The Good King

'Sleeping Potion'

The walk back was very quiet. The prince was lot in thought and the two knights did not want to interfere.

Once they stood by the end of the passage. The red haired touched the prince's shoulder which made him stop and look around.

Asher and Ezra were very cautious which made him confused. It took Louis a while to get back to his senses and become aware of his surroundings once more before he heard those footsteps wandering around Elmer's room.

The three went entirely quiet. Especially Asher who recognised their voices.

"I told you she would not be that stupid"

Alex said while lying on the bed.

"I guess I was wrong, now what?"

Rose replied while sitting next to him.

"Am bad at tag game, you tell me what to do?"

Alex said.

Rose had to think for a good moment, knowing that she was dealing with a girl who was younger and looked stronger than Venator.

"They searched the palace hundreds of times, no one found her, do you think she went looking for prince Elmer?"

She then asked.

Last time they met Aylin, she came all the way to help Elmer out. There was a chance she would go see him again since he was in a worse situation at the moment.

"And no one was her? did you see how guarded every corner has been?"

Alex replied, denying the possibility of Aylin simply leaving the palace without being caught or at least seen.

"And don't forget that she is not alone, she is taking care of another girl"

He then added, making her doubt herself again.

"You have a point but if she is still here, it's a matter of time before we find her but just in case she left for the prince I will send a letter to Evan and Mirai"

Rose said, getting up, followed by her husband.

"Alright, let's play!"

Alex said while rushing towards the door, opening it for her, before the both of them left the room and closed the door.

Louis sighed at the conversation he just heard.

The two knights were as shocked as he was, they did not expect the hunters to know Aylin.

After waiting for a while, the second prince opened the secret door, allowing Asher and Ezra to walk out before he closed it again and hid it behind the mirror.

"They know Aylin's face, you have to warn her, she can not leave the house at all"

Louis then said while looking towards those serious eyes. The two nodded agreeing with his words, before they all left Elmer's room.

The sense of relief the three felt was indescribable. If they were late just a minute maybe the hunters would have found Aylin. But they tried to not think of that possibility since it was already over.

The second prince walked down those stairs, heading towards the girl's chamber, he was so out of it but he had to keep his promise.

Once he knocked on the door, Clair rushed to open it for him.

She was still worried after what she saw earlier.

"Prince Louis, are you alright?"

She asked.

"Am fine, do not worry Clair"

The prince smiled replying.

He was so out of the whole time, he could barely smell those scented candles, nor hear the sweet symphonies the girls were playing. 

His physical exhaustion only got worse by the end of their time. And no matter how hard they tried to cheer him up, his mind was just not around.

"Prince Louis looks very tired"

The beautiful curly haired female whispered into Violet's ear.

"But he looks good anyways"

Violet simply replied.

"Of course! that's not what I meant I-"

Before she got to finish answering Violet. Louis stood up.

"I will be leaving first, thank you for today"

The prince forced a smile saying.

"Have a good night, Prince Louis"

They all bowed replying, while Clair walked him to the door.

Once they stepped outside, she thought he would speak to he but he seemed too out of it to remember that he has been wanting to ask her for a favor.

"Would you like any help, my prince?"

She suddenly asked, right before he walked away.

The second prince stopped, turned around and suddenly remembered.

"Yes, Clair, can you make me a sleeping potion?"

Louis suddenly asked.

"Did you overuse it?"

She asked worrying, since it has not been so long since she made him a new potion.

Clair knew that he has been struggling for years with his sleeping issues. But he was getting better little by little.

And he promised to not overuse nor reply daily on the sleeping potion.

"It's not for me, I need enough to get some people into a deep sleep"

Louis then replied.

After she was relieved hearing his answer, she asked immediately.

"How many?"

Of course she was concerned but she did not want to ask unnecessary questions.

Louis looked around as if he was calculating the number. A few seconds later he smiled replying,

"A hundred ?"

He said, asking her if it was actually possible.

Her reply did catch him off guard. He knew it would take some time and was ready to be showered with questions or even face rejection because he knew how unreasonable he just sounded.

"I can do it, I need a couple of days and I do not think I have enough supplies but I can figure it out"

Clair then turned around.

"I have to go now, the sooner the better, Good night prince Louis"

She said before rushing on the hallway heading back towards her room.

Leaving behind a pretty confused prince who was also motivated because of her.

'I have to get myself together for now, at least while I can'

He thought while walking back towards his empty room, he spent that night rethinking his whole plan. 

Redrawing the paths, and trying to think of every little small obstacles they might run into.

His worries grew more towards Elmer the more he thought of it. He knew him too well and could not shake the feeling that he could actually do another crazy thing after being pushed into a corner.

'I wish he calms down for a while, we need every minute we still have before jumping into a war against Leo'

The second prince thought to himself.

But he was not the only one wide awake and lost in thoughts. Because right on the other side, the person he worried for was also thinking of their war against a mutual enemy, a person who carried the same family name as the two...