Zhan's pov

Duke Ashvald was a fine man, he was tall and fit with silver hair and a charming face, he was as old as my father but he still had that youthful glow on his face.

His smile was bright and radiant and his eyes were sharp, his posture was straight as he examined us.

"Your Highness." he began in his deep voice, "To what do I owe this pleasure of meeting you?"

Simon smiled politely and said, "Duke Ashvald, I will get straight to business with you, since I heard you do not like to beat around the bush. I hope that you are familiar with the current affairs, our kingdom is in danger and our people are suffering.

The corruption is rampant, our sisters and daughters are not safe, our children are not safe. The people who are loyal to the kingdom and its people, those who speak against injustice are made to be traitors and the ones who indulge in debauchery are rewarded.

Loyal soldiers are discarded and humiliated, people who introduce reforms are also silenced, I want to change this system, I want to end this era of injustice and corruption, in short I want to reform this nation and I will be needing your help."

Duke Ashvald's eyes were fixed on Prince Simon, he was thinking deeply before he said, "In short you want to rebel. And you want my help."

"Yes." Prince Simon said.

"A rebellion will cause an uproar in the kingdom, I am aware of the things that you mentioned, however I don't want the people of my duchy to be involved in this destruction."

Prince Simon continued, "Duke, it would be very naive of you to think that the rampant destruction and chaos will never reach your people, one command from the emperor and you will be standing against the royal army all alone, and even then the people who will suffer the most will be your people.

No one is safe, just because chaos hasn't knocked on your door doesn't mean that you will always be safe."

Duke Ashvald still did not look convinced, he seemed to be in deep thought, "Prince Simon... I am sorry but I don't think I will..."

"How's your daughter," I spoke without waiting for him to finish, cutting him off.

His sharp gaze landed on me and before I could even blink a sword came right towards my neck, only to clash against Haoxuan's sword.

Haoxuan stood in front of me, his sword against that of Duke Ashvald who looked at me bloodthirsty, "You keep my daughter's name out of that mouth of yours."

Prince Simon and everyone else was shocked but before anyone else could say anything I spoke, "You mistook my intention, Duke, I meant well." I then looked dead in his eyes and said, "I can help you. Give me a chance to save her."

Duke Ashvald stared at me with fury, this was not a duke, this was a father standing right in front of me. Duke Ashvald's only weakness in the entire world was the love for his daughter, after his beloved wife passed away, he cut himself off from the world and focused on raising his daughter.

Duke Ashvald's daughter was his world, his everything, and for her he could conquer the world.

As far as I know his daughter died in my last life and after he lost his mind as well, he was unable to take care of his people and handle the dukedom and in the end  he burned himself alive and the emperor took over his affairs. 

"What do you mean?" he asked. I looked at Prince Simon before he nodded and turned to Ayla and Azarael, "Leave us alone for some time."

I placed my hand over Haoxuan's shoulder, "You may step out, Haoxuan." I squeezed his shoulder and finally he withdrew his sword and walked out.

The duke also withdrew his sword and finally when it was just us three in the room, I told Duke Ashvald about my powers, at first he was skeptical but after I showed a demonstration just like I showed to Prince Simon, he finally understood.

"I know your daughter is sick and you are desperately trying to find a cure for her. I can help you with that and in return I want your help."

Duke sighed, "If you can really help my daughter and help her return to her original self then I assure you that I will do everything in my power to help you."

~~

"A few months ago my daughter went out to roam around in the forest, spending time in nature was her favourite pastime, she often brought home injured animals and cared for them.

Just like her mother she adored nature, however one day she stopped going to the forest, she locked herself in the room, she wouldn't come out of her room, wouldn't eat properly, wouldn't talk, it's like she became another person altogether.

She would scream random things, point in different directions claiming to see a man, she would claim to hear his voice, at night she couldn't even sleep properly. Many times I caught her walking towards the forest barefoot as if she was entranced by something, in the end I had no choice but to tie her up.

I had shown her to numerous doctors but nothing worked. In the end I had to call a priest and even they could not tell what was wrong. I am thinking of taking her to the temple but then I am afraid everyone would know about her condition." Duke stopped right in front of a huge door, he faced us and this time I saw vulnerability on his face, he looked so defeated and helpless, right now he was just a father trying to find a cure for his little girl.

"You are my last hope. And the condition my daughter is in is very, very fragile."

"We understand." Prince Simon said, "We will be respectful."

The duke nodded before he finally opened the door and we walked inside. The room was messy, things were lying on the ground and heavy curtains were drawn forbidding the light from entering the room, in the middle of the room was a bed, however its bedsheets were torn, and in the corner of the room I saw a figure.

Crouched down with her head between her knees, shivering.

"Arielle." the duke called out his daughter, his voice was weak, Arielle Ashvald looked up, she was chewing on her nails, she looked at her father and did not seem to recognise him and then she looked around the room and screamed, "Get away, go away... stop speaking stop speaking stop speaking!!!" she screamed as she placed her hands over her ears and banged her head against the wall.

Her father ran towards her and grabbed her hands, I looked at Prince Simon and took out a small bottle that contained my blood.

I slowly walked towards Arielle and sat down in front of her, then with the help of the duke I fed her my blood. Her physical wounds started to heal, and for a second she came to her senses, she stared at her father and said, "Father..."

"Yes, baby." her father cried as he hugged her, "Father, oh father please save me he... he... he won't leave me alone!"

"Who won't leave you alone dear? who did this to you?"

"He... he..." she spoke, "I went to the forest that day and I met a man from the Duskborn tribe... and then..." she then screamed again, "He is here, there he is, he is everywhere, there are so many of them." she said as she looked around and closed her eyes, "I can hear his voice... make it stop, make him stop..."

"Arielle... Arielle dear..." the duke held his daughter close, while I watched the scene unfold in front of me and finally I looked at Prince Simon.

"Duke... my blood healed her physical ailments, there is no dieases, no poison that my blood can't cure, I am pretty sure that your daughter is physically fine... however I suspect that your daughter might be cursed."