“You really won't say anything?!”

An old man shouted and when he saw the youth weakly trying to shake his head, his anger went to the top as he hit the youth’s body using the whip he was holding.

A loud sound of a a whip touching a person’s skin echoed in the room, those who were standing at the side guarding the door still had a straight face while listening to the sound of torture. They're already used to it, because it been three days since the youth was thrown in this prison and received this torture lash.

The old man took a deep breath to calm himself down before he took back the whip.

He coldly gazes at the youth before he turns his back to walk away.

“I’ll be back later.”

It was morning, he still needed to eat breakfast. Besides, he still needs to keep an eye on his Majesty's health.

The iron door of the prison was closed. The youth was left alone inside as those men guarding earlier also went out.

The youth tried to open his heavy eyelids, his vision was a mix of red and blurry.

Looking at the door, his hand trying to reach out but a chain bound his body and restricted his movement, he could only hang his head in the air. The pain of every whipped was unbearable but he still tried to hold on and fought back, just not to get his man in danger.

Just so they do not know where they are, he could sacrifice his body just for him to be safe. The youth coughs out a mouthful of blood. His whole body was full of mixed sweat and blood. The water stain from his tears was still in his face. His skin was torn, even the pink tender flesh piece of meat could be seen. An evidence of how cruel the old man was.

He looks miserable, three days have passed since he was sent here. No food, no water, just the taste of his own blood. And those days they keep trying to pry his mouth for the information they wanted.

Sleepiness suddenly attacked him, which he didn't try to fight with. Eugene let the sleepiness invade his whole consciousness as he finally fell asleep.

“LET ME OUT!!”

BANG!BANG!BANG!

Linus kept banging the door as he shouted with his all might. Begging those people outside who were guarding him to open the door, so he could save him.

After a minute of shouting and begging, the banging stopped. His clenched hand was still on the door, his head was leaning on it, looking down at his own feet.

His friend, he brought his friend into this demise. His heart and mind couldn't take the regret he felt so he was desperate to save him.

Linus hated himself for being stupid and dumb, why did he believe his own Father? Why did he listen to him? He knew how heartless he is, as a man, Linus can only cry in this kind of situation.

He betrayed his best friend. What kind of a friend is he? Leading them both to danger? I’m useless.

Linus turned and leaned his back on the door, then he slumped on the floor. The sound of sobs and choking continued inside the room until it stopped completely.

His body was frozen, looking at those birds that were flying. He noticed the paper tied on their foot, Linus woke up from his muddle head.

Why didn't he think of that?! Gritting his teeth from getting angry at himself, he stood up from the floor and went to his study table. Looking for a paper and a pen.

He planned to use this opportunity to send his friend a letter, just to let him know what was happening here.

As he wrote, the letters on the paper were a little messy but he couldn't pay his attention towards his writing font as he quickly rolled it, went to the cage that had a bird in it then opened it, tied the letter on the bird’s feet.

“Cariell”

The bird could recognize the man, and with this one word it flew on itself.

Linus could only hope that the man would receive it and as for him, he gazed back at the door then looked outside the window, calculating the height that he would fall and what damage he would take after doing that.

Maybe, this was really the only way? But if he jumped there, even with the use of his blanket as a rope, the damage would still be big. If he was injured, how could he save Eugene with that?

Linus frowned, he kept thinking of ways to escape when a knock stopped his thoughts.

“Young Master, I’m here to deliver the food.”

Oh right, it was breakfast. The maid is here to deliver food again…..deliver…..food…

Linus' eyes lit up, that's right! Delivering food. He heard the sound of keys trying to unlock the door, Linus immediately walked towards his bed. He unbuttoned the top three buttons of the shirt he was wearing then smiled like a demon.

The maid finally opened the door, she used her feet to push it so she could go inside. Holding the tray full of food, what greeted him was the Young Master, smiling from ear to ear.

The maid blushed a little, she walked towards the table, her foot closed the door so the Young Master wouldn't use this time to get out.

Putting down the tray of food when she heard a voice that sounded good to her ears.

“What was your name again?”

She looked at the Young Man who was now standing and walking slowly towards her, the maid couldn't help but stammer.

“Ah Li-Lisa Sir.”

This kind of view, she couldn't take it! The maid could even hear the beat of her heart, is this her time? Does the Young Master like her?

After all, you couldn't say that Linus' looks could charm women easily.

The more Linus took a step forward, the more the maid took a step back until she finally bumped into the table, as the space wasn't that big when she stood there earlier.

When Linus finally stood in front of her, the blush on the little maid’s face couldn't be hidden anymore. Her little heart became a drum from the sound of beating when Linus put his hands on the table to cage his prey.

He leaned down which resulted in the maid closing his eyes, expecting a kiss when she suddenly felt a tap on her nape.

Her heart was full of disbelief as she completely lost her consciousness.

Linus catches the maid’s body that was about to fall to the ground. He looked at the closed door then back to the maid in his arms.

He then lay the maid on the bed, closed his eyes to undress her.

“I’m sorry for this, please don't hold a grudge, I just need to do this.”

An hour had passed before the door opened again, the maid calmly walked outside while holding the empty tray.

The guards guarding the door couldn't help but whistle as he stared at the moving up and down butt.

“Sexy”

“Shh! We're on duty.”

“Oh, right.”

The playful expression on the guard's face was gone as he solemnly stood beside the door. But his gaze still lingered on the maid's butt.

Linus clenched his teeth to calm his anger. His knuckles were ready to punch someone but he endured it.

Just you wait! I will definitely erase you from this world!

“What?!”

Sean suddenly shouted after hearing what his men said which frightened the man, he shivered as he continued to report.

“I just saw it flying towards here with this letter.”

Sean looked down at the paper he was holding, reading the content again to make sure that it wasn't a fraud.

Eugene Riley was currently in our hands. If you want to get him back you should come back immediately to the Palace.

“There were many of them.”

Said the man.

The more Sean read the more his eyes darkened, he crumpled the paper then threw it on the near bonfire to destroy it.

“Don't let this get to his Highness, get rid of all these letters as soon as possible.”

The man hesitated before he spoke about what's on his mind.

“But General, it's the future Empress life we were talking about.”

Who didn't know he was the Prince lover? That's why the man hesitated to carry the order.

“And his Maje-”

“Shut up! That Eugene’s isn't as important as the Prince's life. Don't ask too many questions, just follow them.”

What could he do? He was just a follower after all, thus, with a heavy heart the man walked away and started to call the others to help him.

When he was finally alone, he let out a long sigh and sat down on the chair. His whole body was half lying and sitting on the chair. Like he was so exhausted.

Looking up at the blue sky above, Sean closed his eyes to rest then thought to himself.

He didn't have any choice but to say that, because he was really right. The Emperor's life was in danger, and that Eugene was also in danger. If the Prince joined them without preparation, the future of the Ejen might be gone.

No one will sit on the throne, which could lead to chaos as many people would try to covet it, or worse, another Empire might start a war just to get it to rule the Ejen.

Maybe a little Kingdom would even try to succumb the Ejen.

They were outside, resting in the middle of the journey to go back to the Empire. And they were still half far away from it.

Rustle.

His eyes immediately opened as he sat straight and looked at the place where the noise came from.

A long pair of legs was walking towards his direction, Sean raised his eyes and saw the owner completely.

“Your Highness.”

He greeted then his eyes went to the bonfire, after making sure that the paper was burned to ashes he again look at the Prince with a smile.

“I think we should contact the army in South, they need to hold a sword again so their skill won't g- Wait, your Highness calm down!”

Sean stood up from his seat when Cariell suddenly pointed a sharp tip of a sword to his neck.

“Do you think I wouldn't know?”

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Really?”

Sean was about to say something when he shut his mouth after seeing the content of the paper that Cariell was holding. It was also a letter, although the fonts were a little mess like it was crawled by a chicken he could still read it.

Eugene was caught, wherever you are you need to go back.

- Linus