As Lord Evans tried to get closer, the troops formed an even tighter area around Eilownia and Marix with their weapons up.

"HALT! You shall not step any further! Otherwise, we the Viraaz Army, will continue forward in the offensive!" One of them warned loudly.

Lord Evans scoffed and rolled his eyes at the sight, then glared at Eilownia. She could practically feel his gaze stabbing into her.

Eilownia placed her hand over her mouth as she stifled a gag. Was this nerves or was it her morning sickness? Or perhaps it was the disbelief that a parent could ever look at their child this way now that she was busy creating her own.

"How dare you barge your way onto my property again and raise your weapons at me?! I command you give me Eilownia back at once!" Lord Evans commanded, his eyebrows furrowed and a fire raging in his eyes.

Marix scoffed, "Give her back? Oh but Lord Evans you sold her to Elaide, that means she no longer belongs to you. And, well, Elaide handed her over to me. It’s a perfectly legal trade, I don’t think there is anyone who can disagree."

He hated the idea of mentioning Eilownia in terms of livestock, but he knew using Lord Evans’ language would get under his skin more than anything.

"Do you disagree? Why don’t we call the police to come and investigate? I’m sure they’d love to hear what I have to say."

Eilownia clutched tighter onto his arm, her nails dug into his skin through the small hole in his armor. He could feel her trembling and pressing herself further against him.

He reached his free arm back and wrapped it around her, then tilted his head towards her without taking his eyes off of Lord Evans. "Do not be afraid. This will be over soon. I have you."

Marix gave her a reassuring squeeze and gently rub of her back as he felt her nod her head against him.

"Be careful." She whispered as she let go of his arm.

Marix gave her one last pat before releasing her and taking a step forward towards Lord Evans. He drew his sword and raised it, pointing it straight at the center of Lord Evans’ face.

Lord Evans eyes widened and he took a step back, causing Marix to take another step towards him.

"I’ve had enough of you and your endangerment of Eilownia, Ixei Evans. It’s time you face the consequences of your actions. I’m sure you’ve carried out judgement on many of your staff who have misbehaved by your standards over the years. You won’t hold it against me, right?" He said with a light chuckle.

Lord Evans threw his hands up in the air in surrender.

"GUARDS! WHERE ARE MY GUARDS! COME IMMEDIATELY! WHERE ARE THOSE BASTARDS?!" Evans screamed.

Marix smirked, "Oh your guards had no problem letting us in. You probably should’ve given them a raise. They’re very good at knowing what their limits are. I doubt they’ll come to your rescue now."

"General Marix, we’ve already been over how you have no jurisdiction here. What is your goal here, General? To cut me down like some lawless barbarian? King Solus will come after you and your kingdom. Do you honestly think you can keep getting away with this?"

The smirk on Marix’s face grew larger as he took another step forward.

"Oh yes, the jurisdiction. Let’s have a little chat about that, shall we? Since you are such a stickler for the rules, you’ll be pleased to know that Eilownia carries an heir to the royal throne of Viraaz. You know that I rank much higher than you Lord Evans, isn’t that right?"

Lord Evans’ trembled slightly, "GUARDS!"

Marix placed the tip of his blade underneath Lord Evans’ chin and lifted it slightly, "And that means, Eilownia ranks much higher than you now as well. So, now, as for jurisdiction.....I have it in full now. There is nothing King Solus can do for you now."

Marix slashed at Lord Evans who blocked him with his cane.

"General, listen. I know you are a fair man. This can be worked out. You have to understand, I couldn’t have such a stain on my reputation!"

Marix lifted his eyebrow and scowled, "She is no stain on MINE!" Marix shoved the cane out of his hands and kicked him in the chest, sending Lord Evans flying to the floor.

Before he could recover, Marix pressed his foot on Lord Evans’ chest and glared down at him, "Your days of being a tyrant are over!"

"Now li-!" Marix slit his throat with his sword as Lord Evans began to speak. Blood spurted out as Lord Evans grabbed at his throat, letting out a few gurgles before going lip.

Marix turned back to Eilownia and yanked her into his arms, hugging her tight.

"You’re free now. He can never hurt you ever again."

The image of her father dead on the ground was now seared in her mind as she shut her eyes tight and buried her face into Marix’s chest.

She hadn’t meant to watch, but something in her needed to see, needed to make sure her days of torment were over.

Yet, for some reason, she couldn’t help but cry. She sobbed into Marix’s chest as her heart twisted in her chest.

’How silly of me. After everything.....I still find myself wishing I could’ve gotten a hug from you, and now I’ll never get it....’

The guards rushed out first, then turned their heads away at the sight of Lord Evans’ body.

Next, the servants ran over. They gasped and screamed when it dawned on them that he had been killed, his blood now soaking into the grass.

"Your employer is deceased. You should all prepare and find new work. I’ll continue to pay you this month’s salary. You don’t need to live in fear anymore. You’re all free."

"What?! No! This is the best paying job I’ve had!"

"Free?! Do you understand how many bills I’m going to be drowning in without this job?!"

"There’s no way I could ever afford to buy the meals I was able to eat here?! How am I supposed to continue on with peasant food?!"

They all shouted and complained, with a few panicking more-so over the financial aspects of losing their jobs under Evans.

Marix laughed, "I see. Well, it makes sense now why all of you were so complicit in the torture of Miss Eilownia Evans."

Aleiza, who had not complained, slowly approached Marix and bowed her head.

"Sir? Please. Do you have any work for me that I can do for equal pay? I’ll do anything. My grandmother is very ill."

He held his sword towards her, "Were you one of the ones who helped abuse her?"

Aleiza shook her head, "No. I do admit I said some cruel things about her having a child out of wedlock, but I did not understand the situation. It was just something I’d overheard."

Marix glanced at Eilownia.

"I’ve never seen her before." She said, shaking her head.

Marix sheathed his sword and nodded, "Alright. You may join Viraaz. I’ll figure out some work for you to do.

"Thank you sir. I appreciate this more than you can ever know!"

As Eilownia’s sobs calmed down, Marix suddenly remembered when he had come to rescue her the first time.

Across from the dungeon had been another door.

"Whin. Do you know what is in the room across from the dungeon here?"

Eilownia looked up at him and sniveled, "No. I’ve never been in there, why?"

Marix turned towards the estate, "Then it looks like it’s time to find out."

Something about the mysterious room was drawing him in. They headed into the study and Marix began to search the shelf for which book would open the hidden door.

Eilownia exhaled, looking around awkwardly, "I feel like I shouldn’t be in here....."

"Now that Lord Evans is dead, this estate is yours. You can go anywhere you please within it."

He grabbed onto one of the books and pulled, causing the shelf to open and reveal the stairs hidden behind it.

"Do you want to come or stay here?" He asked, turning to Eilownia.

She chewed on her bottom lip before taking a seat on the couch.

"I’ll stay here. I don’t want to go down there ever again."

Marix nodded, "Understood. Guard her."

The troops surrounded her and stood outside the door to guard it as well.

Marix descended into the dark hallway and lit one of the torches.

He grabbed it and pulled it from its place on the wall and opened the door across from the dungeon.

His eyes widened in shock. It was full of gold, coins, paintings and goods. He went through the various boxes of silks and recognized them to not be from this continent.

"So. He took the things sent with Whin and hid them in here did he?" He chuckled as he shook his head and turned to another box that was full of coins.

Marix took a few and thumbed through them. His eyes widened. Not only were the Norain coins with the leaf there, but Viraaz coins were included as well.

"What on earth? What is Viraaz currency doing here?!"