Unexpected encounter is also a chance (part 3)

"I'm afraid that with what we have on hand, it is impossible to sneak out, so the only way of escape is through the main door while they check out on us. For the past three nights, only one thug was checking up on us to confirm we were sleeping, and it should be the same this time around. As such, I will be the distraction while you should run away and find help as soon as you can."

The boy made sure to get the girl to look at him before confirming the plan.

"It seems that there are people around, but you should run in the opposite direction to them because it is very plausible that they are conspiring with those ruffians. Preferably get to the main road and then approach the passing patrol or a traveling merchant. Not all are trustworthy, and almost none know what compassion is, but if you lie and say that you were traveling with your uncle and bandits attacked your wagon, followed by the hint that your parents and brother will pay them off for the cost of travel, they will get you to the capital no problem."

The pale-blond-haired boy glanced to the side as if wanting to pierce the boarded-up windows of the warehouse they were kept in with his sight alone and instructed while the pale-blond-haired girl listened to him in silence.

*creak*

"...!"

"It's time...!"

The moment was disturbed by the sound of a thick wooden latch being pulled away to unlock the door, which caused both teenagers to flinch, and one of them whispered, pulling the other one along.

The fancy-dressed boy led the girl next to the door so she could push by the moment a change presented itself while he positioned himself in front of the door to provide the distraction.

Then the door opened, and the plan could finally begin...!

"Hey, you ru...! EH?!"

The pale-blond-haired boy scoffed confidently as a man in his early twenties entered the warehouse carrying a lit oil lamp, but his voice got stuck in his throat because instead of being there alone, the thug was followed by SEVEN more men in their early twenties – not even including one that was staying outside with a sizeable barrel by his side.

"Hmm? Ah! My, my~! Second, Prince James is awake, I see, how convinient~."

The first thug raised his brows and clasped his hands while exclaiming in delight.

"Wh-what do you mean by that...? Where are you going to take me now?"

The pale-blond-haired boy asked while backing off, doing his best to not even glance towards the pale-blond-haired girl cowering by the door. She somehow managed to remain unnoticed so the boy didn't lose all hope and tried to take control of the situation.

"Taking you...? Pfft. Yeah, we will be taking you... on your last journey, that is~."

The man furrowed his brows for a moment before snickering in amusement and... taking out a knife tucked behind his belt.

"Wha...?! N-no...! But... the second...! I'm the second prince! You can't just kill me! Why would you keep me alive for so long?!" *thump*

The pale-blond-haired boy trembled and gasped in denial, backing off until he bumped his back against the empty shelf.

"Pffft... Ahaha~! No, no, no. Your never-to-be Highness. You were always going to be killed. The thing is, we had a whole nice plan that our boss came up with, but unfortunately, things shit the bed, and the moron that we were supposed to pin the blame on screwed up big time."

The man revealed while taking a menacing step towards the ghastly-pale boy while gripping the knife hard, preparing for a strike.

"!!!"

"Hmhm~!"

The boy's eyes filled with despair, and the thug snickered joyfully, enjoying the situation a bit too much, but then...

"Stop!"

"...!"

All of a sudden, the silent girl spurred into action and called out, rushing from her spot and stepping in between the pale-blond-haired boy and the knife-wielding thug.

"If you want the second prince, then...!"

*STAB*

She spread out her arms to shield the frozen boy and called out with a firm resolve, but not a second later, the bandit was right by her...

"...h-huh...?"

...she let out a small yelp while looking down at the knife sticking out of her chest in the middle of the growing crimson stain, changing the color of her simple dress...

*squelch*

"..."

"...!"

The man pulled out the knife, and the pale-blond-haired girl looked over her shoulder, making one last eye contact with the horrified pale-blond-haired boy.

For a moment, the two felt as if the whole world had stopped...

*drip*

But then, a drop of blood dripped down from the attacker's knife and stained the floor.

*THUMP*

"NOOOOO!"

As if it was a mark from where the world started moving, the mortally wounded teenager fell on the floor, and the one still standing let out a scream filled o the brim with utter despair.

"Fuck, you sound like a girl, my prince. At least try to keep some dignity in your last moment, especially after being protected by an actual girl."

The man, unfazed by his deed, laughed at the blond-haired boy, shaking off more blood from his weapon.

"WHY?! YOU WANTED THE SECOND PRINCE! LOOK AT ME! THAT WOULD BE ME! WHY DID YOU...?!"

"Pffft!"

The pale-blond-haired boy screeched while grabbing his head in complete devastation, about to fall to his knees, but that reaction only got him laughed at.

"You were both going to die from the start~! What~? Did His Highness think that we were stupid enough to leave any witnesses of us killing a member of the royal family? Even though it was at the order of his older brother? Get rid of her."

The thug laughed, greatly enjoying the despair he inflicted on the boy before nodding at one of his comrades to drag the body of the girl.

"...eh...? W-wait...! What are you doing with?!"

The boy gasped in disbelief but then shook his head and called out while the other thug dumped the corpse in the barrel, and the one next to him pulled out a red marble.

*crack* *WHOO*

The thug crushed the marble unleashing the fire spell that turned the barrel into a disposable furnace that instantly released thick black smoke as the flames started feeding on the human flesh.