Chapter 201

Chapter 201: Chapter 201

A few weeks had gone by since the decree to abolish the crown was passed, and just as Caedos predicted, the changes had soon become seamless.

Fewer and fewer mistakes were made over his title, even General Urien had stopped trying to convince him to change his mind, grudgingly accepting the changes.

The rumors of a war brewing between the two factions of Flaeris were met with some trepidation. No one wanted war, but they wanted to preserve their freedom even more.

For now, there might be a period of peace, with Fiends too busy warring with each other to attack Avalan. Which meant that they would be given ample time to prepare for a retaliation.

Even after erasing the royal bloodline, there was still work left to be done. Periodic training was implemented; regardless of age or social status, every Hellhound was encouraged to learn basic training.

After building an efficient system that ran without the royal family, Caedos was satisfied; the last of his obligations was completed. He just didn’t quite expect that the news of his departure would be received with an all-out riot.

Caedos peered into the bowl of rich broth that Lady Dilya had made a habit of feeding him, unbothered by the protests rolling through the dinner table like a wave.

Dilya stood over his shoulder, although he was no longer the Crown Prince, she still couldn’t completely shake off the habit of personally serving him. "...Absolutely not!" She denied vehemently, waving the ladle she held. "Do you hear me?"

He had calmly announced it over dinner as it was merely a personal decision and not one that involved the entire race. Silence had followed his words, broken by goblets and silverware getting dropped in sheer shock. That was the trigger before the chaos, everyone trying to speak at the same time.

Urien scoffed, a dark scowl on his face. "Does he ever listen?"

"I’ll return occasionally, and whenever you might need me." Caedos tagged on after taking a deep drink of the rich broth. Running a city was rather like running a household, he had learned to ignore their impassioned protests.

"We need you all the time, Your Highness!" Ardan blurted out, pale with shock.

"Captain Ardan is right," Dilya hastily chimed in. "Regardless of your current standing, Avalan needs you right here."

"I’ll leave first thing in the morning," Caedos went on without any change in inflection. The last Hellhound had already been rescued over a month ago, nothing could keep him.

This time, General Urien handled his announcement the best, scoffing and hmphing the entire time.

Lady Dilya was torn between disbelief and despair, knowing there was no way to change his mind, yet trying regardless because she couldn’t accept it.

Captain Ardan was inconsolable, more distraught than he had been after any of the battles. He had been making a bit of progress recently with foregoing Caedos’ former title but he was so shaken that he immediately reverted to his old habits.

"Where do you intend to go?" Captain Ayred asked curiously.

"Earth." Caedos replied honestly, "My mate is waiting for me."

His admission silenced even Lady Dilya who had inched closer and closer to pulling on his ear like a mischievous child in an attempt to get him to listen to her.

"A mate?" Dilya repeated, a bit of hope coloring her voice. It mattered little that it wasn’t a Hellhound, she was more relieved that he wouldn’t be all alone. "Why don’t you bring your mate to Avalan instead?" She suggested without pause, caring little for the formalities.

Caedos’ eyes darkened slightly, agreeing with Dilya for the first time all evening. "I would if I could."

The little hope that had sparked in her heart bloomed a little more, "I’m sure she would love it here, perhaps a visit would convince her."

Ayred had already moved on to more important matters, "A mate? From Earth? Is she human?"

Uninterested in answering any more questions, Caedos grabbed a tray of roast and swiftly exited the hall before anyone could stop him.

"There he goes," Ayred muttered, sighing. He wanted to know more about the special creature that had gotten his attention.

Dilya immediately made a move to follow him but was stopped by General Urien.

"I would advise against that unless you want to chase him off tonight." Urien pointed out.

Dilya sighed and lowered herself to a seat, her appetite lost.

Ardan was worse off, the Hellhound stared into space, his meal long forgotten, he seemed to have lost himself for a moment.

"I heard... while I was in captivity," Urien spoke after a heavy silence, "That the capture of the last Royal Hellhound was underway."

He softened the truth of the matter to the table, it was more that the nobles who used them as a mere source of transportation had bragged about their Grand Duke obtaining the last Hellhound possessing royal blood.

"They came quite close to succeeding but failed due to an external interference, and Caedos was spirited away from the Deep Woods for months." Urien went on with his narration, easily capturing the attention of the table. "I believe he’s returning to his savior."

Ayred broke the spell that the old general’s words had put the table under. "I never thought a day would come when you would make excuses for him, General Urien."

Urien bristled, "What excuses! I’m only relaying what I heard."

"I’m sure His Highness overwhelmed those bastards by himself without needing help from a human woman." Ardan recovered some of his lost spirit to defend the previous Crown Prince’s valor.

Even more irritated now, Urien washed down his soreness with a goblet of wine. "Hmph! Believe what you want to believe."

Dilya didn’t join the lively conversation that had stemmed from General Urien’s reminiscence, her worried gaze occasionally drifting to the door. Even as she slowly resumed her dinner, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that Caedos never really belonged here.

There was an emptiness in his eyes that wasn’t filled even after he sacrificed himself several times without hesitation for the liberation of the race. She hoped that this human mate would fill it for however long they could.

Her worried thoughts didn’t settle even long after dinner was over and the table had emptied. She personally cleaned up the table to give herself something to do, it did little to soothe her.

As the night grew later, her restless feet carried her to Caedos’ room. She hesitated only because General Urien’s words had sunk their claws into her, and she truly feared that if she pushed too hard, Caedos would leave Avalan right away.

Eventually, she pushed down the fear and knocked lightly before opening the door. "Caedos?" She called out softly. It had grown late so she was careful so that she didn’t rouse him from sleep.

There was little reason to be cautious however because the room was empty, and it didn’t even seem like he had eaten the rest of his dinner in the room.

Although he had lived here ever since his return to Avalan, it felt devoid of life, much like a room that hadn’t been used in centuries.

Dilya slowly walked in and sat at the edge of the bed, it was finally sinking in for the very first time, that the royalty was gone. If any Hellhound chose to leave Avalan for whatever reason, they were free to.

And as a Hellhound, Caedos also possessed that freedom.

She didn’t realize how long she sat in his room, lost in her thoughts until the doors opened hours later, startling her.

"Y-Your Highness," She shot to her feet in a panic.

Caedos glanced over his shoulder in momentary confusion, Dilya rarely made a slip-up on his title, especially not weeks after the decree was passed.

"I apologize, Caedos," She corrected herself, calmer now. "I came seeking you out but I couldn’t find you in your room."

Caedos said nothing, keeping to himself that he couldn’t sleep so he had naturally gone on a run to tire himself out. The early hours of the morning were already around the corner, he doubted he would be getting any sleep.

"I shouldn’t have tried to dictate what you could and couldn’t do," She went on, attempting a smile. "You’re always welcome whenever you decide to return."

"I’m only a portal away?" Caedos muttered, confused about her affected speech.

At the slightest threat of war or an attack, he would return to Avalan in a moment.

In that moment, Dilya was reminded that the Hellhound was only just birthed from the trees, perhaps it was even crucial for him to leave Avalan to experience more things.

She laughed softly, the weight on her shoulders easing. "You’re right." She agreed, her smile coming easier now. "I’m going to bed, goodnight, Caedos."

Caedos was shirtless because he had shifted on his run, the sweat on his body had cooled, his muscles burning from exertion, but his thoughts were still racing.

For the first time, he let himself sink into thoughts of Dulce unfettered. He tried to picture what the Vampire was doing at that moment, likely reading by a fireplace...