Chapter 260

SLAM!

The door to Vorbuk's bedroom was flung open with a hard bang. Ashley and Daryl who were both troubled by the events of the previous night came trudging into the room without pause. The both of them were exhausted from taking care of the messes caused by everyone all night. Everything from the gossiping nobles in the palace to the frightened commoners on the capital streets had been left to them to clean up.

"How did things even end up like this?" Daryl held a hand over his troubled expression as a deep sigh of exhaustion left him.

"Master~" Ashley forced out a bright expression as he stomped towards Vorbuk's bed in order to help his master prepare for the day, "Time to get ready for the meeting with Theapan's nobles."

Vorbuk was in a deep sleep on the bed in his real form of a wolf. From both sides the wolf was surrounded by slumbering bodies. King Micah and Duke Heket were on one side while Prince Leo and Bredret were on the other. Somehow they had all ended up joking together on the way back to the palace last night and ended up all coming back to Vorbuk's room.

Nobody could remember the events that lead to them all passing out in the same room however it was something that made Daryl's head hurt.

"Mm... Daryl?" Prince Leo noticed him as soon as his eyes fluttered open groggily. Reaching his hand up to rub his heavy eyelids the prince slowly came to realize the situation they were in.

"You should wake his majesty..." Daryl inhaled as he thought carefully before speaking, "and the others as well before the meeting starts. Vorbuk is supposed to discuss matters today with the nobles about what our next target."

"Is it that time already?" Prince Leo went silent as he thought about how things would be getting even more complicated in the future. There really was no time to rest properly.

"Yes. Besides that," Daryl glanced around the five of them and at Ashley who was in the middle of reaching over King Micah to remove his arm that was wrapped around the slumbering wolf, "If rumors spread about this situation what do you think would happen then?"

"What are you yapping on about?" Bredret's disgruntled voice called out in a thunderous tone as his sleep was disturbed by their talking. His golden eyes gleaming with a hint of gold light that seemed ready to skin someone alive if they kept talking.

Daryl noticed that everyone seemed to be awake enough to hear him speaking as they all began to get up from the bed so he decided to nag them honestly, "I was talking about the fact that rumors might end up spreading about Two Kings, A prince, A Grand Duke, and a Dragon horse racing down the streets of the capital drunk... Or should I perhaps talk about the rumors over Prince Chase in the palace getting in a duel over his own pride and causing a scene with the princess?"

Everyone was silent at those words. The only sound that could be heard was the sound of grunts coming from someone in the room. None of them could tell which one of them it was grunting at the words Daryl spoke. Not even Bredret had the courage to speak up.

"You're highness, Prince Leo," Daryl spoke further as he needed answers, "When his majesty has decided what to do with the slaves please inform me right away. I have placed them in temporary rooms within one of the unused palaces. Since it was not in use that was the only place I could think to use without many eyes to pry on the situation."

"How are they doing so far?" Prince Leo asked knowing that Vorbuk would also want to know the same thing as him.

"I have them being watched by the knights so that none can escape if they considered it. Since we can not tell for certain which ones among them belong to normal commoner status..." Daryl found it hard to continue his words but they both knew what he was going to say. Those people would no longer be able to freely return to the life of a normal commoner again.

Prince Leo paused in silence as he heard Vorbuk ask him, "How many were there in total among the slaves brought to the palace?"

"The number count?" Prince Leo asked for Vorbuk.

Daryl could not tell which questions really came from Vorbuk. The information was something that the king would need to know regardless. He kept answering the questions because he knew that it would be useless information for Duke Heket who was standing behind the prince. Trust was not something any of them felt towards Duke Heket as they knew he was not much different from a snake lurking in the room.

"There were thirty two slaves in total." Daryl replied.

Silence blanketed the room as the number count of slaves was given.

"Have Damien brought to the palace to see me later. I need to discuss the matter with him." Vorbuk told Prince Leo so that he could relay his words to Daryl.

Prince Leo nodded before telling Vorbuk's orders to Daryl so that he could leave the room and deal with the affairs. Ashley would be the one escorting Vorbuk and Prince Leo to the meeting. King Micah would naturally follow along as he was meant to go as well as Bredret.

However...

"I think you've over stayed your visit. Shall I have someone escort you out?" Ashley's cold voice echoed behind Duke Heket's back causing the room to grow cold.

"Ashley-!" Prince Leo started to scold him for being rude but was stopped as Duke Heket spoke before he could.

"Do you really think I have any intention of spying on your little gathering?" Duke Heket scoffed at the accusation.

Is he really not curious or is he pretending not to be? Vorbuk thought to himself as he listened from the side of Prince Leo.

"You dare insult-!" Ashley's eyes flashed as his fangs unconsciously bared themselves in front of Duke Heket causing the Duke's own fangs to display themselves defensively as he grinned at Ashley.

"I think I shall take my leave, your majesty." Duke Heket turned away from Ashley and bowed respectfully to the wolf beside Prince Leo.

Vorbuk pondered using his human form but he did not want to waste his use of it on bidding farewell to an enemy. It made him feel conflicted. He should at least send someone to see the duke off safely. If he was left alone there was no telling if he might wander around the palace on his own.

Duke Heket could sense the wolf's hesitation to turn human in front of him and glanced at the wolf's red eyes deeply as he spoke, "No need to send me off, your majesty. I can find my own way."

Not waiting for a reply Duke Heket left the room as everyone watched him go. Those words said by Duke Heket made it difficult to send someone after the duke. If they sent someone it was like declaring their distrust for Duke Heket openly.

"Aoki." The wolf muttered beside Prince Leo. There was no need to explain what the wolf meant to the prince.

Glancing to the side Prince Leo made eye contact with Ashley, "Send Aoki to watch him."