The next day, Juno got up early and told Rode to prepare some breakfast.
“Something savory would be good, are there still some meat pies left?”
“Yes, your highness, should I prepare some breakfast for your brother as well?”
“Actually, I plan to give it all to my dear brother,” Juno replied. “Before leaving the palace, Largos gave me something quite useful.”
He took out a small vial from his inner pocket. It contained a yellowish liquid that seem to glitter in the early morning light.
“Is that the ‘Corpse’s Tear’ poison?” Rode asked, his eyebrows raised.
“That’s right. It is tasteless and odorless, it takes a couple of minutes for it to take effect, though.”
“I wonder where his highness Prince Largos bought such a poison, and why?” Rode said in a flat tone.
“That’s not important. Just place this in the meat pie and prepare for breakfast.”
---
Simon was still pondering in the darkness of his carriage when his thoughts were disrupted by a knock on his door.
He slowly turned his face to the right and reached out to open it.
The bright morning sunlight entered his dark dwelling, making his eyes squint involuntarily.
“Good morning, your highness, Prince Simon,” Rode greeted him. “Your brother, Prince Juno, would like you to join him for breakfast.”
Simon stared at Rode.
The attendant's words hardly registered in his mind. It took a while for him to nod his head and slowly get off his carriage.
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“How is my brother?” he asked as they walked towards Prince Juno’s carriage.
“He is doing fine, your majesty. And you?”
“I hardly had a wink of sleep.”
Rode looked closer at the young prince.
Dark circles surround his bloodshot eyes. It really did seem like he stayed up all night.
“I am sorry to hear that,” he said with a slight bow, “I suggest you eat a hearty meal this morning to lessen your fatigue. We shall be leaving for the nearest town soon, then you can rest in an inn to recover your strength.”
Simon gave a sigh.
“I would like that very much,” said he. ‘Then perhaps these thoughts would finally leave my head alone.’ he added to himself.
---
“Good morning brother Simon.”
Simon almost jumped at the mention of his name. He looked forward and saw his brother seated behind a portable table.
“Good morning, brother Juno,” he replied.
“How was your night?” Prince Juno inquired.
“It was okay.”
Juno stared at his brother’s haggard looks and sighed.
“Why don’t you sit down and join me for breakfast?”
Simon looked at the food spread in front of them.
He felt himself salivate at the sight of the feast, particularly the steaming meat pie Rode was currently slicing. He just remembered that he hardly had any dinner due to the traumatic fight that happened.
“Seems to me, you weren’t able to sleep well last night,” Juno asked him.
“There were just... a lot of things in my mind...”
“I know how you feel.”
Simon looked at his brother once again.
He does seem to look a bit nervous this morning.
“Never the less, we need to leave for the nearest town soon. Who knows what else is waiting to ambush us along the road. It would be best to eat your fill now so we can go on our way.”
Simon stared at the food on his plate. Now that he was looking at it, his appetite seem to have left him.
It was probably because of his brother’s words.
Would more assassins try to kill them again?
Would he be lucky enough to beat them all?
“What’s the matter, brother, aren’t you hungry?”
Simon snapped out of his thoughts.
“Do you not like the food, perhaps?” Juno asked, a bead of sweat trickling slowly down his temple.
“Ah... no, this is fine.”
Simon took hold of his knife and fork and proceeded to cut a small portion of the pie. It was then that he noticed that his brother’s plate was still clean.
“How about you, brother?”
Simon noticed Juno’s shoulders tense up.
“Ah, I have a slight indigestion. I think perhaps, I should just take some fruit instead.”
Upon saying this, Juno took an apple from a basket of fruits in front of them and took a bite off it.
Simon took a slice of meat pie from his plate and lifted it to his mouth.
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Go to Part 46
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