"Don't worry about anything. Do as she says. Nothing will happen to you," Lucifer told Heath, who seemed hesitant.
Heath didn't listen, though. Instead, he looked towards Caen since Caen was the real leader for him.
Caen also nodded. It was only then that Heath stepped forward.
Milena found it all very amusing. It was interesting to see the man ignore their leader's words to listen to someone else.
Heath stepped forward with shaky steps, stopping three meters away from Milena.
"That's still too far. Come even closer," Milena repeated as she saw Heath stop.
Heath took a few more steps, stopping just one meter away from Milena, but that wasn't enough for her.
"Take one more step," she informed Heath.
Taking a deep breath, Heath took another step.
He was within arm's reach of Milena.
"I can hear your heartbeat, young man. Why is it beating so fast? It seems like you're scared. Did you do something wrong last night?" Milena asked Heath, smirking.
Heath shook his head repeatedly.
"Then why do you look scared?" Milena asked again. "Do I look that scary?"
Heath again shook his head.
"Then why?" Milena asked.
"I-i heard stories about you," Heath answered. "That's a bit intimidating."
"Oh? What stories about me?" Milena asked. "Let me hear them too."
"A-about how you killed our last Envoy and how you're so powerful."
"That one? Those are old stories. And your envoy is still alive. See? He's standing right there." Milena pointed towards a Noble who stood in the back.
He was the same man who was sent by the Warlock Council in the past as an Envoy. He was not only killed, but he was brought back as a Noble.
"Anyway, that's what intimidated you? You think I'll kill you?" Milena asked as her smirk widened.
"Y-yes."
"Well, you're not wrong here. I'm certainly going to kill you today!" The smirk on Milena's face suddenly disappeared as she stood up, grabbing Heath by his neck. She raised him in the air.
Heath found himself being choked, unable to resist. He could barely even breathe.
"What are you doing?! Put her down!" Lucifer yelled, running towards Heath, but Arthur teleported in front of him, blocking his path.
"Not so fast, my friend. I can't allow you to step closer. Please stay behind, or I'll be forced to take action," he informed Lucifer, calmly standing in front of him.
"Is this how you all want to do this? First, you allow us to stay here to participate in the competition, and now you all attack us?" Lucifer asked, looking towards Milena.
"Attack you? You tried to attack us last night by sneaking inside our Palace," Milena answered.
"Nonsense! We were in our rooms last night!" Lucifer retorted. "I can prove our innocence, but if you still hurt my friend because of this lie, then I'll be forced to take action as well."
"Step aside, Arthur!" he warned Arthur. "Or you'll be hurt instead."
"Huh? You know my name?" Arthur asked, surprised. "How do you know my name? I don't remember talking to you before? And I certainly didn't tell you my name. So why?"
"I said step aside," Lucifer firmly stated.
"So you're saying you were in your rooms last night?" Milena asked Lucifer.
"Of course. We were all sleeping. Why else would we try to attack the Palace? And if we attacked, do you think you and your friends here would be left alive?" Lucifer asked.
"Is that what your statement is as well?" Milena asked Heath, who was choking.
"Yes!" Heath answered.
In fact, he was telling the truth. He was in his room all night. He didn't even know that Lucifer and others had left the room last night. He was kept out of the loop.
' He's telling the truth, it seems. That's very interesting,' Milena thought, tossing Heath back towards Lucifer.
She sat back on her throne. "You said you can prove that you were in your rooms. Go ahead and tell me how you can prove it?"
"Our maid! I believe she saw us in the Palace last night. My room didn't have a water bottle, so I called her to help me late at night. You can ask her."
"I believe I also saw her late last night and in the early morning. She can vouch for me as well," Salazar chimed in.
"Same for me!" Caen also let out.
"Interesting. That makes me even more suspicious of you all. You all have a witness ready in advance," Milena said, amused.
"Fine. Call the maid!" She commanded.
" She is right outside! I'll call her in," A noble said, leaving the room.
He soon returned with a lady who was none other than the maid that took care of Lucifer.
The maid respectfully bowed before the queen, greeting her.
"Enough of the greetings. Tell me where the four of them were last night? They claim they were in their rooms, and you saw them? Is that the truth?" Milena asked.
"That's right, Your Majesty. These four were there last night. In fact, I kind of saw them every hour. They slept pretty late. If I'm not wrong, it was after five that they slept," the maid answered.
"And how do you know that?" Milena asked. "I mean, how can you say that with such confidence?"
"As I said, I saw them every hour last night. Sometimes they asked for water. Other times they asked for drinks. I can say with sureties that they were in their rooms," the maid explained.
"Alright. You can leave," Milena let out, sending the maid back.
"Now, do you believe us?" Lucifer asked. "We weren't in your Palace. But if you still want to use that excuse to target us, then I won't argue. I'll be happy to oblige."
"You can leave too. The tournament is delayed by a day. It'll be held tomorrow now. You'll be taken back to your place where you'll spend another day. You aren't allowed to leave today either; keep that in mind."
Milena sent Lucifer back too. He and the others were escorted out by the same nobles that brought them inside.
On the way out, Heath was rubbing his neck, which now had a red mark because of the choking.
"Are you alright?" Caen asked Heath, who simply nodded his head.
"I'm happy to be alive. I really thought she was going to kill me," Heath answered. He turned to Lucifer. "Thank you for the help. I'm sure she wouldn't have left me if you hadn't interfered by proving our innocence. Thank you so much."
"Don't worry about it. It wasn't nothing."