“Are you positive that you don’t want me to come in?” Serlon was puzzled, looking at Edwin.

We stood in front of the chambers; the rest of the troop had been sent to the training grounds to kill time. Even if the King didn’t directly mention it, the war council would be hours from now.

Leton’s King and advisors were too busy to attend to the guests, meaning that this extra time was our decision.

“I wanted to go over some questions with Asta in peace,” Edwin revealed, trying to wave off his guard, “Don’t you have something better to do?”

“Your Highness, my job is to guard you,” Serlon frowned, “You’re a visiting monarch in a dangerous kingdom. I should never leave your side. Much less with an overgrown lizard…” He glared at me.

“Says the hairless ape,” I sneered, ignoring the snicker from Edwin as Serlon shook his head.

Truthfully, I didn’t want to be stuck in the room with Edwin either. But I also enjoyed watching Serlon’s growing frustration. Pick the greater evil, you know?

“The castle is heavily guarded,” Edwin reasoned, pointing to the line of guards in the hallway, “Why don’t you use this to sleep? Who knows when we’ll get this break again?”

“If I wanted to kill the blonde twirp, I’d have done so already.” I scoffed.

“That’s what I’m afraid of…” He grumbled under his breath, shaking his head low.

Finally, Serlon’s shoulders sank. He groaned, walking to a position beside the door.

“If you insist, Your Highness. I’ll wait out here,” Serlon gave in.

“Well, we’ll be longer. So, if you need to go rest the offer’s there.” Edwin grinned, pulling me into the chambers, and slamming the doors behind us.

The jolly prince nearly frolicked ahead, skipping to the wardrobe next to his bed. He opened it, throwing off the flashier tunic, and tucking it into a drawer. From the closet, he threw his cloak over his undershirt.

A manic chuckle alluded from him, as he closed the doors after he finished. He turned on his heel, facing my direction.

“What do you want, you creep?” I demanded, “Did I get called in here to watch your weird little fashion show?”

“It also fascinates me that you’re always so…bold in your way of speaking to me,” Edwin smiled, and started to walk closer to me, “It’s refreshing.”

I teased my hand on the handle of my sword, daring him to get closer.

He sighed, turning back around, “You know it’s illegal to threaten Trane’s royal family.” Edwin hummed.

“My history should prove that I could care less about that, Edwin,” I refuted, following him as he walked over to the balcony, “Enough joking. Why did you really call me here? What is it that Serlon was to wait outside?”

I followed Edwin to the edge of the balcony, watching as he peered down at the drop below and scowled.

“Well,” He walked around to the other side of the balcony, peering down at the trees below, “Serlon wouldn’t help me sneak out into the streets.”

He tried hoisting himself over the railing, only to be pulled down by my hand, “And you think I will?” I scoffed, dragging him away from the side.

He huffed shrugging his shoulders, “Ah well… I was hoping so. Why? Will you not?”

So, that’s what this was all about. Huh? It was unwise for the prince to venture out at such a tense time in a foreign kingdom. He was right about one thing. Serlon would be furious if he were to find out.

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But then again, it’s not to say that I actually cared that much.

With the hand that grabbed him, I lifted his body up, and turned his face towards me, “Say I agree to help you. What’s in it for me?”

Edwin looked down, kicking his feet in the air, “Are you trying to bargain? This goes against the rulebook. As your prince, shouldn’t you help me?”

“Is that so?” I raised my eyebrow, turning my head to the open balcony doors, “OH SERLO- “

A hand covered my mouth. The prince pleaded desperately, “Fine! I’ll throw in an extra mana potion!”

“Just one?” I challenged him, removing his hand.

“Two!” He pleaded, holding two fingers in the air.

I sighed, carrying him back into the room, and setting him down, “I’ll only escort you for one hour. If you spend centuries debating over rocks again, I’m leaving you to fend for yourself.”

He nodded, “So, how will we get out?”

“Well, it’s not like you were going to get far on your own. They have the castle guarded against all angles. You didn’t notice the archers in the towers?” I asked, to which he shook his head, “I’ll assist you only this time.”

“You know how to sneak out then?” He questioned. The excitement was clear in his tone.

My eyes glowed red before a glassy veil appeared around us. Edwin stared at it in awe, “Is this the same magic from earlier?” he asked, poking at the veil.

I shook my head, “It’s only three layers. It’ll be enough to conceal our presence from the archers. There aren’t strong mana readings from the castle anyway.”

“So, how will we get down?” He asked, adjusting his cloak over his head.

Now, I could spend hours waiting for Edwin to climb down the castle’s exterior. Although it would be hilarious to see him one misstep from death, I had wagers on the line.

Truthfully, I really needed the extra mana from that potion. Even though I was positive I’d be able to maintain this form, the wear that it had on my original body was rough.

I rolled my eyes and scooped his body in my arm. I marched to the open balcony. He yelped, his hands frantically gripping my side as he squirmed in my grasp.

“Hey! Hey! What are you doing?” He panicked, holding onto me for dear life, as I stepped on the edge of the railing.

“Adhering to the deal.” I leaped from the railing, peering down at the towers below us.

Edwin’s face went pale, as he closed his eyes. His fists clutched were white while he held on for his life. Why though? It’s not like I was going to drop him.

I wanted to.

We landed on the castle grounds. I used magic to break our fall, careful not to leave marks on the dirt. Running towards the edge of the castle walls, I jumped again.

Edwin managed to hold back his screams. Bracing myself, I landed on the other side of the gates. Immediately, I sprinted into the streets and into a nearby alley.

I dropped Edwin to the ground. He landed with a huff, taking a second to collect himself.

The veil was dropped, and my eyes went back to normal. I clapped my hands, leaning against the alleyway wall to watch the prince still on the ground.

“You’re welcome.” I crossed my arms with a smirk, “We’ve arrived by the way.”

“You jumped over a wall…” Edwin reached for the bricked alley in support, as he lifted himself up, “A wall…”

“Jamie said the same thing,” I commented, “Times ticking. I’m only giving you an hour.”

He nodded weakly, pushing past me, and wandering into the crowded streets. No one gave notice of us, besides a few thuggish-looking individuals.

Their beady eyes focused on Edwin, who had been covered in his cloak, before landing on me. I sent a glare, causing them to defer their gaze.

Edwin seemed to not notice, as he rushed over to a food vendor. His mouth watered at the sight of the freshly baked muffins. I sighed, hurrying over to stand by his side.

I peered over the stand, looking at the blue spotted muffins. They looked nauseating. Veil. Disgusting.

“Do you want one?” he asked, pulling out a bag from his pocket.

“Why would I want to eat that?” I scowled, ignoring the glare from the vendor, who had already started packaging it at the sight of the money.

Edwin nodded, handing over copper coins. The vendor reached over the divider, trading the money for a muffin.

I peered over our shoulders, making eye contact with people sitting alongside the sides of buildings. Even from across the street, their eyes spotted the coin bag.

“I’ll give it back to you later,” I sighed, swiping the bag from Edwin’s grasp and shoving it into my pocket.

The prince didn’t question the odd motion. For the most part, he probably understood why I had done so. With the coin bag in my own pocket, the group’s attention focused on me instead.

The whole walk down the busy streets, I felt stares burn into the back of my head. It was too loud to locate footsteps, but I wasn’t worried.

Edwin led us out of the main crowd, stopping at a bench resting near a foundation. He smiled as he sat down, pulling the muffin out of the bag.

With his hood still on, he glanced along the passing common folk. A tinge of sadness hid under his stare.

I sat down next to him, leaning back on the bench with my eyes focused on the crowd for the group from earlier.

Once the coin pouch switched to me, most of them seemed to have lost interest. However, humans were too stupid to realize when to back off.

Edwin had a fragile physique, even under his large cloak. He was an easy target visually. I was less of that.

“Thanks for this,” He broke the silence, “I know we’re on political duty here, but it helps to get away from that sometimes.”

I didn’t say anything. Nor could I relate to his feelings. All I knew in Hellion was violence and war. There was nowhere to escape if it was ingrained in that society.

He went on, “I wonder how many know about the war. Most of these people will be leaving their families behind. And what about the fate of the kingdom? If those walls fall, then it’ll be ruinous.”

He was right. Once the walls fell to the demonic army, all these people would be slain and eaten by raging demons. No one would be spared. I remember the puddles of blood from the destroyed kingdoms and the dismembered piles of flesh.

My brothers would be no different. It’s what the Morningstar bloodline did.

“When that happens, Arslym. Will it be my fault?” His voice was hushed. I looked over at the mention of my real name being used to see the guilt-ridden face of Trane’s prince.

Edwin’s gaze never left the busy streets in front of him.

Human families chattered in the distance. Young kids rush by with food bags in their hands. Vendors sweating under the sun’s heat, trying their best to sell their products. From the political peak, it was easy to forget about the people who crafted their own lives. Their own stories. Like the nobles at the meeting, it was easy to consider the citizens as objects.

I’d never tell him. But I could respect him for that.

For once I understood him. My territory had been wiped out due to my own weakness. Those families were killed in the crossfire of my father’s rage. Still, it left a bitter feeling, even for me who was used to bloodshed. But royalty carried the burden for the people. We both understood this.

Maybe that’s why I couldn’t answer him. It would not be the answer that he wanted to hear. But it was the one that he felt guilty about.

I stood up from the bench, “Serlon’s going to get suspicious if we stay out for long.”

Despite the shortened time, Edwin had no protests.

“…You’re right. Let’s be off then,” He gave a small smile.

The war council would be in a few hours.