The Seventh Prince Runs Away from Awkward Situations Chapter 66

"Let go of this!!!"

Tollin screamed and tried to escape from Jack's grasp, but Jack did not budge.

"You must return to the mansion."

He only continued to bind Tollin, repeating the same words like a broken clock.

"If we leave it like this, Lord Flinn is in danger!"

Jack's hands, which were binding Tollin, could only stop for a moment after the Little Duke's name rang out in the alley.

However, it did not mean Jack had changed his mind.

"The one making the Little Duke more dangerous than anyone else is you, Lord Tollin. Do you want to make the Little Duke a sinner, Lord Tollin?"

Tollin wanted to mock him with all his might as he spoke as if he was in pain.

Stupid fool.

What does that matter now?

He didn't know since when, but they were targeting the Little Duke.

Judging by the fact that even the temple had joined in, the Emperor or the Empress, or perhaps both, must be aware of this matter.

Even the plan to escape the Little Duke by risking his life at the last moment was blocked by the 1st Prince's trickery.

Now that his hands and feet were all cut off, he couldn't just go back to the mansion and waste time.

"I did not know you would be like this, Lord Tollin. If I knew you were someone who would run away to live alone, I would not have remained in the ducal family."

Jack muttered as he silently dragged Tollin.

Tollin, unable to stand wasting any more time, struggled again.

"Damn it, I don't care about a life like mine!!!"

There was never a single moment when his life was precious.

From the moment he received the letter from the temple in the first place, he had decided to throw away his life.

Today, Tollin planned to kill the Little Duke and take his own life.

***

Rasia Abalan unintentionally prevented a case of arson today.

Although he would not know until he died the fact that he prevented a massive fire, which wouldn't have been strange even if the entire temple burned down, a few priests died, or one successor of Abalan died, from covering the capital.

For Tollin, it was no different from a disaster that blocked the last path to save the Little Duke.

There was no one in Abalan who could flee avoiding the eyes of the Imperial Family.

Their eyes were everywhere, and people willing to become their limbs were overflowing everywhere.

The entire Empire called Abalan was moving according to their orders as if it were one body.

Even if he fled from such a place, there was no way the Little Duke could survive.

If he couldn't live, he had no choice but to willingly accept death.

Therefore, Tollin's choice was to make the Little Duke a dead person.

The old building where the ritual is held has old wood as its main material.

Enough to burn fiercely to attract people's attention so Flinn could escape.

There might be priests who lose their lives, but such things were not important to the current Tollin.

As long as he could kill the Little Duke in front of as many witnesses as possible and divert the eyes of the Imperial Family for a moment, it didn't matter what sacrifice was paid.

He intended to buy time just until Flinn crossed the border, just until then.

Tollin glared as if to kill at the loyal knight of the Piteos family who was hindering him.

"Are you saying you will make the same choice as Agoni Piteos?"

Tollin was desperate to find even a small opening within the eyes mixed with resentment looking down at him.

"The 1st Prince said he would hold us accountable for the disappearance of the Selby family's third son. If it is now, we can find the young master."

At Tollin's lie, Jack's eyes finally wavered.

"Jack. Think carefully. If you take me to the temple, if you give me a chance just once, I can leave a future for the Little Duke."

There was only one truth in Tollin's words.

That he would leave a future for Flinn.

"Jack, it is the night of the ritual. There are Imperial Family members in the temple. If I really do something foolish, I would have nothing to say even if I receive judgment on the spot."

"......Alright. However, if you show suspicious signs one more time...... you will not be able to resent me no matter what happens."

Jack decided to believe Tollin's words one last time.

Because the loyal knight of Abalan was also his friend who cherished the Little Duke.

***

Two men, one priest, and one young child.

At the rare combination, Jing felt people glancing at them and swallowing a sigh.

"We even passed the capital gate, so shouldn't we release this priest somewhere now?"

Gael was annoyed by him speaking as if releasing a wild animal, but since he wanted to be liberated from these crazy guys anyway, he nodded his head vigorously.

"He is still useful. If we have this guy when entering the temple, we will be able to enter comfortably."

Ratel was a human whose plans were more thorough than thought.

Jing, who looked pitifully at Gael who had fallen into despair, pondered for a moment and opened his mouth.

"Do you think there are other children held in the temple as well?"

At Jing's question, Ratel, who rolled his eyes, nodded his head.

Seeing that the answer wasn't enthusiastic, Jing thought it was clear there was another purpose too.

"I cannot enter through the main gate confidently. The reason is...... although you might already know."

No matter how much he pulled down his robe, there were too many people in the capital's temple who would recognize Agoni Piteos.

"I will examine the temple's tower first, so you search the main building. Then......."

"No."

Ratel cut off Jing's words.

"From here on, I will go alone. So Jing, please go your way now."

Jing had to check once again if he heard correctly.

"Did you tell me to go now?"

"Yes. Whether you go to meet the son you were anxiously looking for, or go to find someone else if there is another person you need to meet, do as you please."

Jing narrowed his eyes as he couldn't understand why he, who followed him persistently from Komiel Village, suddenly changed his words.

"Why suddenly? You acted as if you would chase me until death."

"Because the need for it has disappeared now."

Ratel answered plainly and rudely.

"Since I have this guy now, I do not need a guide."

And he grabbed Gael's nape and shook him.

Jing thought about advising that treating a priest like that in front of people wasn't very good, but stopped.

The young man named Ratel wasn't a human who would listen even if he spoke.

"Will there be an occasion to meet again?"

"No. I have no more business with Jing. Our paths are different too."

At Jing's question, Ratel answered firmly.

Jing gazed steadily at Ratel's unwavering eyes and spoke somewhat impulsively.

"Don't you think I know too much to part ways like this?"

Jing couldn't understand why he, who had finally escaped from Ratel, was making a disadvantageous remark that wasn't even asked for.

Perhaps it was because the young man in front of his eyes was a human who jumped into danger himself every time.

"It does not matter since they are things everyone will come to know soon anyway."

It was a forewarning that he would go around causing all sorts of trouble in Abalan soon, but for some reason, he didn't want to stop him, so Jing laughed slightly.

"So you wish for me not to go together?"

Ratel didn't answer this time either.

Jing didn't recommend accompanying him anymore.

Ratel was sufficiently strong, and it was also true that he missed his family in the ducal mansion too much right now.

Furthermore, he felt like he vaguely knew why Ratel was trying to send him away.

Jing reached out his hand to Ratel.

"Come find me anytime."

He didn't say where to, and Ratel didn't ask either.

He just turned around and moved forward, leaving Jing who had reached out his hand as he was, making Jing's hand embarrassed as he left.

Jing stared at his retreating back for a moment, then soon turned his steps.

Midnight was approaching.

It was the start of the ritual, and an opportunity where people's attention would be dispersed.

***

Clack. Clack.

The sound of shoe heels hitting the floor rang through the empty hallway.

Mentil's expression as she walked, breaking the vacuum-like silence was stiffly hardened.

Although there was no hesitation in her steps heading toward the room located at the end of the hallway.

Countless candles lined up on the wall flickered as if urging her, illuminating her path.

Her steps, on which everyone's fate depended, finally stopped, and Mentil stood in front of the old door.

Even while knowing what was inside, Mentil used to get nervous little by little every time before opening the door.

But confident that there would be no day when her heart beat as much as today, she slowly turned the doorknob.

Splash.

The blue water filling the floor of the room with a low threshold soaked Mentil's shoes.

Mentil took off her shoes familiarly and moved her steps carefully.

Wading through the blue liquid, Mentil finally reached the blue rock located at the innermost part of the room.

Mentil slowly placed her hand on the thing emitting a color transparent enough to be brilliant.

Her hand was trembling slightly.

Because she knew it couldn't be turned back now.

Mentil closed her two eyes tightly and focused on the sensation at her fingertips.

The Manis that flowed out was absorbed into the blue rock as if being sucked in.

The liquid filling the room began to shine as if responding to it.

***

Before long, the priests who had been waiting for this day poured out of the temple.

There were a few hidden among those heading to the nobles' mansions.

Those with a different purpose and a different destination.

***

Clack.

The Little Duke looked at the door that swung open without a knock as if he couldn't believe it.

He thought he had gotten somewhat used to the treatment he had never received in his life since arriving at the temple, but to think there was still something left to be surprised about.

However, as if to mock such a Little Duke, the temple priest who opened the door and entered broke the lowest point of rudeness towards the Little Duke once again.

"Don't sit there stupidly and get up!"

He, who shouted threateningly, roughly pulled the Little Duke's arm.

At his action which could be called madness beyond rudeness, the Little Duke's expression turned cold.

Flinn roughly shook off his hand.

"What is the meaning of this? Do the temple priests not have even the minimum common sense?"

Pausing for a moment at the child's spirit, a faint sneer soon spread on the man's face.

"It seems you don't know what the situation is yet. The things you have enjoyed until now are of no use anymore, you foolish thing."

"What does that......"

At the appearance of the Little Duke showing anger at the behavior crossing the line, the man bowed his waist exaggeratedly.

"Now, let us go. The last successor of Piteos. You must go to perform the ritual from now on."

Giggling, he grabbed and dragged the Little Duke by the collar this time.

"Let go of this hand right now!"

"Do you still not get it! There is no one to help you now!"

It was the moment Flinn, unable to endure the terrible treatment, was contemplating whether he could commit the irreverence of throwing a punch at the priest.

"Put the Piteos child down."

A cheeky voice intervened between the priest and the Little Duke.

The priest, who was having fun, turned his body to check the arrogant person interrupting him.

"Who is it!"

The blood drained from the face of the man who was shouting confidently.

The one standing leaning his shoulder against the door was a young child with a small build.

The problem was that his hair was a platinum blond bright enough to be blinding.

At the unmistakable proof of the Imperial Family, the man put the Little Duke down as if throwing him without any time to think further.

"Ugh......!"

Whether Flinn, who bumped his back, made a painful sound or not, the man was just busy bowing his head to the floor.

"So, sorry. I have committed a deadly sin. I failed to recognize you and......"

"Enough. Apologies are unnecessary so get lost now."

The young Imperial family member waved his hand as if annoyed and stopped the man's words.

A perplexed light flashed on the priest's face for a moment.

"Bu, but I received an order to drag the Little Duke......"

"Received from whom?"

Flinn Piteos blankly watched the priest reading the young Imperial family member's mood.

The man seemed to be agonizing over what answer to give.

When he didn't say anything, irritation colored the young Imperial family member's eyes.

"Why aren't you getting lost and staying prostrate? Are you saying you will refuse my command right now?"

"No, no! That is preposterous!"

The man who bowed his head deeper answered urgently.

The young Imperial family member looking down at him narrowed his eyes.

"Seeing you holding out like this, I am curious who the person who gave you the order is. Try telling me once."

"Th, that is......"

The priest, who received a perplexing order this time too, couldn't easily open his mouth.

Sighing at that sight, the young Imperial family member pushed himself off the door he was leaning on, approached the priest, and trampled thoroughly on his hand resting on the floor.

"Can you not understand? I mean there is nothing you can do here anymore. If you want to preserve your life at least, why don't you run and try bowing your head again to the guy who gave you the order."

The priest, who was exhaling rough breaths like a drowning person, raised his body and ran out of the room as soon as the young Imperial family member moved his foot.

Flinn Piteos blankly looked at the young Imperial family member who suddenly appeared and saved him.

Platinum blond hair, gold eyes, and something hidden within that did not seem human.

He was unmistakably an Imperial Family member.

Why did an Imperial Family member help me?

Flinn, who was racking his brain at the incomprehensible situation, snapped to his senses at the cold gaze looking down at him.

"Th, thank you. Oh Imperial Family member."

Flinn's hand, who raised his body and bowed politely, was trembling slightly.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the young Imperial family member had not even a bit of interest in such a state of Flinn.

"What are you standing there stupidly for?"

"Pardon?"

Flinn, who was suddenly scolded, asked blankly.

"Good grief, it seems the Piteos guys get stupider as time goes by."

The young Imperial family member frowned and pointed to the wide-open door with his chin.

"Shouldn't you decide. Whether to remain here and wait for help, or to run away according to your loyal servant's plan in the next room."

At the kind yet annoyed explanation, Flinn opened his eyes wide.

It was as he said.

If it was now, he could run away.

However, unable to know if he could accept the Imperial Family member's words as they were, Flinn couldn't move rashly and looked at the young Imperial family member.

"Why are you standing blankly again? Is the next successor of Piteos an idiot or something?"

At his sarcasm, the Little Duke snapped to his senses.

Clothes and valuables were stored in the next room.

In the basement was a warehouse where tributes offered by the Piteos family were stored.

There must be a reason Tollin explained the two places repeatedly.

Flinn, whose thoughts reached that point, bowed his head to the Imperial Family member in front of his eyes.

"Thank you for your mercy, someday I will definitely repay this debt."

The child kicked the door open and went out without hesitation.

"There is no need to be so grateful. Since the debt is practically already paid."

El, who was watching the back, murmured softly.