An angered Beric glared at Tristan. He didn't like when he pried into his affairs with his sneaky methods.
This action alerted the guards but they didn't dare to make a move. Anxiously, they watched as the prince regent glared at their king.
"Keep your nosy attitude to yourself." Beric said and got up. But before he left, he made sure to empty the plates of macaroons.
Tristan watched as he vanished into thin air, leaving behind a trace of dark red fog. His smile grew even wider as he raised his hand.
A shadow spy immediately appeared behind him with his head bowed.
"Go. I am sure you know how to not get killed." He simply said and the shadow bowed his head before disappearing.
In a world where magic, aura, holy power and demonic powers exist, it was only common that those in power possessed one of these four to do their dirty bidding.
Whereas the aristocrats had soldiers wielding aura and magic, the royal family had more. And by more, we refer to the only being in possession of demonic powers.
And though they were not on good terms with the holy empire, causing them not to possess any holy power, they could always beseech the holy empire to send an aide.
Just like how they could not refuse the invitation to Tristan's coronation a week ago, the holy empire certainly cannot ignore an imploration from the king of the greatest empire.
Tristan smiled with his eyes curved and as he opened them, a certain desire to own what was far beyond his reach seeped out of his eyes.
In his life, there were two options. He either got what he wanted or crushed it to bits.
Beric returned to the training grounds where his knights were training. There was nothing more to do than to challenge them and beat them up in the name of training and strengthening them.
Meanwhile, Yeon Jin woke up rather earlier than the last time he passed out from the shock.
He sat up and rubbed his neck, above the collar. That shocking feeling. He hated it but he hated the prince even more for inflicting him with it.
"That bastard. Ugh!" He groaned and looked up. The room had been tidied up and placed in order.
The disgusting stench of blood was gone as well.
"That lunatic, does he usually go around cutting off people's heads because he's displeased?" Yeon Jin asked, still rubbing his sore neck. "I hate to admit it but that's another similarity to Daniel I cannot overlook. Why are they so similar?" He wondered and paused, glancing through the room one more time.
There was no one right now. This could be his chance to escape.
Yeon Jin picked up a random strap and blindfolded his eyes. The collar around his neck, he couldn't get it off so he decided to hide it with a random shawl that laid on his bed.
Everything, it felt like everything had been prepared for his escape. Secretly, he thanked the gods for being on his side.
Slowly, he got down from the bed, his body feeling really light and he walked towards the balcony window. In a single pull, the windows gave way and Yeon Jin found himself basking in the warm rays of the evening sun.
The fresh breeze blew his entire body free and for the first time since he woke up in this darn place, he felt alive.
The wind not only made him feel alive but also blew his hair over his face, hindering a part of his vision.
"Such a bother." He exclaimed, swiping his hair behind his ear and he looked down, only to meet eyes with a stranger, standing under the balcony with an aide.
Their eyes locked for a while.
This stranger, who happened to be Tristan, stared at the foreigner on the balcony, admiring his white locks, porcelain skin and blindfolded eyes. His appearance was such a mystery and Tristan wondered.
Was he able to see through those blindfolds? No, more importantly, how was it that he had no idea that such a person was in the palace walls?
Compared to the reason why Tristan was staring, Yeon Jin stared because his mind subconsciously wandered while thinking about how much injury he would sustain if he were to jump from that height.
"You there." The king's aide called out and Yeon Jin snapped out of his analyzing state. "How dare you look down at his majesty?" He spoke harshly and Yeon Jin turned around. Was he speaking to him?
"Don't be too harsh, Desmond. He probably can't see me." Tristan spoke up, smiling as always. Then, he looked up at Yeon Jin. "What are you doing up there?" He asked.
"Well, I..." Yeon Jin heard the door opening and in quick spirit, he jumped off the balcony without a second thought.
He was heading down for Tristan and the guards moved to strike him down, thinking he was going to attack the king but surprisingly, Tristan made them halt with a simple hand gesture and embraced Yeon Jin's fall.
They both landed on the floor and the aide shrieked in horror.
"Ah, your majesty." He didn't know what to do, if to push Yeon Jin off or ...
"Ugh." Yeon Jin exclaimed and he raised his head to see he had landed on the man that was below. "I'm sorry, are you okay?" He asked and Tristan smiled.
"And what would you do if I wasn't?" He asked, making Yeon Jin a bit panicked.
"I'm really sorry. I would've compensated you but..." Yeon Jin's blindfold came undone and Tristan beheld the eyes that were as blurred as a murky water surface but his reaction was different from the others.
He did not look in disgust or disappointment, rather, he looked in admiration and a mutter slipped through his lips,
"Pretty."
"What was that?" Yeon Jin asked but their conversation was cut short when a horror filled scream echoed from the room above them.
He knew someone had discovered his escape so he decided to dash away before he got caught again.
"I'm really sorry." He apologized once more, bowing his head the way he was taught, deeply expressing his sincere apology and ran away.
The aide watched as he ran and then helped the king up.
"Your majesty, why did you let that person fall on you? What if you got hurt?" He asked in concern whicke dusting Tristan's clothes carefully.
Tristan found himself mopping at the fleeing Yeon Jin and then he muttered,
"So he's a prisoner." He had seen the collar but did not call him out for it. As he turned to leave, he stepped on Yeon Jin's strap, which had fallen from his eyes.
He bent down, picked it up and observed it. His lips curled as he smiled. He was a really interesting character to come across on such a fine day.