Chương 113: A Monster Like You

Oscar was in his room, trying on various royal outfits in front of the mirror. In a few days, he would officially announce to the kingdom that Matilda was expecting his heir. A servant showed him a golden outfit decorated with elaborate floral embroidery. Oscar looked at it with disgust.

"Tell me…do I look like a woman?" he asked without taking his eyes off the outfit.

"Of course not, Your Majesty".

"Then don't show me anything with flowers. Don't you have anything with swords? Or skulls?" The servant lowered his gaze.

"No, Your Majesty. This was the last one". Oscar sighed in annoyance.

"I'm the most powerful man in the world and I don't even have a decent outfit".

"Your Majesty, we can go into the city and buy more. Within an hour, we'll have all the outfits you desire".

"There's no need…I might have left some in the queen's chambers".

"Would you like me to send someone to check?"

"No. I'll go myself". The servant nodded.

"As you wish". Oscar left his room and headed toward Matilda's chambers. He opened the door without knocking, as he usually did. Matilda jumped and quickly hid something underneath the bed. Oscar noticed it immediately.

"Your Highness…what brings you here?" she asked tensely.

"What are you hiding?" he asked.

"N-nothing". A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Oscar took a step forward.

"Get up".

"I'm a little tired, I'd like to-" He did not let her finish. He grabbed her by the arm and pushed her off the bed. Then he lifted the mattress and saw a bottle of wine, still half full. Matilda's breathing became ragged.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry!" she stammered.

"You're drinking despite being pregnant?" Oscar asked calmly.

"I'm sorry, Oscar…I'll never drink again, I swear! I'll never touch another drop of alcohol!" Oscar waved his hand, as if inviting her to calm down. Then he slowly approached her. Matilda was trembling. He placed his hands on her shoulders and gently stroked her hair.

"Look at you", he said calmly.

"You shouldn't be this afraid of your husband". Then his tone changed, becoming icy.

"But you lied to me. You said you had stopped drinking. And yet you continue doing it in secret while carrying the future heir to the kingdom".

"I've been drinking much less since I found out I was pregnant…I swear, I thoug-" Oscar placed a finger against her lips.

"Calm down…calm down". A moment later, he grabbed her by the throat and squeezed hard. Matilda felt the air leave her lungs.

"If I catch you drinking again, the consequences will be severe. Blink twice if you understand". Matilda blinked twice. Oscar released her. She immediately brought her hands to her neck and began coughing. Her face was already flushed. Oscar headed toward the door, but stopped for a moment on the threshold.

"The soldiers will search this room from top to bottom. You may have hidden other bottles, considering how much of an alcoholic you are". Then he turned toward her and stared at her with icy eyes.

"Oh, and if the future heir to the kingdom is born malformed or with any condition that compromises their ability to rule as sovereign…I will have you beheaded". With that, he left the room. Matilda remained sitting on the bed, clutching her neck, her eyes filled with tears and her expression full of anger and frustration. Loxia Faelira stared at Xarath, who stood motionless before her.

"You're not going to attack me?" she asked.

"Are you waiting for me to make the first move?" Xarath did not answer. Faelira placed her hands on the ground. The earth trembled violently. Xarath teleported behind her and unleashed a devastating shockwave, but Faelira blocked it instantly by conjuring a transparent barrier. Xarath began moving at an incredible speed, appearing and disappearing all around her. Then he threw a direct punch. Faelira narrowly dodged it and struck him in the stomach with a kick, sending him flying. Xarath attempted to get back up.

At that moment, a golden circle formed beneath him. He felt his body become immobilized. Then he looked upward.

"This can't be…" A tremendously powerful pillar of golden light descended from the sky. It struck him head-on. Faelira held one hand toward the sky.

"Die, brother!" she shouted. Xarath clenched his teeth as pain coursed through his body.

"She's grown stronger over the past century…" he thought.

"This spell would melt any mage alive". Faelira watched him with a tense expression.

"Even with the limiters, he's still monstrously powerful…"

"How great is your power really, Xarath? If I don't stop you now, no one ever will".

"It's time for a monster like you to die once and for all". The golden light grew even more intense, crushing Xarath against the ground. He clenched his teeth, enduring the pain.