Aaron went to look at the military batch one by one. He saw nothing wrong. The soldiers welcomed him with grand smiles. They appeared very happy to see him. Daniel had always been perceptive toward everyone. Aaron felt incredibly happy just by getting warm wishes.
He explained some points where they need of practiced to them and left to inspect another camp. Then he saw someone who shouldn't be there, approaching him. It was John, but why the hell was he here? This is problematic. Shouldn't John have to come five days later, but this time he came early? Why now? Did he get to know about their early approach to Jenal? But how?
Whatever, he can't let him go with them.
He nodded as an acknowledgment of his presence despite wanting to push him out. He is the General here, a more respectful person than a young master who doesn't have his own political or legal status. Thinking this, he was about to walk away. The person besides John gave him a letter, "Your Highness, please take a look at this letter."
Aaron saw an imperial paper wrap like a letter. He looked at his prideful look. He knew right away what it was, but still, he elegantly opened up and read. It was from his majesty at the request of Right Minister Allen.
'General Daniel Frank, I want you to take Jon in with you in this problem of the South. He wants to gain experience to join the military field. He is sensible and a good child. I assure you that he will not make trouble, take care of him.'
Aaron glanced at Jon again before saying calmly, "Young master Allen wants to follow the military course, I understand. But I can't take you to this survey of South, Jenal. The atmosphere for one's experiment must be according to a person's bearing. And I can see you are a newbie and have no experience in fighting. It's better if you stay here to get basic knowledge. Don't worry, I will write another letter to his supremacy clarifying everything."
He completed his words and bent to Jerry, who was slightly smaller than him, "Go fetch some paper and ink."
"Don't!! Wait!! " Jon said, appearing disappointed.
He said precipitously, "I want to go to Jenal of the south. General, you got his majesty's orders now don't defy it and take me with you. I don't want to hear more nonsense. I'm the youngest son of the Right Minister, and you have no right to decide what I want to do."
It has always been like this. He gets impatient, seeing Daniel. There is unwavering dislike in his heart for Daniel. Also, he never bothered to put anyone as his rival when it came to becoming a crown princess. Yet, Daniel is a blemish. Because John is someone superior to Daniel in terms of social status, so, he didn't find it wrong to threaten and talk rudely to the General. At this moment, too, he thought his undisguised hateful words should be enough to make the General mind his own business. But to his surprise, Daniel didn't look at him.
He just stood there apathetic, pressing his palm which was calluses due to wielding swords year-round, and said, "For you, it's nothing but gaining experience, but there are certain things which are beyond your awareness. The Jenal is loaded with crises, people are dying without food and getting looted by bandits."
His eyes were empty, yet his words were harsh, "I don't know about your eagerness of gaining experience, but one thing is clear, that is your appearance would only burden me and frivolity."
"You!! You are insulting me! How impudent!!" Jon pointed his pale fragile fingers which are not made for fighting. He is fragile beyond belief and how dare he insist on going Jenal. Aaron couldn't help but mock in the heart.
Aaron nodded in like-mindedness without any care, "Please understand. I have other things to do. The young master should go back. The scorching daylight will get you nauseous." It was a friendly reminder because John fainted due to heat stroke once in a plot line. Of course, this cannot happen here but during the Jenal Flood crisis. Now, Aaron is going ahead of time. Who knows if John would faint here, forcing him into an awkward place? But of course, John doesn't know his real concern. So, for John, it was an insult.
John shook in anger. Daniel didn't just mock him for having no experience, he even humiliated him for having fragile skin. His heart was crammed with rage.
Incapable of controlling his urge to return the humiliation, he said, "The General should not be so tactless. I know you have military powers, and no one taught you anything from pre-adolescence. I can understand your wrong manners were all due to the past. However, you have no right to interfere in my decision. I'm going to the South tomorrow with the troop. Don't try to act superior in front of me."
Aaron glanced at Jon with wrath in his eyes. What the hell did this brat say? He is not the original soul, but he can't ignore such offense. It's hurtful. Having no parents, was it his fault? And why Jon is being unreasonable and has unmasked his malevolent demeanor. He took a deep breath and calmed himself.
John saw Daniel only standing there unmoved with no sign to say something. John expected him to react and shout at him, but why the hell he is like a rock? Does he not have a heart? He cannot help but assume Daniel is ridiculing him in the heart. His unreasonable thought stimulated his darkening level.
"The darkening reached 80 %. Host, please stay alert! Stay alert." the system sounded, reminding him. Aaron stood thunderstruck in the same place. Wasn't the insulted one him, but why is he blackening? What is he brooding in his damn head? Aaron wants to open and see inside his brain.
Jerry was angered to the point of no return because no one ever insulted Daniel Frank before. He didn't even consider being polite to him and said, "I heard that Young Master Allen has comprehensive knowledge and is kind. But now I see, this is not true. My master may not have had someone to love him from preadolescence, but he is wise and kind. Unlike your outrageous and filthy words, did my master say anything furtive to make you so angry? You are a punk who has no manners."
Jon sneered and even chuckled, "Dare to interrupt my talk, who are you? And what was wrong with my words? Isn't General an orphan, he had no one beside him to tell him what's right and wrong. Who knows if he is the son of a bitch or not."
The butler beside Jon who had an ugly countenance took a step ahead to say something to appease the General. But before he could, a magnificent voice ranged from behind. He was late.
"What are you saying, Young Master Allen? You are courting dead."
Hearing the voice, John was the first one to look behind. He saw the handsome face darkened, and he opened his lips to justify himself, but no words came to his mind, In the end, he could only say, "It's not what you are thinking."
The eunuch beside Ace rolled his eyes. The royal Eunuch has status on par with these nobles. He is his closest confidant of Ace. He knew from the start that this Man was not up to any good. He once saw him saying crud words about people alone. His polite behavior and simple smile always had a pretentious essence. The eunuch has lived so many years if he could not even know about John's acting, then he is not capable of surviving in the palace. Aaron saw his action and he sighed for him. In the original plot line, he was murdered by someone. It was said to be an accident but now seeing his action toward John everything is clear.
"Young master Allen I have been with Daniel and was the one to take care of him before. He grew up with this prince. I always believed he has elegance and discipline beyond anyone. Young Master Allen to be so furious seems to be because of me." An unhappy, hoarse voice compelled from within Ace.
He just arrived to meet Aaron desperately, but then he saw Jon arguing and threatening Daniel despite getting a reasonable and polite reply.
Ace from the start had wanted to estrange John. The child of destiny cannot be killed. John is blessed to be protected by world consciousness, if not he would have been long dead. However, it doesn't mean Ace cannot bully him, right? Now that John is making his own life difficult, Ace also didn't want to retreat without saying something hurtful to him too.
What did he say? Aaron is the son of a bitch. Would these words not hurt his love? It would.
How dare he hurt Aaron? His voice crammed with outrage, "Young Master Allen has the entire Allen family to protect himself, so you must not know the meaning of hardship! But surely you must have the basic understanding to not say something this hurtful to a person, right?! I know what you are thinking."
His voice was frighteningly cold. John was frightened but his eyes were showing that he was wrong. Seeing this Aaron and the other two rolled their eyes.
Ace narrowed his eyes, "This prince can do anything. Taking the life of others and punishing someone like you is nothing but a dictum. I'm restraining myself all because of Right Minister Allen. Still, even though I respect Minister Allen a lot I have to say, Minister Allen is very unfortunate to have someone as ridiculous as you as his son."
He uttered every word aloud.
"Courtier, take him back and tell everything to the Minister. I'm merciful and will not talk about this matter in court. I will talk to Father about all these matters." He grabbed Aaron by his shoulder and led him to the carriage.
John standing in the same place. He cannot even move. Ever since he was small, everyone pampered him. He never had anything he desired. But since the last banquet, he has been attracted to Stephen. He is already so deeply in love with him, yet he is saying these heartless words to him. And for whom? Is it for Daniel? He cannot accept this insult and also cannot let him take Stephen away. His mind buzzed.
Jerry was dumbfounded, seeing Ace so different. Isn't the right minister so important for the Crown Prince, so why he didn't assist John instead of the General? This Crown Prince is so unpredictable. Buit since, it is in his master's favor Jerry was very happy.
Jerry was confused but didn't dwell on much. He is happy to see him fair. He said to Aaron who was already in the carriage trying to say something, "General, I will monitor the pellet. Leave it to me."
Then abruptly…