𝐌𝐘 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐓

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐓𝐖𝐎

꧁꧂

     After successfully taking the bandits and claiming victory over them, Adrian sliced off their heads and shoved them into multiple sacks, throwing that and the goods that they had acquired back from them into a wagon. Attaching that to a horse, one of the men took control of the carriage while the others rode separately on horses of their own. Having already specified a meeting point with Basile, Adrian led them to said spot—a small plot of land barren of trees save the ones that surrounded it, being at the foot of a rather large hill.

    But that was three days ago.

    As worries and nerves grew—anxiety levels rising—their temper was short and easily breakable.

     However that all changed on the afternoon of the third day. (Y/N) had gone out to collect more firewood for that upcoming evening when she spotted Basile's group, solace instantly washing through her at the sight of them. Calling out to Adrian and the rest of the group about Basile's return, she watched as all immediately dropped what they were doing to run to where she was and greet the rather haggard-looking group.

    "You made it!" Adrian exclaimed in relief towards Basile after he had crested the top of the hill on which they all stood, setting a hand proudly on his Advisor's shoulder. "Did your journey fare well? Were you able to get it?"

    Basile nodded, smiling.

    All attention then turned to Sofi who pulled a lump of cloth from her bag, revealing a magnificently bright red flower, the tips of the petals ending in a deep purple.

    "Amazing..." Adrian whispered as he leaned down to inspect the plant. "Truly..." Flicking his eyes upward to then meet Sofi's dark gaze, he continued, "And you are absolutely positive that this is what the King needs to live?"

    "Yes," Sofi replied without hesitation.

    "Good, then," Adrian straightened up before surveying Basile's group. "It seems that you've managed to keep everyone alive, Advisor Oman. Well done. We'll rest here for the evening, and tomorrow morning, ride back to Carmella Palace. Let's get settled, everyone."

    A collective sigh of relief could be heard shifting throughout the crowd, bones tired and muscles weary. (Y/N) couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment, finding that she herself felt stronger after this trip than before, and that it was worthwhile to come. Reigning in Legend, providing him food and water, her soft smile somewhat lessened at the thought of the comrades she lost, hoping that wherever they were now, they were in a good place.

    She just wished she had been able to protect them better, her brows creasing at the thought.

    "(M/N)!" A familiar voice called out, (Y/N) turning to see Claude approaching her.

    "Claude?" Her smile somewhat returned at the sight of him as she gave him a brief hug before patting him on the back. "I'm glad you're okay and made it back safely."

    "Well..." he sighed, running a hand through his ruffled blonde hair which was longer than when she had first met him. "We're not back yet."

    "We will be soon enough."

    "Right..." he hummed, his blue eyes crinkling at the thought as he smiled. "There's that optimism again. If you had traveled to Chalar though, I don't think that optimism would have helped, especially after what happened."

    "Really?" Her eyes widened.

"Mm."

    Descending the hill, he told her of what they faced—the grueling deserts they crossed, the dangerous animals they had to fight, having to hide from the Queen's men, and even carnivorous plants that all but tried to swallow them whole. Her expression contorted in horror with each tale. As the two working while they talked, neither (Y/N) nor Basile noticed that someone was watching them, or more specifically, how Adrian was watching them. His eyes held no emotion, but by the growing frown on his lips, one could tell he was not pleased. More so, how he was sitting by the fire made the blaze cast flickering shadows across his face, only furthering the intensity of his stare.

    "Is something troubling you, Your Highness?" Basile questioned as he approached Adrian, snapping the man from his darkening thoughts. "You seem... unwell."

    "I'm fine," he snapped,

    "It doesn't seem that way."

    "Oh, really?" He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning back against the tree that was directly behind him. "And what makes you say such words so confidently, Advisor Oman? If anything, it'd be best to think before you speak, especially when it's directed toward your Prince."

    "Your Highness, the way that you're acting right now..." Basile trailed off, his eyes glancing towards (Y/N) and Claude. "It makes one question what your motives are for taking that young man in as your personal attendant."

    "You think my current mood is because of (L/N)?" Adrian scoffed, rolling his eyes at the mention of such a thought. "Are you even hearing yourself?"

    "I'm just commenting on what I see."

    Adrian didn't comment on Basile's words, wanting to find them ridiculous, but unable to counter them. In fact, the longer he thought about what Basile was saying, the more it made sense. What he was feeling was discomfort, envy, anger—such feelings were so pure and irritating, and he realized they all struck at him whenever Claude was around (Y/N) acting chummy with each other as if they'd known each other their entire lives.

    He didn't know why that was.

    He didn't even understand why he chose (Y/N) to be his personal attendant in the first place.

    Was it because of his fighting style?

    How he protected me?

    How he spoke back?

    Those are all just excuses so...

    Why do I hate it when he speaks to that servant? Even just to others like Basile?

    Cupping his chin with his finger, Adrian exhaled in frustration when wracking his brain came up with no solution to his problem.

    His eyes darkened.

    This... is really fucking irritating.

    Should I just... eliminate him?

꧁꧂