The Dark Fairy King
Chapter 45: Off with the Old

Chapter 45: Off with the Old

Scarlette’s hands moved with steady precision as she peeled away the last of the cursed tattoos, the glowing sigils fading one by one under her touch.

When the last one dissolved, she finally let out a shaky breath and wiped the sweat from her brow, her sleeves already damp.

She’d worked through exhaustion, through pain, through silence.

But I was already watching her.

My powerhouse.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Scarlette crossed her arms, one brow raised in suspicion, though a faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

"Just admiring your genius," I said, offering her a rare, genuine smile—one that felt almost foreign on my face.

Scarlette narrowed her eyes but didn’t press further. She was too tired to fight me on compliments today.

"Come on, Ver... we need to decide what to do with these palace folks. I’ve already removed their tattoos. We can’t keep them here forever."

The answer was obvious.

"Kill them, of course." I shrugged, as if I’d just suggested sending them to bed early. "Traitors don’t get to try twice."

Scarlette folded her arms tighter and glared at me like I’d grown a second head. "Seriously, Veravos? Look at them—they’re shaking."

So I did.

They were a strange mix—Light, Love, and Dark Fairies—all crammed together, bound by their betrayal.

People who normally wouldn’t even speak to each other. People who once served me.

People who now trembled before me, their eyes darting between me and Scarlette like prey caught between predators.

Their knees wobbled. Their wings drooped in defeat. One fairy clutched his arm where his tattoo had been burned away, still trembling from the memory of pain.

"Ver... we got our second chance too. Why deny that to our people?" she challenged. "Who knows what Faragonda forced them to do?"

I sighed, slow and deliberate, letting it echo in the quiet council room.

"Fine. But on my terms."

Scarlette turned back to them and lifted her voice. "Your King will now speak to you."

The fairies stiffened, caught in the weight of my silence.

There was no poetry in ruling them.

Only fear.

"You’ve seen what happened to Faragonda. You’ve seen what happens to extremists," I said, my voice a soft, venomous hiss. "Try that again, and you’ll join her. Quickly. Quietly. Without warning."

They nodded furiously, panic blooming in their wide, desperate eyes.

"I, Veravos Spade, will not lead you to extinction. You have my word. But that promise means nothing if you are not mine."

None of them dared meet my gaze. Their heads hung low, as if eye contact alone could kill them.

"The Dark Fairy Scrolls are dead to me. If you stay, you follow me. You believe me. And you fear me."

I let the silence grind them down, each heartbeat dragging slower as the weight of my rule pressed against their spines.

"For those who choose to be my people—step forward. If you prefer death, feel free to step back."

For a moment, no one moved.

I almost hoped someone would misstep.

But slowly, with great hesitation, all of them shuffled forward.

"Good." I smiled, sharp and cold, a blade wrapped in velvet. "You’ve made your choice. You’ve placed your trust in me. I do not break promises to my people."

"Yes, Your Majesty," they replied in trembling unison, a hollow echo.

Some of them exhaled, relieved.

They thought they were safe. How adorable.

"But this is treason," I said, my voice hardening, pressing against their ribs like a blade they couldn’t see. "And treason demands punishment."

They flinched, the smallest movements betraying their terror.

"I’ll ask questions now. The honesty of your answers will decide how painful that punishment will be."

The room froze. Even Scarlette didn’t interrupt. She simply watched, her arms still crossed but her gaze sharp, measuring me.

"First question. Where are the remaining Anti-Magic mages? What are they planning?"

They squirmed under the silence, the pause stretching thin like the last thread of their courage. I didn’t enjoy waiting.

"They wanted to control the council," one fairy blurted, his voice cracking under pressure.

"Yes, Faragonda said that too," another echoed quickly, eager to be useful.

"Did you know she planned to kill Clarice and Devyn?" I asked, my tone sharp enough to slice the air.

"No, Your Majesty. We didn’t know. We had no idea."

"Faragonda told us to do whatever it took to survive—but she didn’t speak of murder."

"Yes, Your Majesty, if she had, most of us would have walked away."

Cowards. But cowards could still be useful.

I stared at them a moment longer, then asked, "How many more of you are in the palace?"

"At least ten more."

"And where are they?"

"Searching for the next Fairy elders to join the council."

I turned away briefly, but they still held their breath, waiting for the final blow.

"Your Majesty... what happens to us now?"

I grinned, slow and deliberate. "Well, it’s treason, so naturally... you’ll pay me a year’s worth of your wages."

They stiffened in horror.

"Is he serious?" one whispered, his voice barely audible, but I heard it. I made sure they knew I heard it.

"A fine," I purred. "For wasting my time. For giving me a headache. Or if you prefer, I can lock you up for a century and call it even."

Scarlette frowned but didn’t interrupt me. She knew better.

"That’s me being merciful," I added. "But I can be extra merciful. I can waive your fine."

Their confusion deepened, swirling around them like a fog.

"Call it a commission," I said sweetly. "Or a chance to earn your way out. On one condition."

They leaned forward, desperate.

"Report any remaining Anti-Magic mages in this palace to me. There are ten of you here. There are ten of them out there. Make yourselves useful. Do the math."

Scarlette clapped her hands sharply. "Back to work. Now."

I raised a finger. "One more thing. If we find them first, your commission is void. Tick tock."

They bolted out, bowing frantically, eager to flee from my presence.

Scarlette shook her head, exasperated. "Only you would think of fining traitors. A year’s wages? Really?"

I grinned. "What can I say? I’m generous. They can work it off."

As the last of them vanished, Scarlette turned to me, smirking. "Told you so. It was Faragonda all along."

Fine. I deserved that. Lumera was innocent. Not Faragonda. I should not have doubted her.

"Shall we go find Lumera now?" I asked, keeping my irritation buried beneath a thin smile. "Looks like she’ll need our protection after all."

"Yes, we should," Scarlette replied. "For all we know, the other incognito mages in the palace could have already gotten to her."

"Then best we hurry. Would you like to do the honours, or shall I?"

"Can you summon your shadows, please? I’m a bit tired from breaking the tattoos earlier."

"I thought you’d never ask," I smirked, raising my hands.

Shadows slithered from behind the table, curtains, chairs, and shelves. They stretched toward us, creeping across the floor like smoke, twisting around our legs as the lights flickered violently.

In moments, they wrapped us in a cocoon of darkness.

Scarlette’s hand found mine—warm, steady. I felt the familiar squeeze of her fingers. I saw her smile as she relaxed into the calm I summoned for her.

The shadows closed in like a vignette, and when they peeled away, we stood in the infirmary once more.