The room exuded an air of quiet power and wealth, lavishly decorated to reflect the high status of its occupant.

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In the center stood an ornate bed, its sheets embroidered with intricate patterns that shimmered faintly under the light of the crystal chandeliers.

The walls were adorned with tapestries of long-forgotten battles, while near the window stood a table, carved from the wood of a hundred-year-old tree.

It emanated a faint, calming fragrance that subtly filled the room, though the young man on the bed seemed untouched by its soothing effect.

Lucian sat upon the bed, his long white hair cascading over his shoulders like a waterfall of silver.

His blood-red eyes were focused entirely on the small spirit stone in his hand.

The stone seemed to ’pulsed’ with a dim, rhythmic glow, its energy flowing steadily into him, weaving through his body like an invisible stream of power.

His brow furrowed in concentration, each pulse sending waves of energy coursing through his veins, slowly strengthening his already formidable physique.

Knock! Knock!

A sharp sound suddenly echoed through the room, breaking the heavy silence.

Lucian’s grip on the stone tightened slightly, but his expression remained unreadable.

A man’s voice drifted through the heavy silence, cautious as if testing the waters of uncertainty, "Your Highness, may I come in?"

Lucian’s gaze flicked toward the door, eyes narrowing.

"Enter," he commanded, his tone low and edged with authority.

Even without verbal confirmation, Lucian knew who had come.

In the entirety of the Dukedom, only two souls were privy to his true identity. So the Duke had taken it upon himself to station Commander Ulric here.

The door creaked open, revealing a figure draped in armor, a long sword sheathed at his waist.

"What is it?" Lucian’s voice, though soft, resonated with an intensity that belied his composed exterior.

A flicker of ’pained’ expression danced across Lucian’s features, a fleeting glimpse of the ’struggle’ to mask his pain.

Ulric’s voice finally broke the stillness, respectful yet tinged with quiet curiosity, "Your Highness, the horse has been buried."

Lucian’s strange ’attachment’ to the creature puzzled Ulric.

To him, it had been merely a beast, a tool of the trade, though he dared not question the Prince’s reasoning, attributing it instead to Lucian’s perceived naivety.

Or perhaps… Prince Lucian had ’certain preferences!’ The thought made Ulric shiver slightly.

"Good," Lucian’s palm continued to caress the spirit stone as he spoke, his tone calm but distant.

Lucian’s voice snapped him from his thoughts.

After a brief pause, he added, "Inform the Duke that I desire an audience with him."

Ulric didn’t hesitated for a moment, only a bit surprised by the sudden request.

"I’ll inform His Grace immediately," he said, stepping back from the door, "If there’s nothing else, I will take my leave."

Lucian did not bother to respond, already lost in thought.

The door closed with a soft click, leaving him alone once more.

He closed his eyes, allowing the stone’s energy to flow into him unhindered.

The sensation was intoxicating — pure, unfiltered power coursing through his veins, strengthening him in ways nothing else could.

This was the second spirit stone he had absorbed in these 2 days, and it worked a bit faster than the first. He could feel the energy seeping into his skins, becoming a part of him.

The root of Lucian’s strange ’obsession’ with the horse lay buried in a secret far more profound than mere affection.

Before he had set foot in the city, he had concealed spirit stones within the horse’s abdomen, carefully hiding them from prying eyes.

The horse had acted as a vessel, its insides crammed with the stones and a vial of poison — both crucial for his survival and his power to grow.

He had fashioned a pouch from the wolf’s fur to contain the stones, a clever tactic that proved effective for a time.

However, it could not fully contain the energy they radiated.

As the time passed, the power began to leak, tearing apart the horse’s insides and ultimately leading to its demise.

But it had been a necessary sacrifice.

As for the small knife Lucian had taken from the leader of the cultivators, it was coated in a deadly poison.

So after carefully removing the toxic residue, he decided to carry it personally.

He couldn’t store it within the horse’s body, as the knife was far too large for that purpose.

But that was secondary. These spirit stones were the true treasure.

Lucian wasn’t entirely sure if the Duke would understand the true value of what he had hidden if the Duke got to see them, but something about their earlier conversation had set him on edge.

It made him feel like all his precautions hadn’t been for nothing.

When he had brought up the idea of a ’demon spitting fire’, he had paid close attention to how they reacted.

Commander Ulric had shown real, genuine fear — there was no mistaking it.

But Duke Varian, though clearly shaken, had not been as easy to read.

However Lucian, with his current heightened senses, caught the subtle flicker in the Duke’s eyes.

’Had my senses not been sharpened, I might have missed it entirely,’ Lucian thought.

That alone was enough to make him suspicious. Maybe the Duke knew more about the real power behind the Empire than he let on.

’It also made sense now why the Emperor had been so eager to weaken the Darkhart Dukedom.’

And when he had mentioned the death of the Second Prince, Drake, the Duke’s lack of reaction had been equally telling. Only a brief expression of sympathy, nothing more.

Knock! Knock!

At this moment another knock echoed through the room, this time deeper, more deliberate, jolting Lucian out of his reverie.

"Come in," Lucian said, his voice steady, though his mind was now far from calm.

He quickly hid the spirit stone aside as the door creaked open, revealing Duke Varian, his imposing figure casting a long shadow across the polished floor.

His tall frame, wrapped in dark robes of office, radiated authority as he stepped inside, his piercing gaze locking onto Lucian.

"Your Grace," Lucian greeted him with a faint smile, sitting up straighter, "I trust you received my message."

Varian’s cold, calculating eyes swept over Lucian before he inclined his head in acknowledgment.

"I did, Your Highness. I thought it best to come in person as soon as possible."

He stepped forward, his boots scraping softly against the stone floor as he approached.

His movements were deliberate, exuding confidence as he continued.

"I have also just received word from the Royal Capital."

Lucian’s interest piqued at that, though he kept his expression neutral, "Oh? What news?"

"The Emperor has been informed of your condition and the Second Prince’s unfortunate demise," Varian said, his voice measured, betraying nothing of his personal thoughts.

"His Majesty is sending additional guards to escort you back to the capital. They should arrive within a few days. Until then, I suggest you remain here, Your Highness. The Dukedom is secure, and you will be safe here."

Lucian nodded slowly, though his mind was already racing ahead.

The Emperor’s concern was predictable, but the increased security was troubling.

It could mean he was being protected — or worse, watched.

Either way, Lucian knew he had to be cautious.

After all, as the only one alive, he might already have drawn the sect’s attention.

Still, he did not feel overly anxious. As even the leader of that group had not been able to see through his physical power.

But what if that Jason guy showed up? Would someone from a higher realm be able to see through my physical power?

Sigh! Now I can only hope they send someone like those guys.

"Did you find out anything about the demons?" Lucian asked, keeping his tone casual but infused with curiosity.

The Duke shook his head, "Not yet. However, I’ll be looking into it personally. So I’m leaving the Dukedom for a few days to handle this myself."

Lucian narrowed his eyes, surprised by Varian’s personal involvement.

A knowing smile crept onto his lips as he replied, "I see. I trust you’ll come back with some answers."

Varian offered a thin smile, though it failed to reach his eyes, "In the meantime, I’ve arranged for a few maids to tend to your... needs. The Duchess herself will bring them to you tomorrow. They’ve been carefully selected — loyal and discreet."

Lucian’s lips curved into a faint smirk.

The gesture was noted, but he was well aware that such kindness always came with underlying motives, "I look forward to it. Your hospitality is truly generous."

The Duke inclined his head once more before turning to leave, his dark robes trailing behind him as he exited the room, leaving Lucian alone with his thoughts.

As the door closed, Lucian’s fingers drifted back to the spirit stone beside him. He closed his eyes, feeling the energy ’hum’ softly beneath his skin.