Akeldama is behind me, listening carefully with my words, after I showed him some documents.
"I know this task is hard to handle, but I am expecting more on you this time." He nod after I finish my sentence, and I handed him some list.
"I need to find this missing file that my father declared lost, same as well with these files that my brother falsify last year about the taxes of nobility, I double check all of it and the numbers are too high from what I calculate from the actual list," I continued and he is listening carefully.
"And lastly, the medical supplies, it's not what it seems from the copy that I got, and I also want to know where is the location of their treasures." I look at the door when I heard a knock, and Sir William and Azriel went inside the study room.
They looked surprised that Akeldama was here, beside me and looking at the paper that I handed him for the things that I need.
"The mercenary king was here, huh." Azriel said while smirking, and Akeldama look at Azriel with cold stares, like he is ready to kill right now.
"Stop that, we are here for some important details." I stood up and help them to sit at the couch, I offer Akeldama the sofa and I gave them glass wines and I poured the wine for them before seating in front of them.
"First, the notice haven't reach the nobility as of now, and the notice that I am saying is my father want to own almost all of the percentage of mining cave that Duke Theron owned." Sir William's brows went up, and look at the glass wine, before grabbing it.
"Here is the important details, my husband will give up the mining cave, as what my father want, but the cave is not safe, there is an S class at the deeper part of the cave," I paused before looking at Sir William and Azriel.
"Sir William, please send your resignation as a holy knight of my father, I know what my brother think if he discovered that there is a S class monster at the cave, he will deploy you," I explain carefully, and Sir William looks confused and trying to understand the situation.
"And for you Sir Azriel, can you please have a mission away from the nation, or hide for the mean time, so my father won't ask for your help?" I may sound like I am throwing him away, but is what is needed at this moment, for his safety and he won't be taken advantage of my father.
I will slowly strip away all of his powerful people, and they will taste the result of their greed.
"I anticipated that, once that you asked Sir William for his resignation." I smile sweetly before sipping the wine, and lean at the sofa. Looking at me, but smirked at Akeldama.
"Yes, can you please do it, that is my only request for this time, I know you can exterminate the monster, but I want my father to become vulnerable since he lost both of you during his crisis." This is the only way right now, because no one is capable of killing that monster that easy without them.
And I remember, the high priest.
He can help my father, how I can change his mind, if I only have three days for the answer of my father's notice.
"And the mercenary king will assist you both, so please cooperate with him, and no fighting." I look at Azriel and Akeldama right now. Sir William looks like he know Akeldama. Maybe if I have alone time with Akeldama, I will asked him, or both of them.
"Ake." Azriel said that makes Akeldama glare at him right now.
"Sir Azriel, stop calling his alias," Sir William said, and look at Akeldama. And now, I surprised. How they know the first three letters of Akeldama's name.
"Let's stop acting like we didn't know each other." Azriel said and sip at the glass wine, before looking at me.
Azriel's POV
I can clearly read Delaney's reaction, that I knew the name of mercenary king. Of course I knew him.
"Stop calling me with my name, you don't deserve to know me at the moment you become a dog of the emperor." Ake smirked at me, and I looked at Sir William.
The three of us knew each other since we are a kid. We used to play, train and have fun time together. Not until Sir William's father pledge his loyalty to his majesty, where Sir William is obligated to be with his father, as a successor of his family, and I was sold by my father, because of my vast mana, the emperor find an interest in me. Seeing me as a great asset to his empire, and I become a powerful and front liner sage of the Drivike empire.
And Akeldama? He vanish. The trace of his family was erased by his majesty, he is afraid of Akeldama's family, because of dark magic that is within him. His dark magic is a taboo at this empire.
My father was assign to kill or seal Akeldama's family, but my father spare Akeldama, and declare that Akeldama's family died. And that is the reason why Akeldama loathe me, and that is also the reason why he didn't use his name, no one really know his name, because people knew that it's been a long time that he died, along with his family.
I am worried for Delaney. She is clearly the daughter of Akeldama's enemy, who know what is Akeldama's plan to Delaney, does he do this act for his revenge? Does Delaney know the history of Akeldama's family.
"I am not a traitor, like you and your father." Akeldama said straight to my face, and I can't help but to smirk. I am not saying that he should be thankful that my father spare him, but I am mad that he won't ever listen to me.
"Ake, my father also betrayed your father, your family." William said, and look at Ake.
"I know, but your father didn't kill my entire clan." Ake said, and I just took a deep breath, and find myself looking at Delaney's innocent face.
So lovely, I can't help myself but to admire and hear my heart beat went fast, everytime I look into those gorgeous eyes of Delaney.
"My father can't disobey the emperor's words, but he still manage to spare you, because he is not what you're thinking." Ake smirked at me.
"Should I thanked your father for sparing me, after killing my entire family? Making me an orphan and become a nameless man, because if I was known, I will be dead by now?" Denaley stands up, and took a deep breath.
"Let us stop arguing here, my father is behind of every problem and issues that you and your family have encounter from the past, and the three of you are like you knew each other since then, but let's open our eyes, and expand our understanding to the past and present situation." Delaney hold Ake's hand.
"Your sentiment is valid." And Delaney looked at me after talking to Ake.
"Your father just did his job, and my father is really a man that will do everything he can, at the moment he see it as a threat." Delaney explained and look at William now.
"That is why right now, I am asking you to withdraw from your positions, because I am afraid that he might disregard you, after the extermination, I can't explain it more further, but my father might be communicating other empire from different continent, developing something horrifying." Delaney said and sit down beside Ake.
"I encounter some people of my father, and they started to spill the plan of my father, but not the whole plan, my father is really careful, and I can't fine the people that he assign, that is why I asked all of you, to cooperate with me, and help me." The door opened, and it's the Duke, holding some papers, and he looked surprised.
The Duke is also part of my childhood, he is aloof way back then, but talented and intellegent person. He excel rapidly, and his father decided to let him study at the western continent, and he came back, after his 20th birthday, and after he graduated, he become a Duke.
"I arrange people that you asked, Delaney. They can deploy anytime now, and for you, mercenary king." He handed a power stone staff to Ake.
Duke really knew Ake's name, he just decided to respect Ake's path, for disappearing completely, but he is very aware of Ake.
"That powerstone compliment perfectly with your power, my wife requested that power stone to hide your vast mana, to hide you and protect you from future harm or battle," the duke explained, and he look at me now.
"Azriel, the great sage. There is a fake summon letter from western continent that is already submitted to the palace, you're currently not available and unreachable for 3 months." I nod and Delaney really plan this well, how cunning she is. I am not surprised that she is indeed the daughter of the emperor.
That is a good thing that I am at her side, and she is doing the right decision, the right path.
"And for Sir William, you're dismissed. You are now just a noble, not a leader of holy knight." Duke went straight to the wine, and drink it.
"You guys did really well this time, and I am thankful for the effort and cooperation." Delaney smile, and stood up.
"I am going to rest now, you guys should talk, and no fighthing." The maid open the door, and Delaney left her study.
It's just the four of us now.
"I want to sleep with Delaney." Ake said, and the duke glare at Ake.
"Akeldama, you can't, she's my wife." Duke said and I look away.
Their marriage, it's just a political marriage and for their own benefits only, I can bet that there is no any romantic feelings between them, but I knew that the Duke is head over heels with Delaney, who wouldn't?
"But she want me too," Akeldama said, and I knew that the duke is dead serious, he just called Ake with his name, not his alias.
The duke look sad, when he heard that Delaney also want Ake, and that is true, we can't own Delaney. We are like sharing, and we can't do anything about it, it's like we are obligated to be Delaney's man.
"But I am the one who lay eyes on Delaney when no one knew about her." William said, and pour some wine at his glass.
"I am the first person she saw, when she is helpless, and no one wants her." William said, and look at the three of us.
"But it doesn't matter to me that she got a lot of men around her, as long that Delaney want me, and she is just beside me, I don't mind." William said, but he sounds disappointed.
"Fine, you can go to Delaney's chamber tonight, Ake. But remember that Delaney is my wife."
"I can be her husband also, but I will just wait, till the right time will come." Ake walk away from the study room, and it's just the three of us now.
"This is frustrating." I said and look at the glass wine.
"I want to be selfish, but I can't, I have no choice." I blurted out, and duke just smile at me.
"I can't look at other woman now, after I saw Delaney. She is just like eternal. I can't get over with it." I saw a lot of woman, and have a relationship before, but now. I can't see myself with other girls.
"All I want is Delaney, no one else." I said while William and Duke Theron was looking at me.
"We are fucked up."