Aaron climbed down from his horse later that afternoon in front of the mayor's house.
At this time, that bastard was supposed to be working but according to his informants, he was in his bedroom fifteen minutes prior relaxing with his mistress.
Charles walked behind Aaron. They entered the mayor's house and was stopped by the butler. But as soon as he realised he was in the way of his king, he bowed his head, apologised and stepped aside after giving them the directions to the mayor's study.
Aaron and Charles went there and stopped at the door, listening.
"Thank you, mayor. I'll see to it that His Majesty doesn't find this", Jasper's voice was heard.
"You will get your money tomorrow, sir", the mayor said.
"Until then".
They heard the footsteps coming near and the next moment, the door of the study opened. Aaron met Jasper's gray eyes and he showed him the stack of papers which he had rolled in his hand. "Got everything".
Jasper stepped aside and Aaron and
Charles entered the study, welcomed by the mayor's widened eyes and his plump shaking body under a robe. Looked like Jasper didn't give him any time to don his proper clothes.
"Y-Y-our M-Majesty?". The mayor's voice chattered. He looked at Aaron then Jasper then Charles and then back to Aaron. "Welcome, welcome Your Majesty. How can I bid you?"
Aaron stuffed his hands in his pockets. "By taking your body to my dungeons, mayor".
His eyes widened further. "D-dungeons, Your Majesty?"
Aaron pulled a chair with his legs and sat on it, his booted foot on his other knee. Scratching hih chin, he said, "Well, if you want, you can help yourself directly to the gallows but the procedure demands dungeons first".
The mayor cast a fearful gaze at Jasper and then he was on his knees before Aaron. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. It was the ministers that made me do that".
Aaron leaned towards the mayor, placing his elbows on his knees. "Made you do what, mayor?"
The mayor, scared, looked here and there unable to voice out anything. He knew he would say one thing that they might not be aware of and would accidentally add one more crime in the list.
Aaron hated such traitors. He grabbed the mayor's robe at his shoulder and snarled his teeth. "You scammed extra tax from the people of my land. You committed several frauds regarding the crops payment. You run an illegal brothel at your countryside mansion. Want to hear more?"
"Forgive me, Your Majesty. I-I will never do anything like this again. Take away my position but please spare my life", he begged in a high-pitched voice.
Jasper scanned the papers turning them over and over. "There are twelve mansions on his name! How the hell did he afford them?" His expression was almost comical.
Aaron pushed away the mayor and stood up. "He won't be able to afford what we plan to give him".
He nodded at Charles who then removed the handcuffs from his pocket and went towards the mayor.
Getting out of the house, they stuffed the mayor in an open, caged carriage. A short and stout middle-aged woman,wearing an apron came towards them. "How on earth will we ever be able to thank you, Your Majesty for freeing us from that weasel.". She looked at the mayor disgustingly.
"No need to thank me", Aaron pulled Jasper in front of the woman. "He is the one who gathered all proofs against him".
The stout woman pulled Jasper down, grasping his shoulders and gave him a wet peck on his cheek.
His red-haired friend blushed and scratched the back of his neck.
Aaron grinned and looked at Charles who was coughing to smother a laugh.
The stout woman then glared at the caged mayor. "I was thinking of going to the lake and bringing a witch to curse him".
Aaron's smirk instantly fell. "Witch?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. The witches who do your bidding for a few stacks of food".
"What?" Charles frowned.
"Yes. Are they not supposed to be revealed?" The woman was alarmed looking at their shocked faces.
Aaron concealed his astonishment. "It's no matter. You can go now. Your taxes will be checked and returned to you, after they are proven to be achieved illegally".
"Oh, thank you, Your Majesty. Bless you". She wriggled her hands excitedly and left.
Aaron summoned the coachman. "Roam him around the town. Let the people see him arrested and then take him to the prison".
As the carriage moved forward, Aaron remembered his mother's face the other night. She was upset regarding the red moon.
Many times in his life, Aaron had tried to find a witch to get an antidote for the damn curse just to relax his mother but never encountered a witch. Now as the woman had given him an information unknowingly, Aaron wanted to check there also for a witch. Perhaps he could get even a tiniest hint to end the curse.
"You both go to the palace. I'll come later", he ordered to Jasper and Charles.
"What are you upto?" Jasper raised his brows.
"You will not go to those witches", Charles frowned.
Aaron glared at the damn old man. He was always able to know whenever Aaron planned to find a witch. "I am the king here, Charles", he said authoratively.
Charles folded his hands. "I will inform Her Majesty if you go".
Aaron rolled his eyes. "You have silver strands in your hair but you are such a baby Charles".
Hearing Aaron's comment, Jasper chuckled.
"Tell her if you want to but I'm going", Aaron said holding up his chin.
"Then I will go with you", Charles tone gave out no place to argue.
"I'll go too", Jasper joined.
When Aaron and Charles looked at each other, Jasper wrinkled his brows. "I am your royal secretary. I must go with you".
As Aaron had promised his mother, no other people were aware about his curse. Jasper also didn't know. But Aaron thought he could be careful not to give away any details.
He sighed. "Alright. Let's go".
They were in the middle of the forest riding on their horses when Aaron thought if he would be successful in getting answers from the witches, if he ever found them.
Since he became the king, he had tried many ways to find even one witch who could help him anyhow with the curse. At first, he never believed that anything like this could ever have taken place. But his mother and grandmother and even Charles had told him things that made him think about them. And since then, Aaron was hellbent to find a witch.
His mother had told him there were certain ways to reach them but never had she disclosed what the ways were, fearing Aaron might try to meet them and in turn, invite trouble.
Charles was the only other person who knew the secrets about their path but that old man never told him anything.
He looked back to Charles who frowned at him and he sighed. No matter how much he tease the old man, he really admired and respected him. If someone would ever ask about loyalty, Aaron would introduce them to Charles.