The Dark Fairy King
Chapter 51: Dark Fairy Elder

Chapter 51: Dark Fairy Elder

Familiar red mists poured into the courtroom.

From within, Scarlette materialised, stepping out as the mist thinned.

"I thought you were going to interrogate them, not execute them," her voice echoed.

"This isn’t my work." I gestured to the unconscious bodies. "Look at them. Burned eyes."

Lumera shivered, glancing at Scarlette.

"I did this," she admitted, staring at the faint smoke curling from her trembling hands. "I lost control."

Scarlette ignored me and walked straight to Lumera, helping her up.

"Tomorrow, we’ll train," Scarlette said firmly, yet her voice held a gentle edge. "If you don’t control your powers, they’ll control you."

"Why are you helping me?" Lumera asked, wide-eyed.

"Because once, I was almost like you." Scarlette’s gaze softened. "I was told my powers were an abomination. People fear what they don’t understand."

Lumera stared at her in awe.

Yes. Scarlette was far more gracious than I was.

"Take your sorry act back to your room," I muttered, but Scarlette’s sharp glare cut me off.

"She’s obviously traumatised, Ver. Don’t add to the fire."

Before I could retort, the courtroom doors slammed open.

Devran strode in, tall and menacing in his leather hooded jacket, his twin sickle-shaped swords strapped to his back, their tips still dripping red. His crimson eyes glowed faintly as he dragged two Fairies behind him, leaving a trail of blood across the marble floor.

"Believe these are yours," he coughed, kicking their bodies forward to reveal the tattoos on their wrists—broken wands.

Lumera recoiled in horror. If only she knew how terrifying she herself had looked moments earlier.

"King Veravos." Devran snapped his fingers. "You could have told me I’d be hunted if I didn’t join the council soon enough."

"You think I sent these fools?" I asked.

"No. But you withheld information." His voice was flat, cutting. "Not very fair, are you, My King."

"Come on, Devran. Look at their wrists," I pointed out.

He barely glanced.

"I’m aware of the Anti-Magic Mages," he said, almost bored.

Scarlette and I exchanged glances. Of course, Devran would know. He was the one who had first warned us about extremists in the Kingdom—back when we were still under our disguises: Ravos and Charlotte.

"Oh, don’t look so surprised," he teased. "I’ll join your council. But I have conditions."

I stared at the blood he dragged in. Dirt. Grime. Blood.

"Conditions?" I scoffed. "You’re the most senior Dark Fairy in the Kingdom. They’ll come for you if you don’t represent them."

"Well, you did say I could change my name and start anew—evade them."

"But that’s not really why you’re here, is it?" I challenged.

"My conditions are simple. Safety. A place to stay. And the chance to eliminate every last Anti-Magic Mage without mercy."

Easy. Music to my ears.

"Granted," I smirked, eyeing just how dangerous he looked.

"Is that blood?" Lumera whispered, pointing at his swords.

Devran ignored her. "Would you believe me if I said it’s strawberry jam, Your Majesty?" he yawned, strolling past her.

"What happened to you?" he mocked as he passed her still-shaking form.

"Bad dream," Lumera answered flatly.

"I’m surprised. No snide comments today? Light Fairy Elder?"

But there it was—a flicker. A spark.

A thought, a scheme, maybe even a comeback forming on her face.

Ah. She was Lumera-ing again.

"Why is a place to stay part of your conditions? Are you homeless?" Lumera asked, deadpan.

Devran frowned.

I wasn’t sure if I should frown or grin.

Scarlette quickly stepped in, tugging Lumera’s sleeve.

"Come on, let’s clean up your wounds," she said softly, pulling her away with a smile.

Devran lazily pointed at the unconscious Light Fairy on the ground.

"You did that?"

"No. Guess again," I replied.

"Lumera did that?" His eyes lit up in disbelief.

"Not bad for a bimbo," he added.

"Oh, Devran," I teased. "She did that while sleepwalking."

"Or sleep-fighting," I corrected myself.

Devran suddenly stiffened, fidgeting with the handle of his sword.

"You guarantee my safety, right?"

"Well, I generally protect my council. Unless they give me a reason not to," I said with a shrug. "Ain’t that true, Dark Fairy Elder Devran?"

He gulped, studying my expression.

"Did you think I was so easily scared?" he laughed it off, but I could tell he wasn’t fully at ease.

He wiped his blades on his hoodie, smirking at his reflection in the polished metal.

"You’ve got someone on your team who can’t control her powers," he mused. "A defective Elder."

I frowned. It was exactly what I thought too.

Sensing my growing irritation, Devran smoothly shifted the conversation.

"You must have questions, My King. But I’m a businessman, council or no council. And right now? Business hours are over. Got a place I can rest?"

Am I assembling a council or a fight squad? And why does a Dark Fairy with swords still run a pushcart in the market?

"Show him to the Dark Fairy guest rooms," I ordered a nearby guard.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Elder Dark Fairy Devran, this way please. Where are your belongings?"

Devran casually pointed toward the entrance. His familiar pushcart sat there, unattended.

"Can you help me push the cart into my room? I’ll sort it all out tomorrow," he yawned, patting the guard’s shoulder.

"This way?" he gestured.

"Walk till the end of the corridor," I replied, mildly annoyed.

As Devran disappeared down the hallway, the guard pushed the cart past me.

"Hold on," I called out.

The guard stopped. I rifled through the drawers.

Inside, I found all sorts of toxic plants—poison ivy, stinging brambles, dumbcanes—and then I saw them.

Midnight Orchids. Five of them. I knew their danger too well.

Why was Devran so careless with them? Did he want me to find them? Why now, did he suddenly want to rise as the Dark Fairy Elder? Was I that convincing when we met at the marketplace?

I had so many questions.

"Clean this up," I ordered another guard.

I sighed, slipping back into the shadows.

What a mess.

On the bright side, at least council meetings won’t ever be boring again.