La Elora: Vengeance & Lenience

It was a dark, gloomy Friday, and their hearts beat faster than the ticking of the wall clock. As she calmly took a sip of wild strawberry and rose tea from her dazzling teacup, the aroma filled the air of the Eurus Hall, flying along with tension from the rest. The door burst open, and a woman with chestnut brown hair and dark brown eyes marched inside and took everyone's attention.

"Boss Zi confirmed. They are involved with the kidnapping incident and are part of the Quislings." Handing her the two file-filled envelop, she looked with pity at the two men tied up, kneeling on the high-gloss marble floor, fully aware of their punishment.

"You've heard her, so stop lying. Spit out your hideout or utter your last words." She commanded. The taller man with a throbbing headache closed his eyes against the dull pain. He tried to reach her, but something was impeding his arms.

"Speak, and I'll let you live." She stood up from her chair. The narrow straps dig into his flesh as he tried to wrench his arms free. "Argh!" He cried out in pain, but his instinct forced him to fight to escape these bonds and run free. The chains dig deeper into his flesh as he continued to free himself.

"Zillian La Elora, even if I speak, I know you'll kill us." He forced his voice not to sound shaky as his heart hammered his chest in terror. He knew her. His master told them multitudinous things about her. A merciless, heartless woman who kills everyone who blocks her way.

"I never saw your face ever since I joined the revolt against your Empires. May you give me the honor to witness your poisonous beauty?" He grinned.

Grinding her teeth behind her mask, she bent down and reached for his hair. "Very well. I'll take that as your last words." She felt the pang of misery that had swept through her at the thought of the past. She can't lose anyone again like she lost her. She will be demented if that happens.

"Carsillion." She looked at the man in General's uniform, and he handed her a dagger. Painfully he shook his head.

"Arrrghh!" the man screamed in agony as she slides her dagger to his right cheek. The cut was deep. Deep enough to visibly see his cheekbone. She sliced open his throat like bread, and he gargled his own vital fluid. Blood splashed like a faucet as he let his aching body collapse.

" You're a freak!" The second man started to be deranged as he witnessed the scene of blood and gore. Her sharp eyes caused him to quiver. Bloodlust. Tears are forming in the corner of his eyes; his labored breathing can be heard, and his heart is racing rapidly.

"You joined The Quislings, yet your guts can't stand witnessing scenes like this?" Her cold voice was strong enough to paralyze his body in fear. "When your enemy is in front of you, what will you do?" she asked as she took a step towards him.

"Please, spare me!" His voice broke.

"Oh, so you'll beg your enemy." Her gaze transferred from her dagger to him. "Fool. When you face your enemy, you must kill him. Or else, he will destroy you."

"P-please! I'm begging you! Have mercy!" He cried out, desperate to be free from this situation. Wishing these are all a part of his bad dream. But no, in his terror, all of these are not part of his nightmare.

"Mercy?" This word strikes her. "Would you elaborate that word further?" Nathan and the rest stepped back, feeling commiserated for him.

The range runs through her nerves. "When you kidnapped those children, did you think of having mercy? When you murdered some of them, did you think of mercy? When you committed sexual assault and lawless acts, did you think of mercy?" Her anger rose higher. Her eyes are like a burning fire that would consume anyone.

"You didn't. So why would you dare to ask me to show you mercy?" Her accent deepens; her voice was crisp, terrifying, and deadly. All warmth drained by lack of compassion. The man was not even sure if the speaker could even be human.

"Why? Are you afraid that you'll experience what you did to other people? Is that why you are crying for mercy?" Her eyes, sharp as the dagger she is holding, pierced through his soul.

"Foolish! You must have asked that beforehand. Not now that you have no chance left." He gasped and groaned. Losing all his hope to live, he used his remaining strength to free himself. Tears, sweat, and blood mixed as he crawled down. Dropping her dagger, she reached for her gun hanging in her black leather pants. Mercilessly, she aimed at his head and clicked the trigger. His head burst open, brains scattered, and red fluid spilled.

The door banged open. Ignoring the running blood on the floor, a blonde-headed woman hurriedly knelt in front of Ashriel. Catching her own breath, she reported, "Your Majesty, Colonel John found one of the kidnapped children." Her hope rose.

"Are you sure, Diana?" She nodded in response. "Olive, prepare the van and call The Cadre." The woman with chestnut brown hair slightly bowed and left.

***

The throttle was applied, and the engine is running steadily at the highest allowed RPM. The ten high members are present except for John, who is currently on standby.

"According to John, he and his men found an abandoned mansion beside the lake of the hidden gulma area of the third line district, outside Austere City. They are now two kilometers away from the old mansion waiting for your order, Your Highness." Kate reported.

"Hand me the phone." Kate gave her the phone and loaded her gun.

"John" The man on the other line silently listened. "We are now heading there. Don't move until we arrive." She commanded.

"I understand."

The engine's RPM decreased, and the van stopped. Ashriel examined the place; it was verdant. Green and scrubby. What on earth is this place? Grassland? She asked herself, feeling discombobulated.

"Ash, let's go," Nathan called her.

They walked for fifteen minutes and saw a group of people standing like statues while looking at the house beside the lake, two kilometers away from them. Ashriel walked towards the tall, brawny man. "John, what are you doing?"

"You told us not to move, so we didn't." She paused for a while, trying to analyze his words, and took a deep breath in distress.

"Wait, I feel like my IQ decreased?" Raith stated. "You're such a genius, bro!" He continued while laughing. John only stared at him, straight in the eyes, and he stopped.

"Your loudness will surely beat a woman, Raith. I swear." Xieaniel commented, making everyone chuckle.

"Just support me, dude! I never complained about your big eyeglasses. Hey John, tell me, did you breathe?" He laughed forcefully that made everyone look at him. Kate hurriedly covered his mouth and kicked his feet.

"Shut up, will you?" She whispered angrily in his ears.

"One more word, and I'll eliminate you, Raith. Lower your voice. We're on a mission." Nathan looked at him with a grim face that sent a shiver through his spine. Ashriel smiled, hoping that Nathan became the leader instead of her.

"Zi, what if this is a trap?" Natsuki asked as he checked the house with his Barrett M82.

"There is an eighty percent chance that what you are saying is true, Nat. But there is also a twenty percent chance that it is not. What we need to do now is to do our first plan. If it fails, then we will do the second one." Venice suggested.

"Lady Venice has a point. From what I've observed, there are only six guards. Four with Caliber 5.56 mm, M16, and two with AMT AutoMag III. Three of them have grenades hanging on their waste, and the remaining three have knives." Using the binoculars, Olive explained.

"A hideout with only six guards? Quite bizarre." Leon stated. "Come to think of it, we saw nor encountered no one while we were walking going here. If this is really a hideout, then countless guards must be roaming around." He continued.

"Now, what's the plan, tactician?"

~ What we sow, we will surely reap. ~

"Get down!" Nathan shouted. Bullets are flying, grenades are exploding. Cold bodies are lying on the floor as Ashriel and her Cadre executed their plan.

"Boss! I found the hostages!" Raith shouted. Nathan and Natsuki cleared the area as Raith, Xieaniel, and John untied the children and led them outside. Nathan released his last grenade that ceased the fight. The place was cleared, many walls broke down, and sweat and blood were mixed on the old marble floor.

"Boss, one of the traitors is tied here." Ashriel and Nathan came into a room where Leon was with one woman tied with chains and kneeling on the floor. Her face was covered with her auburn hair. Kate stepped forward and reached for her hair, clearing her face. She opened her light blue eyes and studied them.

"You're one of the Second Rank Nobles that are under Amber Theupholis named Oriana Atherton, am I right?" Nathan clarified as he studied her face.

"Boss, she's not on the list." Olive bumped in, looking at her phone and back to Oriana.

"Release her," Ashriel ordered Leon as Nathan examined the whole place.

"Fool, are you sure you want to click that?" Leon laughed that it took everyone's attention. Oriana was holding a gun and pointing it at him. "Don't ever do something that you'll regret in the end." His face dimed, sending shivers to her spine. In a split of a second, she held nothing, her head bowed down and her knees kneeling on the ground. Leon was now pointing the gun behind her head.

"Boss Zi, will you permit me to shatter her head?" Her eyes widened as she heard his words. Boss Zi?

"You're not on the list. What is your business here?" Leon asked. He took every courage she has to lift up her head and speak. She must, or else she will lose her life.

"I beg your pardon for my misbehavior. Two of my men named Julius and Ceasar-"

"Julius and Ceasar, are you kidding us?" Leon interrupted.

"Why would I joke in this kind of situation? Please check your list, sir. I am telling the truth." Olive quietly laughed and checked the list, then she waved her hand for Oriana to continue.

"Both of them are acting strangely. Two days ago, First General Nathan warned all of the Elite Forces about the traitors who entered Austere City, so I was alarmed." She gulped as her injured left arm began to sting. "Last night, I followed them until we reached their hideout - this place, so that I can send information to Her Highness, yet they caught me." She lowered her head.

"You're brave, but you're weak." Ashriel walked towards her and uses her index finger to lift Oriana's chin to meet her eyes. "Go, run and be strong. Don't commit the same mistake again. Your braveness and loyalty are needed in this Kingdom. But I warn you, tell no one about this. Speak, and you'll die. I have your records, and my eyes are on you." She shivered, but a tear escaped from her eye as she nodded and dashed out of the room, leaving the old mansion and sealing her mouth.

Olive was about to speak, but Ashriel motioned her hand. "Not now, Olive. It's still early." She nodded her head, and they began to depart from the old mansion. The whole place was filled with the military and medical teams, helicopters and unmanned aircraft teams, and investigators. The authorities took care of the cold bodies inside the old mansion. The medical team dressed the wounded victims and suspects; some were carried to the ambulance, leading to the hospital.

"Diana, send some of your men to inspect the bodies. Find any marks or signs of the Quislings, then identify the city or Kingdom they are from. Olive, interrogate those who survived and do the same."

"Okay."

"Yes, Boss."

"Copy Boss."

***

"Ashriel," a very familiar voice called her name.

"Ashriel" she looked around but could not find the owner of the voice. For the third time, the voice echoed.

"Granny? Granny, where are you?!" there was a narrow, rocky path. She heard it again. The voice was somewhere beyond that road.

"Ashriel'" tears run through her cheeks. She ran but the big rock that she is holding stopped her.

"Granny, please, show me yourself. I missed you so much." The path was long, her arms were swollen, but she did not let it go.

"Ashriel, release that. You cannot follow me here if you will keep on holding that." She used all her strength to run and grab her hand.

"Wait for me!" Catching her breath, she opened her eyes. The room was cold, but her face was full of sweat.

"I will." He answered with his gentle smile. Her heart was racing like a horse running down a hill. He put his palm on her face and swept away few strands of her ginger red hair.

"Nightmare?" She looked up and met Nathan's ocean blue eyes, still panting.

"Sort of." Ashriel straightened. Her face was pale and strained. She removed his hand from her cheeks and fixed her hair.

"I don't know why you don't answer your phone or come out of your room, so I entered. The Cadre meeting with the Elder assigned will start fifty-five minutes from now." He said and raised from the bed. She frowned but nodded reluctantly. It took her several moments before she gathered her thought back to reality.

Forty-five minutes past seven in the morning, Ashriel and her Cadre reached the Meeting Hall. There, a woman in her mid-forties can be seen sitting in the Elder's chair. Xieaniel froze. He knew her more than anyone in this room.

"Mom?" She looked at him straight in the eyes. Her gaze sent a quiver down his spines.

"You are all fifteen minutes late." They sat down faster than a flash of lightning. He huffed, knowing that his mother is the Elder assigned to help them with their mission. Kitori Mizuki, Head Tactician of the Kingdom of Theupholis' Elite Forces. She is known for her intelligence and tactics.

"A letter of help came from the Kingdom of Kauis. There are multitudinous reports about missing women for the past five months. The authorities found clues and information regarding this incident, yet they cannot arrest even one suspect. I've studied the files they sent, and as you can see from the papers you are holding, this mission is facile for us, so we only need less force. That means only the ten of you are needed." She flipped the paper that she is holding.

"Kingdom of Kauis? Why is it that Kauis has the highest percentage of incidents this year?" Raith asked.

"What do you expect to a compromising kingdom?" Ashriel blurted out. "Where will this mission take place?" Closing the folder, Ashriel focused her eyes on Lady Kitori.

"Considering their movements in the given data, it would be at the 56th floor of the Hotel de Grande at the capital of the city of Ren. They should meet tonight to make their move. I already sent someone to install our hidden cameras there."

"Good. But the Grand Event will take place tonight at the main palace. We are all aware that the Elders will let some people outside the Austere City come. This is the most dangerous event that we will throw this year. Since Thaddeus and my brother oversee security, I want them to be excused in this mission and secure the event." Leon frowned. He wanted to object, but he has no choice. That's an order.

***

"Calm down, Leon. Don't you like it? Guarding this place is easier than fighting there." Natsuki laughed. He knew that Leon does not want to stay still while the High Members are fighting. The evening had started. Under the gloomy night sky, several noble cars were stationed in one yard of the colorful banquet hall. Countless Austerian and non-Austerian citizens entered the palace that seems to be endless in space.

"Sir, may I go somewhere?" Leon asked.

"Take your time."

Various pretty women tried to get Leon's attention, but he did not lay an eye to even one of them. He hates squeaky women. A total opposite of Raith. Natsuki looked around to check the place. Many familiar people are present. My men are guarding, how about I'll have some fun? He smirked.

"Hey," a woman wearing a mustard yellow gown approached him. "Pass me the Champaign." She said, pointing the glass of Champaign beside Natsuki.

"Faster. You're a staff of a very famous palace, yet you're serving so slow?" She hissed. Natsuki's face dimmed.

"Do I look like a staff?" The woman stopped. She examined him from head to toe.

"May I know your name?" He asked with his gentle voice and smile. She raised her eyebrow and smiled at him.

"Barbarra. Barbarra Ceyde. Daughter of Thoman Ceyde, one of the business tycoons in this Kingdom. And you?" She stated proudly. Ceyde huh? Pathetic.

"Oh, I see. Miss Barbarra, I am Amaziah Natsuki La Elora Cerveil, grandson of the late Ruler of this Kingdom." Her eyebrow drops down, and her heart started to race rapidly, fully aware that she insulted the wrong person.

"Thomas Ceyde is the Chairman of Ceyde Enterprises, am I right?" He smirked. "Ceyde Enterprises is now the acquisition of our family's company because of bankruptcy. Right, Miss Barbarra?" His smile is still present, but his tone was sarcastic.

"Since you are a Ceyde, I suppose you don't live here at Austere since your family is not wealthy enough to buy a land here." Barbarra gulped. Tiny beads of sweat started to form on her forehead. She stepped back as Natsuki leaned forward, hand inside his pocket, aiming to speak on her ears.

"Do you not know that I can destroy your company in just a snap of my finger?" He whispered. Her eyes widened like a plate.

"What happened, Miss Barbarra? It is quite cold in here. Why are you sweating?" Her ice-cold hand reaches her handkerchief, trying to avoid his gaze. "Next time you provoke me, I'll bury you alive." She froze in fear. Natsuki left her and continued to join the crowd. He despises people with unpleasant behavior because of their high social status. Especially those who think highly of themselves. He walked around, looking for the pretty lady he saw a while ago.

Natsuki searched the whole place. More than fifteen minutes passed, at the corner of the hall, he saw the woman he was searching for. Wearing a beautiful smile, he sauntered towards her. The woman saw Natsuki and threw a questionable look, but the two men beside her bowed down.

"Lady Mix, right?" He asked with his charming smile. Her eyebrows furrowed, and her head tilted, giving him a more questionable look.

"May I know-" he motioned his hand to silence her.

"Oh yeah, you're the new heir of the Tethoris Kingdom, so I'm not familiar with you yet." Mix examined him from the head down to the toe. Confusion covered her face, wondering who the man is standing in front of her.

"Tell me your name, then perhaps, I can recognize you."

Natsuki formally introduced himself to Mix. She gazed at him for a moment before she knelt. Panicking, Natsuki pulled her up.

"But you are the older brother of Her Highness Zillian and the soon–to–be Head of House Cerveil. You also oversee the training of the Elite Forces of Aparctias Kingdom. Isn't this the proper greeting, sir? P-pardon me, my name is Zaphora Mix Ronus." She hesitated, unsure if she will look at him in the eyes or not.

"It is. But not in this type of gathering. I don't want to stick out like a sore in the thumb." Realizing what she did, she quickly looked at the surroundings. Fortunately, no one saw them except for her two bodyguards.

"Do you like to dance?" Natsuki asked, offering his right hand.

"I beg your pardon General, but I cannot. To avoid any conflicts, I need to observe my people."

"No need. My men are guarding the whole place and so do your people. Besides, you're a noble. Let your men do the job." His dark blue eyes captivated her. Natsuki winked at Mix's bodyguards.

"Can you two observe the whole place while your Lady enjoys the party?" Both smiled and agreed.

"My hand is numbing. Are you going to refuse me or not?" She looks uncertain, so her bodyguards pushed her to him, and Natsuki grabbed her hand. Her dark green gown flew with the motion of their dance. After a moment, they disappeared into the mob.

~ You can never move forward if you will carry the stone of the past with you. ~

To fulfill her mission, her primary obligation was to escape and to do that, she must preserve her body and mind. She sat in a corner, pulled her legs up to her chest, and wrapped her arms around her knees. She tried to sleep fitfully. A well-built man in a dark hoodie and mask covering almost his entire face walked towards her cell, alerting her.

"Who are you? You're not a dungeon guard." She asked fiercely.

"Your older brother will kill you after the event. You should escape now. Don't waste any time." He drew out a silver key from his pocket and opened the gate. "Move faster." Oriana hesitated for a while before moving her feet out the gate. He gave her a medium size bag and took her hand before running away. His big hands felt familiar.

"Your passport, important papers, money, and everything that you need is in that bag. Dash out like a flash and leave this city. If you can, leave this Kingdom. Don't ever come back. Take this with you." He said, handing her a gun.

"Who are you? Why are you helping me? If my brother knew-" her words were stopped when the man pulled her down. The dungeon guards are in ruckus upon finding her cell empty. The guard picked up the phone and tried to report, but the man drew his silenced automatic and put the first round through the guard's head. He put the second round to another guard's side. Blood.

"It doesn't matter who I am. Leave now." The third guard reacted quickly, pulling his revolver from his holster, but the man fired first. The guard staggered back and dropped to the floor mixed with sticky red fluid. He took her hand and pushed her out of the dungeon.

"Thank you." She shook her head before heading to the back door and running away.

"Whatever happens, you need to escape." The man uttered before closing the back door and headed towards the control room. The blood splashed through the screen as he put a single shot to the head of a sleeping guard, making sure he is dead before studying the CCTV footage. He saw Oriana running cautiously. Two men blocked her, but she shot them and continued to run. Another man runs behind her.

"You're strong. That man won't have the chance to kill you." He smiled before deleting every piece of evidence and turning off the surveillance cameras.

***

The rain poured softly. Leon's dark brown hair that was neatly styled now drenched with raindrops. Covering almost half of his eyes. The freezing night breeze wicking his body despite his thick uniform. Pissed, his body did not move, but his mind wondered about the current situation of his group. The back of the palace where only the High Members are allowed to enter was dark. Soft music from the hall covered the entire surface.

Suddenly, footsteps were running widely. The High Members were out, so he was alarmed. The swift but heavy wet footsteps grew louder. Strolling, Leon followed the trail of sound. The sound weakened when the rain poured out heavily, so he shook his head. Where did the footsteps go? He stepped back, but all of a sudden, something or someone hit his hardback. He looked back and saw a woman. A very familiar one. Panting, she looked up and stepped back, pointing her gun at him.

He grinned and took one step. "I told you, didn't I? Do not ever do something that you will regret in the end." The woman studied his face. The heavy rain made it hard for her to recognize him. "You're lucky you met me and not the other High Members. They're not as forgiving of rudeness as I am." He took a step forward as she stepped backward.

"Oriana Atherton, I'm not expecting to see you here." Her eyes widened. Jolted of the fact that Leon knew her.

"H-how did you know? Are you one of my brother's men?" Her hands were wobbly; she was about to click the trigger when a bullet flew past her right eye. The man standing from behind her fell. Leon clicked his gun for the second time, and the man's head burst open. At the corner of her eyes, she saw his wolf ring hanging on his neck. In a second, she remembered him. Sensing the rush of helplessness again, fear carried her away. Trembling, she fell on her knees.

"P-Please, hear me out!" She cried out.

"Why are you running away? Who is that man, and why did you enter this place?" He asked with his cold tone. She looked around, looking for someone who might be listening.

"My brother knew what happened, but I don't know the reason how. Boss Zi strictly commanded me not to speak anything regarding that incident, so I sealed my lips. He locked me in the dungeon and abused me." She hangs her gun to her side.

"I heard that my older brother would silence me. This is the busiest event for the whole year, so I took this opportunity to escape. I beg for your mercy. I really thought that you are one of my brother's men." She explained, looking down, afraid to look at his burning eyes.

She gulped. "One more thing, I want to be free from Amber's grip." Leon's eyebrow furrowed.

"She is a heartless, selfish woman who wants everything for herself. She doesn't care if we will die on a mission and torture us when we fail." Leon observed her for a moment. Oriana tried to calm her trembling body and bit her lower lips against her numbing left arm. She lowered her head flat on the ground when she felt Leon walked closer towards her.

He lifted her chin and studied her face. She was frightened and tried to remove his hands and lower her head, but he tightened his hand so he could not avoid his eyes. Her skin is pale. A purplish-blue bruise was present on her upper cheek and a cut on the side of her lips.

He frowned and pulled her right hand up. "It is strictly forbidden for you to enter this place."

***

After completing their mission in the city of Ren, the Cadre of High Members gathered in the living room of the main palace. Aside from Natsuki, who enjoys himself outside, everyone's eyes are intriguing. Looking intently at Leon and back to Oriana, who was kneeling on the floor.

"Tell me, Leon, what exactly happened?" Olive seems a little surprised seeing her twin showing interest in another woman aside from Ashriel.

"Why did you brought her here knowing that those who are not members of our Cadre are prohibited here?" Olive continued. Leon briefly explained everything to them.

"Regardless, I know we must guard our little secret." He continued. Xieaniel looked at Oriana, who is currently shivering intensely.

"Your eyes saw our headquarters, and what's worst is that you saw the Boss' identity. That's a bad trait but-"

"The best way to keep her quiet is to make her still. That's what we always do, right?" Kate interrupted, eating a piece of homemade cake prepared by Nathan.

"There is a time and place to joke around, Diana. Do not make any decision abruptly that you might regret in the future." Ashriel's tone silenced Kate. Her eyes caught Oriana's ring with Second Rank Nobles emblem.

"How are you related with the twins of Second Rank Nobles?" She asked. Oriana hesitated to look at her, so she remained facing the ground.

"T-they are my brothers."

"I've heard enough. Take her away." Ashriel signaled with her hand, telling them to remove Oriana from her sight. She could feel the tip of her fingers beginning to tremble and her heartbeat echoing in her eardrums. Full of terror, she cried out.

"P-please, spare me! I swear I won't tell a soul!" Tears threatened to fall from the corner of her eyes. Beads of sweat are forming on her forehead. The thought of being executed by the High Members terrified her the most.

"I suggest you prepare for the worst. Things may appear rather bleak for you." Right after Ashriel's word, Oriana was dragged away by Venice and John. She was hopeless like a butterfly in a lamp. For a few moments, no one spoke. Hunger took over them.

"It was a mere coincidence that she went there, Boss." Leon justified, biting his thumbnail.

"Is that all? Is that what you are implying?" Olive tried to savor the delicious freshly baked cake.

"Otherwise, you never would have brought her to our headquarters. Now Carsillion, do you have a problem? You haven't spoken a word." Everyone stopped and looked at Nathan, who is currently sitting still, crossed arms against his chest, feeling befuddled.

"Do you think this was a setup so she could come here and spy?"

"Doubtful. I don't think she is capable of putting on an act like that. Besides, the Second Rank Nobles are our ally. So, there is no reason for her to spy on us." Venice entered the door, followed by John. Ashriel hissed. Dubious if they are really their ally or not.

"How is she?" He asked her.

"Why are you so worried, Leon? You better check her your own later." She laughed, which made Leon fluster. "The guards put her in the prison room. Her left arm is injured, her body is covered with fresh cuts and bruises, even her face did not escape. I guess the torture that she experienced was intense. I'll treat her tomorrow. Rest assured, she will not die, so don't worry." She added.

"I'm not worried about her. Why would I anyways." Leon pushed his hair away from his face. "Besides, we must figure out what to do with her. We just have to make her someone's attendant, right? How about Boss' attendant?" Leon suggested, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"Who are you to take away my position?" Olive's expression looking back at her twin was terrifying.

"Come now, Colonel. It was your idea, so get to follow through with it." Raith smiled and winked at him. Leon tried to refuse, but Ashriel agreed. His eyes widened.

"Your Highness-"

"I'll put her under your care, Thaddeus. Train her properly."

It was the phrase that made him want to strangle himself or even rip out his head. For a moment, he hesitated, then released a deep breath and messed up his hair. He does not want any attendant or secretary, nor apprentice. He does not want any headaches.

Walking from the living room to the hallway and to the prison rooms, Leon was pissed. His mind refused to take Oriana as his secretary. Nathan told him to check her before going to bed, so he walked slowly through her prison room. There, Leon saw Oriana outside her assigned room, peaking from left to right, checking if someone is guarding her. Is she planning to sneak away? Oriana then ran, but Leon followed her and grabbed her hand.

"You idiot! Do you really think you can escape? I'll kill you if you run." His tone was burning with anger. He is angry not only because he has another assignment but because Oriana will be killed by the hidden traps for unregistered members if she will try to escape.

"I can't die yet!" She tried to set herself free, so Leon forcedly releases her hand, making her fell on the floor. Leon fizzed. He hates weak people.

"Enter your room, now." His voice was crisp. Oriana quickly stood up, entered her room, and slammed the door.

What was that for?

~ If you want to succeed, don't just make your spirit and soul healthy. Your body needs to function, so make it strong as well. ~