Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Bennett Weakness
"Why are you not speaking anything?" Standing beneath the tree, Prince David looked at the boy, whose eyes had remained cold throughout the entire walk.
He raised an eyebrow, puzzled, as the boy placed a hand on her chest and bowed formally.
"Prince, forgive me if this displeases you, but I’m not much of a talker." Bennett straightened her back again.
David blinked and nodded slowly, still looking at Bennett strangely.
Suddenly, his golden eyes shone with gold light. He quickly closed his eyes for a second when he opened his eyes, his dull, bored expression lit up with excitement.
"I’ve heard you’re a second-circle swordsman. Is that true?"
Bennett’s eyes narrowed. Crossing her arms over her chest, she looked him up and down.
’How does he know that? It’s only been four hours since I broke through...’
A glint of realization flashed in David’s eyes. He sighed and said, "Don’t worry so much, Sir Bennett. I didn’t spy on you; I respect your privacy. There’s no need to look at me with suspicion."
Bennett closed her eyes briefly and exhaled before looking at him again.
"Just call me Bennett, there’s no need for formalities. And as for you, spy on me... I doubt you have that ability. You’re not much older than me."
A vein popped on David’s forehead. His face darkened as he pointed a finger at her.
"What do you mean by that? Are you looking down on me?! Even if you’re one circle ahead, I can still beat you, with my royal blood I can do... Hmph!" He forced himself not to reveal his card.
Bennett nodded calmly at his outburst and muttered under her breath, "Childish..."
"What did you say?" David’s face turned red with anger.
"Nothing. You misheard."
Her calm tone irritated him even more. He took a deep breath, trying to calm down. ’Why am I getting so angry? Hmph.’
"I’m leaving." David turned and started walking away, expecting her to stop him like the other nobles always did.
"Okay." Bennett raised a hand and waved lazily.
David froze mid-step, then stormed off faster than before. ’So annoying! Why does his voice have no emotion at all?!’
Watching his back disappear, Bennett walked to the tree, sat down on the grass, and leaned against the trunk, closing her eyes.
---
Thorne, watching from the window, stroked his chin, his gaze following David’s small figure rushing into the palace, a thoughtful smirk tugging at his lips.
"To silence the prince so easily... He might be the perfect friend for His Highness. Maybe the royal family’s possessiveness won’t taint him, and perhaps he’ll become the first gentle emperor."
He looked once more at Bennett sitting under the tree before walking away.
---
"Boy..."
The voice she hated most made her eyes snap open. She shot to her feet, alert.
Drohan stood there, arms crossed over his chest, a dark grin curling on his lips as he glared at her.
"Boy, I’m leaving. But don’t forget, you’ll never get the head position from me. And if you try to play smart, your dear aunt’s daughter will suffer. Haha."
Anger flashed in Bennett’s eyes, but she quickly looked down, masking the darkness within.
"Drohan... don’t forget you’re still alive only because I worry about my aunt’s daughter. When I find the antidote, you won’t escape your doom."
"Haha! You’ll never find it, little boy. I swear it on God’s name." Drohan’s grin widened as he walked away.
’Does that brat really think he can find the antidote? How funny... Where will he find it? On the Maine territory filled with barbarians? Hahaha...’
---
In the main hall of Darknight Estate, a seven-year-old girl sat anxiously on the sofa, glancing at the door every few seconds.
The maids standing behind her whispered nervously. "Psst... When will the acting head return and give medicine to the young miss? She was suffocating last night."
The other maid quickly pressed a finger to her lips. "Don’t talk about it! If the acting head hears us, he’ll fire us without notice."
"Alia! Where the hell are you?!"
Alia jumped to her feet, fear flickering in her eyes. ’Where is my little brother? Ugh, I don’t want to face Drohan alone...’
Drohan strode into the hall, completely drunk, his face glowing with drunken bliss. Seeing Alia, he growled, making her flinch in terror.
Her eyes darted around, searching for the one figure who always protected her.
"Brother... brother...?" she whispered softly, her voice trembling.
Drohan grinned darkly and pulled out a small glass vial. "You want this, don’t you? Drink it, and you won’t suffer for a month. But don’t call for your brother—he’s never coming back alive."
The maids lowered their heads, eyes shut tight, pretending to see and hear nothing.
Alia’s hands covered her mouth as tears welled up. "What do you mean? Where is my little brother?"
"Haha! Forget about him!" Drohan staggered toward the sofa and slumped onto it, placing his feet on the table.
"If you want this bottle, kneel and call me ’Duke.’ That annoying brat isn’t here to save you anymore! Hahaha!"
Disgust churned in Alia’s stomach at his laughter, but she held back her tears. ’Brother... he’ll come like always. He will...’
"I said kneel!" Drohan roared, but his face turned pale the next second. "Eh, what?!"
Alia’s eyes widened in shock. Her entire body relaxed as tension melted away.
"Acting Head, hand the medicine to Miss Alia." A deep voice sounded behind Drohan, making him freeze.
"H-H-How dare you put a sword to my neck?! I’m the head of Darknight! You’re just a squad captain."
"EHHHHH---" Drohan yelped as the blade pressed harder against his throat, forcing him to sink into the cushions.
"As captain of the Darknight family’s secret guards, I only take orders from true Darknight blood. If you endanger any member of that bloodline, I won’t hesitate to slit your throat."
Drohan gritted his teeth. ’I can’t mess with this bastard now...’
"Did that brat order you? Look, put the sword away. If you become my knight, I’ll give you endless riches! How about that?"
The captain’s blue eyes burned beneath his hood. "Acting Head, control your tongue. That ’brat’ you speak of carries the purest Darknight bloodline."
Drohan clenched his fists, rage boiling. ’Damn him! I offer wealth and power, but all he cares about is that bug!’
"Take it! Hah!" He tossed the vial into the air.
The captain sheathed his sword, caught the bottle, and walked toward Alia.
"Thank you, Sir Tristan." Alia smiled brightly through tears. Her eyes widened as she saw him kneel.
Tristan knelt on one knee, respectfully bowing his head as he held the vial high. "Miss, Sir Bennett ordered me to protect you in his absence, and to treat you as I treat him."
Alia nodded tearfully, quickly snatching the vial and drinking it.
Tristan rose, patting her head gently before turning his cold gaze back to Drohan. "Acting Head, I expect you to continue providing the medicine. If not, we’ll use force again like last time."
Drohan’s eyes widened as a memory flashed, a three-year-old boy, who should’ve been ignorant of the world, ordering Tristan to torture him until he handed over the antidote.
He turned and climbed the stairs, cursing under his breath. ’I’m the head now. They can’t kill me... but I never want to feel that pain again.’
Slumping into his chair, he rubbed his temples, a ruthless glint in his eyes. ’If that bug forces me to give up the permanent antidote, I’ll use the same trick again.’
Tap. Tap. His fingers drummed the table. ’Even if you disrespect me, Tristan, you can’t change the fact that bug won’t kill me until he gets the antidote.’
"We’ll see who wins in the end. And that person will be me."
---
[One Month Later]
Slash!
The wooden dummy split in half, the cut running from its waist to its neck.
"Good, good! Did you learn swordsmanship by yourself? Your stance is solid, but your footwork needs work."
Bennett wiped sweat from her forehead and looked at the instructor the emperor had assigned her.
She shook her head lightly. "No, I never had an instructor."
The instructor clapped his hands in delight. "A genius! Haha! I’ve got a genius student on par with His Highness, no, even better!"
Bennett looked away, uncomfortable under his adoring gaze.
"Sir, don’t say that. If His Highness hears it, he’ll act childishly again."
"Huh?" The instructor blinked, sticking a finger in his ear as if to check his hearing.
"That cold crown prince knows how to be childish? Doesn’t his face always remain dull or cold?"
She ignores the instructor’s comment and continues her swing.
"Okay, forget it, come here, Bennett, it’s time to learn footwork, you cant really enter the third circle until you learn footwork."
Hearing him, she stopped her swing and stood straight, looking intently at him.
"Watch and follow my steps." The instructor’s left foot goes back, and the other is tilted slightly toward the left.