerful magic user in her own right; she could handle herself. They would divide and conquer. "I will speak to the king and queen. You find Marquess Dorset's room and see if she's there."

Gerda nodded and hurried away. Keith launched himself into action, running. When he reached the stairwell, he took the stairs two at a time.

The fourth floor had three suites, and one of the doors was open. Keith approached the opening slowly.

Two voices were arguing inside.

"Why isn't he here yet?" King Simon whined. "Does he know how hard it was to get here this fast? I had to jog!"

"Inconsiderate, is what it is," Queen Thalia replied. "I don't know what our idiot child sees in that monster. But now that we have her heirlooms back, we have no need—"

"And where is Henrietta?" Keith asked, startling the pair when he stepped into the doorway. The construct button showed up in this room on his [Mind Map], despite Ria being obviously absent. Queen Thalia was in the process of putting on a familiar earring, her fan placed on the low table in front of her.

He resisted the urge to simply kill them now. Chloe could find out everything she needed from her undead—and wouldn't that be just deserts for the royal couple.

"Wouldn't you like to know." Queen Thalia was the first to compose herself.

King Simon stood in between Keith and his wife. He stamped his boot onto the beautiful rug, leaving ugly scuff marks. He drew himself up and said, "Henri is ours. I don't know what brainwashing you've done, but it stops now, Monfort."

"Henrietta is a person. She belongs to no one but herself." Keith walked forward until he loomed over the despicable excuse for a father. "And you lost any right—"

A flash of light flared around Keith, and he threw up his arms, chanting his quickest defensive spell, "[Shield]."

Unfortunately, he wasn't hit by an attack.