Landric stood on a dais while wielding a steel, sharp unsheathed weapon in his black gloved hand. In front of him, guards stood beside two kneeling commoners; one with head hanging down whille other, with his pleading eyes stared at the mighty figure.
“Your Majesty Landric Asier!” the brave one exclaimed. “Please! We beg of you!” he continued.
Another same plea, Landric thought in annoyance.
“This-“ the lord pointed the sharp tip against the man’s throat. The metal was so sharp that from a soft touch, it had given a small cut. “This will either keep your head in its place or split it off from your neck, depending on your plea,” he explained.
His leniency astonished the people within the room. Nonetheless, the commoner released cold sweat profusely, feeling the sharp edge brushed against his adam's apple when he swallowed his throat.
The man continued his plea with a stutter “I – we a-are in dire need of f-food supplies, my lord. J-just food! Th-there isn’t need to worry about the firewood since the chilly mother nature is forgiving,” he quickly spoke.
The lord turned his head to the side slightly, glancing at the quiet council who stood three arms away from the him. One of the council caught his cold gaze as he immediately responded, “Y-yes, my lord. We know this has been repeated too much but yes, while the season is oddly lenient, we should prepare for a hunt without delay,” the council advised.
Landric spared his sword from the commoner’s neck and a soft sigh from the man was loud enough to be heard. People looked at him in fear for disrupting the silence which got the man's attention as he quickly looked over to the emperor, who looked at him quietly before averting his eyes elsewhere.
"Take these two out ," Landric ordered and the guards escorted the two men out from the great hall.
As the men were escorted out, one of the guard started to speak once they were far enough to never be heard by their emporer. "Are you crazy?! You could be breathing the last breath there! I shouldn't have listened to your dumb request!"
"I-I can't just sit still when we are all desperate for food! You know that too!" The man retorted.
"That doesn't give you the balls to dig your grave!" the guard argued again.
The man trembled in anger from the heated argument that had him lashed out "I don't care! No one in this damn castle gives a damn about us but ourselves! Even if Lady Karen gave some of us bits of food, it's never enough to fill the children! I wish this damn Archanbeau fall soon!"
"You dare sullied the prince's name!" the guard pointed out in disbelief.
"The heir is useless too! He's the same like his father!" the man expressed strongly.
"Hey hey, let's stop making a scene before this gets to one of their ears," the other guard stepped between them to extinguish the fire.
"Sir, you should leave if you cherish your only life" a familiar cold tone spoke to the men.
Their anger subsided when they saw the prince walking up to them.
"P-Prince Anastasius!" both guards bow their heads deeply as the commoners stood behind them frozen.
Anastasius quietly looked at the four men. He has heard their heated argument. They were too loud, no that was an excuse he made himself. He was just too sensitive that he could hear them easily and he hated it. Anastasius glared at the man who openly cussed him and the family name.
"I'll let you leave for now. Don't you dare show your face here if this is how you're going to behave after pleading the emperor for food that you desperately seek for. No, you should be glad that you are able to leave this place with a heart and head attached without your blood staining the hall," Anastasius sharply spoken.
The quiet man tugged his friend, nudging him to leave quickly.
"I-I have mispoken, your highness.. P-Please forgive this lowly subject."
"Leave," Anastasius replied and the two men bowed before leaving with fast feet.
Anastasius then gazed back at the two guards who have been staying in their position since he came.
"You two should have kicked them out without letting a single bicker to happen," he said.
"Yes your highness!" the guards exclaimed together
He sighed from the response. "No, I don't need that. It's useless if you don't even do as you are told. Go back to your station," he commanded.
The guards turned to their prince with a relieved expression. They bowed again before leaving him alone.
"Y-Your highness! The emperor has called for you!" a servant panted as he ran up to the prince.
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“Bring Asi here at once!” Landric ordered as he took a seat.
The big door opened when his prince arrived at the great hall, kneeling in front of his father in due respect.
“You called, father,” he said in a monotonously.
“Yes. A while ago, there was a suggestion that there is a need to hunt to prepare for when harsh winter comes again. I will put you in charge of this and I expect a flawless result,” demanded his father.
“I shall do as you commanded, father,” he spoke before getting on his feet and bowing to excuse himself as he went to gather the hunters and prepare the necessities for a successful hunt.
Landric sat quietly has he watched the back of the child who has hardly raised affectionately. It left him feeling bitter with the thought
'Ana, he has grown but so coldly. I have failed you, Ana,' Landric bitter thought.
*********************************************************************************************************************************************Meanwhile during the preparation at the barrack, talks were heard everywhere regarding the earlier incident.
“Have you heard?! The monster actually spared a life! He even considered their plea!” a manly voice spoken in a loud whisper.
Anastasius didn’t react as he passed by them, since he knew his presence will get them zipped their lips. He was feared eventhough he never shed a single blood. The knights behave themselves when he is around, just like they would whenever his father was.
"What a solemn face, your highess!" A cheerful voice called out to Anastasius.
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