- Yeugon! Take me to them.

The latter considered his master, not knowing what to say or do.

- You are so cold that I tremble!

- And I can guarantee you, Yeugon, that these people will tremble even more horribly than you ever will.

He immediately went to the palace of the infidels, the nobles of a very old and very rich princely family who, for some sordid reason, had decided to betray their empire. Moreover they tried to excuse their actions with reasons that unfortunately for them, did not reach their young sovereign.

- Listen, Your Highness, we had to do what we did. It wasn't for the money, no, it was for...

But the words died quickly when they realized that in his terrible rage, the prince did not even listen to the reasons of his former subjects. He called upon a part of his power that he rarely used to destroy the people who had become his unforgivable enemies, a darker, more atrocious magic, to punish those who dared to sell out his people for their own interests.

- I don't care why you sold the keys of our empire to those monstrous beings. The fact is that you did and that's all that matters to me.

The princely couple was wonderfully dressed as was required of their rank. A green and gold suit studded with tiny dustings of shiny gems, a rare leather belt with the family crest engraved in gold on the fine fabric, a light taffeta gown studded with pearls and sparkling moving flowers, a magnificent carved tiara adorning the head of the woman with the selfish thoughts. The one who was begging the prince to give them the opportunity to defend themselves.

- Please, Your Highness. They left us no choice!

- Of course they did. You had the choice to come to us, you had the choice not to give away the codes of our borders. You had a choice in everything. But you chose to take this path. So when you decide on something in your soul and conscience, your duty is to assume the consequences, whatever they are.

Then the body of the prince shone and was covered with very strange and bright magical symbols, then a suffocating fog appeared and spread all around the princely estate, then a gigantic black skeleton engraved with the same symbols as that of the heir emerged from the dark fog, with empty and cold eyes it posed on the doomed cowards.

The giant monster reached out, grabbed the trembling couple in fear and lifted them up right in front of its eyes, watching them squirm desperately, before smiling horribly and slowly opening its mouth to devour them. Which he did, blood gushing from his mouth as he chewed their broken bodies.

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- Mom, dad? Where are you?

- We're home!

Three children appeared at the door and hesitantly entered the large room where the tragic execution took place, looking for their parents. The scene was not lacking in irony, thought the ruler, without mercy.

They were three beautiful children of about twelve, ten and seven years of age, worthy of their noble lineage. And when they saw the prince, they were surprised before bowing in deep reverence.

- Your Highness, please excuse us for entering without warning, but we were looking for our parents.

- I can see that. And you don't have to apologize, because this is your home.

The children tried to be comfortable in the stranger's presence, but despite their efforts and the rather courteous manner of the Grovius heir, something deeply disturbed them in the rigidity and coldness of their host, not to mention the magical black mist that covered their house and all its surroundings.

- Did you produce this suffocating mist? asked the eldest one.

- Yes, but it was just an exercise. I'll make it disappear immediately," he added softly, raising his hand, then glowing before using his power to dispel the mist.

- That was terrifying," the other cadet exclaimed in a shaky voice, snuggling up to his older brother.

- Yes, and I don't understand why you did it. Where are our parents? The elder continued with frightening virulence, guessing but not daring to go further as to what had driven his sovereign to use such terrifying magic.

But the prince looked at them for a moment without answering before opening his mouth.

- Children, tell me, have your parents spoken to you recently about black monsters?

- Black monsters?" the trio exclaimed in chorus, not understanding.

- Yes, monsters that they met and that gave them a lot of money.

- No," replied the second, "but I heard them say that thanks to people in high places, they will become even stronger and more powerful and will reign as kings!

- Shut up, you silly girl," the eldest apostrophized her, covering his younger sister's mouth, understanding that these few specific facts should be kept from the heir to the throne.

- Perhaps it is something important and very secret that should not be revealed to others.

- But it is the prince!" replied his younger sister, not understanding anything, and offended by the harshness of his older brother.

- That's the point, he shouldn't...

Then, realizing what he was saying and confirming it, the eldest stopped abruptly.

- I see.

This was the only comment the prince made when he heard the truth from the children.

- Where are our parents?" the eldest asked again violently, but unfortunately beginning to recognize the terrible reality.

- They left.

At this clear and frightening news, the boy lost his voice for a moment before he could continue.

- What does this mean?

- It means that they are never coming back.

- Never... You killed them, didn't you?

- As you guessed, in that black mist that frightened you so much.

The child stepped back, hugging his younger siblings.

- But why? Why?

- You know very well. Your brothers and sisters don't understand reality yet. You, on the other hand, are well aware of it. They had to be punished for their crime of selling the empire to monsters, and I did it.

- But why kill them?

- Because they themselves killed many people.

The guards soon invaded the traitors' palace, then took the children and took care of everything.