Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 214: The Punishment, Part II

Chapter 214: The Punishment, Part II

This Chapter contains graphic violence, readers’ discretion is advised.

With those words, Yuraon moved the blade of his sword like a skillful butcher, cutting off one of Valon’s hands.

The air was instantly filled with the sickening metallic smell of blood that was dripping heavily from the fresh large wound, marring the pristine white surface of the snow with its bizarre crimson ornaments. Valon’s desperate and loud cries echoed around the cold castle walls, his pained groans and gasps for air resembled those of a trapped, wounded animal.

Reveling in the prince’s continuous anguish, the young king seized his other wrist and looked back at Aideen, whose glowing dragon eyes were firmly fixed on Valon’s suffering grimace.

"My Lady," Yuraon finally asked again, "What will be the punishment befitting the crime of emotional torture and physical abuse?"

Cold and solemn in her demeanor, Aideen replied, "We must get rid of the source of it all. He can’t touch anything if he has no hands."

Complying silently to her declaration, the young king cut off the prince’s other hand, throwing it on the ground like a piece of flawed meat.

Valon screamed again, his body twisting frantically as the agony consumed him. Choking on his own saliva and tears, he rounded his eyes and shouted, "What the hell are you doing?! You goddamn savages! Monsters!"

The last word tugged at a painful string deep inside Aideen’s heart. With quiet but resolute steps, she walked up closer to the second prince and smirked,

"Monsters? Funny you should mention that word. Do you remember all the monsters that ran loose when you set the black forest on fire with your little alchemy tricks? Well, the little mishap you created happened to take lives valued by both my husband and me."

Fighting the pain that was tying his stomach in knots, Valon spread his thin lips into a disgusting smile,

"So now what? Are you going to take your revenge as well? You little ungrateful bitch!"

He spat the tear mixed with snot but it did not reach the princess. Aideen’s face turned darker. She leaned closer to Valon’s face and said somewhat quietly,

"Do you know anything about the Doberman beasts? You must remember that time when one of them attacked Prince Yanad, right? Well, if you didn’t know, these dogs happen to be very vengeful too. And they are quite bloodthirsty creatures. They can sense the blood of those who ever wronged them, Your Highness."

With that, she turned around and gestured to the knight standing guard before the entrance to the knights’ quarters.

"Let him out."

Understanding her command, the man opened the door and took a cautious step aside.

At first, it seemed as if the space behind the open door was nothing but emptiness and darkness. A second later, however, a pair of narrow, glowing red eyes flickered menacingly alarming those who stood quietly in anticipation.

At last, the silence was broken by the ominous sound of the beast’s deep growling.

Lord Giggles stepped outside slowly, dragging his large, heavy feet with a sense of broken dignity. His eyes shone with malice and predatory resentment, his nostrils flared at the poignant smell of his enemy’s blood, while his bare teeth were dripping with saliva.

Tonight, Lord Giggles was not just a dog loved by his masters. Tonight, he unleashed his beastly nature, craving the taste of the one who took the life of someone dear to him.

As his crimson eyes met Valon’s sullied face, his instincts turned him into a hungry monster too.

Trembling with his entire body, the second prince was consumed by incomprehensible fear. Choking on his tears once again, he looked at Aideen with pleading eyes and asked,

"Wh-what... what are you g-going to do?"

The princess swept her messy dark red hair away and replied,

"I want you to taste the fear and pain you have caused to others, Valon. It is time for you to reap what you sow."

These words sounded like a death sentence to the prince. All three of them, Aideen, Ahspid, and Yuraon, took several big steps aside, leaving Valon to meet his final punishment, and without hesitation, Lord Giggles lunged at the prince, digging his sharp fangs into his damaged body, tearing him apart to pieces and shreds.

***

What Lord Giggles left of Valon’s body was not a pretty sight.

It was a bloody mess of fabric and flesh and although the man was still alive and breathing, he no longer had either arms or legs, and was desperately fighting for his right to live.

Yuraon scratched the Doberman behind his pointy ear, "Good job, Lord Giggles. Your brother would have been proud of you." Then, he threw a disgusted glare at his enemy’s body and ordered, "Drag him to the others."

The dog obeyed without hesitation. He dragged his severed body through the snow, leaving a wide, dark trace of blood behind it, while Aideen, Ahspid, and Yuraon followed him behind, watching the prince’s slow road to demise with solemn silence.

Stopping at the edge of the deep trenches, Lord Giggles released a loud, almost warning howl, and carelessly pushed Valon’s body to join his trapped army.

King Yuraon stood above the trench as well and addressed those soldiers who were still alive there, pointing his massive sword at Valon’s ruined body,

"Behold the man you followed so blindly; the man who led you to your ultimate demise. Meet the end that you deserve by serving the false leaders."

He then turned to Aideen who had been waiting right beside him and added, "Your Highness?"

The princess nodded, "Taru."

In an instant, the dragon, still bearing his growing form, rose above the woman’s head, ready for her further orders. Aideen did not hesitate to command, "Burn them all."

With a loud, earth-shuddering shriek, Taru flapped his massive wings and filled the trenches with bright blue flames, bestowing the final punishment on those who dared to challenge the power of the North.