By Zephyria =======
Wolf politely helped Red Eagle out of his robe. For a moment, Red Eagle’s complexion turned pale.
“Wolf? I just need to wash off some blood, there’s no need for you to attend to me…”
“Yes, as you say, it is a simple task. Therefore, please leave it to me.”
Wolf gave a bright smile and stripped Red Eagle of his clothes. As a gesture of gratitude for the free luxury trip, Wolf had volunteered to handle Red Eagle’s meals and bathing duties during their journey to Stohl. Having grown up in the palace since childhood, he had seen much and quickly become proficient, but Red Eagle often declined, feeling burdened.
“Wolf, I’m really fine. I said I’m fine!”
“Oh, again with that. I told you not to feel burdened.”
Wolf knelt down and poured water over Red Eagle’s legs. When washing the Prince, one must not splash around as if dealing with a peer. One must maintain a disciplined posture, and the movements of the hands must be as elegant as a harpist. Concentrating all his focus, Wolf poured the water handful by handful with the refined grace of a duchess bringing a glass of white wine to her lips.
Above the perspiring Wolf, Red Eagle spoke in a strangely awkward voice.
“Um, Wolf? Does your head hurt from a hangover? I’ll just wash myself now.”
“What do you keep talking about, Prince? My head doesn’t hurt at all. Please turn to the left.”
“No… Wolf, that… I’ll just…”
“I appreciate the consideration, but you really don’t have to worry. Please lift your right arm. And stretch out your fingers one by one.”
He washed the blood from Red Eagle’s body and wrapped a towel around his waist. Following etiquette, Wolf sat with one leg tucked and politely extended both arms toward the hot spring.
“Prince. Please enter the bath now.”
“Wolf, stand up. Quickly.”
Red Eagle poked Wolf’s shoulder repeatedly with his fingertips. At the urgent gesture, Wolf looked up. For some reason, Red Eagle’s face was bright red.
“What is it, Prince? Was the water too hot?”
When Wolf asked hurriedly, Red Eagle turned his face away and waved his hand.
“It’s not that, Wolf. Just stand up. Hurry.”
“Pardon? Ah, yes.”
Wolf stood up instinctively, only to become bewildered. Black Weasel and Silver were staring blankly in this direction. Both of them had their lips twitching.
What is this atmosphere?
Silence.
「Pwahaha!」
The silence was shattered by a burst of laughter loud enough to echo through the cave. Black Weasel burst out laughing, placing one hand on his forehead.
「I’m glad I didn’t kill that attendant! I’ve never seen a guy this funny!」
Silver burst out laughing along with him.
「Wow, I’ve never seen such a fool! The Prince was giving him so many hints, and he didn’t realize until the very end!」
“You people! You’re mocking me right now, aren’t you!”
Wolf shouted, his face turning red as a beet.
“No, why are you laughing! Whether in Atania or Stohl, the Prince is always the Prince! And I am the Prince’s attendant! I simply did my job as an attendant, so what is the problem!”
“Wolf, calm down. You did nothing wrong.”
Red Eagle grabbed Wolf’s shoulder and gave him a knowing look.
“Observing court etiquette in a place like this can look ridiculous to them. Since we are milk-brothers, let’s just get along as peers without formalities while we stay here. Okay?”
“Without formal… What, absolutely not. That’s impossible.”
“Wolf.”
“…Yes.”
Wolf answered reluctantly. Red Eagle gave another look and entered the hot spring. He sat opposite Black Weasel, as Wolf had requested. Seeing this, Wolf regained his composure.
Alright, time for the main point.
Currently, the fatal weakness for Wolf and Red Eagle was information. Their only source of information in the current situation was Black Weasel. The problem was the veracity of the information he provided. In the short time he had spent with Black Weasel, Wolf had gained one certainty: that hitman was not a man to be trusted easily.
By bathing together, they would induce the hitman and his assistant to let their guard down as much as possible. Red Eagle would observe Black Weasel’s expressions. Wolf would handle Silver. This was the plan, but success was uncertain. Black Weasel was a hitman who had killed over a hundred people, while they were mere novices who had grown up pampered in a greenhouse.
Black Weasel and Silver were still preoccupied with laughing. Since Wolf had intended to act like a fool in their eyes, he took this positively. Whether the bread is bent this way or that, as long as it tastes good, it’s fine.
Wolf took off his clothes. He flinched as he was about to wrap a towel around his waist. Black Weasel and Silver suddenly stopped laughing and stared. Their gazes were filled with surprise and curiosity.
Those crazy people, did they mistake something? That shouldn’t be possible. Even if its use is limited, the size of my junk is more robust than the Royal Knight Commander’s favorite steed. This isn’t arrogance; it’s something I’ve heard countless times until my ears bled from random Uncles at the neighborhood public bath.
Feeling a chill run down his spine, Wolf gripped the towel tightly.
“Why… are you staring like that? I’m not a woman.”
“I know.”
Black Weasel added, scanning Wolf up and down.
“You’ve got a decent body, attendant. You’re already a finished product.”
Was he admiring the sturdy muscles of a baking apprentice? He didn’t know the truth, but he tied the towel tightly.
“Thank you. I do strength training and running every day.”
Brushing it off, Wolf slid into a seat opposite Silver. It was a position where Black Weasel was also within his field of vision.
A strange silence drifted away on the steam. Silver sat perched on a rock, with only his calves dipped in the hot spring, looking down. Beneath long eyelashes that cast a shadow like an awning, Alice-blue eyes moved rapidly. From Black Weasel to Wolf. Then to Red Eagle. Then back to Black Weasel.
Soon, Silver twisted his mouth and turned his head. From that gesture, Wolf got the impression that Silver was somehow disgusted. By what?
Well, probably the Uncle. How tedious must it be to have a hitman as a master.
It might not be difficult to pull Silver to their side.
It takes courage to escape from a fierce master like Black Weasel. He needed to secure an opportunity to persuade Silver behind Black Weasel’s back. The key would be their bargaining power.
“Um…”
Wolf snapped back to attention at Red Eagle’s voice. Red Eagle spoke with a hesitant expression.
“You mentioned that we’ll be staying here for a month, Uncle. Could you explain the reason why?”
“Not that I can’t.”
Black Weasel replied bluntly, resting both arms on the rock.
“How far did I tell you? Ah, I said the children of the King of Stohl called a temporary truce and started managing the tribal chiefs, right? Actually, that happened two months ago. Which means it happened a month after you left Levenon.”
It was an unexpected revelation. Wolf once again felt the acute lack of their intelligence capabilities.
“Only one of the King’s children is left now. That guy is the one behind the mercenaries who attacked the Prince yesterday. His name is… well, does it matter?”
Black Weasel shrugged.
“Anyway, that guy is no pushover. He caused a stir while his siblings were distracted by keeping the tribal chiefs in check. He held a banquet, claiming they should unite since they might have a big clash with the chiefs. Do siblings attend such events alone? They brought their key aides. And after that…”
Black Weasel made a gesture of slitting his own throat with one hand.
“To be the one leading a unification meeting… he must have been one of the most prominent among the King’s children.”
Red Eagle made an observation befitting a courtier.
“Right, he’s the King’s fifth son. For a long time, he’s been predicted to be the next king due to his personality and martial prowess. Hmph, the one destined to become it eventually did.”
Black Weasel circled his finger in front of his own face.
“If you saw him in person, you wouldn’t be able to call him ‘Brother.’ To this little chick of a Prince, he’s a half-brother in name, but more like a father in age. People who’ve seen him only talk about his face. They say his mug is as fierce as a wild dog whose wife was stolen.”
Wolf barely managed to keep his trembling mouth shut. Meanwhile, he himself looked like a wild dog whose prey had been snatched right from under his nose.
17 – Hell Execution Order