Chapter 68

"My precious painter died?" The emperor asked, sullenly. "Are you sure about that? Was he really beyond salvation already?"

"Yes, Your Highness," The butler politely replied. "His corpse can be found at the rear part of a forsaken household near the old headquarters, Your Highness."

The emperor looked away and forlornly sighed.

The room was then filled with silence – one that screams and roars with tension and emotion. The two have talked further about how Toren's flair was wasted and his youth unused.

The emperor would talk and talk about his regret, while the butler would just nod quietly, seeming to feign agreement with his words.

And by the end of their conversation, the emperor finally instructed the male servant to bring all the painter's artworks, so they could make use of everything that Toren had created within his whole lifetime.

At that moment, even without obvious words or gestures, Toren felt that the butler was suddenly reminded of the underworld's painting.

The image must have haunted him quite a bit and the shock would not easily soften that fast.

When the butler was finally dismissed, he stayed in his private room and Toren entered, telling him not to worry about the paintings.

"I have collected my artworks in the cupboard of my secret room," The boy said. "I could just grab and bring them all here to you, so they could be presented to Your Highness. I may also have to stay quite a bit at our house. Father might look for me there."

When they have come up with the agreement, Toren returns to En's family house after spending a whole day relishing the castle privileges as a ghost.

As soon as Toren stepped in, his mother Airen greeted him aghast and anxious.

She told him that it has been hours since she searched for him.

Toren attempted to calm his anxious and panicking mother, but was taken off guard when she mentioned his father and brother.

Airen tried keeping the two distant from each other, but Muren allegedly went to request a visit to Coen.

"Your brother might be in danger now!" She yelled, panicking. "We must do something!"

With all these in mind, Toren ran towards the magistrate together with Airen.

Later on, they have reached the dungeon where they requested a visit in a haste.

The soldiers were quite hesitant, but Airen used her charms to insist on the request, so they quickly arranged the visit at once. After a few minutes of what feels like an anxious hour, they were granted permission to go in.

The soldiers led them towards the prisoner's cell and saw a raging scene.

Muren was already beating and shouting against his son who was shackled to a chair, powerless. Toren was taken aback.

He had never seen his father like that before.

Muren's bloodshot eyes were sharp daggers glaring at Coen, pulling in his shirt towards him, while endlessly punching him. Coen's face was distorted with brute force, iron red bloods, scratches, wounds, and bruises.

They all looked painful and Toren was reminded of his childhood days when he suffered the same beatings during the ordeal "training."

The soldier intervened, witnessing the brutal beating that the prisoner was receiving.

He stopped Muren's tracks immediately and they were left with the echoing sounds of tensed breathing.

Airen was crying and suppressing her sobs while Toren was too shocked to even move a finger.