Chapter 208: A Challenge (2)


    A powerful explosion took ce!


    The ground cracked like a shattered mirror. Dust, shattered ice and a frosty mist clouded the air. Shouts and screams noised within the courtyard.


    The knights immediately rushed forward to help theirrades who were caught by the explosion. The weak servants hurried to the safety of the doors uncertain of how the situation suddenly turned terrible.


    Dread filled ric''s eyes, he gnashed his teeth and forcibly grabbed Heizea'' cor, "What Have you done!!"


    "I I " The woman was dazed. Eyes widening shock.


    ric threw her to the side with a curse, letting her stumble to the ground, and hurried to the dispersing smoke. Anxiousness marred his expression. He begged the gods for the young master to be alright. Veins pulsed in his neck. Fear gripped his heart.


    Rocks crushed under his boots as he rushed through the crowd of people.


    Crackle!


    ric winced. He recoiled when he felt a piercing sting brush past his face. However, it wasn''t only him who thought it. So did the knights carrying their injuredrades. It was as if the air was filled with invisible needles, pricking their exposed faces and hands.


    What is this?


    Crackle!


    There were tiny shes of yellow if they would closely look. Flickering violent energy that appeared like dust in the air.


    Golden sparks shed in the air. They were faint but noticeable. The air turned still as silence filled the area. Everyone could sense it. Pure violent mana.


    When the smokepletely vanished, a particr young man with pure-white hair and a thin Physique stood dumbfoundedly.


    ric exhaled when he spotted Moulin; however, he abruptly froze in his ce. Expression, stiffening and eyes, wide.


    Shock filled Moulin''s expression. An arm stretched out. A faintyer of gold and silver glow surrounding his hand. The crackle of chaotic electricityshed out from his fingers. Moulin was breathing rapidly. His mind turned chaotic as numbness from his hand spreads out, climbing up his upper arm.


    It was painful.


    Suddenly, roaring thunderps filled the skies. Everyone who was astonished at the sight flinched at the sudden cry of the dimming atmosphere. Fearful expressions filled the courtyard. The ce darkened almost instantly, enshrouded by the dark clouds and the shes of violent lightning.


    The sign only meant one thing.


    Thud!


    Thud! Thud!


    A series of thuds filled the area. Knees dropping on the snow-covered ground. People are kneeling with serious yet anxious expressions. It was when every single person had submitted did Moulin notice. However, he could not entirely pay attention for the pain on his arm began to cloud his brain.


    He purposely stiffened his arm and avoided touching it. The violent crackle of electricity was vicious and ruthless!


    Suddenly, a shadow towered over Moulin''s head. Moulin didn''t have the chance to react when a rough hand abruptly held his agonized arm. Moulin gnashed his teeth at the spark of insufferable pain. He struggled, but one strong arm circled his waist from behind. Arge stature bending to embrace the youth.


    In an instant, Moulin recognized him.


    "Be still..." Lord Hadrian''s deep voice spoke beside his ear. He gently wrapped his fingers around Moulin''s hand.


    Moulin ceased his movements when a soothing wave of coolness seeped into his skin. It was cold. A though his arm was submerged in icy water. A faint frosty cloud wrapped around his hand.


    Tranquility filled Moulin''s chest, and his muscles rxed as he felt the pain gradually vanish. The glow on his skin receded, revealing the delicate fairness of his flesh.


    And slowly, the youth''s breathing slowed. Relief filled his eyes. Shoulders cked. The feeling he felt was akin to being healed by the hands of a healer. He leaned his head back on the lord''s chest.


    "You came..." Moulin whispered.


    Hadrian closed his eyes and pressed his nose on the youth''s hair. "Hm... "


    Silence engulfed the entire area. Their ambiguous posture, revealed to the eyes of the kneeling people around them.


    Suddenly, Hadrian snapped his eyes open. The gold within his eyes glowed viciously. In less than a second, spitefuly oppressive aura devoured the entire courtyard. The suffocating ambiance made the weaker none-maeruthans copse on the ground, painfully writhing. The knights who were more powerful trembled under the pressure, cracks on the ground appeared beneath their knees. It won''t be longbefore one would finally sumb to the pain.


    The youth in Lord Hadrian''s arms gaped at the cruel sight. "Hadrian!"


    He turned his head to the man and clutched the arm around his waist. Dread filled his expression as he desperately spoke up with narrowed eyes.


    "Enough!"


    Once the word was spoken, the oppression instantly vanished. Hadrian shifted his gaze to meet Moulin''s eyes.


    Countless people fell on the ground. Finally, breathing desperately. Relief clouded their expressions. ric, who was clutching his neck, panted. With sluggish movements, he rose to sit on his heels, anxiously eyeing the Lord and his lover.


    Hadrian narrowed his eyes. Suspicion shed in his eyes. Moulin had missed to notice it.


    The youth furrowed his brows in hesitation. He slowly lifted his hand to palm the man''s cheek. "C-Calm down, alright?"


    "..."


    Hadrian only stared at him. The man''s silence deeply rose the doubt in Moulin''s chest.


    Finally, Hadrian sighed. He lowered his head and kissed the clean forehead of his beloved. He eased the crease between the youth''s eyebrows as he spoke, "Alright..."


    Moulin exhaled a sigh of relief. He let the man embrace him tightly. It felt like unbreakable chains bounded him, deriving him from movement and escape. Moulin''s heart pounded.


    A few minutes passed and ease atst settled within the courtyard. But there was no ease inside the people''s hearts. Shock filled their faces as they witnessed the passionate action of their cold-blooded lord towards the slender silver-eyed young man that had mesmerized them a few moments ago.


    "My Lord..."


    ric fell on one knee with a bowed head. "This one greets your presence."


    Hadrian casts him a nce. He held Moulin''s face with one hand and examined the dirt and the dust on the youth''s hair. Moulin blinked confusingly at Hadrian''s actions.


    Lifting a finger, Hadrian beckoned to ric while he kept staring at Moulin''s face. The actions sent shock and dread in the man''s heart. However, he could not disobey. He stood up and called a few knights to capture a particr red-headed girl.


    Moulin and everyone else watched in shock as the notorious female warrior of the Hercullian was dragged before Lord Hadrian''s feet. Her hand trembled before her as she bowed her head.


    "M-My Lord..." Lady Heizea, the dream of all knights, stuttered she hesitated to lift her head and meet Lord Hercullio''s eyes.


    Hadrian wiped the wound at the corner of Moulin''s lips with narrowed eyes. Dark intentions swirled inside his head, but he kept a stern expression. At this moment, Moulin knew he shouldn''t interfere anymore. It was the first time he had witnessed Hadrian so... silent and heavy with anger. Although the others could not see it, Moulin could sense it.


    "Do you know what you have done?" Hadrian coldly turned to the kneeling woman before his feet.


    "M-My Lord, I-It was a mistake! I couldn''t-"


    A gleam shed before her eyes. The sharp tip of the ck de in front of her glinted ruthlessly. Heizea swallowed, fear crushed her heart, and she stared at the dark eyes of the man in front of her. She paled.


    She knew what was going to happen next.


    The people around them held their breaths as they witnessed an execution about to unfold before their eyes.


    Hadrian raised his de and was about to cleanly slice off the head of the worthless woman before him.


    Moulin could no longer bear to be silenced. He reached out to abruptly hold Hadrian''s hand. There was a tremble in his fingertips as he spoke with difficulty. "Wait..."


    Hadrian stopped. Golden eyes snapped to stare at Moulin. "You want to stop me?"


    "Hadrian... " Moulin courageously met Hadrian''s eyes. "This... Perhaps, it was an ident... This is an unnecessary punishment. She doesn''t deserve to die... Please..."


    The Lord''s golden stare deepens. A dreadful silence filled the air between them.


    A smirk curled on Lord Hadrian''s face. His eyes, dark and amused, "If my beloved wills it..."


    At those words, every single soul stared in shock. Their hearts pounded. The Lord actually listened to the young man''s words? Astonishment filled their faces. It wasmon for them to see the Lordmand executions, but they have never seen him personally do it.Never even mention trying to spare the lives of those people. Even the previous patriarch, Lord Hendrick could not stop anything. However, it was the first time they witnessed the Lord actually heed someone''s words.


    Although they were ultimately loyal to lord Hercullio, they feared his unalterable decisions. His punishments were severe and unforgiving.


    They were astonished. Hope and relief filled their chests.


    However, Moulin didn''t feel at ease at all.


    The dark look in Hadrian''s eyes made Moulin''s courage waver.


    "So forgiving of you..." Hadrian leaned down to caress Moulin''s cheek with his thumb. His eyes darkened. "However... I must show my people what happens if they even try to touch a single strand of your hair."


    Moulin widened his eyes.


    Hadrian smiled and turned to ric, "Take her away. Have every nail pulled off, then leave her to starve for a week."


    "Yes, My lord."


    "What?" Moulin grasped Hadrian''s arm. The man only smiled at him as he held the youth''s waist. He leaned down and deeply spoke to Moulin''s ears. "I am Lord here, Moulin. Don''t resist me..."


    Moulin nkly stared. His mind processing Hadrian''s words. It felt threatening.


    "I-I submit to my punishment..." Heizea instantly bowed. Her palms were pricked by the small rocks beneath her skin, but she didn''t mind it. "I am grateful for your mercy..."


    Confusion filled Moulin''s face, but he could only watch as a few knights pulled Heizea off the ground and dragged her away. He caught a brief nce from the young woman. She nodded to him with lips pressed together tightly.


    Hadrian blocked his view in the next second. The man smiled at Moulin with passionate eyes. "Now tell me. Are there others?"


    Moulin paused. He suppressed the urged to nce at Bram and the rest of the people he fought with. The knights were cowering dreadfully, fearful of Moulin''s reply.


    "No..." Moulin responded expressionlessly. "There is none."


    Lifting his head, Hadrian gave Moulin one analyzing stare. Afterwards, he gently tucked a strand of the youth''s hair behind Moulin''s ear. "I see. Come... You must be starving. Grandfather has been waiting patiently for your arrival"


    Moulin forced out a smile, "I understand. Lead the way, My Lord. I am afraid to be lost again."


    "Oh, so your were lost?" Hadrian raised his brows thoughtfully. He looked as thought he was remembering something a few moments ago before he arrived in the knight''s courtyard. Red had dyed his sword."What a pity..." he whispered to himself.


    Moulin beckoned for Snow and hurriedly picked up the little beast. When he bent his waist, he briefly nced at Bram and hispanions who stared at him with astonished eyes. Moulin smiled faintly before he turned to let Hadrian lead him away.


    Moulin''s smile fell when he turned around. Hadrian led Moulin through the doors of the inner hallways silently. Their figures disappeared before the crowd''s eyes when the doors slowly closed shut.