십사

                                    

                                          

" I have found freedom and safety in my madness "

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A loud cheering was heard especially those drunken knights who have been drinking until now celebrating the victory of their empire.
"Your highness since this war is finished, when will you be planning to return to the empire?" Asked by Kyrell who have woken up and sitting beside the crown prince despite all the knights saying that he should rest.
"Before the start of autumn." Adrastos answered simply sipping the grape juice they prepared for him.
"With your bravery and how much you've help us, your highness can request anything you want" Lieutenant Harper stated as the other saluting, well some tried to
"Then you wouldn't mind purchasing a hanfu* for me" Adrastos said curiosity was visible, it was obvious how curious and how he find interests on the things on his mother's homeland.
"As your highness wishes"
"TO HIS HIGHNESS ADRASTOS NICOLI DE ALGER OBELIA!" Khaos shouted raising his grape juice while the other followed him raising their beer and wine
"TO HIS HIGHNESS!"
Even with the cheery atmosphere the scene they've witnessed earlier seems to keep on repeating on their head like a broken record.
What a gruesome sight and to think that a child like him did that never really crossed to their mind, one thing that made it clear. The rumor and insult people throw at their prince is anything but false.
Nicoli watch them with contentment when a figure sat next to him
"Your highness may I sit next to you?" although Kanna was already sitting down
"Given that you are already sitting beside me I do not see why you still have to ask for permission" Adrastos answered dimly
"Ah I'm sorry for my rude behavior your highness" Kanna stood up bowing quite lowly to the unfazed prince.
It was silent when she heard him chuckle
"Don't worry about this small thing" he said dismissively while gesturing the fiddling Kanna clearly embarrassed
"I must thank you for the help you have given us" Adrastos said making Kanna look at him smiling wildly
"I am happy to help your highness!" She answered cheerfully
"If you do have something you want, please do not be afraid to tell me, think of it as a gift of gratitude"
"Then if you don't mind your highness if you could let me work at any job in the city" She asked rubbing her nape gently
"Finding a job for someone as talented as you are easy but is that all you wish for?"
"Yes, your highness, I don't want any more just a proper job to support my family financially" Kanna responded smiling gently remembering her younger brothers and her mother.
"Very well"
"I apologize in advance if I ever offend you, however, how did you get the knowledge of herbs and other medicines to aid us"
"That is because I always ask the librarian nearby to borrow a book about medicines so I can help around here" She explained smiling shyly feeling the intense stare that Adrastos is giving her
"Is that so? Hmm" was all he said and sip his grape juice
Silence surrounds the both of them, Kanna laughing from time to time watching the drunken knights have fun and making fun of each other.
Time skip
It was late at night when everything settles down, knights around the place is either passed out or speaking gibberish words and well some throw up with all the alcoholic that they drank.
Adrastos went outside and could not help but to release a deep sigh and look dazedly from a far a lot of thoughts running around his mind, he almost felt bad for going in for a massacre to the Nepthirians. Well, almost
'No matter where you are a diplomatic agreement is not always the option, sometimes war is the answer. Humans thinks irrationally and illogically when they are in rage, no diplomatic talk can be heard in their mind, killing their enemy is the only option that comes in their mind' was his thoughts after remembering his actions earlier.
He couldn't understand what he did, his other self rather. The rage of being insulted by them and belittling him may be the reason why he went on a killing spree.
"The past is the past, you can never change what you did, your highness" A voice cut Adrastos from his thoughts looking at his side he saw Khaos looking at him
"What are you saying?" Adrastos ask glaring at him making Khaos sigh at him
"Your reaction tells me you feel a single regret of what you did earlier to them, you cannot do anything about it. A war they want a war they get, it's their fault why they died" Khaos reassured him patting his back
"You did that to save and end your empire's problem, there is nothing wrong your highness" He stated
"After all the royalties could never avoid that they have to kill for their empire"
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to be continued