Duke Larry's face was red with anger as he glared at Mr. Philip, demanding to know who the young prince was and what he wanted. Mr. Philip, taken aback by the Duke's sudden outburst, stuttered that he had no idea. The Duke's anger only intensified, and he ordered Mr. Philip to go and find out.
Mr. Philip quickly exited the grand hall, his heart racing with anticipation. He had never seen the Duke so enraged before. As he ran after Prince Stevenson Jr., he couldn't help but wonder what had sparked such fury in his master.
When Mr. Philip finally caught up with the prince, he was surprised to see the young man mounted on his horse, ready to depart. "Wait, Your Highness!" Mr. Philip called out, panting slightly. "The Duke wishes to know the reason for your visit."
Prince Stevenson Jr. turned to face Mr. Philip, his expression resolute. "I came seeking Zilayefa and her family," he explained. "I was told that her mother is being held captive in the castle, and Zilayefa and her brothers left their home three days ago to search for her."
Mr. Philip's eyes widened in surprise. He had never heard of Zilayefa before, and he wondered what kind of person she was that a prince would risk his life to find her. "I must advise you, Your Highness," Mr. Philip said carefully, "that no one has visited the palace in months. It's unlikely that Zilayefa is here."
Prince Stevenson Jr. nodded thoughtfully, his eyes never leaving Mr. Philip's face. "Thank you for your honesty, Mr. Philip," he said. "I will continue my search elsewhere." With that, the prince turned his horse around and galloped away, leaving Mr. Philip to return to the castle.
As Mr. Philip entered the grand hall, he could feel the Duke's anger radiating like a palpable force. "Well?" the Duke demanded, his voice low and menacing. "What did you learn?"
Mr. Philip took a deep breath before recounting his conversation with Prince Stevenson Jr. The Duke's face grew darker with each passing moment, his eyes blazing with fury.
"A prince," the Duke spat, his voice venomous. "A mere boy, daring to challenge me over some unknown girl. Who is this Zilayefa, anyway?" he demanded, turning to Mr. Philip.
Mr. Philip shook his head. "I've never heard of her, Your Excellency. But it seems that the prince is quite determined to find her."
The Duke's anger seemed to intensify, his eyes narrowing into slits. "I want that prince captured and brought before me," he bellowed. "I will show him the true meaning of power!"
Mr. Philip hesitated, knowing that such an action would be unwise. "But, Your Excellency," he protested, "the prince is royalty. We cannot simply—"
The Duke's face turned purple with rage. "You dare to question me?" he thundered, his hand reaching for the dagger at his belt.
Mr. Philip dodged reflexively, his heart racing with fear. "I apologize, Your Excellency," he stammered, backing away slowly. "I meant no disrespect."
The Duke's anger seemed to boil over, and he hurled his dagger across the room, narrowly missing Mr. Philip. "Get out!" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "Get out before I kill you!"
Mr. Philip didn't need to be told twice. He turned and ran, not stopping until he was safely out of the grand hall.
As he caught his breath in the corridor outside, Mr. Philip couldn't help but wonder what had sparked such fury in the Duke. He had never seen his master so enraged before, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
Meanwhile, the Duke remained in the grand hall, his anger slowly giving way to a deep, brooding melancholy. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had been challenged, that some unknown force was daring to defy him.
And at the center of it all was the mysterious Zilayefa. The Duke's mind was consumed by thoughts of her, wondering who she was and what she looked like. He couldn't understand why a prince would risk his life to find her, but he was determined to find out.
With a cold, calculating smile, the Duke summoned his guards. "I want you to find out everything you can about Zilayefa," he ordered. "I want to know who she is, where she comes from, and what makes her so special that a prince would dare to challenge me for her sake."
The guards bowed and departed, leaving the Duke to his thoughts. He sat in the grand hall, his eyes fixed on some distant point, his mind consumed by mischief.