Count Zayne arrived at the area where the Fourth Prince resided, although temporarily for now. He checked the vicinity to see many guards who were wearing the black lion sigil on their armour while also some in black cloak and a mask which indicates they are Bloodhounds.
He could only say "This will be hard." The worse he spoke to himself because he must separate those guards from the Fourth Prince.
But Count knew one way to pull Estafan away from the soldiers. After meeting with Estafan the Count told him that "Seems like rebel activities, we lost a couple of men due to guerrilla tactics." But Estafan was sceptical about it because he responded "Isn't that your failure, to not foresee the fact that the remaining forces would opt for such tactics against us."
The Count didn't expect to get berated suddenly like that but he held back from showing his frustration and decided to deal with this in a calm manner.
Zayne said "Yes, you are correct." For a moment Estafan looked at Zayne with a poker face but Zayne continued to escape "So I came here to ask for your help with this."
But Estafan asked "Why would you need my help? I have told you to render the leftovers useless so they won't ever challenge Ikarus but here you come running to me begging for help." Estafan spoke with a clear tone of annoyance. "But if you are that keen on expecting pity from me, I'll send a couple of my soldiers to aid you and that's it."
But the Count rejected since he needed Estafan not his men so Zayne tried his best to make Estafan accept "Please my Prince, what I need is not manpower but tactical aid." Estafan looked at Zayne and said "Seems suspicious to see you come and ask for my personal help in terms of tactics considering how awfully prideful you were even though you were practically useless."
The berating continued but he held back from reacting which only made things suspicious considering Zayne has always responded even the most harmless teasing but now it seems like the Count was extremely desperate for Estafan's aid to deal with the rebels.
Estafan took some minutes to answer before he said "I will come since you seem so desperate." Count Zayne suddenly had a gleeful yet an evil smile on his face which he quickly said "Thank you but we must hurry, you need not to prepare any much since the route is guarded by my soldiers."
Of course, he specifically said those words because he wanted the Fourth Prince in a perfect condition to be killed.
If the Fourth Prince comes armoured and with weapons then there would be longer battle but without it then there is a chance, a chance where he could get the final laugh for his revenge for being disrespected by the Prince since nobility have a disgusting sense of pride.
What the Count wanted was an easy ambush where he could watch the helpless Prince to be attacked and taken down before he could deal the final damage so he began to say "I would suggest for you to come by yourself rather than taking your time to make your troops come since they need some rest."
Estafan again with a poker face he looked at the Count it was as if Estafan was scanning the Count but he said "You are being very considerate with my troops but yes, you are correct and they do need some rest." Hearing this made the Count smile but he forcefully held it back which in itself was visible which made Estafan ask "Do you have constipation? What's up with your face?"
The Count laughed it off acting like it was a joke while inside his mind all he could think of was "Can't wait to see you die." While trying his best to reveal any signs of his true intentions.
Estafan did not wear any armour nor take any weapons. Zayne watched as Estafan commanded his troops to remain at the temporary resting place while telling that he'll return soon.
Everything was going according to plan according to what Zayne thought and it was correct, both of them were riding a carriage and heading towards the location given by the Messenger.
It was peaceful, both of them didn't talk while Zayne's mind was filled with the ideas of watching Estafan die and when will it start all while he was looking through the window of the carriage. Since he was sitting at the opposite seat from where Estafan was sitting, the prince could see that subtle smirk on Zayne's face.
Estafan knew something was wrong, he simply wanted to bait the Count into thinking that he didn't know.
Perhaps an ambush since that is the only way they think they can harm him especially when he is alone with someone who has clear indication of committing treachery is what Estafan was thinking.
Both of them did not speak but as time got longer and longer, so did the smirk in that face of Count Zayne who seemed to be expecting something which made the Prince understand that he is waiting for something.
An ambush by a group or a singular assassin who is waiting for the perfect timing to strike him although the Prince didn't show any sign of doubting the Count.
But suddenly he asked the Count "I do wonder this, how much did you get for this petty revenge?" Which put a idiotic baffled look on Zayne's face "What do you mean?" His words were tense.
Estafan sighed "I mean, it's very obvious at this point." Zayne tried to act like he had no idea what Estafan was talking about but Estafan continued to speak "I understand you believe that you are taking me to my death. It was quite obvious considering your prideful ass would never beg me for help but for some odd reason you begged and are trying to hold back from revealing that ugly smile."
All of a sudden a powerful slash went through the carriage, slicing the entire upper ceiling off which revealed the presence of an unknown group "So they are here to kill me." Estafan spoke as Zayne now revealed his smile since it's about to happen, his petty revenge.