“Your Highness?”
Leaving the giant hallway behind, before Zordan could enter the main castle courtroom, a sudden, cold masculine voice flinched him from behind at the doorstep. The voice was familiar but unexpectedly rose an irking feeling in him. His steep dark eyebrows frowned deeper and holding a stern look on his face, he turned behind.
Dressed in silk royal attire, a long brown-haired, middle-aged sturdy looking man had retained a cryptic expression on his face. The moment Zordan laid his gaze on him, he bowed his head before him and tossed a vague smirk, “My greetings to the Crown Prince.”
“What business do you have with me at this hour, Prime Minister Aiden?” Zordan shoveled an ice-cold glare at him as he didn’t fail to observe his cryptic smile. Being aware of his cunning nature, his sour mood turned worse the moment he was interrupted.
“Nothing much.” Aiden cleared his throat with a small cough and glanced around them to make sure no one was peeping over them. As he was assured, he narrowed his cryptic orbs at him before he whispered, “I heard that Chief Advisor Luther is no more. So, I came here to convey my regards to you on successfully executing our obstacle, Your Highness. As usual, you have never failed to make me proud.”
The frown on his temple furrowed deeper the more he observed his vague smile. But at that moment, an aloof reaction was all he could keep before everyone so he responded coldly, “If that is all about, then I accept your regards and you can leave now. I don’t wish to be bothered at this moment.”
“Ah, no, that is not all I want to talk about!” Suddenly, his calm tone twisted in a mystic way as the man glanced carefully around them once again. He gulped and looking a little disappointed, he lowered his voice further, “I have also heard that his daughter, Lady Gabriel had seen you performing your execution. Is that true?”
As expected, Gabriel’s mention from his mouth suddenly triggered Zordan’s anger, as he peered an ice-cold glare at him. Aware of his vile nature, he wanted to smash his mouth for even uttering her name but until the very end, he compelled himself to hold his calm.
“I don’t think you need to worry about that, Prime Minister Aiden.” Zordan intended a cold smile to him.
“Huh?” But as expected of his extreme curiosity, Aiden rolled his greyish eyes with an evil grin on his face as he whispered, “Do you have plans to get rid of that woman too? Well, you don’t need to get your hands dirty again, Your Highness. I have my own people who can certainly help you with that.”
‘This fuckin’ bastard! I wish I could rip out his nasty tongue right now!’ Burning with rage, Zordan glared at him while cursing in his mind. He was trying his very best to hold onto the thin string of his temper.
“About my plans, very soon, I am going to marry her.” Keeping a forged sneer on his face, he declaimed in a stiff tone.
“W-What!!?” All of a sudden, a shocked expression occupied his grimace as Aiden stared at him, wadding his orbs around. He had retained an utmost look of disbelief towards him while he strongly opposed, “W-What are y-you talking a-about, Your Highness? S-She saw you killing her father and h-how are thinking about marrying—”
“You don’t have to be worried about it either, Prime Minster Aiden. Gabriel has already accepted my proposal and I am going to announce it soon.” With his cold sneer intact, Zordan tapped his shoulder once with his broad palm, sounding affirmed.
Hearing his answer, Aiden was left in a state of shock and confusion as for a brief moment he forgot to blink his eyes. Keeping a perplexed expression on his pale face, he leaned a bit closer and whispered in his ears with a wicked gaze on him.
“Crown Prince Zordan, I hope you are not thinking about betraying me. Because if you try to bring me down, you will be also going down with me. I guess you must be aware already that I am renowned as the venomous ‘Viper’ of this kingdom who never spares any unexpected attack.” Aiden sounded a little hoarse, with a small sneer.
However, Zordan retained his cold calmness and peered a stiff gaze in his eyes as he commented, “Prime Minister Aiden, are you trying to threaten me now?”
“Of course not, Your Highness!” Aiden cleverly twisted his words, with a manipulative smile towards him as he defended himself. “I am just trying to remind you about our deal. If you had possibly—”
“My memory is not that weak to forget about our deal, Prime Minster Aiden.” Suddenly, Zordan narrowed his cold glare upon him as he clenched his palm on his shoulder as grumbled. “I had promised your position will be secured in the castle and in return, you agreed to be my alibi. So, I think you better not try to go over beyond or create any trouble for me. Do you get it?”
“O-Of course, Your Highness,” Quickly Aiden unleashed himself from the grasp of his palm as he realized Zordan’s aggravating temper from his tone. He retained a clever smile on his face as he bowed his head before taking his leave. “So, then, I will see you at Chief Advisor’s funeral. Please excuse me, Your Highness.”
.
As soon as Aiden left out of his sight, Zordan exhaled a heavy sigh as he rubbed his forehead with his palm. A strong headache was throbbing in his head, and he was feeling quite uncomfortable. Just as he left, those two guards who had taken Gabriel to his room earlier appeared in front of him, with serious looks on their faces.
Zordan laid a strict glare upon them and warned them in a cold tone, “You both better be careful before acting disrespectfully again towards Gabriel. Even though I had spared your rudeness earlier, I don’t want it to repeat again.”
“Y-Yes, we apologize again, Your Grace.” Both of them timidly answered.
Zordan shoveled a blank gaze towards the direction Aiden walked away and frowned his brows as he further spoke, “Also, both of you must never forget to stay near Gabriel and guard her with all your might whenever I am not near her. There will be too many evil eyes lurking around her, and I won’t spare your life if she gets a single scratch. Do you understand me?”
His strict concern didn’t fail to point out his deep possessiveness, making him sound very curt. Both the guards bowed their heads once again, exchanging frightful glances at each other.