The head was severed

Lourix entered the inn with a downcast look. As he glanced up, he saw an imperial guard and Princess Khillian collide.

Suspicion brewed within him, as he doubted it was mere coincidence. Then, he noticed a token fall to the ground.

Though he couldn't see the inscription, he sensed it was an imperial guard token. Princess Khillian picked it up, her eyes widening in recognition before the guard swiftly took it back.

"What kind of games is that eunuch playing this time," he muttered, quickening his pace towards the wooden staircase.

Princess Khillian frowned and gripped the man's wrist. He looked at her with a mix of a frown and feigned confusion.

Her frown morphed into a fake smile as she said, "Good sir, forgive me. Were you in this inn last night?" she asked, awaiting his reply.

"It's you!" Lourix yelled loudly.

Princess Khillian turned around to see Lourix, his face contorted in a frown of rage, his chest heaving with anger.

The man who dropped the token looked bewildered. The eunuch, who was in his chamber playing a game of Go, heard the yell and stood up from his chair, curiosity piqued.

He had sent someone to stir trouble and wanted to witness the outcome firsthand. Grinning, his wrinkles deepened as he walked out.

In Prince Eyrin's chamber, he sat in a lotus position, meditating with his bare chest. Hearing Lourix's yell, he sensed a problem. He considered ignoring it, but decided against it.

"First Palov is not back, and now this one won't let me meditate," he muttered, standing up and donning his outer robe majestically before walking out.

As he opened the door and stepped out, Prince Eyrin saw Princess Khillian, an imperial guard, and Lourix.

He glanced to the left and spotted the eunuch at the opposite corner of the inn, standing in front of his chamber.

"Did this old man do something?" he thought to himself before turning his attention back to Lourix, Princess Khillian, and the imperial guard.

"Lady Khillian, please step aside. I have a score to settle with this man!" he yelled, unsheathing his sword.

"Do you know who he is?" Princess Khillian asked calmly, looking over her shoulder at Lourix.

"Yes," Lourix replied.

Then he pointed at the man, his finger trembling with rage. "That man is an imperial guard!"

The guards in their chambers emerged but didn't act.

Lady Khillian, knowing because of the token, acted shocked. "What? An imperial guard? What is an imperial guard doing in Essed?" she asked with a confused look as she released his wrist and took a few steps back.

"Because he is an imperial guard, you choose to deal with him? He needs money to survive," she said, looking at Lourix with her hands clasped together, resting at her stomach.

Prince Eyrin watched intently, curious to see how this drama would unfold.

Lourix then pointed his sword at the imperial guard. "He is not just an imperial guard; he's a guard to Prince Eyrin. My lady, do you know that Prince Eyrin is in Essed?" he said.

"This man here... I can remember him. Even if something happens to my brain, I'll remember this face!

My lady, before I worked for Eyrin Arnin, I lived with my family in the capital. We were barely making ends meet as farmers. At one point, we couldn't pay the tax, and the tax collectors harassed us at night. When this guard and other guards walked past us, this guard asked the head guard if they could 'teach us a lesson.' My house and family were burnt that night," he said, panting.

"I swore to get revenge!" he shouted, charging towards the guard. Princess Khillian stepped aside to allow them to fight.

The clashing of swords echoed through the inn as Lourix and the guard battled fiercely.

Despite the guard's skill in martial arts, Lourix's fury made him a formidable opponent. The guard was initially confused by Lourix's actions, but then he understood. Lourix had figured it out, and so must have Prince Eyrin.

The guard knew he was doomed, but he was torn between loyalties. Both the eunuch and the prince were people he could not afford to disappoint.

Princess Khillian shifted her gaze from the intense clash between Lourix and the guard, focusing on Prince Eyrin, who observed the fight with a subtle smile at the corner of his lips, his eyes gleaming with interest.

"I don't know why I keep suspecting that he is Prince Eyrin. However, every time these suspicions arise, something always comes up to close it," she thought, her eyes fixed on him.

Prince Eyrin felt her stare but chose not to acknowledge it, maintaining his composure. His posture was relaxed yet poised, exuding an air of quiet authority.

"I need that guard alive. I know Eyrin's guard wants to take revenge, but I really want to know if a vexar is close," she mused, her brow furrowing in concentration as she turned her attention back to the fight.

Lourix had the upper hand, fighting fiercely with a single aim—to kill. Each strike was delivered with precision and force, his determination evident in every movement. The guard struggled to defend himself, his eyes wide with fear and confusion.

With a powerful swing, Lourix disarmed the guard, sending his sword flying across the room. Before the guard could react, Lourix kicked him to the ground with a ferocity that left no doubt about his intentions.

The guard scrambled to his feet, his eyes darting around in desperation. He turned to flee, but Lourix pursued him relentlessly, his sword gleaming as it aimed for the guard.

"Stop!" Lady Khillian shouted, her voice ringing out as she hurried down the stairs, desperately needing the guard alive.

But before she could reach them, a sword flew past her and struck a wooden pillar with a resounding thud. Her eyes widened in shock, and she froze in place, her heart pounding in her chest.

As the guard was running, Prince Eyrin had struck the wooden pillar from upstairs, delivering a precise and deadly hit. The guard's head was severed cleanly, falling to the ground with a sickening thud. His body staggered a few steps before collapsing, blood gushing out in a crimson flood.

Princess Khillian's breath caught in her throat as she witnessed the gruesome scene. Her mind raced and she turned to look at Prince Eyrin, who stood calmly, his expression unreadable.

The eunuch, who had been observing,chuckled darkly to himself. He had orchestrated this encounter and was now relishing the chaos it had caused.It wasn't what he planned but it was still a show.

He looked at Prince Eyrin and prince eyrin shrugged before he scratched his hair with a smirked slowly.

"This is what happens" he said aloud with a stern face as he looked at the guards who were there.