“There’s no reply?” Lumi asked in disbelief. A night before they sent a messenger bird and considering how fast it could fly, it should arrive in the palace at least by midnight. The guard on duty must have already read the short letter and arranged guards to pick them up. 

But why was no response yet about the estimated time of arrival of the guards?

“I am afraid so, Miss.” The innkeeper who was in charge of receiving mail at the front desk said, “The letters we received this morning all come through the mailbox. There were no messenger birds this morning.”

“But…”

“Lumi.” Cain put the bread knife beside his already empty plate. He gave Lumi a side glance, as if warning her not to cause some ruckus. Afterall, the three of them were having breakfast in the common dining room where other people would pay them attention for the slightest noise. It was fortunate that the inn staff thought they were mere travelers who fought bandits on their journey. Otherwise, the three of them couldn't have this peaceful morning. 

Cain then said thank you to the innkeeper. 

“It’s indeed weird.” Rigel wiped his butter stained lip with the napkin. He murmured in a low voice. “Was it the queen?”

“That bitch!” Lumi cursed. She seemed ready to slam her tableware.

“Calm down, Missy. It’s just a guess. There are other possibilities.” Rigel said with a smile. He knew that Lumi had been so cranky since yesterday. She even had a nightmare despite being the one who occupied the only bed in their room. 

It must be because of his brother’s body being manipulated to attack them by someone.

“Like what?” She asked sharply.

“Well, maybe the reply is just late? Or our bird is being attacked by a predator?”

“I bet the predator’s name is Andromeda.” 

Rigel just smiled and patiently patted Lumi’s head to calm her down.

“We still have to go back.” Cain said after thinking for a while. “I will send a flying beast directly to Alan. And let’s buy horses to ride. I’ve seen that there is a stable near this inn.”

Rigel was reminded that Cain is indeed a prince. He had a lot of money to spend, and even buying ten horses right now must not hurt his wallet at all.

The three of them left the dining room and went outside. This time Cain summoned a magical beast to deliver his message.

“I should do this since yesterday.” Cain sighed. He was dead tired. His power is abundant but the reversal spell he performed took too much of his stamina.   

Rigel whistled when the magical messenger appeared on the air. The bird was translucent white and it opened its beak to record Cain’s verbal message which came as a streak of flying words. Being a summoner must be really convenient. Rigel was really jealous of Cain for this ability.

“Let’s choose some horses to buy while we’re at it.” Cain said nonchalantly as he walked to the stable behind the inn. 

And Rigel was also jealous of his wealth too.

***

“He really believed you to the point it’s hilarious.” Rowan said after laughing softly. He was lying down on the sofa in Alan’s office when the messenger beast appeared out of nowhere and perched on Alan’s desk lamp. It repeated the prince’s message in the prince’s voice. 

“I am on my way back. Please get some investigators ready. And also a paramedic for Rigel.”

Corvus was seated on the sofa across Rowan, sipping his tea elegantly.

“Are you not afraid the investigator would suspect you?” Corvus asked Rowan. He gave a signal with his head, pointing at the dead dove burned on the balcony of Alan’s office. “Miss Callisto brought the body of his brother back. They would trace the rest of energy to find out who is behind all this.” 

“I am the incapable one of Draco's siblings, sir.” Rowan sweetly answered. He then jumped from his lying position, now facing the older Phoenix with a cunning smile. “Who’d suspect someone who usually depends on his swordsman skill to have that much magic power? Little Lumi is so smart but I doubt she could trace me.”

Corvus shook his head in amusement. He smiled a little and said to Rowan, “You took after your father so much, you know.”

“Eh? I think I took good looks from my mother.”

Corvus had this close relationship with the late head of Draco and his wife. He knew that both of the sons were good in their own way but if he had to compare, he liked the younger one better despite his quirkiness. Ruben was not that smart to know which side to take in the battle of dominance. He even thought of marrying the princess to instantly be in control despite knowing that Lacerta was a dirty noble. For Corvus, this way of thinking showed lack of confidence in his own capability. 

Rowan on the other side, seemed not greedy of power but played his card well enough. 

“I am curious though.” Corvus placed his cup back on the coffee table. “Why would you do this?”

“Don’t you guys need an alliance?”

“We do. But I am asking about your goal.” Corvus' eyes narrowed, he watched Rowan’s face in scrutiny, not wanting to miss a slightest change in the younger man's expression. 

After all, having Ruben marry Estelle and reigned as a king, would raise Rowan’s status as well. Being a brother to the king must impact him positively in many aspects. Why take the hard route to get more power? The more unpredictable one? 

“Oh, about that.” A pause. Rowan smiled so sweetly like he was just talking to a child, not Corvus the war veteran who is also his senior in life, someone who’s even older than his parents if they were still here. “I just wanna get rid of my sweet brother.”

“Pardon?” 

Alan stayed silent as well, not wanting to intervene nor joining the conversation between the two gentlemen who occupy the sofa in his office. For so long, he was the only mutual connection between these two. He knew about Corvus well, he also knew Rowan quite a lot. But for better cooperation in the future, they had to trust each other and not only when Alan is between them. 

“Not every sibling relationship is as good as the princess and the prince’s. We’re just not vibing. Me and that Ruben.”

Short, neat answers. Kind of ironic since Rowan and Ruben are not half siblings like Estelle and Cain. 

“Maybe it was because of how our parents  raised us?” Rowan threw this rhetorical question while chuckling.

Raising children is indeed a hard task. Even Corvus found himself troubled a lot while raising a son like Alan. 

Or to be exact, Altair Aldebaran. 

Corvus took a glance at Alan. His memories back to when he first picked him up from the southern forest, not really far from the palace. He was so little back then. Corvus remembered how he was dirty, badly wounded, yet refused to give up. He kept running from the  people who murdered the reigned King back then. He even used the rest of his power left back then to summon the beast to fight Corvus.

Like a stray wolf pup, he desperately cling to life by baring his little fangs. 

Corvus remembered that even in his top prime condition, the general still had trouble handling Alan’s rejection. Even the worst scar that Corvus had in his years on the battlefield was nothing compared to what his adopted son gave him when he refused to trust Corvus. Even now, the long big scar on his arm was Corvus’s reminder that he had adopted a fighting prodigy, despite the outside appearance displaying a soft and refined gentleman.

“Enough about us.” Rowan tapped the armrest with his finger lightly. Suddenly he hummed the tone of a children's song and  asked Alan after. “What to do now, Al?” 

“Let’s wait for Cain to be back.” Alan threw his gaze to the blue sky outside the massive window. “To get rid of Andromeda neatly, we need him.”

***

The jail was dark, humid, and it had a weird smell—a mixture of moss, soil, and water. The wall stone was cold, felt gross to touch and the fact that the only lamp was too yellow and dim to help people inside see was maddening. 

Ruben felt like he was gonna die if he couldn’t get out of this place as soon as possible. He clearly did not deserve this kind of treatment. 

Sure, he had planted some spy in the palace. He had to keep watch of his own master; Andromeda. That damn bitch better not think of replacing him with Rowan as the princess’s fiance. But that was it. He also indeed injured Alan to vent his dissatisfaction for Estelle seemed to favor that lowly palace advisor instead of him. But did all of that make him deserve this kind of treatment? Him of all people? The head of the Draco family? 

Bullshit.

Rowan said nothing when he heard footsteps walking closer to him. If it was not a lowly dungeon warden, then he guessed it was just his useless younger brother who did not really put enough effort to bail him out. 

“Hello…” a soft voice like a windbell. 

Rowan was confused to see that someone who paid him a visit was indeed his fiance-candidate; Estelle Aldebaran. 

“Princess!” He stood up abruptly. He was embarrassed to be seen in such disgraceful state. He wore the same clothes when he was arrested, had not  shaved, and his overall complexion was paler like a sick person.

Damn it.

“What brought you here, your majesty?” 

He asked foolishly. Estelle was the first royal family who visited him. Maybe, he could have this little hope that Estell would free him. Afterall, they have known each other since their teenage years.

Ruben had been in this cursed place for weeks and even Andromeda whom he helped staged some drama to influence the king had not shown herself. Ungrateful bitch. 

“Well, I am here to officially sever our ties to each other.” Estelle answered with a polite tone. As if she was not announcing something that caused Ruben’s hope to shatter like a mere dust.

“... What?”

“Our engagement–even just in the planning stage–has been officially canceled.” Satisfaction in Estelle’s face. “My father refused to have a son in law whose reputation has been tainted. I think I have to tell you this in person.”

‘And we’ll see if you dare throw tantrums on me’–was the continuation Estelle had not voiced but still could be understood by Ruben. 

“... Why?” 

The question was rolling out of his mouth even without him realizing. He clenched his fist, as if holding himself back from hitting this pretty face in front of him with all his might. 

“The trial has not even started yet! I am innocent. I have done nothing to be ashamed of!” Ruben’s tone rose up in an instant without him even realizing it.

“Oh…” Estelle looked at him with no expression. “Really?” 

As someone who was born in a bonafide family, as the first son, Ruben usually had things go his way. Even the fact that he was just a little bit better than the average magic user was usually being covered by his background. To compensate for his lack of capabilities, he had worked hard to gain his title as poison master. And all seemed to go smoothly especially after he finally cast his younger brother to guard the borderland. 

But today his hard work to prove himself worthy as the head of Draco family was being ignored just like that. 

“I can not accept this!” 

 His sudden burst of anger caused his power to go out of control. Estelle was pushed by the sudden wave of energy and without being prepared, her body flew and hit the rocky wall. She winced in pain.

Ruben clearly lost his self control. He had endured humiliation by staying in this dungeon for a week. No visit from his brother nor his subordinate at all. People seemed to forget about him, not even care that he wanted to prove his innocence as soon as possible. 

And this woman, for whom he had endured all these, now telling him that their engagement would be canceled? 

Unacceptable!

“Why do you think I want to enter this relationship with you?” 

Ruben broke the fence with his power and stepped closer to Estelle who still rubbed her painful shoulder. He pulled her chin, forcing Estelle to look at him. Her blue eyes are clear and captivating. So pretty. But the rejection was also evident in the way she stared back at him like he was some kind of brute. It was degrading.  

“Do you think without your lineage, men would pursue a high and mighty woman like you? You? Whose role is just to sit and be pretty for your future husband?” 

Ruben must be mad to grab Estelle’s chin harder, his nail digging deep to her cheek, leaving marks. 

Estelle smirked and while she seemed not to resist Ruben, suddenly a small magic circle appeared under them. It was purplish silver, clearly Estelle’s. Pitch black roots appeared from inside the circle and the small black flower on its branch directed to Ruben. The bud seemed like a gun directly facing an enemy before blooming.

“Shit!” Silver needle flew from the flower center and hit Ruben’s wrist. “ What the–?”

And although it was a needle, the sensation caused when it pierced the skin was burning. 

Estelle stood and coughed several times while Ruben rolled on the hard stone floor and held his reddened wrist. His skin near the piercing wound started to peel. 

“You…” Ruben wanted to curse. Who would've guessed that the princess was also a summoner? An unregistered one for worse?

“I won’t marry a fool who can not assess their real worth.” Estelle said in a calm tone. “You think you can compare to Alan?”

Ruben was angry. If one had to compare him who is a legitimate son of a Duke and Alan who was an orphan adopted by General Phoenix in the battlefield, the result was obvious. It’s his blood that is worth more, for he had the same blood from the nation's founders. 

Still writhing in pain, Ruben bit his lip to hold his groan. He sweated like crazy because his body temperature was raised several degrees higher after being pierced by a needle from a beast plant. 

“Hehehe…” Ruben smirked, still trying to maintain his composure despite panic starting to consume his mind. “That Andromeda bitch is really capable, eh?”

“She has no part in this.” Estelle replied nonchalantly. To be perfectly honest, she did not really care about her mother's reputation. But to make her bear false accusations was not on Estelle’s agenda. “Anyway… I am here today just to collect your payment for hurting Alan.” 

Estelle lifted Ruben’s chin using the tip of her boots. “There wouldn't be next time for you to hurt Alan.”  

“I can report you as an unregistered summoner!”  Even between his labored breath, Ruben was still trying to fight Estelle. “The punishment would not be light at all…”

“You did not hear what I said?”

Another stab. This time it was right to Ruben’s jugular vein. A black snake whose body was similar to the beast plant before had bit deep, tearing apart the thin pale skin.

“I said there would be no next time.”