"Everyone, stop!!"
At Duke's thunderous roar, the crimson light in Pride's eyes instantly vanished, replaced by a faint blue glow. But the strength in his grip did not diminish, his hand still pressed down hard on Vanessa, showing no sign of letting go.
Vanessa could only turn her pleading gaze toward the man before her, hoping he might save her.
By this time, Duke had already arrived at the shredded remains of a carriage. Anger snarled low and restless at the man standing guard, flames and gusts of wind spilling from the corners of his mouth.
"Who are you?"
The man eyed Duke warily, but Gluttony leaned closer to Duke and whispered, "Father, I've found her!"
"I didn't sneak a bite, really!"
Duke gave Gluttony a helpless glance, waved his hand, and took Lux into his arms. His eyes swept over her, she was only unconscious, her spirit having been suppressed by some form of control.
"I am Duke Sanchez, an artificer from Piltover!"
As Duke gently infused magic into Lux's body, the man's vigilance eased a little. He bowed respectfully at once. "Forgive me, Duke-sama, I was rude!"
He certainly knew who Duke was. The prince he tutored spoke of him constantly, and even Jarvan III often inquired after his condition.
Especially after that one battle where Duke shattered half the arena with a single punch, his name had spread throughout the capital like wildfire. Even now, spectators still retold the story as if it were legend.
"I am Xin Zhao, Grand Chamberlain of the royal court. May I ask what exactly has happened here?" Xin Zhao's eyes shifted between Pride, Gluttony, and the mutilated horse corpse. His brow furrowed in confusion. "Why would…"
"Better to let the one involved explain it to you."
After channeling magic into her, Duke roused Lux.
She let out a soft moan as her eyes fluttered open. At first they were hazy and confused. She rubbed her head, groaning, but then fragments of memory from the gathering surged back.
She remembered Sister Vanessa asking her to stay behind alone, then trying to sway her with words laced in magic. The last thing she recalled was meeting Vanessa's gaze, and then, nothing.
"Teacher!"
Lux suddenly clutched at Duke's robes, her face pale with fear. Duke gently soothed her. "It's all right now, you're safe."
"Tell us what happened. This man is Chamberlain Xin, you know him well."
Lux spotted Xin Zhao standing nearby, clad in his white-and-blue court attire, long hair tied into a ponytail. His steadfast face carried its usual calm composure.
"Ah!"
Only then did Lux realize she was still in Duke's arms. Flustered, she quickly stepped back, smoothed the wrinkles from her dress, and greeted him. "Hello, Chamberlain Xin."
"It has been a while, Lady Lux. You grow more beautiful every time I see you."
After a brief exchange, Xin Zhao asked curiously, "Can you tell me what truly happened here?"
"I was ordered to visit the Dauntless Vanguard. On my way back, I stumbled upon this scene and stepped in. But now… it seems I may have misunderstood."
"This matter…"
Lux hesitated. If she spoke openly, it would expose her mage identity, the very reason Vanessa had targeted her at the gathering. Yet if she stayed silent, there would be no way to explain what had happened.
"…There are many reasons I cannot fully reveal, but Sister Vanessa is not what she seems. She abducted me, clearly to carry out some unspeakable purpose."
As Lux stammered out her answer, Duke's eyes shifted toward Vanessa. The moment he looked closer, his brows furrowed, on her forehead was a complicated sigil, like a blooming black rose.
At the sight of it, Duke instantly recalled a certain infamous figure. By lore, that sigil belonged to none other than the cabal known as the Black Rose.
And its master, LeBlanc, the Deceiver.
She bore another name as well: the Pale Lady.
The mark on Vanessa's forehead was only visible to those who shared the Black Rose's allegiance. Yet Duke's God-Eye saw through such veils with ease, laying the truth bare before him.
The Black Rose had existed since long before Noxus was founded, quietly pulling strings in the shadows, shaping the empire from behind the curtain.
Elise, the Spider Queen, survived in Noxus largely due to their backing. Cassiopeia's schemes in Shurima bore their influence as well.
Their spies were planted across Runeterra, stealing secrets and treasures alike. Wherever their agents appeared, LeBlanc herself often wasn't far behind.
Their purpose was simple, seizing power through forbidden magic, while hiding under the guise of ordinary nobles. The unwary were lured by promises of miracles, only to be enslaved and exploited. Even Noxus's mightiest generals ultimately bent to the cabal's true masters.
For centuries, they warred among themselves too, vying for dominance through plots and deceptions that stretched from the Noxian capital to distant frontiers.
All the while, LeBlanc quietly offered counsel to foreign dignitaries, weaving illusions that stirred chaos and toppled kingdoms.
In the game, her passive only mimicked herself when low on health. But in Runeterra, that same ability was far more terrifying, none could ever be sure if the LeBlanc before them was real or illusion.
She had even staged her own execution before, only to walk away unscathed.
Such was the horror of her craft.
And now, her agent had surfaced in Demacia.
"You're a Black Rose spy, aren't you?"
At Duke's words, Vanessa's heart lurched. Panic flickered in her eyes, though she quickly masked it with feigned composure. "Sir, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Enough lies!"
Duke studied her closely. Her magic resembled his own, soul-based talent, though not nearly as overwhelming. It was likely this gift had allowed her to abduct Lux, whose own magic was still immature.
"Master Duke… you claim she's with the Black Rose?" Xin Zhao's expression hardened. As Chamberlain, he was privy to many secrets, and he knew well how dangerous the cabal was. In his younger days in the Noxian arenas, he had seen their influence firsthand.
"That's right."
Duke turned to him, his left eye glowing blue. "This eye allows me to pierce through all hidden falsehoods. And now, I'll let you see what I see."
He shared his vision with Xin Zhao. After a moment, Xin Zhao closed his eyes, then slammed a fist to his chest and bowed deeply. "Zhao thanks you for your trust. I swear this secret will not be leaked."
Duke had revealed a fragment of his own truth for Xin Zhao's sake. For a man of iron honor like him, that trust was deeply moving.
But to Duke, it mattered little. Let the world know of his God-Eye, what could they do? Illusions and disguises were meaningless before it.
Before he had even grafted the eye, he could see through Tahm's false skin. Now, almost no trick in existence could deceive him. And with his mastery of the Force, he could sense malice before it struck.
He smiled faintly. "No need for such formality, Chamberlain. This woman is yours to handle. She'll be of more use in your custody than mine."
"I'll see to it she gives up every secret she knows." Xin Zhao's eyes flashed cold. Demacia was his second home, the land where he had found belonging. He would not allow anyone to threaten it.
"Then I'll have one of my creations escort her to the dungeons, and she can walk back herself."
Xin Zhao pounded his chest again. "You have my deepest gratitude."
"Gluttony!"
Duke turned toward his servant, who was drooling over the horse corpse. Gluttony flinched and rushed over. "Father!"
"Escort her with Chamberlain Xin, then return. And if you eat anything along the way, you know the consequences."
"Fine…"
Pouting, Gluttony morphed into his vehicle form. Pride opened the door and tossed Vanessa inside. Duke explained the details of travel to Xin Zhao, and before long, they departed.
Watching them leave, Duke remained in place. Lux yawned, her spirit, strained by the earlier control, now weary.
"Sleepy?"
She nodded instinctively, then shook her head quickly. Duke ruffled her hair with a smile.
"Go rest in the carriage for a while."
"Mm."
Lux obediently climbed aboard. Duke signaled to Pride.
"Erase all traces."
"Yes, Father."
Pride unleashed flames to scour the scene, firelight flickering across Duke's face, making his expression shift between shadow and glow.
"Black Rose…"
End of chapter....
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