His Bride to Be [M/M] (Slow Update)

Chapter 35: Familiar Shadowed Faces

The merchant only quivered before stammering a whisper of a reply, however, he was not heard. 

The guard behind the merchant shoved him hard enough to where the merchant fell to his knees and his wicked grin stretched.

"When the King speaks he expect a reply!"

Ivan rosed his hand once more and looked towards the guard.

"No need for violence."

I watched as the guard snickered as the merchant shrunk in fear. 

"I f-found him y-your majesty. In a village about a month's journey from Gaven. It's small and secluded and honestly, in all my travels I have never heard of it until now."

The king looked thoughtful, "Then how did you stumble upon it."

"It was completely by accident, I was heading over the border to a neighboring kingdom to search there."

The king leaned forward in his chair with a dark interest plastered on his face.

"I never authorized any form of the village to be placed there."

He looked thoughtful for a few heartbeats and the room fell silent waiting to hear what he had to say. His smile then grew wider as he leans back in his throne.

Ivan waved over to Arthur and he began to walk towards the guard and merchant. As he drew closer Authur unsheathed his sword from his holder and held it to his side.

The merchant looked wide-eyed at Authur as his eyes grew wider. The merchant stood on his feet as the guard behind him began to snicker at his fetal attempt to escape.

Authur raised his sword as the Merchant rose to his feet. He began to plead Authur for his life.

Authur ran towards the merchant and as quick as lightning Aurthur struck his mark.

But it wasn't the merchant that Authur pierced.

Authur sword, stuck dangerously close to the Merchant's neck. Behind him, you could hear the guard choking on his own blood. Although the guard wore a neckpiece to protect him, Authur skillfully pierced the guard in the neck. Twisting the blade, Arthur slowly pulled it out as the whole room watched. Once the sword successfully exits, the guard held his neck trying to keep the blood in, to no avail.

The metal armor clanged towards the floor as the guard fell on his knees. He turned his wide eyes toward Ivan and gurgled,

"W-why"

Ivan smiled as he clasped his hands and looked towards the fallen guard.

"You disobeyed my order."

I watched as the guard went to say something but his own blood cut him off from saying anything. Finally, the guard's eyes rolled back as his body fell with a clang.

The merchant turned his frighten form away from Arthur and turned his attention to the guard lying dead at his feet.

'"I will give you one final chance to prove yourself and I will even give you your old title in the process."

The merchant made no move and Ivan took great pleasure in this.

"However, if you disobey my orders, well..."

Nothing was needed to be said. The merchant knew what that would mean for him and so did everyone else in this room.

"Now, this is my order,"

Ivan crossed his legs and leaned on the throne and smiled a simple, yet dark smile.

"Tell the people of the village to hand over my brother or their village will be burned to the ground. I am giving them a day to decide if they haven't decided by then."