-silence-

… The faint noises from their surroundings engulfed the room in utter quietness. 

And soon, Henry abruptly bursts out in laughter. 

Hahahahaha~

Seeing their monarch laugh so cheerfully, everyone only felt it creepy. 

This… This… 

Their monarch was still okay in the head, right?

Why did they feel too uncomfortable looking at him?

Henry’s change took them unawares, maybe because they were used to seeing his naive side. 

Henry tapped the overly large floor cushion beneath him, looking at them one by one. 

But while some didn’t dare to speak, there were still some bold ones in the group who wasted no time in asking the needy. 

”Your majesty, we are your commanders… Your people and your trusted officials. You have to say the word, and whatever you want shall be done.”

”Really?” Henry scoffed inwardly but didn’t show it. “You’re right, Commander Brinkley. My worries are your worries. That’s why I called you all here to share the news my scouts have just sent in.”

Immediately, everyone’s body tensed up. 

Their war plans had long been fixed and related to their life and death. So how could they not worry?

With ears perked high up, they stared at Henry, not wanting to miss a single thing. 

”Our plans must change. The enemy has caught a few of our scouts, so even though they might not know who sent the scouts in, they must be prepared for an enemy attack. Elroy, the note.”

”Yes, your majesty.”

Elroy quickly passed the note to the commanders, who read it one by one.

It’s just that if one had seen the original note, they would know that this was a different one.

Only the trio, Henry, Elroy, and Dan, knew of this secret.

Reading the note, many quickly took Henry’s anger to be because a few of the scouts had been captured.

Indirectly, this showed the enemy’s strength when compared to theirs. 

The atmosphere was sullen, and without saying a thing, everyone knew their plans would have to change. 

”Your Majesty, you made the right call.” Commander Ferguson said, calmly folding the letter.

”Hmmm… I think so too.”

”…”

What happened to his Majesty’s modesty?

.

Very quickly, Henry placed the overly large map on the small foldable floor table before them.

The men were all seated on cushions with cross-legs and straight backs.

Everyone was given what they called a positioner, which was essentially a stick with a flat rectangular end attached to it. 

They used this to move the little block pieces placed on the map.

”Any suggestions?’

Brinkley frowned before pushing his block piece towards a certain direction on the map. “Your majesty, since this location might be compromised, my army will take the Ghoul trail, up the steep hills and down the flowers of Hertica. We should be able to reach one of the far-left corners of the city walls from there.”

Henry nodded. “Are you sure you can? The flowers of Hertica aren’t easy. I’ve never been there before. But from the many rumors gathered about that place, it’s not a good passing ground.”

Brinkley pumped his chest twice in assurance. “Your majesty, leave it to me. Decades ago, your father had sent me to capture some foreign spies in Whitepold city. And upon arrival, we chased them through the flowers of Hertica. And though they got away, we learned more about this strange place. So yes. Now, I’m sure we can handle it! Plus… The enemy would never think us daring to move through such a place.”

The flowers of Hertica. 

Everyone listened, feeling good bumps just from the name alone. 

The reason why the trail leading there was called a ghoul trail was all because of these flowers of Hertica. 

Gulp. 

They swallowed hard, imagining themselves being the ones to pass through there. 

Now, the gaze they gave Brinkley was one of awe and pity, wondering if he was just out here seeking death. 

Not only would he have to fight the enemy, but they would also have to battle their way through Hertica. So wasn’t that too overwhelming?

The name Hertica came from the legend or, rather, the origins of the place.

.

It’s said that centuries ago, a young lady, Hertica, married her husband in deep love and bliss. But because of her unreasonable nature of not wanting her husband to take in another wife, she became too petty and bold. 

It’s said that her cause drove her to insanity to the point where she committed countless despicable acts, ripping the hearts out of any woman who dared to marry her husband.

She selfishly felt that her husband owed her too much since he allowed the council to throw away all of her children born to her. 

Yes. 

Every time she birthed, they would say the child was no good. This was because all her children had defects/birthmarks on their faces.

It drove the overly selfish woman to insanity, feeling there was nothing good about this life. 

And now that her husband no longer wanted her, how could she accept this?

Heh. 

She went full psycho, ready to get her pound of flesh. 

Many believe that because she didn’t allow the council to supervise her, she slowly developed evil powers with all the mass killings she did. 

In her time, the woman was a legend and a nightmare. 

How can a single woman evade the government for decades without getting caught? Wasn’t that sorcery?

She was a witch. And thus, they burnt her in the place now known as the flowers of Hertica. 

But something strange happened not too long after her demise.

The place called Hertica turned into a ghoul site with all sorts of things going wrong there. 

Whether it was a coincidence or proof that she was indeed a witch that developed powers due to lack of supervision, it was a fact that the place was now deadly. 

Everyone felt a shiver go up their spine, envisioning Brinkley’s dead body after passing through the place. 

Mad man!

The Flowers of Hertica was no place to go!

.

Henry narrowed his eyes at Brinkley, with no one knowing what he thought. 

”Alright, Commander Brinkley. You and your men will do as you’ve said.”

”Yes, your majesty,” Brinkley answered humbly.

Hmm…

Like so, everyone’s initial plan of attack had changed. 

Nothing was as it was initially. 

And in no time, the commanders left Henry’s tent with their aides. 

Henry leaned forward, staring at the backs of the leaving men. “The fish has caught the hook.”

Elroy and Dan also smiled. “As predicted, your majesty.”

”Alright. You know what to do. Now go.”

”As you wish.”

With that, the duo left their monarch in the comforts of the hidden guards. 

Good. 

Tick-Tock. Tick-Tock. 

Time passed by quickly. 

And soon, the day turned into night. 

But while many were supposed to be guarding the site or sound asleep, some began to feel itchy. 

In a certain tent, a man with a deep scar on one of his eyes sat with his hands crossed over his chest. 

”The man leaned forward, calmly writing something down. And when done, he whistled a natural sound.

Whoosh!

A shadow appeared before him.

”Take this note… You know what to do.”

The shadow snapped the nite like lightning. “Yes, my lord.”

With that, he vanished as though never there in the first place. 

The strange lord leaned back, taking an apple and biting off it. 

Was he scared or intimidated by this weak monarch? Not a chance. To him, people like Henry were too predictable, rigid, and naive. 

He was willing to follow Henry’s father, but not this son that everyone initially looked down on.

A cold smile spread across his lips. 

’In the end, you will be a short-lived Monarch.’ 

~Crunch. 

He bit into the apple in a relaxed manner. 

Soon, the blood bath will begin.

The man was still engulfed in his thoughts when the sounds of several footsteps approaching quickly some him up. If nothing else, it should be someone sending for him. 

Well, it looks like it was time to go, continuing his act. 

. 

~Swish!

The shadow was quick to move, leaving the overly large campsite undetected. 

And soon, he jumped on the trees as stealthily as possible. 

The task wasn’t easy. 

Up on the trees, there were already several guards with arrows watching over the campsite. And on the ground floors, there were still many hidden about. 

Of course in the daytime, some of his lord’s men had volunteered to help with several tasks accompanied by Henry’s men. So they had checked and seen the many positions where these archers and guards were stationed.

With the intel passed on, as well as the darkness, he quickly snuck away, making little to no sound.

And soon, he was out of the camp’s perimeters, making a quick run for it towards Whitepold city. 

But little did he know that things weren’t always as they seemed. 

In the dark, several eyes opened. 

It’s time. 

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