In the sumptuous dining room, the only sound was the clinking of cutlery accompanied by the calm breathing of the people at the table. As if everyone was waiting to see what today's luncheon would bring, no one spoke. It didn´t happen very often that the king would dine with all his sons, so it was clear to each of them that this was no ordinary family gathering.
At the head of the table sat a middle-aged man. The long white hair falling below his shoulders would have given the impression of elderly if its colour hadn´t been a feature of all the men at the meal. The three remaining youths waited in silence for the king to finish, so that they could do the same, since none of them felt like eating.
When the king finally puts the cutlery down, the princes followed his lead. The servants immediately took the food, leaving room for royalty to talk. The young men looked at their father, who measured them inquisitively.
"Today you are quieter than usual," he concluded, "do you have something on your conscience?" he wondered.
While the first and third princes remained silent, the second spoke, "You know I'm in the study most of the time, father. I have never had anything on my conscience to incite your worries." the twenty-year-old remarked in a calm voice.
His long white hair, tied in a simple braid, resembled an individual from a pharmacy rather than a prince, as evidenced by his gentle face, giving others the impression of a doll. Of all the king's sons, the meekest, most collected, and most charming. No one suspected that his father was at all angry with him.
"I know Brell, the question isn't just directed at you." he looked at the other two.
The eldest raised his eyes to the king: "Father, when have I ever disappointed you? I came because you invited me, I will never refuse," he explained, "it's not proper to speak while eating unless you invite us. It's normal to be silent." summed up the Crown prince. His equally white hair was longer than the king's. Loosely hanging next to his face, they looked so elegant that no one could tell at first glance how sharp and serious he could be.
The king laughed softly, "Don't worry Louis, I didn't mean you either." he knew his eldest son didn't have time to cause trouble with all the work he was giving him. And even if he did, he wouldn't. In his position of future king had no reason to tarnish his reputation...unlike his third son.
"Don't look at me like that, father," the youngest supported his chin with his hand, "I had enough last time, I'm careful, I didn't do anything." summed up the twenty-year-old young man, whose white hair was the only one in a short cut.
"Nielle, if you did something, confess it to our father right away. We all have jobs to do. Don't delay.” Louis scolded him.
"Come on, Lui, have you forgotten that I've been away from the palace for the past month? When would I have time to do anything?" he looked at his brother.
"Calm down, please," Brelle spoke, "Louis, brother´s right. He wasn't even home. Besides, he did a good job with those bandits. When would he have time to anger father?"
Nielle nodded: "At least someone knows how to praise."
"I'm not saying he angered him. I said that if he did something, he should admit it before he kneels in the hall again for the day." he explained.
"It's not that bad, sometimes you should annoy father too, at least you'll have a day off." Nielle laughed.
"Nielle!" Louis raised his voice at how inappropriately his youngest brother behaved.
"That's enough," the king didn't even have to raise his voice for the trio to shut up and lower their gaze back down, "none of you upset me, I called you for another matter." he clarified.
"I'm listening, father," the eldest said.
"Yesterday word came from Lacris, their king was pleased with the new black stones we transferred and decided to send us a gift," he began, "I want you to agree on which of you will take it." he looked at his sons.
"Are you kidding, father?" Nielle looked at him, "Louis works the most, you didn't have to call us. Give it to him...I have enough money for my duties and Brell doesn't care."
"Nielle, let father finish first." Louis frowned at his brother.
"Alright," continued the king, "it's true that if it was money, Louis would get it. However, this time it's a different kind of gift which could create a rift between you if I didn't give you a chance to discuss it," he said, "they are sending us Lacrisan. He served Prince Darwen for a decade and is a valuable piece. His luck is hard to exhaust.”
"Lacris gave us an extra Lacrisan?" Louis was surprised, "Suspicious...could be a spy, it's not safe to receive him."
The king nodded: "However, we cannot refuse him. He's on his way here, and since he's coming tomorrow, one of you will take him."
“If Lacris has ulterior motives, it'll be safest to give him to Brell, father.” Louis suggested.
Brelle looked at the king, "I know I'm the most incompetent father," he admitted, "but I don't want Lacrisan...it's inhumane, I won't accept one even if you punish me." he clarified.
"I have no intention of punish you, whoever accepts him," the king said, "but think it over carefully. If his luck is indeed of good quality, he will be useful, for whatever reasons he´s here."
"Father, what kind of work did he do in Lacris?" Nielle smiled sadistically.
"I know he worked as Prince Darwen's closest person," repeated the king, "I suppose he did everything he had to."
"I'll take him." the youngest prince said satisfied.
"Again, Nielle?" Louis frowned, "How many has it been for the last six months?" he was interested.
"As if you care about them," he laughed, "Brelle isn't seizing any, so I'm accepting them instead of him, isn't that a good thing?" he elucidated.
"Father, Nielle will destroy him, Lacris won't be pleased if it comes to that." Brelle clarified.
"I agree, when they send him to us, we should mainly keep an eye on him." Louis noded.
The king sighed, "In fact, I was actually planning to give him to Nielle right away, I just wanted you to discuss it," he stated, causing his sons to look at him in surprise, "Louis´s busy. You have Lacrisan and you're satisfied with him, aren't you?” he looked at his son.
"He was a gift from you, of course. He's in good shape.” Louis nodded.
"Brelle doesn´t accept any. While I don't know how you can live on stones alone, it's your life and I won't change it for you if it doesn't affect the management of the nation." the king promised.
"Thank you." said Brelle.
"Nielle," the king sighed, "if anywhere a suspicious individual does the least damage, it will be in your hands." he clarified.
Nielle smiled softly: "You know me father, I won't let any Lacrisan jump over my head, no matter what his intention is. He'll have his hand full to stay alive.” he laughed.
The king frowned, "Nielle."
Nielle fell silent, "I thought...I'd make sure he didn't get hold of any sensitive information." he changed.
The king nodded: "Any objections?"
A moment of silence was interrupted by Louis: "None."
"In that case, Nielle, prepare what you need and when he arrives, I want to see him." the king clarified.
“Yes, father.” Nielle nodded, and after the king rose from the table, he went as well. Walking contentedly down the hall while his two brothers disappeared into other parts of the palace, he couldn´t be more satisfied.
Nielle didn't expect to get a new toy so quickly after returning home, but luck was clearly on his side.
However, it had to be clear to everyone that the decision couldn´t have been otherwise. As crown prince, Louis had no time to concern himself with another Lacrisan. His current one was enough for him, giving him enough luck to hold him on the top and no one was going to suppress him. At least Nielle wasn´t.
He was contentedly minding his own affairs and was glad that kingship had nothing to do with him.
While Louis helped his father with the government duties, had his men in the army and supervised many other things in the country, his remaining two brothers were different.
Brelle was the quietest, sickest and spent whole days in the study room or the library. Alternatively, he wandered around the city where he met famous doctors who taught him their knowledge. He didn't have many servants or noble acquaintances. He didn't communicate much with anyone, but he always helped when Louis or Nielle needed him. The only one of them had no Lacrisan, and his only source of luck, which he had to draw from somewhere daily, were yellow stones.
Yellow stones were a cheaper way to stay alive if one was born in Rinseli. Not everyone could afford to buy a Lacrisan, and not everyone could feed him and take care of him so that his luck would be sufficient to share with them. Therefore, Lacris and Rinse were trading not only people, but stones that almost everyone in the country could afford.
And since they weren´t hurting anyone, were freely available, and Brell had enough money, he only lived on them.
However, their youngest brother was the exact opposite. He didn't see Lacrisans as people, he hated them, and harming them as best he could was the only thing he never got tired of, no matter how many years he did it.
His duties were the dirtiest of all the princes, but no one objected, since someone had to fulfill them. Nielle was in charge of everything from jails and the executioners to the overall maintenance of order in the country. His private group of soldiers, commanded by neither Louis nor the king, specialized in catching criminals. Everyone in Rinsel feared them, everyone shut their doors if they walked down the street and Nielle wouldn't trade his Black Guard for anything.
And so Louis didn't have to worry that his position as heir was in danger, since he only had two harmless brothers. Although Nielle would look suspicious at first glance, his eldest brother knew that Nielle didn't want to be king and wouldn't be. Even if he was interested in the throne, he has already ruined all his chances with his actions.
The crown prince had to have not only influence and soldiers in his power, but an essential part was his father's opinion and relationship with the people. Louis was the king's favorite, fulfilled his duties flawlessly and could solve any problem that was presented to him. He performed many beneficial activities for the people, everyone saw him as a kind-hearted and strong prince who would lead Rinsel rightly in the future.
But Nielle was having none of it, quite the opposite. Because of his sadistic tendencies, unreliability and connection with executioners and violence in the country, people only feared him. No one wanted anything to do with him, and if he was the last prince left, people would prefer to wait until the king had another child.
However, Nielle was satisfied with everything. That's how he arranged it, that's how he wanted it, and if someone offered him the Louis´s position, he'd probably flee to Equil.
His only goal was to live his life in peace, without fear for his own life, without the need to constantly poke the king's ass and prove to the people that he deserves the position. He just wanted to have fun...and the new Lacrisan was the best way for that.
***
A black-haired man sat quietly in the carriage, staring out from behind the curtains. He thought he wouldn't see any difference once they left Lacris and crossed the border with Rinsel, but was wrong. He could sense their passage without even being informed, and Shane knew the feeling wouldn't get any better unless he gets use to it.
The further they went, the more heaviness filled the air, and he felt himself getting weaker. It wasn't just a physical weakness, he was exhausted in every way. His eyelids were closing and for the first time he experienced what the Lacrisans who visited Rinsel meant by saying that he needs to adapt before feeling normally.
After a while, Shane fell asleep and didn't wake up until night. Their carriage kept going as if the local soldiers didn't even need a break, and Shane began to wonder if it wouldn't be better if he jumped out and walked back. However, he knew that it wouldn´t solve anything, he knew that he currently wasn´t welcome in Lacris, and needed to fulfill his duties that he had been given.
He just sighed, leaned out and shouted at the guard on the horse: "Where are we?" he wondered.
"Lucky Mines." he answered.
"By the capital?" he was surprised how quickly they got here and tried to see the mines in the dark.
Lucky mines weren´t at all what their name sounded like. It was a vast group of mountains, stretching around the capital city with several other regions of Rinsel, where the ore that Lacris was after was mined. The stone in them did all sorts of things. Like absorbing luck...or bad luck if they were worn by a person of Rinsel. However, Rinselans weren´t those who mainly used them in their rough form. Most of them were sent to Lacris, where the government turned them into an ideal business.
They filled the stones with luck, which all Lacrisans had in surplus and then sold them back to Rinsel. At least that´s what people believed in. But Shane knew there was more to it...as always.
When the stones were filled with luck, they became yellow stones, beneficial to Rinsel. However, when filled with pitch, they were called black...and those were useful to Lacris...more than the Rinselans could have imagined. Therefore, the trade between the countries was stable, and it was supposed to work until there was the supply of stones.
However, their pure form served to produce one more thing no one in the world could move without. Actually Lacrisan could, since they didn´t mind if they weren´t aware of how much luck was filling them and where its best form was waiting. But for the Rinselans it was a matter of life and death. Likewise for the people of Equil. Although they couldn´t change the state of their luck, at least it was useful to them for the awareness how to act in life.
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Shane pulled his golden compass out of his pocket, trying to find out how his luck had changed since he came here. He placed his thumb on the tiny square with a needle on its bottom. A small drop of blood touched the stone beneath before he withdrew his finger. He watched the thin hands move for a moment before they stopped. The golden one gently waved in his direction, as if to guide him back to whence he had come from, while the black one headed straight ahead. Shane sighed deeply.
He knew that his luck wasn´t where the carriage was taking them but he couldn´t just turn back, so after a while he closed the compass. At least thanks to the color of the stone in the middle, he found that he had enough luck. He believed it would stay that way, at least until some disgusting Rinselan took it from him and let it to recharge again. He had absolutely no desire to share it with anyone and was absolutely not looking forward to this duty. Yet again, he knew he couldn't do anything about it.
He supported his head with his hand and looked outside. No sooner had he done so than the carriage shook violently. He straightened himself cautiously, but the rough tremors continued as if they were going down a very rough road. Just when he thought Rinsel had sloppy architects, the carriage stopped abruptly. He almost fell forward as he was jolted before the neighing of startled horses brought him back to reality. The shouting of the guards, punctuated by the sound of clashing blades, made Shane move his hand to his sword.
"What's going on?!" He tried to look out of the window, when suddenly one of the guards fell from his horse straight at him. If he hadn't thrown himself in the carriage, his neck would have been slashed by the sword.
Shane looked in shock at the lifeless guy on the ground, while another man took his place in the fight against an unknown enemy. Several men on horseback moved back the way they had come, several men crushed into the carriage as they fell and nearly overturned it.
Shane grasped the sword beside him in a second and got up. He didn't plan to leave his life in the hands of soldiers who can't even protect themselves. But as soon as he approached the door, a horse rammed in the carriage and threw him off his feet.
"Ah!" Shane fell to the ground and tried to get up but the vehicle rolled over completely.
For a second he realized that there was a hill by the side of the way and so it´s not a good idea to stay in. Yet had no opportunity to get out. The carriage overturned again, a sharp hit from the side flipped it once more. As soon as Shane had caught a glimpse of the stars from the window which was now above him, the carriage sped down the hill.
The moment it hit the first tree and its back wall shattered, Shane tried to jump. Although he didn't succeed, he lucked out on his next flip. Before rolling down, he violently grabbed a nearby branch and looked at the carriage, which ended up in a deep ditch. The wood shattered into pieces, all the things he brought with him ended up in a pile of rocks, and Shane just took a deep breath as he was close to death in this disgusting land.
Truly a lucky country.
He slowly crawled back along the branches and assessed the situation. He knelt for a moment before getting up and looking around. The bloody bodies of the guards on the ground together with the motionless horses filled almost the entire road, and if it wasn't for the fact that he had seen similar scenes many times, he would have felt sick.
As soon as he took a step, his foot sink into the soft clay, which had already managed to soak up the smell of iron. The snapping of branches forced him to move his hand to his sword, which he luckily caught before it fell.
,,There's one more left!" he suddenly heard in the treetops, where he sharply turned his gaze.
Shane failed to measure the number of enemies due to the darkness, therefore he decided that fighting was a very bad choice. He turned to get away as fast as possible. However, one of the men jumped down right in front of him and forced him to act.
Shane drew his sword in a second and swung forward. The guy's chest was slashed, and barely before the man make a sound, all Shane could see was his lifeless body on the ground. He really didn't feel like killing anyone, he didn't feel like making trouble on his first day here and doing extra work, but he couldn´t get himself killed either.
"Boy, you are a cute one!" a guy twice as tall as the enemy he took down jumped in front of him. Shane looked at him and drew his sword closer.
,,Who are you? All the valuables ended up in the ditch, you killed them unnecessarily." he clarified.
"Valuables!" laughed the guy, "We didn't come for those little things."
"We heard that a valuable Lacrisan is being transported today." he heard from behind him, therefore he moved to the side and backed away.
Shana didn't like his tone, but he didn't have much of a chance to react when he heard another voice behind him: "I think we found him, boss."
"I can see myself." he said.
"We're no goods." Shane growled irritably, causing the group to laugh.
Shane shivered realizing for the first time how many people were around. He was completely surrounded.
"You're going to be fun," said the leader of the criminals, nodding at his guys, "catch him alive."
Shane cursed inwardly how he couldn't believe his unlucky state after he barely made it to this country. A couple of guys ran at him, he ducked while his blade cut through their fingers, and before they know it, with more violent lunges he reduced them to a pair of bloody corpses on the road. However, he didn´t have time to dwell on them as foreign swords were aimed at him. His only advantage was that they wanted him alive, so he didn't have to worry about his life and could focus on getting away from them.
In the end, it wasn't as difficult as he feared. Although the enemy force was considerable, Shane was getting exhausted and his sword was slippery with blood up to the hilt, yet he didn't feel like going to be caught at all. It was even funny at times. Some of the men slipped on the bodies of their own kind, a few had their swords caught in tree branches, and Shane had the impression that they were fooling around. He had never fought the Rinselans before, but he respected them in battle as they had the strongest army. He thought they would be a problem, he thought his skills wouldn't be enough.
All the countries were afraid of the Rinsel´s army, they all avoided war and kept a truce, knowing that they wouldn´t stand a chance. Although luck wasn´t on their side, for some reason they were always the strongest in battle. However, it probably didn't apply to common criminals, and Shane calmed down a bit as he started to win.
But the moment he cut through a few guys and got to a more open path, his efforts to escape ended. A pair of rough hands grabbed his clothes from behind and dragged him back.
"Agh!" he fell painfully to the ground. He tried to support himself, but only caught a bloody limb when the guy from behind was already standing infront of him.
"Do I really have to do everything myself? Can't you handle one Lacrisan?!” shouted the boss, and before Shane could back off, he pulled him into the air again.
Shane gritted his teeth as he choked him with a motion and tried to fight him off with his sword. The blade dug into the man's hand, but it didn't go deep enough as the criminal aggressively pulled it out.
Shane lost his weapon. The second the enemy seized him with his other hand, he kicked forward sharply in an attempt to at least hit the man in the stomach. His kick was well aimed, and although the guy told himself that he wouldn't be defeated by a light physical attack, he foolishly underestimated the young man.
Lacrisan fell to the ground as the man released him in pain. Shane coughed loudly, but immediately grabbed his sword from the ground and tried to get away.
However, another group of criminals crossed his path, and Shane just backed off in displeasure. He heard movement behind him, but he couldn't swing his sword fast enough. A strong hit to the side sent him to the ground. Painfully clutching his nearly broken ribs, he tried to heave. Yet a hard kick from below knocked him over several times until his body slammed against a hard boulder. The sharp pain took his breath away and for a moment he wondered if they really wanted to keep him alive.
He didn't even have time to recover when the guy walked up to him and kicked him again from above. Shane grabbed his stomach, but before that the criminal stomped on him with even more strength, causing the young man to cry out in pain. He felt as if his insides were being crushed.
,,Boss! Stop it, you'll kill him! We all want to enjoy him!" one of the guys shouted, whereupon the commander looked at him. He took a deep breath and just let his foot on Shane to stop him from running away.
"This was the first time someone kicked me like that, bitch." he growled and pressed his foot into Shan's stomach, forcing the young man to open his mouth and gasp in pain.
,,Ahh! Nghh!" he gritted his teeth and tried to somehow slip out from under him. He wasn't sure how he got into this situation, but he confirmed that the Rinselans were indeed barbaric lunatics. He glanced at the guy who was still torturing him and tried to catch his leg.
"See, he's still trying!" he laughed and slowly leaned towards him.
Shane closed his eyelids again as the guy simply lifted him off the ground. He didn't have the energy to kick him again, so he just cleared his throat as he started to feel blood in his mouth.
"Don't worry, we'll take good care of you." he said and knocked him unconscious with a sharp blow.
Shan was no stranger to danger, he was used to doing all kinds of work that his prince gave him. He did things quickly, exemplary and without any mistake. And although he didn't want to believe that he should have bad luck in Rinsel like Lacrisan on the very first day, his compass was obviously lying today. Luck really wasn't on his side.
***
Nielle's day was off to a great start. A group of servants woke him up, another group of servants prepared breakfast together with the report, and a special group of servants brought him Lacrisan to replenish his luck. It wasn't as if he really needed it every day, in truth he had more than enough luck and only a few Rinselans in the country could match his regular values. However, that didn´t mean that he would limit himself to drawing only when he had to since stealing that vermin's luck was really fun.
The young man who was brought to him only closed his eyes painfully as Nielle sucked his bloody finger and read contentedly the report about the night ambush of the coach with his new Lacrisan.
"P-Prince Nielle...I-," moaned the boy. The prince had been torturing him for over half an hour today and since he didn't have enough time to recover yesterday, he felt really drained.
Nielle took his bloody finger out of his mouth and looked at the depleted source of luck beside him, "It's just blood…if you're not satisfied I can take you down and try tears, it'll be faster than these tender ways." he laughed.
The young man paled and returned his hand to Nielle: "N-no...I´m sorry." he muttered.
Nielle smiled to himself. He pulled his finger to his lips again and continued. The young man's face contorted and Nielle enjoyed his pain for a moment before looking out to the garden.
He watched as the group of servants prepared for all the daily duties. After a while, he saw Brelle walking towards his greenhouse with medicinal plants and then Louis, who was heading to the training grounds early in the morning. However, he had no plans to spend the day doing anything resembling noble duties. He couldn't waste today at the palace since he had other things and was waiting for a chance to do them.
But obviously his father didn't have as many quick informants as he did, so he was taking his time. That's why he just smirked contently at the young man next to him, who looked like he really couldn't take it anymore. Nielle removed his bloody finger from his mouth and stared at him for a moment before a pair of bright pupils meekly rose to him. Nielle didn't know why luck was reflected in the eyes, he didn't know why he himself had black ones, why the Lacrisans had light ones, but he knew one thing. The paler the eyes, the prettier the pain.
"I think I fancy a different kind," he teased the young man, "how about you take off your clothes?" he propped up his chin and gave Lacrisan a sadistic look.
The young man got up exhausted and took a step back. He shook his head and looked around frantically, as if looking for help, but none came. After a moment, he only panicked and dropped to his knees and looked at Nielle shakily:
"I...I-I don't have enough...I...I don't have enough anymore...I´m sorry...p-please...I can't..." he stummered.
Nielle smiled softly as he loved the sight of the terrified Lacrisans, "As long as you can walk, that means you have enough, right?" he pointed out.
The young man lowered his eyes shakily and after a moment extended his bloody palm to Nielle, on which the prince had already managed to make several cuts today: "Wouldn´t blood be enough, p-please?"
"Are you trying to order me what's enough for me?" he laughed.
"N-no...I...I don't...I´m sorry..." he didn't know what he was saying.
Nielle took a moment to admire his disheveled appearance, wondering if he had time to carry out his threat. At first he was just teasing him, but when he saw how terrified he was that he would actually do what he suggested, he wanted to play with him.
Taking Lacrisan´s luck was naturally painful for them. Logically, it wasn´t pleasant if someone stole what was keeping them alive. Nielle loved the look on their faces during the proces more than the sheer energy he was gaining from it.
Most often, he took it with blood. It was the second least effective route, but the most practical and sufficient to recharge his luck in the morning, as he never let it drop enough to be truly exhausted.
Other ways of transferring luck were through some different bodily fluids. The least effective but the fastest and least painful, was saliva. However, Nielle, who didn´t enjoy kissing, didn´t use them often. The other was blood, which transfer was more painful, but more profitable. Next was semen, which this Lacrisan was currently afraid of. The pain was at a tolerable level, but stronger that through the blood. However, luck could be recharged much faster and with better effect.
And then there were the tears, luck´s source of best quality. The pain that filled Lacisans during their transfer could sometimes stun them, sometimes even drain them completely, and Nielle didn't make much use of them. His luck could be recharged from only a few drops, but the damage they entailed was no gain. Nielle threatened with them more than actually stole them.
However, every Lacrisan living in Rinsel experienced it, everyone was afraid of it, and as a threat they were really ideal. He couldn't wait to take them from his new toy, preferably right away.
He didn't even have time to think it through when there was a knock on the door and his intention to play disappeared.
"Prince Nielle, the king requires you in the main hall," he heard from behind the door.
Satisfaction filled his insides. His father had apparently finally received the information his people had already had at night. A soft smile appeared on his face for a moment, before he quickly washed it off.
"Oh, again?" he sighed and looked at Lacrisan on the ground, "You're lucky," he said, "and there you said you don't have enough of it." he laughed and walked out of the room.
He walked slowly through the corridors, following the servant who led him to his father, although he knew the way himself. A few guards bowed slightly to him, a few servants hid when they saw him coming, but Nielle didn't feel like dwelling on his reputation as the most unpleasant prince today. At the moment, he wondered what instructions the king would give him and if they would provide him with the day he needed.
For the next week he planned to have fun with his new Lacrisan and teach him the ways of Rinsel, he wanted to keep him busy with something that would bring himself fun and make Lacrisan uncomfortable. He couldn't wait to destroy him, but he knew that some matters took priority.
The door to the main hall opened and Nielle walked in. The entrance slammed shut, he slowly walked to the center of the room and obediently knelt down: "You called me, father, I came," he informed.
The king looked at him from above: "Get up and come closer." he commanded.
Nielle stood up from the uncomfortable ground and walked up some stairs. He stood in front of his father's throne and looked inquisitively at the letter which was being handed to him: "What is it?" he aked, though he knew very well.
"A message from the border guard, who was in charge of transporting the Lacris´s carriage to the castle. It says, they didn´t arrive at the penultimate inspection point. Read," he commanded.
Nielle was aware what was written in the document even without looking at it. Yet he did so. The carriage that was supposed to bring his new Lacrisan ended up in a ditch. The soldiers who were transporting him were beaten to death, and his toy was missing.
"What do you think about it?" asked the king.
"It looks like an ambush...there are bandits at the border who capture the Lacrisans and sell them for their own profit." he said.
"I know that, I want to know why you haven't solved it yet. Didn't you say in the last report that you caught the bandits? I considered these matters resolved." he clarified.
"I solved it, others were created... it's a profitable business, there's always someone else who will try it. Until we increase the guard at the border, the situation will not improve, no matter how many groups I have publicly punished." he summarized.
The king looked at him, as he knew that there was more to it, but for today he didn't feel like solving the matter and took the letter: "Bring him back."
Nielle showed his pretended distaste for a moment: "Me? Send soldiers there." he objected.
"Should I give it to you as a written order? It's not enough that you cause trouble for the royal family every time? You also find it difficult to carry out your duties properly?” he raised his voice.
Nielle looked to the side unsatisfiedly: "I only came back, I was planning to sleep in a normal bed for a few nights." he grumbled.
"Alright," the king looked at him, "I'll send Louis and his soldiers after him...but don't expect to keep him." he clarified and stood up.
"What?! We agreed yesterday that it would be best to leave him to me." he objected. However, the king's look made him shut up before he could get in trouble with his insolent behavior, as he didn´t want to go that far.
"I know you don't care about anyone but yourself and the running of the country is foreign to you, but that Lacrisan is a valuable gift and I believe that even someone like you will feel the need to get him." he said.
Nielle took a deep breath, “Of course.” he could sense that his father was angry and he wasn't going to risk ruining his next few days off.
"If you want to keep him bring him back and find everyone behind yesterday's incident! Don't expect Louis to do the dirty work for you! He has other duties!” king was irritated .
"Of course." Nielle didn't sound enthusiastic. He didn't dwell on the fact that he didn't even mention Louis's name and didn't even want his help in anything.
"Right now." added the king.
Nielle bowed gently and made his way out of the hall. Although his father wasn't the nicest, he had to admit that he was satisfied with the result. At least he got the chance to leave the palace without looking like he was doing it arbitrarily. It was true that his job was to catch and punish criminals in the country, and he even had a free hand in practically most of the methods he used, but that didn't mean that no one was watching his every step. The king was always careful not to let him in his or the Louis´s way. He always noticed his arbitrary actions. And he wasn't going to allow Nielle to do anything suspicious.
Fortunately, he was usually able to work things out secretly, so even now he happily started calling his people who already had some information. But he knew there was no rush. Criminals kept the Lacrisans for longer, and although they sometimes killed them, Nielle left nothing to chance. And if something did go wrong, according to the king, he believed his new Lacrisan was lucky enough to stay alive.