Twisted

Evan Ravire raised a brow when he heard the Crown Prince.

He will really do as his father commanded?

"Why would you push yourself, Your Highness?" he suddenly asked without even thinking clearly. "It's so dangerous and His Majesty's men can do such a job."

"Evan -"

"What if you get caught? You are not just anyone!" Evan Ravire interjected. He even raised his voice a bit but he soon realized what he did and he quickly lowered his gaze. "I apologize, Your Highness. I was out of line."

Looking at his friend who still had his head lowered, the Crown Prince reached out his hand and gently patted him on the shoulder. "I know you worried about me but... I have my reason. And I'm not doing this for my father."

The guard quickly looked up, intrigued by the last sentence of his Crown Prince. He observed the gaze of Helias for just a few seconds and he understood what he meant. "Aimeric?"

"You say that it's so dangerous." Helias Casteveron pointed out what Evan said before. "If I don't do this, the task will fall in his hands. What if he gets caught?"

Evan processed what he just heard and though he understood how the Prince felt, the latter's safety still bothered him. "I know how you feel but... your life is more important, Your Highness. You're the future of Eslore."

"You know I'm not that intent on inheriting the throne, Evan," Helias Cateveron said as he settled on the couch once again. "Let's see what my father has to say this time," he lazily muttered and opened the letter while Evan stood still in his place.

The guard noticed how Helias tightened his grip on the letter the more he read.

Was it that bad again?

A few seconds passed and the Crown Prince put the letter on the small table before him and then turned away. "Must he really do this?"

Confused, Evan bent down to pick up the letter and read it. When he saw what was written in it, he raised a brow. "This is... "

"It seems like His Majesty doesn't trust me enough," Helias Casteveron stated in an almost sarcastic tone. "But it's not strange. I rarely listen to him."

"Will we do as he said?" Evan promptly asked the Crown Prince who seemed to be weighing his options.

"It's already too late for me to choose," Helias responded after a while. "Father is always good at having things his way."

Evan glanced at the letter once again before he turned his attention back to the Crown Prince. "I understand. Then I will make preparations."

Helias Casteveron nodded his head and Evan left the chamber.

Elaine Vernimiere was the one who occupied all the Crown Prince's attention before Evan came. But now, his father's letter troubled him the most.

No matter how much he rebelled against his father, Helias hated how the latter always managed to put him under his thumb by using some methods.

Will he ever be able to win against his father?

* * *

It had been a while since Crown Prince Helias finished having dinner with the royal siblings. Right now, he was alone in his room with his mind completely occupied by the order that his father gave him before he left Eslore. It wasn't long before the sound of knocking on the door snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Come in." He responded without thinking much.

Just like he did in the morning, the Crown Prince was convinced that it would be Evan, but... Elaine was the one who entered his chamber. Halting three or four steps away from the couch where he sat, the Captain bowed. "Your Highness."

"What brings you here?" Helias Casteveron promptly asked. The look on his face proved that he wasn't expecting this.

"I come to ask if there is anything you decide for tomorrow," Elaine spoke. "If I know it beforehand, I will be able to make preparations for it."

"Your King suggested hunting together for tomorrow." The Crown Prince looked up at the Captain. "Don't you hear about it?"

"I still don't inquire about His Majesty's schedule. But if it's hunting, then I will make preparations for that."

Crown Prince Helias nodded. "You will be coming with me, right?"

He found himself complicated. When he heard that she will be sticking next to him, he didn't think he could do it and even ended up spending the whole day in his chamber because of that. However, now that he will be doing something together with King Arias, he was afraid that she will be beside her King and not him.

That's so twisted.

Was it because of what he witnessed at the training ground yesterday? He still remembered how much the so-called childhood friends appeared to be caring for each other under that heavy rain.

"Yes, Your Highness," Elaine Vernimiere responded despite appearing a bit lost. "As I said in the morning, I will be responsible for your security during your stay here. The Vice-Captain will be with His Majesty." She made a deliberate pause and asked, "But... will you be fine? It's hunting and your hand is injured."

Hearing this, Helias Casteveron narrowed his eyes at Elaine's leg. "If you can walk around just fine with that leg, why would I have a problem with hunting while it's just a small cut? Though I agreed to this hunting before I hurt my hand, I don't plan to pull out."

Elaine Vernimiere nodded though she didn't quite agree with the words 'small cut'. He stopped the strike from a sword with his bare hands, for god's sake! How can he call it a small cut?

"I understand," she replied yet there was a hint of reluctance on her tone. Though the Crown Prince's safety and well-being were now in her hands, she didn't know why she felt so concerned about him going hunting with that hand.

It's not like it will kill him.

The expression on the face of the Crown Prince told Elaine that he saw through her. However, she didn't let herself be bothered with it as the Crown Prince didn't mention anything.

"It's getting late, Your Highness. Is there anything you need?"

"No," Helias responded. "But I wonder if you can sit down for a while. I have something to talk about."