Edmund awaken by the sound of chirping birds outside. The morning sun has entered the room. He saw that the other bed is empty.
Vrag hasn't come back when he fall asleep and he rise earlier than him. He decided to try opening the door. It's not locked and he is amused by it.
He then saw everybody on the dining table. The smell of delicious hot soup entered his senses. He is hungry now.
"Morning, Ed!"
Silva shouted from the table, waving her hand. Some bread and butter is on the table, a pot of hot tea has been brewed.
"Come join us." Vrag smiled.
"Good morning, my Prince." Marley is there too.
Edmund thought to himself that this is an unusual party for breakfast. He seated himself and one of the maids brought him a bowl of hot soup.
"Today is mushroom soup." the maid smile.
"Thank you." Edmund scoop the soup and it taste so good he can't help but comment. "This is very delicious!"
"We still have plenty." the maid delighted with the compliment.
"Some bread?" Silva pushed a platter of bread in front of him.
"Thanks."
"Should we start the morning discussion, Princes?" Marley started.
"Morning discussions?"
"First, Prince Vrag has informed me about the condition at the Palace. We can't afford to waste anymore time since Crown Prince is no more..."
"We actually send an offer to your father for peace treaty after we captured you. They never reply until now." Vrag started. "I have no choice but preparing to invade Maranth."
Edmund sighed. "I understand."
"Second, this blade..." Marley took out a small dagger of silver coloured on the table. This is the first time Edmund saw it.
"What is that?"
"This is made of an ore found in Judecca's mine."
"It's lighter but more sturdy than normal steel. Eventhough I captured Judecca it seems Arethea has been mining this for some time. I found a research documents on how to melt and shape the ore so Arethea might have stocks of these."
"The children soldiers they placed in Judecca might be for protecting this secret. Our country is losing, my Prince. They might want to mass produce this ore to weapon to turn the tide." Marley continues. "What I know is so far they are making blades, which I suspect easier to use for child soldiers...and Prince Vrag didn't find any weapon storage in Judecca, it's just the mine."
Suddenly Edmund felt his appetite gone. "Blades for children?" He look at Marley with shocked face, he refuse to believe but Marley look dead serious.
"I'm sorry, Prince but since I left I have no idea what is happening in Arethea...this is the worst possibility if they still continuing the project..."
"But Judecca is a failure? Right?"
"Yes, the project there is a failure but no country keep their gold in one place."
"Oh my God...You mean there are other child soldiers?"
Marley give Edmund a sad look. It's a high possibility.
"Don't take it too hard, Edmund." Vrag can see that this conversation has made Edmund stopped his breakfast. "It's not your fault."
"This is...this...I'm sorry...Can I be excused?" Edmund stand up and walk back to the bedroom. He then go in and closed the door behind.
"Old man, this is too harsh for breakfast discussions." Silva protested.
"Don't worry he will pass by this." Marley continue dipping his bread inside his soup.
"Marley, will there be child soldiers in Maranth?"
"It's hard to say, Prince. But I will suggest you don't join the battlefield this time."
"What? I'm the general." Vrag chuckled. "How can I stand behind while my men fight?"
"We don't want the same thing in Judecca happened, Your Highness. I have seen your condition improved better now. I can't let you go back to zero." Marley stare at Vrag and he can see Vrag's uneasiness.
"Old man!" Silva is not happy with what Marley said. Silva too can sense Vrag's reaction on mentioning Judecca's name.
"I have done for you the first session last night, we don't know what the side effect yet this time. Last time I heard you become as cold as stone."
Silva feel like interfering but she doesn't know how and what Marley said is not wrong. She and Juwan as Vrag's close aide knew what has happened in Judecca. Juwan has been informing her and Marley about Vrag's condition and changes after this Azure Beauty come. Vrag is still kind but sometimes when he become angry he has this new cruelty rise in him. She has heard the castration punishment of General Grut. Marley and her got a shocked when the news is delivered. Marley even commented maybe it's better for death execution. Silva didn't really understand how the manhood is more important than life for men though.
"I will be careful, Marley. I have my ways. " Vrag answered lightly.
"You are welcome to make the strategy but avoid fighting those child soldiers. They are the source of your trauma and the soldiers can not have a crippled leader." Marley is always harsh to everyone, even Edmund. "But it seems you have a plan on hand already." Marley observed how Vrag seems nonchalant about his next war.
"It take a long time to sow the seed but I should have the good news soon."
They continue their breakfast in silence. Silva is not comfortable by it.
"Should I send his breakfast to his room?" Silva pointed to half eaten soup belong to Edmund.
"Well...you can try..." Vrag answered, skeptical that Edmund have the appetite but maybe Silva can change his mood. Vrag then remembered something. "I will go hunt for our lunch then."
"Hunting? What do you have in mind?" Silva questioned him. There is woods nearby their place but she is not sure what animal Vrag want to hunt.
"Rabbits."
Marley seems surprised. "Oh?"
"Well...I was told it's Edmund's favourite. He still have to eat even when his mood is bad."
"I never tell you this information...so I guessed the Princess told you."
Marley seems amused, he never guessed that the Princess and Vrag can get along but this seems like a good sign. Marley kind of feel sorry because he know the Princess will be the one sacrificed to be in Vrag's bed. The unison is inevitable if they want to reach a permanent peace, it's not guaranteed but if two nations is united with their wedding it's unlikely the war will continue.
Vrag just gave Marley a smile. Zils asked about Edmund daily, their conversation has moved from asking how is Edmund to their childhood stories, what Edmund likes and other things. Vrag has convey the information to Juwan. Juwan has taken care of Edmund's need as bringing him books from the library and Vrag always inform Zils what is Edmund doing. It seems to worry her less to know that Edmund is taken care of.
"Silva, I will take one of the guard with me. You stay here with Edmund."
"Okay."
Vrag went inside the room to change his clothes.
"Hey, old man, is Princess Zils very pretty?"
"Why, child...she is. She has the Arethean royal's blue eyes like this azure jewel." Marley show the pendant he carry around embedded with azure crystal.
"That's a pretty colour." Silva is amazed. "Why Edmund doesn't have that eye colour?"
"He and the Princes inherited the Queen's eye colour hahaha." Marley laughed. Silva admitted that Edmund's light brown eyes makes her more comfortable. It's not a colour that will draw attention but the lightness of the brown is still attractive. He didn't scream Royalty. Silva tried imagining the Arethea Queen's look. She will never see her of course since she is nothing but a servant.
"Child, you didn't even realized that your beauty can surpass a Royalty."
"What are you saying, old man? That's disgusting..." Silva give her tounge out provoking Marley. Marley is used to her antics now.
"With your features it's easy to seduce a man."
Marley has been staying with this girl almost a year. He can see how she grow more and more beautiful. The people of her tribe have these silver blonde hair and grey eyes that contrast with their sun kissed skin. An exotic look which unfortunately attract greedy people that resulted in their whole tribe hunts to be slaves. Marley has given her the book which write about her tribe for her to learn since she is very young when she received Vrag's protection. She added some of her childhood memories about her tribe conducts when she can remember. Marley has been taking notes on those unwritten details and documented them. That's how they got close to each other.
"I don't think I want to seduce a man..." Silva gave Marley another disgusted look, she is still a child inside.
"Haha...you are maturing late." Marley patted her on the head.
"Don't treat me as a child! I'm seventeen!"
Vrag has changed and go out from the room. "With that attitude of yours it's hard to say you are seventeen..." he sighed as he mentioned it.
"Why you both gang up on me?" she pouted.
"Silva..."
"What?"
"Can you check on Edmund? He seems quite down inside." Vrag gesture his hand to the room.
"Why me? I'm just a child right?"
"That's why exactly I'm sending you to distract him." Vrag smiled before he vanished behind the door.
"So mean!"
Silva shouted while she can hear Vrag's laughter outside. When she look at Marley she can see the old man is laughing too.
Silva stormed off to the bedroom where Edmund stay. She didn't even knock and just open the door earning the emotional Edmund a shock. He can hear Silva's shout about a meanie but he is not sure what happened. Silva then stomped to Edmund's bed and sit pouting.
"I don't want to talk to them anymore!"
Edmund is shocked that this girl casually sit on his bed. He never experience that of course.
"Say something to them!"
Edmund can't stare away from her silver grey eyes. It was bewitching indeed, he understand why her tribe ended hunted as slaves just to satisfy the nobles desires for exotic collection. He always disgusted by it, that's why he is trying to make Corinth free of slavery. It's difficult as the nobles refused to follow and he has negotiated with them. The slaves must received salary for their work, this salary will be counted to buy their freedom equal to the price they are bought. It might take a long time for the expensive ones but one day they still can be free. Edmund knew he was hated by the slaves guild, his rules didn't give them much profit.
"They are just teasing you. Don't get too upset." Edmund smiled but his smile look sad.
"Don't be sad. You know Vrag went to hunt rabbits for our lunch." Silva can't helped trying to cheer him up.
"Eh? Rabbit?"
"It's your favourite right?"
"Well...yes..." Edmund is confused on why Silva knew, then he realized that Juwan has been taking care of him differently the past few months. Juwan seems to know what he likes accurately, most probably Zils is the source of the information.
He smiled "What a sister..." he mumbled. She seems to manage to get along with Vrag.
"What did you say?" Silva looked at him directly with her grey eyes.
"Ah...Nothing." Edmund is smiling now and he seems in a better mood.
"Hey, do you want me to cook the rabbit for you?"
"Eh?"
"What's with that reaction? You think I can't cook a rabbit, is it?" Silva give him a death stare.
"I...I didn't mean that..."
"It's my tribe, Zillara way of cooking meat. Do you want to try it?"
"Zillara recipe? Are you serious?" Edmund thought it was lost, it's difficult to get information on them.
"Well...I can only remember one...Old man also wanted to document the recipe down but it seems the flavour is too intense for him..."
"Intense?"
"You should try them. I will try to find the herbs!" Silva got excited and get up. Humming while she walk out and Edmund thought to himself that nobody can't keep up with this girl. He is excited to be able to try Zillara recipe though.