Nate and I headed for the larger tent in the area. He told me that it was where all the royals are supposed to gather for the briefing.
Nate opened the tent for me go to inside, but before I could even enter, I heard two familiar voices behind me. “I almost cried. You look so much more independent compared to the last time that we saw you. I just hope that you really are what you look like from the outside.”
It was Custard who first reacted. He lets out a howl and ran behind me. ‘Master Ren!’
I turned just in time to see Ren picking Custard up on the ground as Custard showered him with adoring kisses. The twins were humbly wearing plain shirts like what we usually wore in training. And judging by the looks on their faces, I can only guess that they were doing a bit of training before they came here.
“Hey, why do Custard only cares about you, brother?” Dan frowned as he eyed Custard, who was now snuggling comfortably in Ren’s arms. Then Dan looked up at me. “I feel like there’s favoritism going on here.” He pouted.
Just like Custard, I let out a scream as I hugged them both. “It’s so nice to see you guys again!”
Ren and Dan laughed as they returned the hug. “We miss you too, Rose.” Ren says.
“Yeah.” Dan agreed. “My brother especially. He cried on the first night that he got home.”
I immediately knew what was going to happen so I stepped back just in time as Ren hit Dan on the head. “Will you stop being shameless already!?”
“Sorry, Ren. Must have been ruff.” I told him.
Ren paused before slowly turning to look at me with his eyes narrowed. “Rose.”
“Yes?”
“You said rough, right?” His tone was getting suspicious.
“Yes.” I confirmed. “Ruff.” Right now, even Dan was leering at me as he placed his hands on his hips.
Ren took in a deep breath. “Rose, I am going to be a king one day.” He says it like it was already enough of an explanation on why I shouldn’t make werewolf jokes anymore.
“Wow. Congratulation in advance, future king of the ruff.” I told him with a snicker.
“Gah!” Ren screamed. “I am going to be a future king one day. Why do I still don’t get any respect?!”
“Welcome to my world,” Nate mumbled beside me.
“That’s because you guys didn’t have a coronation yet. Unlike me.” Now it was Fred covering over to our group. He was wearing a brown cloak, which he then took off and handed to his attendant. “Nice to see everyone gathering in one place.”
‘Master Fred!’ Custard barked at him. ‘Did you bring any food?’
I swear, Custard likes any one who gives him food. Wait, no. Not like. He LOVES anyone who gives him food.
Fred gave us all a look before his face fell in horror when he saw use drawing near. “W-Wait, everyone. Stop!” He gasped when all of us tackled him into a group hug. Fred finally resigned before he ruffled our heads. “Oh, alright. My advisor will definitely scold me for this, but who cares?”
“Just fire him.” I whispered while Ren and Nate agreed.
“Hey? Am I the only one who was offended that we did not do a group hug when Ren and I showed up?” Dan wondered out loud.
“Shut it, Dan!” Ren snapped at him.
As we all moved back, Fred started looking around. “Where’s...the PRINCE?” He asked.
Nate and I exchanged a look. We couldn’t tell them right away. Not when there are many eyes and ears prying on us at the moment after the stunt that we just pulled.
Just then, a black crow perched on my shoulder, the vacant one that Viex wasn’t occupying. I smiled. “He’s back at Thalia.” I told them while gesturing at the crow on my shoulder with my eyes. Ren, Dan, and Fred took one look at the crow before they all grinned as they understood the situation.
“Why don’t we all go inside? The others are probably waiting for us.” Nate made a move to the tent and we all followed him inside.
When we got in, we saw that almost all of the royals were already present. Of course, they were mostly the crowned princes of each kingdom, who are able to fight to represent their family.
Prince Gregory was there and also Prince Adam. Prince Eltur and Darem were present as well and they even nodded over at us. A dwarf prince that I do not recognize was sitting quietly in a corner while polishing a very huge sword. The troll Prince was also there, whose name I keep on forgetting because of how complicated it is. Even King Mruem was there, standing with a triton in his hands.
They were all looking at Nate, Fred, and Ren. Since Nate is basically going to rule the whole Kingdom, he gets to have a say in all of the plans. Fred, who has most of the brilliant ideas, and Ren, who’s as good as Ace when it comes to battle positions. They are all going to be the main speakers during the meeting.
“Let’s begin.” Nate says and we all huddled closer to the table with a huge map and some wooden figures that represents every kingdom.
The plan was simple. Tomorrow at dawn, we invade the Tereau. King Meruem would flood a portion of the area first to bait the soldiers outside. Then the trolls, who have the abilities to harden their whole body shall attack first.
Next would be the beast-men, who have the most agile nature of all, to take care of those who are standing along with me and my familiars. I would take as much essence from the rogues as I can so that I would take away their will to fight.
Then the dwarves, vampires, elves, fairies, wizards, and witches would be the ones to attack next. The dwarves and vampires would provide us a path to the castle. Elves would guide us inside as they would have to take care of assassinating the other rogues who are still inside. The Wizzard and fairies will have to guard the entrance to the castle to make sure that no other rogues would be able to help their king.
The dwarf and troll princes will take down the second prince of Tereau. Ren, Dan and Prince Gregory will take care of the first prince, which I formally told them, is now missing an arm thanks to Custard. But since we know that he was handicapped, we expect that there would be generals who would be protecting him.
Finally, Eltur, Darem, Nate, Fred, and I will go and find Ferius. Nate left out the part that Ace would be joining us silently to take down Ferius, because out of all of us, only Ace was able to face the king and survive the experience. Plus, there are more of us because we already expect that generals would be guarding him as well.
The meeting was held twice. Once in the morning and another one in the afternoon just to make sure that everyone understood the plan. The other royals went to their respective areas in order to inform their troupes of their roles ahead of time. Even Fred and the twins left to start briefing their troupes of the plan as well.
Since I am the only royal with no one to lead, I decided to accompany Nate instead. “Sure is hard being a leader, huh?” I told him as I sat on a barrel that was placed beside him as we both waited for the knights to settle. Custard and Viex were sleeping on my lap.
Nate sighed. “I know. I feel like I have been talking too much in a single day. And not even with women!” He whipped away some imaginary tears from his eyes.
“Nate, if you have the energy to joke around, then I believe that you’re still not tired.” I told him.
As I was sitting on the barrel and listened to Nate, I noticed that two of the knights that we were suspected of, Brandon and Liam, kept casting glances at me, but when I turn to them they would immediately look away.
Upon sensing my worry, Custard and Viex woke up and took a peek at the strange behavior of the two knights.
‘You’re not seeing things, princess.’ Viex informed me. ‘They are looking at you.’
‘Should I go and take care of them, Master?’
‘Don’t.’ I told him as my eyes darted to Nate, who was still speaking. ‘If we cause a scene right now then all of our plans will be ruined. If those two really are up to something then they will take an action sooner or later. We’ll have to keep a close eye on them for the moment.’ Besides, I was also certain that Ace must have noticed their behavior by now. I know that whatever was happening at camp right now, Ace was watching and listening, just like he told me that he would.
I mean, if the fact that Dan got attacked by a black crow after telling me to leave Ace and go to Ren instead wasn’t enough proof then I don’t know how to explain that situation.
As the day ended, we all went back to our respective tents after dinner. I was thinking about telling him about Liam and Brandon’s weird behavior, but then I thought against it when I saw how tired he looked at the moment.
Before I went inside my tent, the same crow that kept appearing the whole suddenly perched on my other shoulder, which startled Viex that he almost Viex.
‘Can he stop doing that!?’
The crow lets out a caw and started nibbling at the chain around my neck until the necklace that Ace gave sat at the front of my shirt instead. After that, it just flew away as if it had better things to do.
I let out a short laugh as I started playing with the necklace. I got his message without him personally saying those words.
He was telling me that he would take care of it. As he always has.
I went inside my tent that night and changed into some more comfortable clothes. The bed was just big enough for Custard, Viex, and I to sleep in. And that is just what we did.
The three of us slept as we prepared for what is about to come the next day.