Between Two Souls, Chapter 14
Erika waved her hand at them. "Don't worry, Adrien! Even if you come another time, the Town of Berleene will always welcome you warmly!"
"Yeah! Thank you!"
Adrien turned to Deimos and Vino."Alright, let's go, Deimos."
As dawn faded into night, the full moon cast its glow upon the land. Prince Adrien mounted his horse, leaving behind the remnants of the battlefield alongside Deimos and his wife, Vino. They traveled along a single road carved through the towering cliffs. Long ago, the previous king had split the rocky hills to create a more direct path to the capital, cutting travel time significantly. They had chosen the lowest point of the cliffs and carved through it.
Deimos lit a torch to illuminate their path. As they passed through the pine forest—a sign that the capital was near—their horses slowed to conserve energy.
Vino looked visibly uneasy. It was her first time attending a royal family dinner.
Adrien, noticing her nervousness, guided his horse closer to hers."Hey, you seem tense. You're nervous about the dinner, aren't you? Don't worry. They're just people. My family won't judge you… They won't bite, you know."
Vino let out a small laugh at her husband's joke.
"It's been a long time since you last saw my parents. You two only spoke briefly back when we were still studying at that boarding academy…"
Before he could finish his sentence—
SREEKKK!
A rustling sound came from the bushes.
Deimos immediately sensed something—or someone—lurking in the shadows.
He instinctively grabbed the axe hanging from his horse's saddle and pointed it toward the source of the noise."Show yourself! Don't make me come and get you!"
At his command, a shadowy figure slowly emerged from the underbrush.
It was a woman. She was clad in a black headscarf and lightweight armor, her red hair barely visible from beneath the fabric.
Adrien immediately recognized the design of her clothing, it was from the Syarqiyy region.
"You're not from around here, are you?" Adrien narrowed his eyes. "Introduce yourself."
The woman kept her face partially hidden behind her scarf as she bowed respectfully.
"Forgive my intrusion, Prince Adrien. People call me Spectre. I am one of the mercenaries hired by Lord Vernus."
"A mercenary, huh? Then tell me, why were you sneaking around like an assassin?"
"Forgive me, Your Highness. I had no intention of harming you. Lord Vernus assigned me to scout your route, as there is still a chance those monsters are hunting you."
"Thank you for the warning. However, sneaking up behind someone is not the best approach. You should know that..."
Spectre bowed her head once more in apology. "Understood, Your Highness. Once I have hunted those monsters to extinction, I will no longer have to lurk in the shadows behind you."
"Very well, do your duty."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
With that, Spectre disappeared back into the darkness, resuming her hunt for the remaining monsters.
Adrien exhaled and turned to Vino. "Now, where were we?"
They continued their journey toward the castle, chatting along the way. As the night deepened, they got to know each other better, sharing jokes and playful teasing. Meanwhile, Deimos remained vigilant, knowing full well that the threats against the prince were far from over.
Soon, the dense pine forest thinned, and the warm glow of city lights became visible beyond the fortress walls. The capital, Adrestia, was breathtaking at night. No matter how often people saw it, they never tired of its beauty. Even at this late hour, the city was still alive with activity, its streets bustling with merchants, workers, and travelers.
As they rode through the grand main road leading to the castle gates, they passed by citizens who offered mixed reactions—some greeted Adrien with smiles, while others cast him disapproving glances. Adrien returned the friendly greetings and ignored the cold stares, but something felt off.
He glanced around, searching for the source of his unease. Then, he realized—it wasn't the city. It was someone right beside him.
Deimos.
Adrien had never seen him smile. No matter the situation, his face remained unreadable, devoid of any expression.
Curious, Adrien guided his horse closer to Deimos. "Deimos... I want to ask you something."
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"Why do you always look so... emotionless? I mean, you never show any feelings—not on your face, not in your voice, nowhere."
Deimos turned to him and, after a brief pause, attempted a smile.
"Like this?"
"Yeah, but... that's not a real smile."
"I am simply following what my mother taught me."
Adrien raised an eyebrow. "Wait—you mean, you don't actually feel anything?"
"My mother trained me to respond to emotions correctly."
Adrien sighed, rubbing his temple. "So, you had to be taught how to react to emotions? Uh... sorry, but isn't that kind of weird?"
Deimos bowed his head slightly. "Apologies, Your Highness. I will try to be more expressive next time."
"No need, really. It's actually better for you to have an intimidating and sharp look. That's how it should be. Though... I suppose we might have to adjust some security protocols because of your face. You don't exactly look like me."
Vino rode closer, aligning her horse with Adrien's.
"Your face is too cute, Adrien. No wonder people struggle to imitate you. Hahaha!" she teased, giggling.
Adrien chuckled, slightly flustered. "Hahaha, you're unbelievable. I actually wanted a fierce face like my father's. But, well… fate had other plans."
They chatted for a few more minutes until they arrived at the gates of Castle Adrestia. The path led them uphill toward the towering structure. As they reached the castle courtyard, a familiar figure was already waiting for them.
Caroline, looking somewhat frantic, rushed toward the prince. "Your Highness! Apologies for the urgency, but you must hurry! The King and Queen are expecting you for dinner."
Adrien dismounted, then turned to help Vino down from her horse. Her mount was too large for her small stature—standing next to Adrien, she barely reached his chest.
Caroline then addressed Deimos. "Sir Deimos, you may return to the military barracks. I will attend to the prince from here."
"................."
Dinner was about to begin, but as they walked down the corridor toward the dining hall, the distant echoes of another heated argument reached them.
Stoick and King Arthur.
Even as Adrien was bathing, he had faintly heard their voices clashing. Now, descending from the castle's tower, he could hear the tension in their words.
Stoick, burdened by his aging frame, straightened himself to stand eye-to-eye with the king, determined to make his point.
"You can't do this! Trust me, we were so close to success. But someone, some vermin, ruined everything!"
Arthur's tone was firm, and his patience was clearly wearing thin. "You led the operation. That means you take responsibility if there was a saboteur. I have given you everything you asked for, yet you failed every time. So don't try to stop me just because you disagree with my decision."
Frustrated, Arthur turned sharply and strode toward the dining hall. The guards stationed by the large doors stepped aside, pushing them open.
Before entering, the king spoke one last time—his voice laced with finality. "If I must loose, then my enemy must not win. I hope we will never have to discuss this again, Stoick."
With that, King Arthur stepped inside, leaving Stoick standing there, silent and bitter.
...............
Inside the dining hall, Queen Sophie was already seated beside the king's chair. The palace servants moved swiftly, bringing in dishes and setting the table.
The dining table wasn't excessively large, but it was grand enough to hold an abundance of food while allowing space for movement. The scent of warm bread, roasted meats, and rich sauces filled the air.
Meanwhile, Adrien and Vino had just finished getting dressed after their bath. Their formal attire was now in place, and Caroline stood patiently outside their chamber, waiting for them to join the royal meal.
"Your Highness, my apologies, but could you hurry a little? I fear His Majesty might grow impatient," Caroline called out anxiously from outside the chamber.
Moments later, Adrien stepped out of the room, his wife, Vino, by his side. Hand in hand, they walked toward the dining hall. The palace staff, having completed their preparations, quietly excused themselves.
Seated at the grand table, King Arthur looked up as his son entered. A rare smile crossed his face—Adrien seldom stayed at the castle these days.
"Have you had your fill of adventure, Adrien?" the king asked, pouring himself a drink.
Adrien made his way to his chair. "Not quite. I'm just tired. I'll continue another time."
Queen Sophie took a sip from her cup before speaking. "Good. A true king should never stop—especially when it comes to exploring new horizons."
Adrien hesitated at her words. Deep down, he had never longed to be king. He had always dreamed of a peaceful life—painting without interruption, free from the weight of the throne. But fate had never allowed him that choice.
He sat down, quietly taking food from the table, using the moment to gather his courage.
"Vino, come, sit down! Don't be shy!" Queen Sophie beckoned warmly. "It's been so long since I last saw you. It's been even longer since I've spoken with a Gnome."
Adrien furrowed his brow. "Gnome? What do you mean?"
The queen chuckled. "Adrien, don't tell me you don't know? 'Gnome' is the term for short-statured Elven folk, like Vino. Their ears are slightly longer than those of regular Elves."
"Ah, right." Adrien nodded, serving himself some food. He also placed a portion on Vino's plate. "Mother, did you make waffles for me?"
Sophie grinned. "Of course! Help yourself."
Adrien's lips curled into a smile. His favorite dish was right there on the table. Even so, his thoughts remained troubled. He still needed to find the courage to speak about his desire to relinquish his claim to the throne.
"Honey, I want some waffles too! Could you get me some?" Vino asked playfully.
Adrien paused for a brief moment, surprised—then relieved. His wife was completely at ease beside him. A small chuckle escaped his lips, and with a soft, flustered expression, he carefully placed a waffle on her plate.
"Something wrong, Adrien?" Vino asked, amused.
"Hahaha, no, it's nothing."
Vino knew exactly what he was feeling. She smiled and playfully pinched his arm.
King Arthur and Queen Sophie watched the exchange between their son and his wife, and for the first time in a long while, they laughed—a true, heartfelt laugh.
They began eating in silence, the delicious food commanding their full attention. The meal was so satisfying that no one spoke much at all.
As they neared the end of dinner, Adrien finally gathered the courage to voice his true feelings.
But before he could, Queen Sophie broke the silence first.
"I must say, you two make quite a good pair—even though it was Erika who told you to marry Vino."
Adrien nearly choked on his drink. "Huh? Mother, you knew that Erika was behind this? How?"
Sophie chuckled. "Oh, Adrien, your mother and Erika are quite close. She came to me, asking for advice on how to free Vino from the Celje family without resorting to violence. And well… marriage was the only way."
"Wait… so you've met Erika often? What else did you two talk about?" Adrien asked, narrowing his eyes.
Sophie smirked playfully. "Oh, plenty of things. We shared stories, even a few secrets. But those are for women's ears only."
King Arthur set down his goblet, dabbing his mouth with a napkin before speaking. "Yes, and because of her, your mother approved of your marriage. She already knew that Vino was intelligent—especially in the lab. She's a perfect match for you, considering your love for experiments."
At that, Adrien and Vino instinctively nodded in unison. They glanced at each other and chuckled, realizing their synchronized reaction.
"With your combined talents," Arthur continued, "you could lead Arestiana to new heights once you take the throne. Imagine how many people you could help. Your discoveries could even be exported to foreign nations."
Adrien clenched his fists under the table. This was his chance.
He took a deep breath, steeling himself. "I'm sorry, Father… but I have no intention of becoming king."
The room fell deathly silent.
A heavy tension filled the air, and everyone seemed unsure of how to react.
King Arthur exhaled slowly, then rose to his feet.
"Adrien… come with me."
Adrien swallowed hard, pushing aside his nerves as he stood up. He followed his father out of the dining hall, his heart pounding. Though he had always been close to Arthur, he had never been able to shake his father's imposing presence. Even he never raising his hand or using violence, Arthur's mere firmness was enough to command obedience. Adrien steadied his breathing. If he was going to stand his ground, he needed to be ready for this conversation.
..............To Be Continued.................