The Devil's Cursed Witch

"We have been waiting for you, Gregor," he heard his father say in an apathetic tone. "Good that you are finally here."

Shanel immediately turned her head to look at her husband. Her teary eyes were asking him to do something. "Gregor…"

Gregor simply glanced at her without a word. He then turned his attention back to the man on the throne, and despite the anger in his chest, he had no choice but to bow his head.

The emotionless voice of the King echoed inside the throne hall once more.

"I hope I have given you enough time to spend with your deceased wife."

His head still lowered, Gregor almost choked to force out a polite-sounding response.

"I thank…your benevolence…"

"What happened was unfortunate, and as your father, I feel bad that a precious life has been lost, but nothing is more important than our kingdom and its people. I do believe you understand why I made such a choice."

"...I understand."

Gregor could only helplessly close his eyes. Only he knew how pathetic he felt at this moment. So what if he was the Crown Prince? He could do nothing about the situation his family was in and could only beg for his father's mercy.

King Tredor continued to speak, "You are the next king of this kingdom. I know you understand what it is to be in my position."

"I do, Father," he replied in defeat.

The King let out a smile of satisfaction and was about to praise his son when Gregor suddenly raised his head to stare at his father in the eye.

"Father, if you truly think of me as your son, I hope you will listen to a request of mine."

"What is it?"

"I have lost a wife. I don't want to lose the child I have with her as well. Please, as someone who is a parent as well, I am seeking your understanding. Do not harm my child. I will make an oath in my name that I will send her away so that even her shadow would never reach here—"

However, his plea was met with a cruel denial.

"I cannot accept this request of yours. That cursed child has to die."

"Your Majesty, your granddaughter is but a harmless child!" Shanel cut in, her voice full of pleading. "Please do not harm her, Your Majesty. I beseech your benevolent heart…"

King Tredor sighed as he didn't wish to argue with his daughter-in-law and just looked at his son. "The First Knight Brigade is still stationed at the Crown Prince's residence.  I just need to say one word and those knights will take into custody everyone residing inside."

His words meant one thing: his three young sons would be in jeopardy.

Shanel shook her head at her husband. "Gregor, don't give up. His Majesty would not kill the heirs of this kingdom."

"Crown Princess, are you underestimating me just because I have been good to you as you are my family?" the King said in a cold voice as he glared at her.

Gregor knew his father really well and he knew how heartless he could be, exactly the opposite of how he was portrayed to be. Tredor Valor was renowned for his ruthlessness in his younger years, even killing his own siblings back when he was in the battle for succession for the throne.

"Please do not harm your grandsons, Father."

"Then, get your daughter and send her to her death with your own hands."

It shocked Gregor as he felt like he had heard something wrong. "Father…?"

"Do you not hear me?" The King raised his voice, and the next moment, one knight held a sword against Shanel's neck.

Gregor looked at his wife who was shaking her head, telling him to not listen to his father, but Gregor ignored her gaze and bent down to get the newborn baby from her arms.

"No! Gregor…w-what are you doing? Give her back!"

He didn't answer her as he felt the remnants of his broken heart shatter once more.

"Gregor! No! Gregor, please don't—"

Playing deaf to the screams of his wife, Gregor forcefully got the baby from Shanel. The entire hall was filled with Shanel's cries as well as  the cries of the newly awakened baby whose sleep was disturbed.

'She's so tiny and precious…'

Gregor finally got the chance to see his daughter. The tears he was holding back rolled down his eyes. Instead of happiness at their meeting, he felt pain seeing her.

Grief, frustration, anger, helplessness…

He had already lost Sephina. He didn't wish for more lives to be taken away. Shanel, his three sons, how could he let all of them die?

With eyes filled with complicated emotions, Gregor turned his attention back to his father seated on the throne.

"As she is still your child, I will not ask you to give her a cruel death."

When King Tredor raised his hands, several servants entered the throne hall with a huge pot made of brass which was heavy to carry as it was filled with water.

The servants put that brass pot in the centre of the hall, in the space between Gregor and the King.

Callous words rang out inside the throne hall.

"Put that cursed child in the water and let her die on her own."

Gregor closed his eyes at this madness and heard his father continue speaking, "This is for your own good."

'My own good…?'

"After she is dead, you won't feel like you have a right to be her father and won't feel anything about losing your child. Also, this is a lesson for you. Remember, the future King of Valor must uphold the kingdom first and foremost. Nothing comes before this throne you will sit on, not even your own family."

Gregor simply had no words for his father's twisted grace and thoughtfulness. Shanel was still in utter disbelief at how the King could do this to his own son. He ordered for Gregor to drown his own daughter, and say it was for his own good? He could have just asked any servant but he had decided to be cruel to his son.