Chapter 170 - Taking Care of Unfinished Business (Part 3)

It would take a month and a few days before Zander's arrival, but Vaughn felt that his peaceful days were suddenly over. If it was another person, he would have arranged for the guest's accommodation in one of his inns. He could tolerate Zekiah's presence, but he always had some difficulties dealing with Zander.

Vaughn was thankful for Zander's help during his stay in the Anisen Manor, but he could always feel Zander's dagger-like gazes. He never had a good relationship with Zander ever since he was young. As Zenia's Big Brother, Vaughn felt that Zander might have labeled him as the thief who stole his beloved sister. But, he shouldn't complain since he agreed to the marriage anyway. 

Still, Zander was none other than his beloved wife's older brother. She could be missing him too. He had no other choice but prepare a room for him in the main residence. Vaughn couldn't even arrange for a separate courtyard for Zander to stay in. He feared that his wife might only spend most of her time visiting her Big Brother in his courtyard.

Lunchtime finally came. Zenia noticed that Vaughn was quiet and looked depressed. He took his seat and put food on Zenia's plate as usual. But, he looked like something was bothering him. 

'Did the Left Minister begin to make his move already?'

"Hey, why do you look like that? Is there something wrong?"

Vaughn looked at Zenia and sighed. "Big brother-in-law is coming over next month and may need to stay here for a couple of months."

Zenia put down her fork, "Really? That's great!"

Vaughn pouted and felt like his wife betrayed him. She seemed excited to see her Big Brother again and did not even bother consulting his feelings. Since they agreed not to hide anything from each other, Vaughn decided to tell her what he truly felt when he received that message.

"I really feel uncomfortable having your big brother around. It's like I'm walking on pins and needles, but I can't let him stay in an inn or a separate courtyard. I know you miss him too and would like to spend time with him. Staying in one of the rooms of the main residence is my best option, but I'm still uncomfortable around him."

Zenia chuckled, and Vaughn pouted even more. "You don't need to be like that because I plan to let him spend some time with the good Doctor Odessa. I haven't paid her a visit yet, but now that Big Brother is coming, I will bring him along and let them meet. It won't be long when I will finally have a good sister-in-law."

"Really? How come I suddenly felt like I should pity older brother-in-law? But still, he's going to stay here for two months!"

Zenia tapped Vaughn's nose. When they were alone together, the servants were tactful enough not to disturb them after serving the dishes. Vaughn was free to take off his mask so he could enjoy his meal.

"It's still too early to worry about that, don't you think? He's just messing with you. That's his reason for sending the message too early. Besides, he couldn't afford to leave the military camp for that long."

"Really?"

Zenia nodded her head and smiled.

"Let's eat now."

Just like that, Vaughn's mood lightened. He put more food on Zenia's plate and ate his meal happily. Zenia shook her head at how simple it was to make him happy. She couldn't tell him now that Zander could remain idle for a long time since there was no actual war in Ishelon. She should keep her Big Brother occupied during his stay in Tissuria.

* * * * *

Verone obediently stayed in her courtyard in the past few days. She was hoping that the King would summon for her soon. She was so bored, but she couldn't go near the main residence and near Vaughn. She was afraid that being near Vaughn might trigger the effects of Lotharia.

She was still not allowed to go out without Vaughn's permission, and she couldn't ask for permission to leave. She believed that Vaughn would let her go out when she asked for permission this time around, but she was afraid to set off Loatharia. She felt that she became even more beautiful ever since the breakfast meeting with the King and Queen. She could still feel the admiring gazes of the people in the Main Hall during that time.

She felt so alive just remembering it. If she could only get to see him, but she was still uncertain about the proper distance that she could maintain to prevent the effects of Lotharia from showing. His system already absorbed the aphrodisiac. Once it's there, nothing could flush it out. There was no antidote, except to carry out the acts of intimacy with the giver.  

She had lost the perfect opportunity during Count Camarillo's banquet. She couldn't think of any good plan. She had always depended on what the Left Minister and the Ninth Prince would tell her to do. Right now, she was nothing more than a prisoner of the Crown Prince. However, Verone did not want to admit the truth and kept fooling herself that Vaughn wanted to keep her for himself.

She believed that the reason she was not allowed to go out was because Vaughn feared that someone might abduct her and wouldn't allow her to return. She kept imagining that she would be spending her life with Vaughn as his Crown Princess when he disposed of Zenia. These delusions were the ones that kept her company the whole time. She already believed that the delusions were real.

In her mind, Zenia was threatening Vaughn with Ovid and Zander. The Crown Prince had no other choice but to keep up with Zenia. Verone believed that Vaughn would be able to free himself from the oppression of the Anisens.

"Your Highness, is there anything you want to do?"

Stella and the other maids were worried about the condition of their mistress. They were used to being yelled at and ordered around so much. In the past few days, Verone was too quiet and accepted her meals without complaint. They really could not tell whether there was something wrong with their mistress or she was trying some kind of torture. If it was the latter, Verone had already succeeded. Her maids felt agitated and worried that they would be slaughtered at any given time.

"I am fine. You don't need to be around me all the time. I need to think."

Her maids shuddered, even more, when they heard that she needed to think. It was something that their mistress would never ever say.

* * * * *

"Do you have plans for today?" Zenia visited Vaughn in his study an hour after having lunch.

He looked at her and was delighted by her presence. It was rare for Zenia to visit him on her own volition. There must be something that she wanted to do.

Even though he was very busy, he answered, "I don't have much to do, why?"

Redivo who was busy sorting things shuddered at Vaughn's response. He tried his best not to look at the couple's direction for fear of exposing Vaughn's lie.

'My Prince, we are already lagging behind. The King keeps giving us lots of things to do. I can't finish all of it by myself.'

Redivo was crying and felt like dying inside. He told Ruvin to come and help, but he escaped. He already tasked some shadow guards to trace Ruvin's whereabouts and bring him back.

"Can you accompany me to Master Weaponsmith's place? I'd like to see his progress. Oh, I also want to visit the Head Pharmacist."

"I'll have a carriage ready for us. I will fetch you later."

"Then I'll go freshen up." Zenia smiled at him and walked out of the room.

"Your Highness, I should remind you that the King will surely blame you when you don't submit these doc.u.ments on time. You must have noticed already that he is making things difficult for you."

Vaughn put down the signed doc.u.ment, "I know. But, among his children, no one is better than me. He knows that. What I'm curious about is why is he contradicting himself? We all know that he won't strip off my title, but he's also making things difficult for me."

"Now that you mentioned it, I do feel that something is off with him lately. I heard that he did not visit any of his concubines in the past few months, which can be considered odd knowing the King's love for beauties."

"Investigate this further. I want to make sure before I draw any conclusion. It is also possible that he just evolved into a high-level sc.u.mbag."

Zenia wore something comfortable and light. The weather was hot, but she wanted to know the progress of her needle launcher. She hoped that the Head Pharmacist had able to develop the poison that she asked for as well as the antidotes that she wanted him to concoct.

"Are you ready?" Vaughn entered their room and saw Zenia in front of a mirror.

"Just a second," she wore her face veil and stood up.

She took Vaughn's arm and they walked side by side. The carriage was already waiting for them when they went out of the main residence.

The trip going to the Master Weaponsmith's was smooth. They talked about almost anything while in the carriage. Vaughn liked Zenia's stories very much, even though she already told him some of them. He was glad that he met her first before anyone did.

"Oh, we're here already. It was a fun ride, don't you think?"

"Yes, it was. You never stopped talking." Vaughn chuckled, and Zenia glared at him.

He took Zenia's hand and led her to the Master Weaponsmith's shop.

"Crown Princess and Crown Prince, welcome," the Master Weaponsmith greeted them with a wide smile.

"Hello, Master Weaponsmith. How is our project?" Zenia could not wait to sit and asked immediately.

"It's doing great Crown Princess. Let me show it to you." The Master Weaponsmith left them for a while to get the needle launcher.

The couple took their seats and waited patiently.

"Do you know the real name of Master Weaponsmith? I twist my tongue whenever I say it," Zenia whispered to Vaughn.

Vaughn leaned and whispered, "It's Master Weaponsmith."

Zenia looked at Vaughn who had a serious face. She shook her head and no longer asked anything.

"Here it is Crown Princess," the Master Weaponsmith presented it to Zenia.

"Wow, it's so gorgeous." She picked it up carefully as if holding a precious jewel and added, "But, does it work well?"

"I still need to calibrate it. I think I can make it shoot faster and more accurate so you can shoot while you re running or jumping."

"Really?!" Zenia's eyes sparkled with delight.

"I just need a few more days to make the adjustments."

"I will be looking forward to the better version of the needle launcher. I will see you next week. By the way, what is your real name, sir?"

The Master Weaponsmith pondered for a while before he gave his reply, "It's Wheaton Smith, Your Highness. You may call me Smith."

Vaughn chuckled, and Zenia glared at him.

"Well, Smith I will be seeing you again in a week."

"Yes, Crown Princess."

Vaughn just looked at the two of them the entire time. He liked to see Zenia getting excited about her new weapon. He was thinking whether the new weapon could be used easily by his men. Zenia did not say anything about the ease or complexity of using it. There was also a possibility of getting poisoned from the needles when the one using it was not careful or adept.

They boarded the carriage once more and went on their way to visit the Head Pharmacist. Once again, Zenia talked and Vaughn listened. She explained about the needle launcher and how she came up with the idea. She also told him her other ideas, and he listened attentively. Some of them aroused his interest.

They finally arrived at the Royal Apothecary. They saw the Head Pharmacist running frantically. He was chasing someone.

"Help! Thief!!"