Back to Abel...
It was no secret to a few individuals what this hunting competition would turn out like. Joaquin would finally use the seal. Just like what Aries expected, a rumor in the streets had been circulating.
This rumor wasn't the sort that would usually talk about by everyone. It was a rumor that was mostly discussed in the narrow streets, passing the message discreetly.
It said; the guerillas would strike soon. It didn't matter if there was some truth in this rumor or where it came from. What mattered was that the idea was there.
An incident as big as an attack on the crown prince or the nobles would only prove the freedom fighters were nothing but a group of barbarians attacking the royalties unprovoked. With a piece of evidence... such as the official seal, it was easy to pin everything to that notorious group who had resisted the royal family's ruling for years.
If only everyone knew what was happening behind the scenes and how the rumors weren't even close to the unspeakable creation of these stories... everyone would question everything about this great country.
"So... they sent people who no longer had tongues so they won't speak no matter what we do to them?" Joaquin was loading the rifle he received as a gift from Abel, smirking as he raised his head at the men they had captured and were brought into the forest clearing. "Well, we don't need their tongues for them to show us where they came from, correct?"
He chuckled in glee, unable to hide his excitement, as it had been a while since he truly went hunting. Raising a hand, Joaquin beckoned the knights to free the five men who were wearing uniformed black clothes — the color the Valiente Guerrillas were known for.
"Set them free," Joaquin ordered louder, catching the unsuspecting knights off guard. He grinned, seeing the surprise plastered on their faces. "Torturing them for attacking the crown prince is a waste of time. They do not have tongues; how are they going to confess? Therefore... we should just let them go."
Abel studied Joaquin's wicked expression quietly from the side and then his eyes slid over the knights, accepting the orders. Since the command came from the crown prince directly, the knights, although appalled by this order, had to obey. A few of them approached the ones they captured.
'No wonder my darling is confident in that other prince...' Abel thought as he watched the knights free the said assailants of the crown prince. As soon as the rope came off, the assailants quickly moved, taking the knights off guard to use them as human shields.
'... not all knights can stomach the reality that is behind the public image of the crown prince.'
BANG!
The assailants' who used the knights as shields froze as Joaquin fired a shot without a second hesitation, ending the knight he used as a shield due to the hole in his chest. Their eyes dilated while the side of the crown prince's lips curled up into an evil smirk.
"Run!" Joaquin urged as he loaded the rifle and immediately took a firing stance. He closed one of his eyes, watching them flee while the rest still dragged the knights with a dagger to their throats to prolong their life.
BANG!
Abel didn't smile, nor did he show he was enjoying Joaquin's meaning of hunting. It bored him. Not because he somehow guessed this much when the crown prince invited him, but because there wasn't really anything to look forward to this.
'Bland,' he commented mentally while his eyes glided over Joaquin, who laughed after shooting the man's ankle, causing it to drop to his knees. 'I see no art in here.'
For someone who had lived a very long time and died more than he could count, it was no surprise life and death for Abel had no meaning and value. Silencing someone was his way to literally silence the noise that he found annoying. It was easier and faster that way... but now, the majority in Haimirich were getting smarter, so they would go silent with just one look.
But for Joaquin, killing was a means of entertainment.
Abel wasn't thinking his reasoning was far better than the crown prince. But in his eyes, it was boring. He found no beauty in it, nor did he feel disgusted about it. It was just... plain, dull, and annoying — Joaquin's excited laughter was.
Abel crossed his arms, leaning his side against the tree. 'Well, look at them.' He mentally laughed at the mortified expression plastered on the few knights.
'Now, that's entertainment...' Abel rocked his head, ignoring Joaquin's excellent marksmanship and how many humans are left running for their life. It had always been entertaining to see people's reactions when the naked truth and reality were standing right before them.
Some knights didn't even flinch at Joaquin's enthusiasm whilst hunting humans to test his new rifle. Meaning, they had served the crown prince for quite some time. But others were horrified, as the crown prince wasn't even close to his public image. Mixing new recruits and old ones was an excellent tactic, making the newly appointed knights follow their seniors and turn a blind eye to it.
'Should I work on my public image?' Abel wondered, thinking everyone in Haimirich already knew he was a crazy tyrant and the knights weren't even surprised since they were already aware of what they were signing up for. Never did Abel consider the blatant lifestyle he shamelessly paraded, took away the fun such as this surprise Joaquin was giving his new people.
He frowned as he imagined Conan's nagging and ridiculing. He would certainly say, 'you're over three decades late!' since that was how old Abel was supposed to be.
"Haha! What a great rifle!" Abel snapped his eyes and was brought back from his random thoughts when Joaquin shifted his attention to him. "Baron Albe, this is amazing."
Abel slowly gazed at the people who ran for their lives, now lying on the grass from a distance. "It's not the rifle, Your Royal Highness." He slowly faced Joaquin and smiled. "It's Your Royal Highness's marksmanship that is amazing." — and he meant that sincerely.
"Haha! You flatter me, Baron Albe. I had been handling all weapons and —" The crown prince quirked a brow as Hernan suddenly approached them.
"Your Highness, it seemed some... unknown forces infiltrated the hunting grounds and — assaulted the participants of the hunt," Hernan said in a quiet voice, but Abel heard him loud and clear. Before Hernan could continue, a soft gust of wind coming from the east reached their vantage point, and a scent wafted Abel's nostrils, causing his entire body to tense up.
"And Circe?" asked Joaquin almost immediately. His eyes darkened as Hernan hesitated for a second.
"The crown princes... the people monitoring her were compromised and said they lost track of her --" Hernan couldn't even finish his report when Joaquin roared.
"Split up and search for the crown princess! There were more enemies who invaded the hunting grounds!" Joaquin didn't wait for anyone as he rushed to his steed to search for her himself. "The crown princess's safety is your priority!"
"Yes, Your Royal Highness!"
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