Okay, Lucian had to admit that this was the worst decision he ever made in all his lives. As simple as it seemed in his head, Lucian had envisioned the possibility of working out. If he had called some knights to accompany him into the forest, perhaps the chances of success would have been greater.
But it did not help to cry for the spilled milk.
He and Stephen were taken to the deepest part of the forest, away from the trail. He had no idea if Magnus was okay, if the knights managed to take care of the mercenaries or if everyone in that Empire was screwed. To make matters worse, the omega was unconscious when it was practically thrown to the ground.
"Stay there quiet."
Lucian did not even bother to answer. What could he do? His body looked like a heavy jelly after having regained control, moreover he trembled like a chihuahua making him as pathetic as his reputation already made it seem. Lucain was clearly scared, that's expected, only his mind seemed to find some comfort in repeating to himself that it was just a story.
Maybe if Lucian died, could he go back to your world? Would he be Luciano again?
"Haa... I'm going crazy", Lucian muttered as he shook his head.
What good did it try to deceive himself? Damn, Lucian was terrified! Of course he was afraid to die at the hands of those guys. And bitterly regretted having followed Stephen believing that saving him was the key to stopping the villain from getting what he wanted.
What happened in the end? Would Maverick save him? Magnus would be safe! What was he looking for? Lucian's mind suddenly went blank. Fear prevented him from seeing any reason that was previously rooted with such confidence. What used to make sense now was nothing but dust.
Why did Lucian do that shit?
"Let me go!"
Raising his head, Lucian was surprised to see Raven tied up being dragged by the mercenaries.
"Be quiet, damn it!", The woman pushed the princess to the ground next to Lucian "Geez, you royalty are really unbearable."
"How dare you speak of the royal family in such a way! Know that when the Emperor captures each one of you..."
The woman pointed her dagger at Raven's neck.
"No more talking, hostages must be quiet. My patience is short, little princess."
Raven frowned and bit the inside of her cheek to restrain her words. Swallowing her own pride, she kept silent waiting for the woman to take the dagger from her neck.
"You heard the message from that person. So do your job and I will think about whether or not to release you."
Lucian raised his eyebrow and looked at Raven who seemed upset. The princess sighed and looked back, seeming to be very sorry for the situation. Even more being threatened with a dagger against her neck. However, Lucian was more interested in what the mercenary had said.
"What did she mean, Raven?"
The princess looked at the woman from a corner, who did not seem at all willing to leave them alone. On the contrary, the one whose dagger she pressed against the princess's neck in a silent threat. Turning her attention to Lucian, the princess sighed trembling.
"You k-know that there is someone who desires your support... This person has asked me... to convince you to ally with them."
Narrowing his eyes, Lucian knew what would come.
The villain.
It was ridiculous that all this confusion was being created by a mere "message transmission".
"What do you mean, Raven?"
"That person said they wants to make a deal to get your support and in return will remove the rebels and mercenaries from the hunting ground and ensure the Grimwood's safety."
Lucian's fists clenched over his lap. He could feel his own heart racing against his chest in a desperate attempt to survive. Lucian could only face the princess, who seemed innocent in person imbued with dread by the danger of the situation. The way she looked at the dagger and stuttered when passing that message made her fear obvious.
Only that the prince was not caring for Raven's fear.
Not after hearing those words.
"Is that a threat? And why the hell does this supposed person want me?"
"Ha! Why is it? By chance being locked in your castle made you naive and stupid?", mocked the mercenary woman.
Raven cast an angry look at the woman.
"Measure your words!"
"Humpf", the woman just tightened the dagger on Raven, making her moan slightly when a drop of blood spilled on the blade, "You better behave."
Lucian sighed low as watched that scene unfold in front of him.
"I don't care how she treats me, we're just hostages here. And I'd like to avoid blood being shed unnecessarily."
Annoyed, Raven sighed defeated and tried to ignore the pointed dagger, despite being a rather difficult task. She sat on her own legs and leaned slightly trying to escape the sharp point of the dagger, but the mercenary followed every move.
"That person just asked me to convey their words and that your answer should be given to..." She looked at the woman and then at Lucian with some regret "… To the mercenaries."
"That's right, little prince. Now you must give us an answer. But I recommend not to take too long, we are not very patient here."
The mercenary was using Raven as a hostage precisely to pressure Lucian to give a quick response and without much thought when he increased the pressure of the blade against the small cut. Probably none of them expected that the Eighth Prince, despite the various layers of cowardice, would not be so pressed.
After all, Lucian was the only one who knew who the villain was and what he really intended to do with himself.
Lucian would be discarded when he had no use. The villain was only ambitious and greedy who did not really care about the feelings of anyone but themself. Someone who would make a point of stealing absolutely all the power that Lucian held for himself and then... kill him.
A cold in the belly shivered Lucian.
He remembered exactly the dreams he had so often with that sword in his chest. The cold and the heat, the pain... Unbearable as death mocked him by making him agonize in his own farewell. It was not his pain, it was the true Eighth Prince. It was the poor man who fell into disgrace by being abandoned and manipulated as if he were nothing. In the end, even death itself rejected him.
Why did the real Lucian live like this?
A warm touch covered the coldness of his hands. When the diamond eyes focused on the peach color of Raven's eyes, Lucian glimpsed something. As if he saw himself in his abandoned castle, with Raven touching his hand the same way and looking at him with great regret.
"How can they do this to you, my brother? Your own father transmitting such rude and cold words to the only son who carries his blood..."
The Eighth Prince faced a letter in hand and seemed completely destroyed with its contents. But in that memory it was not possible to read anything, because the eyes were clouded by tears of pain and sadness. When he tried to hide his own sadness behind his hands, it was Raven who hugged him tight without letting him suffer alone.
Lucian's heart accelerated and he felt breathless with that memory. The nausea that felt in the belly and dizziness by the sudden information that exploded bomb on his shoulders was a much stronger knockout than the proposal just said by Raven. He would faint if he continued to have memories of the true prince, so Lucian moved his hand away from Raven.
Could not let any other mistake be made.
Could not falter now.
"Lucian..."
"I do not intend to ally myself with anyone" Replied the prince under a murmur, hiding his countenance by lowering his head.
"What do you..."
"That's what you heard me say", Lucian raised his head and looked furiously at both Raven and the mercenary "I don't intend to ally myself with anyone who is so low as to use threats. It will take more than that to bring me down."
"Bwahahahaha he's an idiot!", Gargled the mercenary looking over his shoulder "Let's finish them all."
"No!"
Raven was about to protect Lucian in his deepest despair when men wearing white clothes appeared in a surprise attack, occupying all the mercenaries who were there. Lucian immediately recognized the knights of the temple, and without much thought he pushed the mercenary with his shoulder to make him drop the dagger.
Lucian took the dagger and used it to cut the ropes, feeling grateful when a knight captured the mercenary before she even tried to hit him. A fight began there, Lucian focused on getting Raven and Stephen off the ropes.
"Run, Your Holiness!"
Lucian pulled the arm of an unconscious Stephen and quickly held it firmly to carry it through the forest alongside Raven and the other knights of the temple who were escorting them back. The few mercenaries and rebels who gathered in that forest were completely dominated by the knights of the temple. The way they brandished their swords has never been seen before in history.
Well, what to expect from a group that is formed to protect only the temple, and should not participate in the war in any way? It is as if they belong to a different country. But Lucian and Raven glimpsed that chaotic scenario, both surprised by the organization and ease in dominating the opponent with their own body to the point of not being pressed by the firearms that fired their projectiles.
Running through the forest to try to escape the mercenaries, Lucian felt Stephen being pulled away from him. Looking over his shoulder, he was haunted by the figure of one of the mercenaries about to strike Stephen.
That is, if a sword did not suddenly appear, pushing the mercenary away.
The smell of wine brought security to Lucian, seeing Magnus Grimwood fight masterfully by brandishing his sword. Magnus could barely dodge the blows, and seemed to have trouble holding on. Still, the omega managed to throw the mercenary against the nearest tree.
"Lucian!!"
The Grand Duke went to the prince, evaluating him from top to bottom. When the crimson eyes noticed Stephen on his back, Magnus pushed him into the arms of Raven, who was only a few steps behind.
"Wait Magnus, are you hurt?"
Magnus then evaluated Lucian's body from top to bottom, looking for any injuries. All of them completely ignored the mercenary who trembled in the earth to reach the fallen weapon on the ground.
"Are you okay? Did they do something to you?"
"I'm fine, thank you for saving me."
"Let's go while these pigeons hold the mercenaries."
When the Grand Duke took a few steps forward, a loud and explosive sound sounded cutting the trees until it reached Magnus' waist. The crimson eyes widened with the others. The Grand Duke's hand touched the surface of his own body where his glove was stained with liquid red.
Their eyes met before the omega fell to his knees and smashed into the land of that forest. Lucian's unbelief took time to allow him to hold the omega, his legs failing him to fall on his knees.
"Magnus!!!"