Chapter 19: Fuss

Dorian's guards were patrolling the lands the next morning. The entire kingdom was already under the management of the second prince, except for just two lands that were still been restrained by General Neo.

He wouldn't give it up no matter the consequences as he would always remain loyal to Zephyr. Dorian had become furious about this, so, he asked his men to hijack it by compulsion.

Since Lynx was in the dungeon and it would require some time before he got out, Dorian had appointed an acting general before Lynx got out.

But he had to admit, he wasn't as agile and active as Lynx.

The man, Vegas, was leading the troop toward the lands which were managed by Neo since the disappearance of Zephyr. The land was enormous and incredible for agricultural purposes. Agriculture in Ardenia was the third remuneration they obtained in the kingdom which was why Dorian wanted it at all costs.

They arrived in the land and halted, came down from their horses by the command of Vegas. And they marched into the area in rows.

General Neo came out of his tent to meet with his fellows. They had a meeting amongst themselves and he couldn't afford to be absent.

His neck was already healed from the wound that Lynx foisted on him and the bandage had been removed.

Nearly getting to the assemblage room, he turned around to see a troop marching into the land. Their boots created a loud racket with the earth as they marched.

Neo comprehended that it was Dorian's armies, so he lingered to see what they yearned to do. Because by the expression on their countenances, they were here for a dispute.

"Neo" Vegas called without adding the 'General title'.

"What are you doing here, Vegas?" Neo asked, in a flat tone.

"Sigh... His highness ordered that you get out of this place along with your troop, otherwise..." He trailed off, rudely.

"Otherwise what?" Neo cut him off,

"Go and report back to his highness that I can't evacuate this land, it will always belong to his highness, Zephyr." He spat.

"Hmm?" Vegas questioned, his eyebrow raises. He knew Neo to be a willful man but didn't know his arrogant side of him.

"I didn't know you were so bold Neo, bold to refuse his highness's orders. Just who do you think you are?" Inquired Vegas as he came to stand in front of Neo.

They both stood an inch apart, anyone examining could tell that there was resentment bubbling up within them, but they remained composed.

"You know... If His highness gets his hand on this land, nothing would remain for you... And your pitiful Zephyr" His lips curled into an evil smile as he sneered at Neo.

The latter wasn't able to suppress his anger, he despised the fact that His prince was being disrespected like this.

Neo's eyelid twitched, his fist clenched in anger as he glared at the stupid face of Vegas, he wanted to suppress the anger that he felt at the moment but he wasn't able to.

Unfortunately for Vegas, Neo hastily unsheathed his sword and slashed Vegas's face. The large mark stretched from his right eyebrow to the left cheek.

Vegas howled, his hands went to touch his face and he found blood on his hand. Resentment, anger, and malice resonated around his heart as he glanced further at the blood dripping on his palm.

He unleashed his sword at Neo, the latter was swift to hold it down with his. The two glared at each other in disgust and were about to continue their course when they heard a loud sound.

They both turned their heads in that direction, to see a gold carriage riding into the land. Neo supposed that it belonged to Dorian.

The carriage halted before them and the prince descended, "What is going on here?" He demanded in an annoyed tone.

"Your highness" Everyone greeted him except for Neo who was still raging.

His attitude did not escape Dorian's sharp eyes, yet the prince overlooked it. Promising himself to give him an attitude installation since his current attitude was rotten.

"General Neo refused to evacuate the land" Vegas relayed with his head bowed.

He glared at Neo. Then he noticed that Vegas was hanging his head for a longer period, he also noticed a red liquid that was dropping on his boots.

Curiously, he demanded. "Raise your head, Vegas"

Vegas reluctantly raised his head to best with the prince's eyes. He saw the rage that flashed through Dorian's eyes when he saw the wound inflicted on Vegas.

Vegas's stomach bubbled in excitement, a subtle smirk appeared on his lips as he watched the prince clenching his fist.

Unable to hold it in, Dorian rushed to hit Neo across the face. Causing Neo's face to shift due to the impact and his hair to splatter across his face.

Dorian glared hard at him, he didn't want to do this but the man had forced him. Firstly, he injured Lynx, secondly, he denied giving up the land. Thirdly, he had hurt Vegas.

"Who do you think you are?" Dorian bellowed in anger. "You dare to defy me?"

"No, your highness" Neo spoke through gritted teeth.

"Shut up!" He ordered angrily.

"Thinking about it, you and that bastard quite have a lot in common. You think you can misbehave around me?" Dorian busted in anger.

He wanted to hit Neo again because the latter had riled him up to the extent that he couldn't be calm. But he refrained from doing so, after recalling Lynx's warning.

Dorian didn't even want Neo as his partner. He preferred to teach him and that elder brother of his a lesson!

"I don't want to repeat myself, get out of here and never return"

"I don't think so, your highness, this place belongs to his highness Zephyr". He countered.

"Oh?" Dorian raised his eyebrow at him, trying to suppress his anger. "And now that he isn't here?"

"It has automatically been entrusted into my care and I wouldn't let anyone touch it. Not even YOU" He stressed the last word.

That's it!

"Get him!" Dorian ordered his armies. If he couldn't get the land by talking to Neo like a reasonable person, he could as well, seize it by compulsion!