In a cell surrounded by large rock walls, while the fire from the torches flickered, Marlo and Priscilla, silently, exchanged glances.
That place they were in was a hidden chamber within the mayor's office, a place they never imagined existed. Pricilla was horrified by the discovery.
Marlo, on the other hand, did not seem surprised or concerned. Prisilla kept glancing at him, searching for any emotion in him; however, Marlo's expressions were as blank as ever. How can he be so calm? She wondered, Priscilla was dying to know what was going through Marlo's head; that boy with his usual emotionless face was examinating the cell's iron bars.
Sob Sob.
Short sounds of sobbing interrupted Priscilla's thoughts. The sounds came from Leo.
"This is all my fault..." Leo, still in a weak and poor condition, began to complain and murmured with barely audible voice. During all the time they have been locked in the cell, he would wake sporadically only to succumb to his grief.
"L-leo"
Leo sobbed uncontrollably; his eyes were swollen and red from how much he cried all day. His cousin Priscilla tried to comfort him, but she didn't know what to say; she knew she couldn't just assure him everything would be fine.
Even she, despite being a positive person, didn't believe there was any hope. After hearing the mayor's statements, she had also lost her optimism. Deep down, she knew that with the king involved, there would be no chance of salvation.
However, there was another reason for her anxiety. And that was Marlo; when the mayor mentioned the king was after him, she couldn't help but feel worried for him.
With her eyes full of affection, she brought her right hand to her chest while blushing. That boy, in such a short time, had quickly carved out a special place in her heart. Although their closeness was a secret witnessed by no one else.
Sob sob "I wish I had died instead of my father" said Leo with a voice full of dismay. The young man completely lost all hope.
"Leo, don't say that; I don't know how, but—"
"Stop being a crybaby."
Priscilla tried to calm Leo down but was immediately interrupted by Marlo, whose face was still expressionless as ever, although his gaze was more intense.
"M-Marlo, mind your words a little, will you?"
"I don't think I said anything wrong; crying will not solve anything."
Marlo's words, sharp as a double-edged sword caught Leo's attention.
"And what am I supposed to do?" Leo exclaimed in a hoarse voice, "I'm just a useless and worthless man." Damn it! The mayor is right, I'm just a coward!"
"That's not true, Leo; you're a good—"
"Stop! That's not true! I'm a coward! You know that Priscilla!" Leo exhaled sharply before continuing, "Do you remember how I survived that massacre?" The memory of the day his father died returned to Leo.
"....."
He continued while the torches danced in that cell and tears streamed down his face. "I ran away, I tried to escape like a coward, I was afraid... But that wasn't the worst part; while escaping, I crossed the forest, and...."
"I-I accidentally found myself in the new king's camp unnaware of where I was; the guards immediately took me to the new king... I couldn't see his face very well, but... His crimson eyes felt like they were piercing me, so I couldn't hold his gaze.... Ahh... I still remember his words..."
Marlo continued listening to Leo attentively, while Priscilla lowered her head with a grim expression.
With every word he spoke, Leo moaned like a little child. "So, you're the son of the famous knight Vermont, aren't you? While your father is being executed, you are here running for your life like a rat?" The king, without bothering to look at me, rose his hand to signal the guards to leave. "Get this scum out of my sight his gaze even more cold, he added with disdain. I may not care for your father, but at least he had honor. Now release him, let him flee and live hiding from the remembrants of his shame; that will be his punishment.
The new king looked at him like trash, worthless, insignificant, That single look stripped away the little confidence Leo had.
Leo then made a groaning sound in pain as he choked on his own tears.
Marlo sighed as if he were slightly irritated. "Yes, you're coward, and that's my honest opinion. The short time I've seen you, I've only noticed how you complain and whine. That's pathetic, especially for the son of a girl.
"Marlo!"
Marlo had no mercy for Leo; he didn't feel a hint of sympathy for him, although his words were sincere.
"However, by clinging on the bad memories of the past, you're ignoring the opportunity you have before your eyes." Marlo said while his index finger aimied at Leo's chest.
Leo was motionless for a moment and lowered his head. He looked up to see what Marlo was pointing at. His tear-clouded eyes stared filled with curiosity.
"Th-this, when?" The wounds on his body were healed, and the bruise on his neck disappeared; not only that, he unconsciously had his sister Liz's necklace around his neck.
"It's true that you acted like a coward in the past, but today you have a chance to redeem yourself." Then, looking into his eyes, Marlo asked, "What will you do? Will you run away again or will you stand and face it like a man?"
Leo fell to his knees with his head down; he looked defeated, but a new feeling arose within his heart: "I want to fight," he whispered softly.
Although no one seemed to hear Leo's whisper, Marlo's lips curved slightly, seeing how a hero was beginning to be born within Leo.
Clanck clank
"Crying again, Leo? What a pitiful guy," the mayor said with a boastful smile.
The mayor used his ring to intimidate Leo once again, however. Leo stood still; he didn't complain or get upset; he just stood still, almost as if he were lifeless.
The mayor looked him up and down, waiting for some reaction, but found nothing. Without giving it much importance, he closed the cell again and prepared to take Leo to another place.
However, before departing, he looked at Priscilla with eyes sickened with passion like a pig eager to roll in the mud. The mayor said, "Don't worry, my dear Pricilla, we'll have all the time to have fun together, gugehehe."
Priscilla shuddered at the disgusting words left hanging by the mayor. The very idea of what he was implying made Priscilla tremble with fear.