(Asher’s POV)

Changing from my royal attire to my usual attire, I stared at the palace from one of the towers in the palace ground. Behind me, the troop who would be together with me to kill Baron Constance have prepared themselves and were standing in circles. In the middle of them, was Maria.

“...so, you were saying that the Baron got hurt after fighting strengthened demonic beasts?”

I turned around to look at her.

          As usual, Maria showed her unbound calm demeanour as she agreed to my statement. Maria is a very talented spy that we sent to the Constance household to keep an eye on Baron Constance so that if he did something funny, we will come and immediately execute him. Well, that was the plan.

          But I never had expected him to defend a carriage by being a bait, and on top of that, he won the fight.

“As we expected, Baron Constance is not the type of man to be trifled with.” I muttered.

“But sir, even if the Baron was healed, won’t the effect of the dark magic from the beast’s claw strengthens the poison effect? Then the Baron is already weakened.”

Aran informed.

          True, if the Baron had really been weakened, it means that it would be easier to bring him down. Though, the moment I heard that he was hurt very badly, my heart strangely clenched.

“Understood. Then we split up. I will face the Baron alone while Aran become my back up. The rest of you pursue the thieves that tried to steal the mastery scroll from the treasury.”

“Understood.” They said simultaneously.

“Y-Your highness!-”

Maria suddenly called. For the first time, I saw her gaze wavered.

“...What is it?” I asked. I motioned the other group to go first, leaving me together with Aran and Maria.

“Uhm-” She clenched her hands together on her chest as she looked down.

“W-When the Baron died, can he be buried in his estate?” She said.

She didn’t want me to kill him but she also doesn’t want to hinder the mission. How commendable. Though I guess, the Baron managed to win her over to his side somehow.

“...Understood. But it would take a while for the body to return...”

I stepped onto the low walls of the roof of the tower and Aran followed me suit.

“...For I will show his body to every people who tried to tarnish the kingdom’s name.”

And I jumped off from the roof with Aran.

          (Lancelot’s POV)

          I held my sword as I walked along the hallway nervously. This is the place where I would die. I remembered it vividly of how they were depicted. Located at the west direction from the treasury, the outer corridor was placed near the magic forest of Tristan Kingdom. The scenery is very beautiful as moonlight lit along thousands of brightly shining stars. The scenery is amazing, too bad it was the scene of death for a villain.  

          I strolled along the path, acting like I was lost or something. Just, what kind of people got lost with a sword in their hands? I quickly sheathed it back.

          Just as I had sheathed my sword back, the first prince appeared in his assassin attire in front of me. He looked mesmerized though.

“You...”

I said. Ah shoot! My voice trembles!

          I covered my mouth while he unsheathed his sword and was in his battle stance. Trying to look as troubled as possible, I took out my sword and also preparing for my duel with him. Weird, was there supposed to me more people that went after me? Where did they go?

“Baron Lancelot Ral Constance, due to your countless crimes, the king had ordered me to execute you. Stay quiet and let this sword slash through your neck.”

His words were exactly the same as in the novel.

“I refuse!”

I also played along like what the novel said.

          Then, we started clashing our swords. As expected of the first prince who was the commander of knights, his swordsmanship skills were impeccable. I too should fight for longer as I was a man that originally fought a group of assassins after all.

          Our fight went smoothly for the first few minutes, then, I started to feel the pain from the beast slashes and had to limit my movement to a certain step. As we were fighting and the prince had started to step back, I started to gain confidence that maybe I’m able to win this and render his majesty to have to pull back.

          Besides, I have told Hans and Silica to retrieve Cecilia’s blood for me. Who knows that if I succeeded in living this night, I might be able to make the cure for the poison and live a longer life again.

          Just as my hopes started going up, the effect of the poison suddenly grew. I stammered for a moment and couldn’t defend myself when he stabbed me right through my body. At that moment, I felt the entirety of my strength drained out of me.

I fell down, but not with the prince cushioning my fall with his arm.

          While trying to pace my breath, I coughed blood and it stained my outfit. The prince was just there frozen as he tried to stop my bleeding as he pressed around the impaled area. Kinda ironic because he was the one who stabbed me first.

My mind suddenly went blank, as if stuffed by something unknown. Or probably it was just getting numb from the blood loss.

          I felt hot and cold at the same time. My body which was throbbing from pain from the poison and the wounds started to feel less sensitive, and I feel my visions getting blurry.

“...Hey...” The prince called to me. His voice somewhat sounded shaky.

I inhaled and exhaled slowly, trying to focus my wavering gaze to the prince.

          His expressions were very calm but deep in his eyes, I could see a blizzard of emotions stirring up inside him. Ah, even when he was conflicted, he is still as handsome as ever. As I stared deep into his eyes while admiring his face, he started to remind me of Hans.

          Suddenly, worry and regret filled up inside me. What will happen to Hans and the others that came with me to the palace? Would they be able to return safely? And what about my fief? What about that little child’s promise? What about...

          As my head was filled with thoughts of the people that I have connection to, I mustered my last bit of strength and spoke to the prince while I hold his face.

“Please... Take care of my people...” The pain becomes more excruciating as time went by, and by the moment my vision turned grey and I limped down, my vision came to a complete darkness.