Morning sunlight streamed into the Castle's hall, golden rays dancing across the cold stone walls and setting the dull metal ornaments aglow.
"Annan..." From the Royal Chair, the Mad Dog Duke forced a name through clenched teeth. "Do you think I'll forgive you...?"
"Mad Dog Duke, you seem to have misunderstood something... I'm the one holding your life in my hands."
"You scared me... Lily, do you want to play with him?"
"Who's Lily?"
"A cat I keep. Lily, come say hello to a mad dog... Can you hear me?"
The Mad Dog Duke's fury burned like molten rock, turning his eyes bloodred.
"Dahl!" The Mad Dog Duke's roar shook the entire hall. "Is what he said true?"
"I told you before that an Ancient Curse clings to your bloodline... Do you want to gamble?" The Gray-Robed Mage stared at the Mad Dog Duke. "Gamble that he's bluffing."
"Damn it! Why does he have that?" Rage nearly swallowed the Mad Dog Duke's reason, twisting his face with hatred and violence. Then a cool glow of magic pulled him back from the brink.
"...What do you want in exchange for my withdrawal? Grain? Gem Bay? Don't even think—"
"I want money."
"...What?"
All the Mad Dog Duke's anger came to an abrupt halt.
"Gold narls, gemstones, Magic Scrolls, anything valuable... Do you want to buy your life with them?"
"Are you trying to humiliate me?"
"If I wanted to humiliate you, I'd make you kneel and beg for mercy... Actually, that sounds good too."
The Mad Dog Duke asked hoarsely, "How much do you want?"
"That's not for me to decide... How much do you think your life is worth?"
"Thirty Thousand Gold Coins."
The young, elegant voice suddenly turned mocking. "So the Mad Dog Duke, who killed every heir, brought