V: Vengeance

The King went inside the princess' chamber which was a royal guest room. He was being followed by a server who was carrying a tray of Chamomile tea, which was brewed freshly for the princess, as to calm her nerves down.

The princess sat up, seeing that Sven entered the room. She was looking up at him with innocent teary eyes, while the man was walking near her. The king asked the server to put the tray down on the bed table, before motioning her to leave.

Adelaide immediately hugged Sven when the door closed. "Your royal highness, I was so scared. I was the one who found mother lying lifeless on the floor. I was also the one who saw the paper by her side." She exclaimed in distress, sobbing on Sven's chest. The concerned man gently patted her back in return, letting her cry. "Why did the Coterie people do that to her? She was a good person that did not harm them." She continued to express her sorrow.

"I'm sure there was a reason for what happened, princess. I'll ask my people to help the mugunghwa people to prepare for your mother's funeral tomorrow. For now, you should take some rest." She assured the princess, letting go of her gently to pour some tea into a teacup. She offered it to Adelaide who meekly took it. "After drinking some tea, your nerves will calm down so have a rest after it. I need to go to the Royal meeting now, princess." He said, giving her a small smile.

Adelaide nodded. "I'll wait for you here." She tells him, as the man stood up. Sven gave her another smile before completely walking out of the room.

Nathan was waiting for him outside the door. "Your royal highness, Prince Sin is waiting for you in the Royal conference room with the advisors." He said, motioning him to start walking. Sven nodded.

When they arrived in the conference room, everyone stood up to bow to the King. Sven did the same before motioning them to sit down. He sat on the end of the long table that was adjacent to the big monitor screen in front.

Nathan clicked a button on the remote with his hand, revealing Jin's face on the screen. The video conference started.

"Young King." Sin greeted to acknowledge the King before bowing to Sven. The advisors, on the other hand, bowed to Sin.

"Your royal highness, there was an incident that happened here in the Coterie City tonight, and Nathan told me about what happened to the mugunghwa family. I couldn't help but update you right away because there must be a misunderstanding." He started. "I've been observing this city for months now. I've befriended most of the mafia leaders, especially Huxley and Carina. They never talked about any unusual plot against our Kingdom. All they ever did the past weeks was to clean the city out of conspirators, and to continue modernizing their economy." He continued.

"Are you sure about that?" Sven asked to confirm.

Sin nodded. "Young King, advisors, please watch this clip." He said. CCTV footage suddenly popped on the screen. The screen showed a video of the event that happened earlier tonight in Dionysus, starting from white-suited men who barged inside the club and started firing a gun all over the place. Sin paused the video. "If you could observe, the outsiders were all wearing white. They were wearing our royal guard's suits. Which didn't make sense, your royal highness, because you never sent any of our guards outside the borders of Realm City for assassination since you inherited the throne." He explained, making Sven a bit uneasy by the information he was hearing.

"And one more thing," The eldest Prince showed another clip, this time it was a zoomed video of Huxley and Carina's gang surrounding a table. It was focused on the paper they were looking at. He paused it after a few seconds.

Everybody in the room looked carefully at the screen.

"The moment you received the paper containing the symbol of Coterie City, the mafias received this." He zoomed in on the video a little bit more. "It was beside Mr. Capone after he got shot tonight. He was the City's third most powerful man." He added.

Sven looked at the paper on the screen. It was the Realm's symbol. He started to feel the uneasiness he had to grow heavier.

Their symbol and color were unknown outside of the Realm. They kept the symbol hidden for years. Only the intelligence agencies know all the symbols of each domains. It's going to be difficult for an imposter to copy it unless that imposter is coming from the Kingdom itself.

He never sent guards across the borders too, to assassinate any one of the mafias. He only sent guards these past weeks in the mafia land to search for his younger brother.

Sven was always a gentle king, but one thing that makes his patience run out is betrayal. He hated disloyalty the most.

"Nathan and I tried to look for any lapses, we both agreed that the one who plotted this trap was detailed, but of course not detailed enough for us to not find out about it so easily." Sin continued to talk.

"Young King, there are only three main domains in this world we're living in. If the Mafia land didn't plan an attack against us, there's only one domain left to suspect." Nathan said, who was standing beside him.

"The Republicans." The king concluded as he stared at the table in front of him as if he was digging a hole using his eyes.

"Yes, your royal highness." Sin nodded. "But I and Nathan are still looking for evidence to prove it." He added.

"Alright." Sven stood up, before leaning both of his hands on the table to support his upper body, as he leaned towards the table. "So, if in case Nathan and Sin-hyung's theory is correct, the Coterie City will plan their vengeance on us in no time." He proclaimed. "And we will let them do it." He added.

The advisors started protesting. "But young majesty, we can't just let them trespass in our domain. They might attack in troops and we wouldn't be prepared." The youngest advisor complained.

Sven looked at him. "It isn't called trespassing since I just gave them the permission a minute ago, isn't it?" He questioned the man before eyeing all of them who were sitting around the long table. "This situation wouldn't have happened in the first place if one of my people hadn't turned its back on me." He added, making them all shut up. "There wouldn't be any other reason for the Mafia people to come to our place voluntarily. Do you think after assuming that we did an attack on them, their leaders would just simply visit us and talk everything out with just a cup of tea? They are the most notorious species. They've been using aggressiveness as their weapon to protect their city for years." He even reminded them.

"They will find out about the trap. And they will find out about it here. In my kingdom." He proclaimed. "Now your only job is to investigate what happened to the death of the Mugunghwa's Queen. You may all leave." He finished his speech, not letting them complain more.

The advisors obediently listened before standing up, as they were sensing the growing anger of the young King. They bowed to him in unison before leaving the room one after the other.

When they all left, Sven sat down on his sit and breathed out a heavy sigh. "Hyung, any updates about my brother?" He asked Sin, who was still on the other line.

Sin nodded. "I found his location. I saw him at the party last night. He seemed to be acquainted with Carina's brother, so he was invited to their annual party." Sin started to explain. "The young prince had enrolled himself in an Art school. He is renting a condominium in the chief city of Coterie." He added.

Sven gave out another sigh. "He needs to be home in two days." He muttered to remind himself. "Nathan, send people to get him. And tell them to not let him go this time." Sven directed. Nathan agreed right away, leaving the room after giving him a bow.

"Sin-Hyung, continue giving me more updates about their future attack. And afterward, go back here in the Kingdom." He directed toward his eldest cousin this time. Jin also bowed to agree, before the wide screen switched off.

Sven then leaned back on his chair, his mind clouded with thoughts. His exhaustion getting to its peak.

"I called every one of you here to further discuss what happened tonight in our centennial celebration." Carina who was the only woman in the room was standing in front of a big group. Huxley was leaning against a table beside her, casually twirling his on-the-racks drink that was in his hand.

"I'm sure all of you already know about the death of Mr. Capone." She continued. "And Benjamin, we're all sorry for your loss." She quickly glanced toward the son of the deceased. The young man who was trying his best to not look distressed just nodded to thank her.

"His father's funeral will be held tomorrow. And I and Huxley will do the honors to legally pass the legacy of the Baxton Gang to Benjamin afterward. But for now, the most important thing to do is to discuss the solution to this unexpected problem." She continued.

"The Realm never started a war against us, nor did we ever start anything towards them. Our domain and their domain never had a history together. Both of our cities lived for years without knowing about each other's worlds. So for them to finally notice us is shocking and odd news." She exclaimed.

"But I heard that the Kingdom acquired a new king, not so long ago. So what if the new king decided to put an end to their silence and decided to start a war on us?" One leader suggested. Carina nodded, absorbing the man's information.

"That's plausible." She commented. "But for what reason?" She questioned. The leaders all provided their answers one by one, and most of them answered colonization.

"Our city had been our own for a hundred years, of course, we wouldn't just let them take what's ours." This time Huxley explained. "But we need more solid proof to know their attack's purpose. So here's what we planned to do." He placed his drink down on the table, before putting both his hand in his slack's pocket.

"There will be an engagement party in the Kingdom after two days. We will be sending people there to assassinate the princess. Carina will join them." Huxley explained.

"And how will that plan work?" One leader asked.

"Simple. Vengeance. Their blood in exchange for the blood they took from us. The princess' death will be the evidence that we will use to disregard whatever war they wanted to start with us." Carina explained their plan further.

The leaders slowly start to nod and express their approval all at the same time in their sits, understanding what they meant. "So, who will we be sending across the borders?" Another leader asked, as soon as they calmed down.

"Wouldn't it be better to send our best assassins for the mission to be accomplished without fail?" One leader suggested.

With that, Carina looked over Huxley. Both of them know that the best assassins in their city are Lilith and Nathalie, but Huxley just ignored her.

"We'll still further discuss that. For now, all of you should leave." Carina answered the awaiting people. All of them bowed toward the two, before moving out of the room.

When everyone was out, Carina glanced towards the only left man in the room who was sipping a drink of his alcohol. "Huxley.." She called out.

"No." That was the only response of the guy who finished his drink, already knowing what the woman wanted to talk about. Carina moved closer to him.

"What do you mean no, Huxley? We might be at war here and we wouldn't know. We need to protect the city. That is our number one job. Remember?" She explained, feeling frustrated.

"I know. Send Nathalie, and I'll send some of my men, but let Lilith out of this." He commanded.

"Huxley, you know Nathalie and Lilith work cleaner and faster if they are together. Why do we need to send a whole troop of men, if two people would be safer and enough?" She convinced him.

"I don't care. I'm not risking my sister's life." The man started to walk towards the exit. Carina reached out her hand to stop him.

"Huxley! What is wrong with you? Be reasonable. Why are you being too overprotective of your sister? You're the one who taught her this kind of life. Don't you trust her? And in fact, I will be there with her." She continues to convince him.

Huxley pulled his hand away in anger. "That's the point! I trust my little sister, but if she's with you, I don't! If something happened to my sister while she was in there, I would always remember you as an enemy for the rest of my life. So bring my sister out of this!" He shouted before quickly walking out of the room.

Carina just watched his back in surprise. It's like she was frozen in place, unable to speak or move.

What did he mean by those words?

It's been years since he felt burdened because of Huxley's words. She would always feel hate or remorse towards him, but why is she feeling a bit of sadness right now?

"Lilith. You have a delivery!" Nathalie quickly called out for Lilith, who answered the doorbell for her since she was playing her video game.

"There's money on the dinner table," Lilith told her, confidently knowing that the delivery was just a new speaker or game controller she might have ordered online.

"I've never seen a woman as pretty as the city lights. It's nice to finally know you, Lilith." Nathalie said as if she was reading.

"What kind of corny shit was that, Nath?" Lilith made a disgusted face, still focusing on her game.

"I don't know Lili. You answer me. What kind of corny shits are your suitors?" She asked in return. "And when did you have a suitor?" She added, sounding surprised at the same time.

"Huh?" That was all Lilith said, dumbfounded. Nathalie picked up the delivery for Lilith, before placing it in front of her. It was a bouquet, alongside a bottle of whiskey.

"I know you might just throw the flowers out, so this alcohol is my Plan B, for I know you wouldn't resist it." Nathalie read another card note that was attached to the bottle. "JP." She read the initials written on the end of the two small notes.

Lilith finished her game so she started eyeing the package in front of her out of uncanniness and curiosity.

"Whose JP, Lilith? Oh my god, when did you have a suitor?" Nathalie squealed excitedly after reading the note.

"I don't know any JP. Who the hell is that?" Lilith ignored her best friend's excitement and started to open the bottle of whiskey, as a new level started on her game again.

"You're a heartless bitch, do you know that?" Nathalie asked placing the note down beside the package. "You'll grow old alone. You should marry your games instead." She added in disappointment. Lilith just hummed in agreement.

With that, Nathalie started to grab her purse before putting her heels on.

"Going already?" Lilith asked, looking back at her quickly before going back to her game.

"Yes. Since you're playing your games again. I'm going to get some drinks outside." She teasingly complained.

"Okay, enjoy!" Lilith shouted when Nathalie was already out of the door.

Nathalie sighed at the idea that she didn't even ask to stay longer. "Of course I will." She assured Lilith before slamming her apartment door shut.

When Lilith sensed that she was already alone, she eyed the package in front of her once more. She remembered the initials of the name Nathalie read for her. She didn't know anyone with those initials all her life.

Well, not until yesterday night...

Nathalie stopped her car in front of the N.O. pub, throwing her car keys to the valet after getting off. She cat-walked towards the bar, catching a lot of people's attention as she does.

People might have been wondering why she was alone, in a crowded area like this, but that was one behavior she could master. It's to enjoy her own company, confidently.

She sat on one of the stools in front of the island bar. She was immediately greeted by the bartender. "Good evening, Miss Nathalie. Tonight might be your lucky night because you can order everything on the menu, for free." The bartender handed her a tequila sunrise cocktail right away as if the man expected her arrival.

Nathalie eyed him suspiciously as to why does the worker knows her name. The bartender sensed her discomfort before smiling at her "I was ordered by the owner of this bar." The man explained. Nathalie continued to eye him, raising an eyebrow in the process.

"And the owner of the bar is?" She asked.

"Me." A voice suddenly spoke behind her. She looked in the direction of the sound right away. She was quite surprised to see the most handsome man he ever laid eyes on last night.

"Boss." The bartender acknowledged him. He bowed to the hem before attending to another customer on the other side of the bar.

"Sin." Nathalie greeted him, as he watches the man sit sittisitting idle He placed the drink he was holding on the bar.

"Nathalie." He smiled at her. "Why does an angel like you keep on landing on my property?" He teased.

The woman laughed. "You and your punch lines." She answered, laughing heartily.

"What are you doing here alone anyway?" Sin asked, facing her fully.

"Nothing. I just want to let off some steam, because I have an important job the day after tomorrow." She explained, sighing.

The man took his drink off the table before lifting it towards the woman. "Then why don't I accompany you tonight?" He asked.

Nathalie smiled at him, before clinking her drink towards the man's glass gently. "It would be a pleasure." She answered, smiling.