The Damned Demon

Chapter 744  Live To Have Hope

The cold, heavy atmosphere in the royal palace chamber thickened with tension, the air seeming to pulse with anticipation as Lysandra barged in, her footsteps sharp and deliberate. The moment she crossed the threshold, Drakar turned around with a slow, deliberate motion, his face twisting into a mixture of disbelief and unbridled anger.

"You..." Drakar's voice was low but full of shock and fury. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the dagger in Lysandra's hand, its gleaming edge catching the flicker of torchlight, "What is the meaning of this?? What are you doing here with that dagger in your hand?"

Lysandra's fiery red eyes were unwavering, cold as ice as she took a step forward. The grip on her dagger tightened, and she raised her chin high, her voice carrying the weight of absolute finality, "The pits of Tartarus await you, along with all those souls you sent there, Drakar. This kingdom and my people can finally be free of you. I will make sure to hang your dirty corpse outside the main gates until the beasts tear it apart. That's how everyone will know how much your life was truly worth."

Drakar's lips curled into a malevolent smile, his laughter echoing in the chamber like a ripple of malice through the heavy air, "Hahaha," he chuckled, the sound tinged with both amusement and fury, "You have truly gone mad, haven't you, Lysandra? Did you just announce you want to commit treachery by killing me? Looks like you had a lot to say about me after staying silent like my bitch all this time, huh? So is that why..."

Drakar's gaze shifted toward Rhygar, standing quietly by his side with a contemptuous smile.

Drake's face twisted with scorn, his fists clenched at his sides. "This pathetic dog brought me here?" Drakar finished his question with a mocking tone, his eyes gleaming darkly as he turned back to Lysandra, "How long have you been scheming to kill me like a coward?" "Not long enough," Lysandra replied, her voice laced with deadly intent, "But I have been thinking of doing this since the moment your ugly face entered my sight." Nôv(el)B\\jnn

She took another step forward, the blade in her hand gleaming with a deadly intent, "Now... I will take your head," Her eyes locked with Drakar's as she gave the order with an air of command, "Restrain him. He won't be able to use his mana for a while." Lysandra was confident of the potion Rhygar had offered to Drakar a while ago which should suppress his ability to use his mana for a while.

*Sllischk!*

But as the command left her lips, the silence in the room was broken by the sudden, sickening sound of blades slicing through flesh.

Lysandra's eyes widened in shock, her heart dropping as she turned sharply to see some of her own men—trusted members—having their throats cut by the few masked men behind them. Her trusted allies dropped to the floor, lifeless, before she could even react.

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"No!!" Lysandra's voice was filled with disbelief as she watched the scene unfold in front of her, horror seeping into her thoughts. Some of the men, masquerading as her loyal men, turned on her, making her blood run cold as she realized the trap she had walked into. These masked ones must be Drakar's men who somehow swapped places with some of hers.

At that exact moment, twenty Dragonblood Knights burst into the room followed by Commander Zulgi, their imposing figures surrounding Lysandra in a swift, coordinated move. Their gleaming swords were drawn, and each knight was positioned with precision, their blades aimed directly at Lysandra's neck.

Lysandra's breath caught in her throat, the cold realization washing over her like a wave. Drakar's smug, sly smile grew as he watched Lysandra's posture falter, "Oh Lysandra," he said, his voice dripping with contempt, "when will you ever learn that trying to cross me comes with consequences? Did you really think I would let the likes of you kill me after scheming like a rat? But I have to admit that you played quite dirty by coming this close to using my son against me. I never thought you would have the guts after all this time."

Lysandra's hand tightened around her dagger, her knuckles white, as she slowly turned to face Rhygar, who had stepped forward. His eyes were full of loathing, his face twisted in disgust. The sight of his cold expression sent a sharp sting of realization through her.

Her voice was barely a whisper, the words leaving her lips like a guttural, painful exhale, "It was you… Why?" She realized it could only be Rhygar who betrayed her and let Drakar know about the plan.

Rhygar clenched his fists, his teeth grinding as he took a step closer to Lysandra. The anger in his eyes burned brightly, the flickering hatred in his voice unmistakable, "Why, you ask?" he spat, his voice thick with betrayal, "I can't believe you are shameless enough to ask me that after you have been fucking that alien dog, our worst enemy, all this time. Were you expecting me to be blind to it all while following your orders like a dog? Forget about betraying your kingdom... But how could you betray your own flesh and blood like that, after everything I had done for you?!" Rhygar's pain and anger were evident in his hoarse voice as he shouted at her.

Lysandra's eyes widened briefly, not expecting him to learn all that. She knew that he couldn't have known the truth until today. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sit still. Even if he did, she would have noticed it. Who told him?

He then added with a hurt look, "Did you ever truly love me?" Lysandra's expression hardened, a cold fury settling over her as she glared at Rhygar, "Ever since you started to resemble your father," she said, her voice cutting through the air, "all I wanted was for you to drop dead, and be gone from my life as if you never existed in the first place."

"You dirty whore!!" Rhygar's face twisted in rage, his chin quivering as he tried to charge at her, but before he could make a move, Drakar's arm shot out to stop him, a cruel smile curling on his lips,

"Lysandra," he said softly, his voice dark malice, "I could have forgiven you to an extent for trying to kill me—because you wouldn't be the first. But no woman of mine has ever even touched another man," His expression began to twist into an ugly and dark one as he went on, "And yet you dared to bed that alien dog, especially after what he did to me? No, no. Your punishment won't be death, Lysandra. I have something far more suitable for a slut like you since you are not worthy to be my queen anymore. After I personally punish you, I will turn you into a breeding bitch for my men and pass you down around the kingdom until not even the rats want your flesh," Saying so, his lips curved into one of dark amusement.

Rhygar's s eyes were wide, a strange hunger flickering in them as he looked at his father with an intensity that seemed to grow by the second, "Father, wait," Rhygar said, his voice low, almost pleading, but his words carried an undeniable edge. "Can I please punish her first before you discard her?"

Drakar, already brimming with his own dark fury, turned to look at Rhygar as if he were nothing more than an irritating speck of dirt, "Not one more word from you," he spat, his voice dripping with contempt, "We have a lot to discuss about what you were going to do, had you not received that letter, and learned what she did."

Lysandra's brow furrowed in confusion. A letter? She could feel the hint of curiosity bubbling beneath her anger. Who sent this letter that changed everything in a single day?

She wanted to guess, but in this moment, her mind was more occupied with the disgust that washed over her. To hear them discuss her fate like this—like she was nothing more than a piece of meat to be disposed of—made her stomach churn.

Her grip tightened around the dagger in her hand, her resolve firming as she stared at the two of them, "Over my dead body," Lysandra muttered under her breath, her voice bitter. With one swift movement, she attempted to stab herself with the dagger. It was the only way she could see to escape the hell Drakar and Rhygar had planned for her.

But as the blade neared her flesh, a Dragonblood Knight moved in, grabbing her wrist with a strength that sent a jolt of pain through her body. Her heart thudded heavily as she struggled against her iron grip.

"Heh, you think you can die that easily?" Drakar's voice was cold and filled with malice, "No. You now don't even have the right to take your own life." His grip tightened painfully, forcing the dagger from her hand, "I will make your life even more miserable than a slave. Take her away. I have to first kill all those who dared to support her and end this ridiculous insurrection."

Rhygar was about to follow him but paused before Lysandra as he said with a bitter, resentful look, "Mother, just wait. I will show you the pain you caused me soon enough," Saying so, he also left.

Lysandra gritted her teeth as she felt despair settling in her.

"I will take her away. Follow our king and protect him," The Dragonblood Knight who was holding Lysandra commanded. "No, that's too much of a risk. Two of us will stay with you as backup," Commander Zulgi said as he gestured at two other knights to stay while he and the rest hurriedly left. Not long after, Lysandra found herself getting dragged through the eerie dungeons by the Dragonblood Knight and two other knights trailing behind them.

But just as the Dragonblood Knight and the others were about to lead her deeper into the palace's bowels, the sound of a sword unsheathing caught Lysandra off guard.

Before she could react, the two knights trailing behind her were struck down in a single, fluid motion. Their heads fell to the cold stone floor, severed cleanly from their bodies.

Lysandra froze as she looked to the side. The knight who had held her was now turning toward her, the bloodied swords still glinting in the dim light, "Zylandra..." Lysandra's voice was hoarse as she looked at the woman who stood before her.

Zylandra pulled off her helmet with a slow, deliberate motion, revealing a face that was filled with both sadness and determination, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty," she said, her voice filled with regret, "I always knew something like this could happen when Drakar is involved. But even if I failed to help you succeed in this insurrection, I can at least help you get out of here. You have to live if our kingdom is to have any hope, Your Majesty."

Lysandra shook her head, a deep sorrow washing over her as she looked at Zylandra, "I don't even know if I can ever save our kingdom after how things went down today," she said, her voice laced with pain. "I wouldn't want you to lose your life for my failure."

Zylandra's gaze hardened, the fire of loyalty burning fiercely within her, "I would rather die than serve him," she replied firmly, stepping closer to Lysandra, "So please… go before the others come here. I can only buy some time for you. Do not ever lose hope, Your Majesty. It's been an honor." She gave a deep, respectful bow, her voice thick with emotion.

Lysandra's heart ached as she stood there, conflicted, torn between the weight of what was lost and what could still be saved. She didn't want to sacrifice an honorable guard like Zylandra yet knew she had made up her mind, "The honor was mine," Lysandra whispered. "May the devils look after you."

With that, Lysandra turned, disappearing into the shadows of the hall, leaving Zylandra standing alone in the dim light of the dungeon, her fate sealed by her own sacrifice.