Compensate

Though Feran knew that his friend was having a point, he was still feeling uneasy. Maybe because he knew very well that they can't afford to make a mistake. That's their lives.

"Please let us be more careful in the future," he said. "If we mess up again, we won't be able to bear the consequences."

Nicolin only nodded and Feran walked out of the room.

Emeric glanced back and forth between Feran and Nicolin before he noticed how the wound of the latter was still left untreated. Then he let out a sigh. "You can't keep it like that. Wait a minute. I'll treat it for you."

"I can do it myself."

"But it's deep -"

"Ric," Nicolin muttered, rendering his friend silent. "You must also be tired. Go and rest. I will take care of my wound."

Though Nicolin didn't say it, Emeric understood that it was his way of telling him that he want to be alone. So, he reluctantly nodded despite the concern that he felt. Then he left Nicolin's quarters.

Nicolin quietly sat alone for a while and then stood up. He slowly approached the small window on the right and when he opened it, the cold breeze of the night blew right at his face. He quietly stood there but soon enough, everything that happened in the day crossed his mind once again.

"Snap out," he reprimanded himself in a voice that was barely above a whisper. "You have no time to get carried away."

* * *

Araven

"It's already been a year but there is no progress in your investigation," King Arias Astaze said to the Chief Investigator who was sitting on the couch in his right. "To carry out such a successful assassination without a single clue... is that really possible, Peres?"

The Chief Investigator named Peres who was in his late early 30s lowered his head when he heard the young King. "I apologize, Your Majesty. I feel so ashamed that I have to report my failure each time."

"Even the assassins we caught committed suicide before we can do anything. It's obvious that the mastermind has many people who won't even hesitate to lay down their lives for him. So, I never expect the investigation to be easy," Arias Astaze stated. "But I don't plan to give up. Be it someone from Araven or another kingdom, I will make sure to know who is responsible for the assassination of my father and brother."

"Please don't worry, Your Majesty," the Chief Investigator quickly said. "As long as you don't give up, we won't either."

The young King nodded and with that, Chief Investigator Peres left the chamber.

Talking about the incident... those pain and trauma relived in Arias's heart and though he tried hard, it was like impossible to not show it. However, he sat still on the couch and had his gaze on the floor.

During the past year, it was his biggest wish to solve the incident so that the whole kingdom will finally be at ease. But he still hasn't achieved that wish and even now, it still made many people live in fear. No one wants it to happen again.

At that attack, all the royals of Araven were the target. However, two died and two survived. If the case remains unsolved, he and his sister's life will always be in danger.

He was desperate and he started to become impatient but... it's futile.

It was at that moment that Elaine walked inside after knocking. Like always, she stood a few steps away to maintain some distance.

"Your Majesty, I heard that Lucian just return after escorting the Crown Prince of Eslore on his tour," the Captain informed him but... he can't say anything. All he did was nod.

"Are you alright, Your Majesty?" Elaine Verniemiere asked; a hint of concern on her tone and expression.

She didn't say but she can already guess why. The Chief Investigator just left, right?

"I think I should kill some time," Arias Astaze suddenly said to her and rose from his seat. He walked out of the chamber and though he didn't say anything more, Elaine knew what he was planning to do.

After years of friendship and closely sticking beside him for a year, she dared to say that she knew him even well than he knew himself.

In no time, the King was in the training ground with a bow and arrow in his hands. As Elaine knew that he will be doing several rounds again, she decided to give him some privacy and only watched over him from a distance. Her attention was only diverted when Vice-Captain Lucian came to her.

"Captain, here you are. I was looking for you since I return," the Vice-Captain promptly said the moment he stood behind her.

"Is something wrong?" Elaine asked and shifted her gaze back to the King.

"It's not that serious but... "

"Cut to the chase."

The Vice-Captain almost flinched at the stern tone and an awkward smile plastered his face. "I'm sorry. We encountered some bandits on the outskirts of the capital on our way back and... "

"How is that not serious?" Elaine Vernimiere snapped as she turned to the Vice-Captain and let out a sigh. "Is the Crown Prince fine? How can that happen?"

"We dressed casually not to draw attention and no one knows the identity of the Crown Prince either. Maybe that's why, Captain," Lucian quickly replied the second question. "We managed to fight against them without obtaining major injuries but... the Crown Prince wounded his palm. It happened when he block the strike with his bare hand. I already call over the royal physician on our way back and I think he will be tending to the wound by now."

Why was there always a strange incident when they had a guest from Eslore? Elaine Vernimiere couldn't understand.

"Are you sure they are bandits and not some assassins?"

"Yes, Captain. We ask around and the people say that there are lots of bandits in that area these days."

"We should have a raid someday," Captain Elaine muttered and briefly turned back to the King before she looked at Lucian again. "Stay here and take my place for a while. I will go and check how the Crown Prince is doing."

Lucian nodded and Elaine briefly glanced at the King once again before she made her way to Crown Prince Helias's chamber. When she entered there, the doctor had just finished treating the wound. At the sight of Elaine, the royal doctor who was in his 40s nodded and left.

"I heard what happened. How is your hand, Your Highness?"

"This is nothing much, Captain," Helias Casteveron simply said as he rose from his seat. "Did you come because you're worried?"

"As long as you're here in Araven, I'm also responsible for your safety, Your Highness. And I sincerely apologize for the incident." She bowed her head to show her sincerity and when she looked up again, she saw that same old mirth in his eyes.

Again?

"Then what can you do to make it up to me?" Helias Casteveron suddenly said, taking Elaine by surprise.

Make up to him?

"Before I come here, I was promised that what happened to the last envoy won't happen to me," the Eslore Crown Prince pointed out. "But today, on my first activity, I'm wounded by some bandits. Don't you think I deserve to be compensated?"

Meeting his gaze that was still filled with mirth, Elaine Verniemiere felt lost.

Compensate? What did he want from her?!