CALLEOUS LOOK OUT from the slightly ajar window of the carriage on his side. He watched as their carriage slowly entered the big gate of the Briar Kingdom—one of the largest kingdoms in Auraxia. This was also the closest kingdom to the City of Auraxia, where Calleous and his group had aimed to go.
Looking at it, Calleous finds that the Briar Kingdom is not that far from his home kingdom. Just look at the big gate that was already open probably since early morning to welcome anyone who wanted to enter and let anyone from the inside to come out.
If Ciltara Kingdom was surrounded by the Wispwood Forest, Briar Kingdom, on the other hand, was in between the Alade Forest at the back and the wide Brionde River on the front.
Because the entrance to the kingdom is the popular Brionde River, which was known for its depth and danger because many marine star beasts were living on the depths of the river.
Fortunately, a big connecting bridge was allowed to be created on top of it, in which the carriage was where Calleous and his brother were taking. It was already noontime, and yet, there was still a long line of horses and carriages that wanted to enter the Briar Kingdom.
There were also some going out but there are more people entering and it's making Calleous a bit jealous.
Honestly, their Ciltara Kingdom was supposed to be as big as Briar Kingdom if they could clear the Wispwood Forest from dangerous beasts so it's really unfair that there are more people who wanted to enter Briar than his home kingdom.
For all he knows, these people might only be paying that entrance fee just to get to the City of Auraxia behind the Alande Forest. So with this thought, the jealousy that Calleous felt for the obvious economic growth of this kingdom was completely dispelled.
Because of the majestic carriage that they were using, Calleous' carriage was allowed entry without the need to line up with the commoners. Although there was obviously the need to pay a higher amount of entrance fee.
The carriage itself was enough to tell that the person inside was not a commoner or a person from a wealthy clan. Especially the small flagship waving at the side of the carriage, everyone can tell that it was royalty.
So when the commoners in the line had seen that their carriage was allowed to skip and enter directly, no one complained, knowing that it was probably a king wanting to enter only to have an easy way to the City of Auraxia.
After all, it was a well-known fact that a week from now, the annual report of every kingdom will be held again at the temple.
"Brother, remind me again why you want to stay here for three days instead of going straight to the city?" Calleous shifts his eyes to his brother.
"It was nothing. I don't want to be the early bird. So let's go to the temple together with the other kingdom," Cadmus answered with a smile.
Actually, he had heard that from his father himself. It was because his father experienced going to the temple earlier than most of the kingdoms, especially those big kingdoms and he really felt the pressure.
That was only the case for his father. But to his current case? The pressure will surely be greater with how many 'good reports' he has to share in front of many kingdom rulers who are definitely older and more experienced than him.
So yes, he preferred to be late than early.
"Pfft. Wussy," Calleous teased when he noticed the hidden reason in his brother's answer.
"No, I'm not. I am just being smart." Calleous repute in a dignified manner.
Maybe this was the difference between the two when it comes to the degree of them being brocon for each other. Calleous becomes more smart towards his brother, while Cadmus becomes a fool for his brother.
"Heh. I know you well, Cadie. And since I know you very well, I can let you go this time." Calleous steadily stood and walked in the carriage that was still moving. "I'm hungry, Cadie. When can we eat?"
"I let Master Luc go ahead and find us some comfortable inn as well as get us something to eat. You didn't have breakfast because you woke up late, right?"
Calleous sat back begrudgingly while touching his flat tummy. No, it wasn't literally flat. It was full of well-maintained abdominal muscles that weren't too visible but were only perfect enough to give him firm masculinity.
Cadmus only smiled at his acting, spoiled brother. No one can really blame him if he becomes this crazy over his younger brother. Because anyone who might be put into his situation would undeniably end up the same as him.
Though he would never give up his position. Certainly not over his dead body!
IN AN INN within the capital of Briar, a man of prosperity and glory was having his leisure time of taking a bath after a long journey. He had just finished eating a full course of meals and decided to dip in a warm, hot bath as his stomach digested everything he had eaten.
He was alone, completely naked inside the big and private hot bathroom that he rented in the bathhouse connected to his inn. The bathroom wasn't that big, with only one big bathtub full of hot spring water.
Taking his time submerging his exhausted body in the warm comfort of his bathtub, the man in his early forties hums an unfamiliar melody until only his nose and above are showing on the surface.
Outside of his bathroom, a line of knights was waiting and guarding the area. There were at least ten knight commanders on patrol and five knight masters. Standing just behind the door was a grandmaster.
It was supposed to be a calm and peaceful rest for everyone, thinking that it was another normal day after their journey to come to this kingdom. And yet, this silence was broken when a sound of a whistle was heard, and then came a ruckus after.
The knight soldiers waiting outside the bathhouse were making a loud mess trying to stop fifteen men clothed in full black who were trying to kill their way just to get inside the bathhouse.
This is an obvious assault of a blatant assassination in an open and public area. And these men in black move without trying to hide their presence, like they are trying to announce to the world that they are assassins and are trying to kill an important person inside the bathhouse.
These ten men in black may be foolish for doing this astrocious act in the open but they were so skilled that the fifteen knight soldiers were only able to kill four before all of them were taken down.
Even without notifying the knights inside, with the ruckus they had created, even the other guests inside the Rinwins Inn were made aware of this attack.
"Your Majesty, there are sightings of an attack from a group of assassins," Grandmaster Xia announced to the person inside the private bathroom in a calm manner.
Grandmaster Xia heard the loud slashing of water from the inside, then a loud 'thud'. He was about to knock again and ask what happened when the person inside yelled back.
"What?! At this time? When I am having the best time of my life! What perfect timing, damnit!" King Xueno Odesia yelled back.
His voice was laced with anger yet his body was already hurriedly wearing his bathrobe.
"Quickly intercept the attackers! We must help the king to his safety!" Grandmaster Xia commanded the waiting knights when he saw the incoming assassins running up the stairs.
The knight commanders and some masters with him moved by attacking the incoming assassins. On the other hand, King Xueno came out of the bathroom wrapped in a bathrobe with only his new underpants as his cover.
"What are we going to do now, Xia? Look at what happened now. If you just listened to my sister's request, then we wouldn't be in this situation!"
Grandmaster Xia uses his body as a cover and helps assist the king to escape. "Let's not keep on wasting energy by complaining, Your Majesty. This way, please."
King Xueno could only grumble and quietly follow the Grandmaster's order. When he realized that he was getting an order from his people, his anger blasted once again. But he didn't direct it to the grandmaster beside him, as he couldn't do that.
"Where was the brat? Have you seen him? Look at how incompetent that brat is! Allowing his father to end up in this situation. Just wait for me to escape and I will really hit him on his bum!"
"Your Majesty, please—" Grandmaster Xia wasn't able to finish his words when he felt an incoming attack in front.
Like a reflex, he quickly uses his body as a shield as he uses the gun in his hand to aim at the perpetrator. He didn't deserve his title as a grandmaster if his aim missed; fortunately, he didn't and a loud 'blag' was heard as the body of the sneak attacker fell from his hiding.
Grandmaster Xia looked back and saw that most of the knights with them had either died or were on the verge of death and were heavily injured. That's why there were still three men who successfully followed after them.
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty for my rudeness." Was the only word Grandmaster Xia had left before he scooped the royal body of King Xueno on his shoulder like a sack.
King Xueno flail as he wanted to get down from the shame of being carried like that way and thinking that people might see him in that situation hardened his conviction of going down.
"Xia, you bastard! Not because we're friends means I can allow you to embarrass me like this! Let go!"
Grandmaster Xia ignored the plea of the king and opened the window of the second floor of this bath house. Tightening his grip on King Xueno's body, Grandmaster Xia didn't hesitate to jump from that height.
With his position, the force of falling that high made King Xueno so nauseous that he almost vomited the food that his stomach wasn't finished digesting.
"Xia Mondemor! I'm going to kill you! Argn!"