Crackle.Crackle.

The bonfire burned in the night, giving light near it's surrounding. Cariell was sitting in the tree trunk, staring at the fire in a daze.

One of Sean's men were roasting the rabbit they had caught so they would have something to eat. The soldiers make their own fire to cook so they wouldn't bother the Prince's thoughts.

When the person in charge of roasting noticed the food was cooked, he went towards the silent Prince and lent the stick towards the other. The guy nervously speaks.

"Your Highnes-" but before he could finish his words the other already took the stick with the rabbit meat and took a bite. The guy scratched his head embarrassingly then turned and went back to roast food.

Three days and four nights of traveling, even though Cariell knew that Eugene was safe there with his Father around he still couldn't help himself to worry. And also, he already misses the youth so much.

"After you digest your food let's continue our journey the same as before."

Sean commanded which received a low affirmation from his men. Seeing them packing things up to travel again, the General let out a satisfied smile then noticed the silent Prince sitting at the tree trunk, eating his food thus he walked towards the other then sat down beside him.

"His Highness should take a rest later. Let my men keep watch at night. Don't worry, I'll also keep a watch later to ensure your safety."

He said after he felt the Prince's low mood.

"I know his Highness already wants to see his beloved soon. That's why I told my people to travel day and night so we could immediately reach our destination."

Cariell sneered.

"Should I thank you?Thank you then."

The Prince stood up to find a place to rest, away from the people. He suddenly regretted not bringing De An with him because he didn't have anyone to talk with but when he remembered the youth needed his Butler more than him he felt it was worth it. At least here the worst that could happen was he will stink his saliva.

However before he could walk away the other asked a question which made his foot stop in mid air.

"I don't get why your Highness dislikes me so much."

Since the two met, Sean already felt his hostility that he didn't even bother to hide which made him confused. He thought to himself. They haven't met before and that was also the first so how could the other be mad at him so much? Thus he tried to provoke him so he could know why.

You know, when you want to know about something, unless they are willing to tell you what it was, you can get it by just letting their emotions out of control. It's like you'll provoke that emotion out so he could blurt it out without thinking.

"I just don't like your face."

With that Cariell didn't wait for the General's response and immediately walked away.

After traveling day and night the group of people finally reached their destination, the North Empire.

Sean made Cariell and his men change into ordinary clothing while their swords were left inside the carriage, two men will be left there to guard it.

They just hide a dagger inside the boots for self protection. As for other weapons, if trouble really comes to them or they get caught, the weapon is in their enemies hand. They could just steal it.

Stepping inside the border of the North Empire, they got checked first and paid the entrance fee before they got inside.

Sean let Eins lead the way. He can't waste much time as he himself couldn't leave that long away from the Ejen.

As a General, his duty was to protect the Empire thus even though he knew this mission was also to protect it there was a big difference if he was away or not.

What would happen if their enemies discovered he wasn't in the Palace? They might cause trouble or worse the person who was coveting the throne might start a rebellion that they'd planned for a long time.

If that's the case then what was the point of them coming to this place so they could know their enemy if the enemy attacked first? It was really not good if the enemy knew you well while you were still looking for an answer to who the hell he was.

Sean suddenly regretted pulling the Prince along, but at the same time he felt glad that if something really happened that he hoped there's none, the Crown Prince was with him. Safe and sound.

However, right now they were in the enemy's territory. Then he will just do his best to protect the heir.

"We're here."

An emotionless voice woke up the General from his thoughts.

They were standing in front of a dilapidated house in a squatters area. Eins opened the door that revealed the whole house. It was tiny as they could already see the bed by just opening the door and a little far from the door was the kitchen. The kitchen and bedroom were put together.

Eins let them sit wherever they wanted then went through the back door which led to a small courtyard.

Sean casually dusted a spot then sat down at the ground after seeing there's no chair. He signaled his men to guard outside and check to see if there's people secretly watching them.

Crash.

He suddenly stood up, got alerted from the sound when he heard something next.

"Eins?"

A voice of a woman was heard, her tone was full of disbelief. He didn't know what the mother and son were talking about as they just sat there and waited. A while later Eins was back, with a woman behind him.

The woman was beautiful but her beauty was fading as she looked haggard.

"This was?"

She asked her son as she got a response from Sean instead.

"I'm Sean and this is my Ajudant, Yiel."

Cariell, who was named, glared at the General to express his dissatisfaction. Your taste of naming was bad. Yiel? Seriously?

Sean saw his glare thus he faked a cough to hide his discomfort.

I'm sorry for that. They already talked about hiding Cariell's identity as they can't casually trust a person.

The name made Eins frowned but he didn't say anything, he quietly helped his Mom to sit on the ground then prepared drinks.

"You are the General of Ejen?What is the General doing here? Does he need something from this lowly being?"

Sean's face went solemn and without beating around the bush he boldly asked.

"Does the Princess recognize the man who did that to you?"

And with that the smile from the woman's face disappeared. Her tone became cold.

"If the General's purpose was him then I can't help you. Please get out."

Who would want to talk about the things that ruin your life? Well if that's fine with you then for her, it's not. She hates to reveal her weaknesses especially when people try to poke it. This was her bottom line.

"Mom, they wanted to know who it was so they could eliminate him. I brought them here to help us so we could finally leave this life. I hate seeing you suffer. I wanted to let you live a good life and enjoyed it. It's not too late to seek justice or revenge. And I also wanted to know the truth."

Eins sat down beside his Mother, he held her hands and coaxed her to answer them because he, himself, also wanted to know who it was.

Before, he thought it was Marius because his relatives told him about it. Since he was born the only thing he knew about what happened was his Father went away and leave them that's why they suffer, that was also the reason why he often got bullied and the reason why he agreed to go to the Ejen to get revenge and become a spy so he could help his relatives and he will finally got his revenge but after reading the report Sean gave him he started to asked.

Was it really Marius?

"Mother, I went to Ejen to spy and I also plan to take the throne and kill that Marius mysel-."

"It's not him."

If her son trusts these people then she'll try.

"The who?"

The General questioned which received a sweet smile from her and like she was talking about the weather and not the man who ruined her she spoke.

"I clearly saw his face that night, after all it was so close that the darkness can't hide it. I even put poison on him while he was doing it to me, I can't kick him away or fight. I mean, how could a weak woman like me overpowered a drunk man?So might as well let him enjoy the night and suffer tomorrow."

Cariell who was listening quietly opened his mouth.

"A poison?"

"Yes, the antidote wasn't even made yet. I wonder if that man was still breathing? Well he was rich so maybe he still was. He could afford medicine that was expensive to stop the poison temporarily. After all, he didn't know he was poisoned."

She clicked her tongue and continued.

"That poison was my best one, I tested it on some prisoners here or criminals when I invented it and discovered it can't be detected by medicine in this era, so maybe in the future?And to my observation as I visited those test subjects almost everyday before, it was slow but deadly.

"Then, who is he?"

The sweet smile turned evil as she playfully asked.

"Still haven't had a clue?Who was the man in your circle who was so healthy before and now was about to die?"