"Deliver this letter to Jessy imdiately and request her to co to the palace along with my escorts," Kiev commanded Arl, handing him a folded letter. "The royal knights will accompany you and accommodate you with a carriage."
The young teenager bowed in deference, replying, "Yes, Your Highness."
Soon after, the royal knights requested by Kiev arrived, and they followed Arl back to the inn.
Kiev let out a deep breath, feeling a temporary sense of relief. He had managed to buy ti to search for a way to regain his magic abilities before the next duel. Healing his injured sister, Princess Callis, was of utmost importance, so he needed to regain that speciality.
Respecting his sister’s need for rest, Kiev decided not to disturb her and instead took a walk in the palace courtyard, revelling in the scenic views and fresh air. It was a mont for him to clear his mind.
As he strolled, the palace servants and occupants couldn’t help but cast their eyes upon him, their expressions filled with surprise and captivated by his charming appearance. The unrelenting stares from them made Kiev increasingly uncomfortable.
Without his magical abilities, he couldn’t employ his usual fear-inducing spells to deter them. Deciding it was best to distance himself from their prying eyes, the prince veered away, seeking solace in a secluded part of the palace grounds.
Finding respite on a wooden bench overlooking a serene pond, Kiev took in the soothing sounds of chirping birds and the gentle breeze that alleviated his sense of suffocation.
However, his tranquillity was short-lived as a group of n dressed in hunting attire ca into view on the other side of the pond in a secluded area near the palace wall. Intrigued by their secretive actions, Kiev couldn’t resist the urge to observe them discreetly.
Approaching the n cautiously, the prince noticed they were Kyren’s dedicated n and couldn’t help but question their intentions.
"What are you all doing, sneaking around like thieves?" he asked, his voice catching them off guard.
"F*ck!" Eric cursed, startled by the unexpected voice coming from behind.
None of them had noticed the derian Prince’s presence until that mont. His face flushed with embarrassnt upon realising it was Kiev standing there.
"Forgive , Your Highness. I had no idea it was you. I am truly taken aback," Eric quickly apologised, bowing to display his remorse.
"People often fail to notice when I approach them discreetly. Now, where are you all going, and why are you leaving so secretively?" Kiev inquired inquisitively.
The other knights ca to a halt and exchanged glances, realising their attempt had been exposed, and they certainly didn’t anticipate the derian Prince to catch them in action.
Before they could respond, Kyren unexpectedly appeared, seemingly surprised to see Kiev standing there with his n. He had just finished eting with Rafe and King Kyden.
"What in the world are you doing here?" the grand duke grumbled, clearly taken aback by Kiev’s presence.
"I could ask the sa question of your knights. It appears that all of you have the intention of leaving discreetly. What are you up to?" the prince pressed for an explanation.
"That’s none of your concern! You should return to your chambers or perhaps focus on looking after your beloved sister," Kyren retorted, clearly defensive.
"While I do care deeply for my sister, I don’t have to be by her side constantly. She is a capable individual who can take care of herself. Besides, Miss Canton has been closely attending to her. So, I must express my gratitude for providing such a good and diligent maid," Kiev replied, his tone firm.
"Save your thanks and back off. You do not need to involve yourself in my affairs," the grand duke snapped back.
Kiev crossed his arms over his chest, narrowing his eyes at Kyren and his n, a hint of suspicion in his gaze.
"Now it’s getting even more peculiar. His Majesty was eager to postpone the duel, ntioning your preparations for departure to Agathe Island is crucial. But here you are, seemingly having plenty of ti to be elsewhere. I don’t think His Majesty is aware of your plans," the prince comnted.
"I told you to f*ck off! What I do is none of your concern!" Kyren retorted angrily.
The derian Prince paused montarily, his mind drifting back to their previous fight, reminding him of the sudden appearance of the golden barrier that protected the grand duke and the subsequent loss of his magical abilities.
Recognising that the grand duke would soon be departing, Kiev saw an opportunity within this limited ti fra to get closer to him and uncover the mystery that shrouded their recent encounter.
Although their relationship was strained and filled with tension, he decided to set aside his personal feelings and focus on getting to the truth.
"Fine, go ahead. But I will inform His Majesty that you’ve neglected your duties," Kiev declared firmly.
"I haven’t neglected anything, d*mn it! I just need to sort sothing out before I continue with my preparations!" Kyren protested.
"And why is it so crucial that it can’t wait until you return? Even our duel has been put on hold because you’re supposed to be going to war," the prince pressed, seeking answers.
Kyren remained silent, refusing to respond.
"Very well... Since you don’t want to answer, I will inform His Majesty about this myself," Kiev threatened.
"Stop it, you idi*t! You’re ruining my hunt! I’m rushing against ti here!" Kyren exclaid, frustration evident in his voice.
"A hunt? Seriously? Now?" Kiev provoked, his scepticism evident.
"What is it that you want to know?" Stressed, Kyren finally relented with a sigh.
"Tell what you’re after, and don’t think you can deceive . You know I have magic, and I can sense when soone is bluffing," Kiev stated, knowing that he had to play along and withhold the truth about his lost magic abilities.
"Fine! I’ll tell you," Kyren conceded.
He proceeded to disclose information about the Ardel’s delegation, which were actually the Bargesians.
Listening intently, Kiev realised that the delegations ntioned were none other than the Ardelians he had encountered this morning.
"I see..." the prince pondered montarily, connecting the dots in his mind. "Count in!" he suddenly decided.
Surprised by Kiev’s request, Kyren questioned his motives, "What for? You’ve made it clear that the matters of the continent are not your concern, and you’re not seeking revenge for Anna. All you seem to care about is snatching her away."
The derian Prince acknowledged the truth in the grand duke’s words, "You’re right, and I can’t initiate a war, as it goes against the order of my king. However, the presence of these Bargesians poses a direct risk to Anna’s safety. I can’t afford to assu they won’t co back for her. They may have even pretended to leave."
Concern for Jessy’s safety also weighed on Kiev’s mind, further solidifying his resolve.
He locked eyes with Kyren, determination burning in his gaze.
"Let join you, and we’ll face this threat together."
"My n and I can handle this by ourselves!" Kyren asserted, confident in their abilities.
"I’m way better than your knights, and you know it. If you want to settle this quick, you must take with you," urged the prince.
Though resentful of Kiev’s coercion, the grand duke realised the pressing nature of the situation and the prince’s strength. Ti was of the essence in catching up with Brone and his n, and the urgency compelled him to agree to Kiev’s involvent reluctantly. However, Kyren was adamant that they keep the matter a secret from the king’s knowledge.
Reluctantly, the grand duke agreed, "Fine, you can join us, but I’ll be the lead. Also, we must keep this mission discreet from anyone else, especially His Majesty, the king. We cannot afford any interference or complications from the royal court."
Kiev nodded, understanding the request.
"Agreed. We will handle this quietly, ensuring that our actions do not reach the ears of those not involved."
"And if you ever do sothing funny, I’ll kill you!" Kyren warned, still sceptical of the prince’s intentions.
"That’s never going to happen," Kiev replied arrogantly.
Kyren then decided to test the prince’s skills.
"Since you claim to be so strong and great, do you think you can leap the wall without help?" he teased.
A mischievous smile ford on Kiev’s face.
"That’s a child’s play."
He took a few steps back, positioning himself, and with a swift and agile movent, he effortlessly leapt over the high wall.
The knights stood in awe, their jaws dropping. The ability to perform such a feat was typically limited to the northern warriors, and they had never witnessed anyone else accomplish it. Even among themselves, they still required assistance to scale the wall.
"Show off!" Kyren scoffed, though slightly impressed.
Not one to back down from the skill show, he leapt over the wall as well, replicating Kiev’s feat with relative ease.
The rest of the knights swiftly climbed over and gathered on the other side. A few stable boys awaited them with their warhorses, and Kyren ordered Kiev’s horse to be brought imdiately.
With their horses in tow, they embarked on their journey to pursue the Ardel ambassador delegation, ready for a fierce assassination.
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