As Julian made his way towards the castle, sensing the turmoil outside, a couple emerged from the shadows, dressed in fine noble attire.
The man exuded an air of arrogance, while the woman, his companion, held herself with grace. Both were clearly of high rank.
Rose's expression immediately stiffened at the sight of them. She recognized them instantly—her uncle and aunt. Their cold and calculating eyes never looked at her with anything but disdain.
The memories of her family's fall were all too fresh in her mind, and their appearance here, at this moment, only fueled the bitterness and anger she had long tried to suppress.
Julian sensed the shift in Rose's demeanor and turned his gaze towards the couple. His face remained unreadable, but his aura still crackled with three energies. He knew who they were, and he could already sense the tension rising in the air.
The couple, despite their confidence and noble heritage, faltered for a moment at the overwhelming presence of Julian.
The man's eyes narrowed, recognizing the power emanating from the Julian. "What is this? You dare approach my castle uninvited?" the man asked.
Julian stood motionless as his eyes locked onto the man with an unnerving calm. His lips curled into a faint smile.
Albert seeing his father and mother, immediately got a rush of confidence and ran towards them.
The count's eyes widened as he watched his son rush towards him while tears streamed down his face. Albert clung to his father, his voice trembling with a mixture of anger and fear.
"Father, it's this bastard! He thinks he is superior to us. He nearly killed me." he shouted, pointing at Julian.
The count's face shifted with rage as he turned to face Julian. He took a step forward and reached for the hilt of his sword, though he quickly realized how futile his action was in front of Julian's overwhelming aura. His gaze flickered to Rose, then back to Julian, his expression darkening.
"You dare challenge a count, boy?" the count said, trying to regain some sort of control, though his voice shook ever so slightly.
Julian simply laughed as his gaze flickered to the count's companion. "Do you love your wife?" he asked.
The count was momentarily confused at Julian's sudden question. "What are you implying, boy?" he said
But Julian's grin only deepened, and his gaze shifted towards the lady standing beside the count—his wife.
Julian took a step forward, his voice dropping to a soft, almost mocking tone. "Do you love her?" he repeated, his eyes locking onto the lady's face with an unsettling intensity.
The lady stiffened, her expression shifting from confusion to discomfort as she glanced nervously at her husband, then back to Julian.
Julian's smile remained unchanged as he raised his hands slowly towards the sky. The atmosphere grew tense as the onlookers, including the count and his son, watched in confusion, unsure of what was happening.
The air thickened, and the previously calm sky began to darken. For a moment, it was as if time itself stood still.
Then, with a deafening roar, a bolt of pure lightning descended from the sky and struck the lady. The count screamed in horror as he rushed forward, but by the time he reached her, nothing remained.
The woman who stood beside him moments before had been reduced to dust, her form evaporating in an instant, as if she had never existed at all.
The surrounding air was filled with extreme horror and a heavy silence followed. The count stood frozen, his mouth opened wide as he stared at the empty space where his wife had once been.
Julian's smile never wavered. His eyes glinted with an almost detached amusement as he lowered his hand slowly. "That," he said, his voice smooth and cold, "is what real power looks like."
The tension in the air was thick enough to choke, and even the most seasoned warriors could feel the fear settling over them. The count and his son, though powerful in their own right, knew they were helpless in the face of such overwhelming authority.
Rose stood silently in the midst of the chaos, her eyes wide with a mix of shock, disbelief, and a strange sense of awe. She had never seen this side of Julian before—the calm and peaceful expression on his face as he wielded such devastating power.
The thunderous crack of lightning still echoed in her ears as she watched the woman, who had once stood proudly by the count's side, reduced to nothing in a heartbeat.
Julian's laugh echoed through the air as he pointed his fingers toward the count's son. In an instant, bolt of lightning formed around Albert encasing him in a powerful cage made of lightning.
Albert screamed in terror as the lightning dragged him forcefully towards Julian.
The count's voice trembled as he shouted in horror, "No! Please, spare my son!" His face twisted in panic, but there was no mercy in Julian's eyes.
Julian's voice was cold, dripping with disdain as he stared at the count "Did Rose's mother ask for forgiveness too? And what did you do?"
The count's face paled further and he remained silent, unable to answer. Julian's grip on Albert tightened, the lightning crackling louder, as if reflecting his growing fury.
The count stood frozen, his body trembling as he watched his son being held in place by the lightning, unable to move or speak.
Julian's eyes locked onto his, the weight of the question hanging in the air. "What did you do when she tried to protect her family? When she stood against you?"
Albert's struggles intensified as the lightning strangled him tighter. His face twisted in pain.
Finally, the count whispered, "I—I did what I had to do. She was a threat... to my rule... to my power."
Julian's expression darkened even further. "A threat?" He sneered, shaking his head. "You killed her because she was a threat to your greed. And now you think you can act like nothing happened."
The count's eyes filled with fear, the weight of his past sins bearing down on him. "Please... please, don't—" he pleaded, his voice cracking.
Julian raised a hand, silencing him. "It's too late for apologies. Your actions will have consequences. Rose and her family will no longer live in the shadow of your cruelty."