A few hours earlier...
The scent of blood still clung to the air, the aftermath of the ambush evident in the lifeless bodies strewn across the dirt road just outside the Dead Forest. The dying light of the sun cast eerie shadows against the towering, skeletal trees.
Knights moved with grim efficiency, collecting the fallen, their expressions hardened with grief and duty. Eight carriages stood still, their occupants silent and tense. Two of them held the princesses, their worried eyes peeking from behind the drawn curtains, hushed whispers barely audible over the rustling leaves.
"I see..." Heinz murmured, his voice calm yet carrying the weight of authority. Lancelot and Lucius knelt before him, having just relayed the details of the attack.
The king’s black armored outfit gleamed under the dim light, his long, obsidian hair cascading over his shoulders. But it was his red eyes—sharp, calculating—that held Lancelot’s attention. There was no surprise in them.
Lancelot clenched his fists. Did Heinz already expect this?
"And you didn’t see where they took him?" Heinz asked, tone even.
"No, Your Majesty. It was my failure as a knight. I failed to act early on and now His Highness..." Lancelot gritted his teeth, frustration boiling beneath his skin. ’He had to be the one to act instead.’
Lucius, standing to Lancelot’s side, cleared his throat. "However, we are certain that the rogues will be asking for ransom soon. We are just waiting for any sign of how they might do that."
Lancelot caught the hesitation in Lucius’ voice. He wanted to say more. He wanted to ask if the king would pay the ransom. But he held back. It wasn’t a question Lucius could ask outright—not when Florian was part of the harem. Showing too much concern would be dangerous for him.
Heinz remained silent, deep in thought. Lancelot chanced a glance up—and froze.
There was something off about the king.
His red eyes shone unnaturally bright, his pupils slightly dilated. Was it fury? Or something else?
’Could His Highness’ disappearance be affecting him this much? No... unlikely.’
Lancelot’s mind raced back to earlier that day. Heinz had changed the knight formations at the last moment before they departed for the village. At the time, Lancelot hadn’t questioned it. But now... was it possible Heinz knew there would be an attack?
’That’s ridiculous. He would’ve told me directly if he knew.’
Heinz finally spoke. "What should be our next step, Your Majesty?" Lancelot asked, his voice firm despite his inner turmoil.
"Isn’t it obvious? We’re going to wait for the ransom—"
Lucius opened his mouth, likely to argue, but Heinz held up a hand, silencing him. Lucius furrowed his brows. "Your Majesty?"
"We are not paying the ransom," Heinz declared, crossing his arms. "It is best not to give the rogues what they want. If word spreads that kidnapping a harem member yields wealth, do you think others wouldn’t attempt the same?"
Lancelot found himself agreeing. Concordia was already plagued with uprisings. The royal knights were stretched thin. If kidnappings became common, protecting the princesses would become even more difficult.
Lucius’ lips pressed into a thin line. "So are we... just letting His Highness stay with them?" His voice was even, but barely concealed his emotions.
Lancelot exhaled. Florian had been bold, joking earlier that he was the best target for ransom. But the truth was, the rogues would have made far more money had they taken a princess instead.
Florian was not a candidate for queen. And Heinz had never cared for him.
Yet...
Lancelot had his pride as a knight. It was his failure that Florian had to sacrifice himself. And he would take responsibility.
"Your Majesty, I—"
"Instead of a ransom, I will have Lancelot and the rest of my knights find the rogues and bring back Florian," Heinz interrupted.
Lancelot’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected Heinz to order a rescue mission. Lucius looked just as surprised—though there was a glimmer of relief in his gaze.
Just then, heavy boots crunched against the dirt. One of Heinz’s personal knights, Terrance, approached, bowing his head before Heinz, then saluting Lancelot.
"Report." Heinz’s voice was sharp.
"No signs of the rogues, Your Majesty. However, there are multiple traps set deep in the forest. Some are concealed beneath the leaves, others strung between the larger trees. They are meant to slow or wound anyone who follows," Terrance stated. He hesitated before adding, "Additionally, as Your Majesty suspected, we have reason to believe the rogues are using a tracking map to monitor every living human in this area."
Lancelot stiffened. ’That means...’
"They aren’t far," he said aloud, rising to his feet. "Now I understand how they knew we were here despite not having scouts along the road."
Heinz nodded, gaze shifting toward the carriages. "And the princesses?" Lancelot asked, voice tight. "It is still dangerous for them here."
Heinz’s crimson eyes flickered with something cold and unreadable, the weight of his presence pressing heavily on those around him. He turned to the assembled knights, his voice sharp and resolute.
"They are returning to the Diamond Palace. All carriages will depart immediately, carrying both the living and the fallen. I will not have our dead left to rot here."
The knights snapped into action without hesitation, their armor clinking as they moved. Some knelt by their comrades’ bodies, lifting them with solemn reverence, their lips moving in whispered prayers for safe passage to the afterlife. Others carried their wounded carefully, determination etched onto their faces despite their own injuries.
Nearby, attendants informed the princesses of the sudden departure. Though there were murmurs of surprise and protest, the gravity of the situation silenced most objections. The weight of death hung thick in the air, suffocating any semblance of ceremony.
Lucius hesitated, stepping closer to Heinz, his brows furrowing with concern. "Your Majesty... are you staying?"
Heinz’s exhale was slow and measured, though his expression remained unreadable. "Florian is still a member of my harem," he stated simply, his words slicing through the air like a blade. "It is my responsibility to oversee this."
Lucius’s breath caught in his throat. The weight of that declaration left him momentarily stunned, and no further words escaped him.
Heinz’s gaze shifted then, cutting through the haze of blood and ash to land directly on Lancelot. His crimson eyes burned with a fierce intensity, glowing like embers in the dimming light.
Lancelot’s shoulders tensed instinctively, a chill racing down his spine. That gaze—it was not just commanding; it was dangerous, simmering with unspoken promises and threats.
’I’ve seen that look before,’ Lancelot thought grimly. ’This is no mere formality.’
He straightened his posture despite the unease gnawing at him.
"I have an additional order that must be fulfilled," Heinz declared, his voice low and deadly serious.
Lancelot swallowed, his throat dry. "What is your command, Your Majesty?"