Chapter 136: Living Daylights

Jovis, Year of Severus, 15, I.R., the 51st day of Fall, Arenfall

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The black substance evaporated in the open air. Most of them gasp at the sight of the black blob crawling out of his mouth.

"Damn it! That one again!" Lord Prestonheim pointed at the fruit menace. "What is that woman thinking?!" He massaged the bridge of his nose.

Prince Arterius curiously peeped from his back, "Godfather, is it completely gone?"

"Yes, it is." He sighed as he imagined his fate if the Obura fruit matured inside of him.

He turned to the terrifyied knight and sternly scolded him for his reaction. "You are a knight of the Principalia! Why do look afraid of such petty thing?"

The knight stepped back and apologized for his weakness.

"You better be!" He approached the young knight. "Now, get a shovel and give this man a proper burial."

"Wait!" Prince Arterius objected. "We can perform an—"

"Not here, Prince Arterius!" Lord Prestonheim interjected. "Not here and not that one. Do not put yourself at risk!"

Prince Arterius wanted to insist, but Stolas held his shoulder and convinced him not to do it. His godson nodded, admitting his defeat and simply stood silently behind him. Lord Prestonheim instructed them to bury the body far away from the camp as possible and if possible, burn it down to ash so that Lady Bieroff won't suspect what's going on.

Lord Prestonheim knew that this messenger was somewhat a trap that Lady Bieroff conveniently placed on them. This was a classic Lucresia specialty, accusing the other houses of killing their messenger to declare an act of transgression against other houses. He will not fall for this trick.

The silver-haired Commander was already expecting something from her the moment he left Arenfall. He was just waiting for the days the Lady viper herself would strike. He grabbed Prince Arterius' arm and asked him to follow him to the tent. Arterius followed him without any objections; his ward followed afterwards.

After they went inside the tent, Lord Prestonheim asked the knights guarding outside to roam around the perimeter and asked them to not disturb him.

"What's going on, godfather?" Arterius was baffled.

"It's her stratagem!" Lord Prestonheim sighed as he massaged the bridge of his nose.

"Strategem? Of who—" His godson figured it out before he could answer. "The Lady of the House…but wasn't it a little bit—"

"It's Lucresia written all over that plan!" He said. "I have known his brother for most of my life as a knight. That right there was one of the tactics he did that set-off a small civil war that obliterated an entire house!" Lord Prestonheim sat on the long table and contemplated on what he needed to do.

Lord Prestonheim knew that they are at a disadvantage currently.  With his godson's mental stability in mind, he sought a different approach to make sure that could survive the mental onslaught Lady Bieroff planned to throw at them.

"We need a diversion for Adrena." He tapped his fingers on the table. "Stolas, can you write a letter fast and pass it along my brother? He can intercede with the—"

"Intercede? What do you mean intercede, godfather?" Prince Arterius looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"With all due respect, Arterius…" Lord Prestonheim took a deep breath. "Your mind must be in turmoil right now. I won't let you carry another burden like this, not with the—"

Lord Prestonheim could see Prince Arterius' frustration with the current situation. His godson wasn't happy with his remark. His jaw was tight, indicating that he was more likely gritting his teeth more than anything else.

"I appreciate your concern, godfather…" The prince took a deep breath. "But, I can manage this. After all, she's coming for me as well." He nodded.

The prince's words were true. He was also a target of the Lucresias. Lord Prestonheim recall was currently the largest supporter of Prince Veritus. He knew that the Lucresias are planning to get rid of Prince Arterius from the succession so they can keep his brother's ear all to themselves and their cronies.

Lord Prestonheim wanted to object to his godson's insistence, but he couldn't. As he looked into his godson's eyes, he saw his fervor and intensity to prove him wrong. His eyes expressed an intense emotion screaming out to the world who he truly was, the Prince and viable contender to the throne.

"I am Prince Arterius of the House Prima." His eyes aflame with determination and ambition. "I am not the same person you knew a while back. I am crippled but I am not helpless. I will make it sure that she understands that!" He said.

Lord Prestonheim looked at him speechless and in awe. What was that right now? He felt his skin prickled as his godson uttered those words. He felt reassured just hearing those words, a feat that only the previous emperor had ever made him feel.

The silver-haired Commander smiled at him and kneeled on one knee, "Of course, Prince Arterius, they will learn of your name and what you can do!"

"G-godfather, why are you kneeling?" The young prince approached him and offered his hand to him. "Stand up, you're not suppose to kneel, not the both of you!" Prince Arterius said incessantly.

Lord Prestonheim couldn't explain it himself. Prince Arterius' voice and confidence made him do it. There was a certain authority to his voice that could make anyone follow his lead without any hesitation. It was a trait that the previous Imperatur had that he thought no one could ever do, let alone replicate.

He couldn't help but smile in awe as he amusingly watched his godson standing in front of him, "You are worthy enough for me to kneel and I shall kneel over and over again for you, my dearest godson." His skin prickled once again.

Their intimate moment was cut by a roaming knight entering the tent. When the knight saw his Commander kneeling to the prince, he couldn't help himself but kneel in his presence as well.

"I am terribly sorry for my intrusion, your Majesty and Lord Commander…" the knight breathed in deep. "But there is something you have to see." The knight's hand shook as he pointed directly outside.

"Speak up, knight. What is it?" Stolas approached the tent's flap and stick his head out into the open.

"There are a thousand men approaching!" The knight answered. "A sea of black and—"

"It's the Lady coming here with her knights!" Stolas exclaimed. "Their coming here fast!"

Lord Prestonheim's worst fear came true. Lady Adrena had swiftly made her move and now was approaching her with an army of a thousand men strong. He knew that if a skirmish would break loose, his batallion would be outnumbered by one knight of his to five knights of hers.

He approached the still roaming knight and grabbed him by the arm, "Alert everyone in the camp. Tell them to get ready for battle! Make it quick and let them know to form formation Sigma!" He ordered him as he pushed away the knight. The knight hurriedly went out and shouted every knight present in the camp to get ready.

Lord Prestonheim looked at his godson with the dire urge to let him escape in case the talks may gravely become into a swordfight. "Prince Arterius, join your ward and go to the other end of the mines, I have already instructed the knights there what to do once they see—"

"I am not running away!" The young prince insisted. "I will face her and make her tremble on her feet."

Lord Prestonheim tried to reason with his godson to simply escape the possible carnage, but Prince Arterius was adamant about his stance. The silver-haired Commander had no choice but to obey. The Commander ordered Stolas to get the prince's armor and assist him in wearing his helmet and gilded chest plate.

After donning the armor, Lord Prestonheim escorted his godson outside and waited for the House Bieroff's cavalry to approach them. The cloud of dust grew bigger as the cavalry approached. He lauded Stolas for having such a sharp eye that was able to determine their banner and sigil at that distance.

Lord Prestonheim's knights hurriedly went into their commanded formation and waited along with them. Two knights stayed on their sideds with the Principalian knights' banner and House Prima's sigil. They waited patiently as the armored cavaliers were becoming more visible now.

Lord Prestonheim looked unfazed as the numbers grew as they were nearing them. Prince Arterius on the other hand, was anxious and was obviously shaking.  Lord Prestonheim saw how his godson's fingers twitched while his arms shook constantly.

The silver-haired Commander patted his godson's back, "You still have time to escape, Prince Arterius." He insistently said.

"Escape? Who me?" Prince Arterius' voice trembled. "I am not afraid—"

"There is no harm in admitting you're scared." Lord Prestonheim said sternly. "Just don't let them—"

"But I am not scared, godfather." The young prince took a deep breath. "I just feel a little bit excited with what's going to happen next!"

Lord Prestonheim look at his godson's eyes and saw his hunger. He wanted the world to know who truly is and Lady Bieroff was unfortunately his first victim. The old Commander smirked as he patted his godson's back once again.