Elliot quietly studied the options. The second option was obviously the safest route. He didn't have to risk anything if he simply opted out of the side quest. Yet, that would mean he couldn't reap the benefits. But killing Mathew was dangerous. What if he needed him? Elliot knew he was powerless. The only one who had the power to command was missing. And the best fighting power he had was still learning how to wield a sword. 

There was no easy way that guaranteed Mathew's support. Elliot could only think of promising Mathew the throne, but that wasn’t possible. After careful consideration, he still selected the words 'kill Mathew', making a distorted ding tinged in his mind.

[The player has chosen to kill Mathew. This process will be saved.

Saving...

Saving...

An Unknown Error has occurred. Closing the window and restarting.]

Elliot lifted a brow. Did it malfunction? He couldn't help but feel the system was more useless rather than helpful. He tried to open the system once again but to no avail. Not even a single ding echoed in his mind. How strange...

Elliot put the system aside for now. Whatever he already made a decision. He didn't need the system anyway.

Thinking this, he realized there was another problem. How exactly could he kill Mathew? Looking at himself, there was no way. His eyes then drifted to a certain vial of medicine that always rested on his nightstand.

Poison could be an option.

Just as he was contemplating, he heard a commotion outside the door. Peaking out, he saw people frantically running about. Some shouted orders while others followed through. Elliot had an ominous feeling in his chest.

He quickly stopped a servant that was rushing past the door. She clenched a bag to her chest as she kept her head down. Feeling a hand on her shoulder, her body stiffened in terror. She looked at Elliot with great fear until she realized who it was. It may have been his imagination, but Elliot couldn't help but feel that the servant's gaze turned from fear to sympathy.

"Your highness…" she started, but she was interrupted by the howling of a soldier.

"You! What are you doing?! Hurry up!"

The servant quickly bowed before she departed, not wanting to stay any longer.

The soldier noticed Elliot and quickly made their way towards him. "Your highness, you must hurry. We don't have much time. The countess is awaiting your arrival."

"Aunt is? Hold on, what's going on? Is everyone alright?"

The soldier shook their head solemnly, "it's not my place to say, though the countess and earl are fine- staying here is no longer safe." The soldier spoke quickly as they ushered Elliot through the crowd.

Elliot found himself being led towards the study. There, Winston was preparing a suitcase. Filling it with a few documents as countess Jasmine pleaded, the worry on her brow was prominent. "Please, dear! Don't go! It's too dangerous right now. We still don't understand the full situation!"

The earl was in a fit of rage, something that Elliot nor Jasmine had seen before. His eyes were bloodshot as he slammed his suitcase shut. "It was obviously one of those vial children! So wretched! To do that to your own-"

Winston stopped speaking as soon as he saw Elliot lingering by the door. The soldier that escorted him quickly bowed while announcing his arrival before scurrying to close the door.

Elliot watched the two as countess Jasmine avoided his gaze. Elliot felt his chest fill with unease, making his words fumble.

"What...what's going on? Uncle?"

The room fell silent, with only the clamoring of servants being heard, muffled by the walls between them.

Winston finally looked at Elliot and softly spoke. "your mother was murdered."

Jasmine's body shook at the sentence; as Elliot instantly felt a chill spread from his chest. He couldn't explain it. But his body felt frozen and yet numb to everything around him.

Why?

Gabriel's mother didn't spare a single glance at this son of hers. And yet, the stinging in his eyes nearly made tears welled up.

Elliot felt a ball of anger grow inside him. Why should he care? He was not Gabriel.

Winston continued as he spoke, with a hint of grief and anger laced in his words.

"I received the news recently from my soldiers hidden in the castle. Elise-" there was a slight hesitation before he finally said, "your mother was poisoned. Now the castle is in chaos." He glanced at Jasmine, "I can't just sit here. I must go and calm things down if not-who knows what the princes will do. Elise was the only one who could have stopped them from inciting assassinations. The king is still bedridden if the princes get any ideas..."

Elliot knew. If his brothers were to take this opportunity to assassinate the king, then they didn't have to wait to ascend the throne. 

Jasmine kept her head down, her expression unknown. Although Elliot couldn't see her face, he knew she must be suffering. Despite what Elliot thought of this mother of his. She was still Jasmine's sister.

Elliot stood in a daze before he fixed his expression. "Go, if things continue like this, then this whole kingdom might as well just fall."

Winston nodded and started to take his leave. But paused before the door and pressed his hand onto Elliot's shoulder. Elliot looked up at the man whose eyes were red and stared deeply at him. Elliot couldn't understand the meaning behind his gaze, but the pressure on his shoulder started to hurt.

Elliot clenched his teeth, unsure of what to say, before Winston expressed, "You must take care...you're not as strong as the others...please Gabriel. Watch over yourself."

With those words. He made one last glance towards Jasmine and swiftly left.

Elliot quietly watched Winston's fleeing back. He had the foreboding urge to follow him. Until Jasmine's gentle hand awoke him.

"Gabriel, are you alright?"

Elliot gave her a genial smile before he gently patted Jasmin's hand. A knock came from the door. It was the soldier that led Elliot towards the study. Their voice was distressed along with their expression, "Madam, we must leave. A fight broke out in the courtyard, and I'm afraid our soldiers can't hold them off any longer."

A fight? Why would they attack the Earl's home? He would understand it if it was one of his brother's estates, but here?

Elliot didn't hesitate to lead Jasmine out of the study. He was still curious if Winston's soldiers were able to find out who it was that poisoned the queen, but before he could ask, a few voices called out just ahead. One more erratic than the other.

"Prince Gabriel!"

"Stop running, you idiot!"

It was George and Edward respectively.

George called out frantically, his face flushed red with sweat from running all over. Edward followed behind with a face full of annoyance.

Gabriel panted as he halted his fumbling steps."I was so worried! When we went to your chambers, you weren't there!"

Edward didn't delay any longer, "Come this way. I have already set up a carriage to escort you and the countess."

Before Elliot could question him. He was dragged along by George and Jasmine.

He heard the clamoring of swords in the halls of the estate as they made their way through the back of the estate. The intruders seemed to have forced their way deeper into the building. The smell of blood was prominent, lingering in their noses. Elliot felt faint at the sight of the fallen corpses. The horrific memory of the dead assassin over his body seemed to flash in his mind, making him feel a great panic. He tried to quell his excessive heartbeat as he faced ahead.

Finally, outside, the chilled air pushed the bloody scent away. When they made it down a pathway through the gardens, Elliot noticed an iron carriage guarded by dozens of soldiers. Elliot paused; he recognized some soldiers to be Mathew's men.

Edward saw his hesitation, "it was prince Uriel who killed her."

Elliot was taken aback. If someone were to hear these words, they would doubt the person. Elliot felt that Edward was trying to be genuine.

He merely nodded and said what Edward wanted to hear, "I trust in brother."

"We will make our way to the vineyard," Jasmine shouted.

The estate was surrounded by the northern forest, with much of its land owned by the earl. It was hard to navigate. So, a vineyard, known only to the couple, was built deep within."

Though, before they could even reach the carriage, a sword slashed through one of the guarding soldiers. People clad in black and brown robes emerged from the shadows with hoods and masks covering their identity.

"Barricade the carriage!" Edward didn't hesitate to unsheathe his sword as he barked orders. He pushed Elliot into George's arms, "get him safe!" 

George had a slight hesitation before he nodded and pulled Elliot along. "Prince Gabriel, stay close!"

Elliot kept a close eye out and couldn't help but scoff. Was it not enough to kill his mother? Still, why go after Gabriel? Did he grow tired of waiting for the poison to kick in? Elliot couldn't help but feel that this attack was suspicious.

"Prince Gabriel, don't be afraid." George's voice was soft as he fended off a few soldiers, "I won't let anything happen to you."

But not long after, a silver sword struck down against George's longsword.

It was swift and agile. One could tell that its wielder had been through many battles. George quickly pulled Elliot behind him, staying guard against the man in black.

The soldiers clashed against the mysterious intruders as they quickly invaded with full force, nearly breaking the blockade.

The man clad in black robes stood tall with the silver blade pointed to the ground, his stance ready for any attack. His voice was hoarse and deep as he spoke with arrogance.

"Step aside."

George's expression darkened at the man, "I won't let you have him!"

With those words, he struck first, but the stranger was nimble and easily avoided every attack. With quick movements, it was like he was playing with a child.

Elliot wasn't sure, but he felt the glint in the man's dark eyes had a familiar feel to them.

"Why are you striking here? What does Uriel want with Gabriel? He has nothing to do with the throne! Or is he that self-conscious to try and assassinate a sick prince?!" George shouted, his frustration eminent on his face, "Let him be! He doesn't have much to live!"

The man's hand imperceptibly trembled before he struck George with more force.

"Silence!"

Elliot ignored the fight and hastily searched for a path. He scanned the carriage. Thankfully It hadn't been breached yet. Jasmine anxiously waved, calling out to Elliot. "Gabriel! Hurry over!"

Elliot selected a path and dashed over. He nearly made it to the carriage when a hand snagged the collar of his suit. Elliot felt a great discomfort in his throat when he heard someone quietly warn him. "Whoa now, don't move."

Good. He wasn't going to be killed yet. Without any hesitation, Elliot kicked the horse attached to the carriage. Scaring out of the fighting.

The soldier guarding the carriage nearly fell over as he grabbed hold of the reins. He looked over at Elliot with widened disbelief, but before the man could yell out and stop the carriage, Elliot shouted, "if she dies, I'll kill you myself!"

The soldier hesitated. But eventually guided the horse into the forest. Jasmine's eyes widened as she saw her nephew's figure grow smaller by the second.

Once Elliot knew Jasmine was safe, his heart cooled. He struggled in the man's arms, trying to break free. But his body was weak. After all this excitement, his healing body couldn't take any more strain. He felt an intensifying pain in his chest and lungs.

Edward noticed the struggle as he furrowed his brows, "George! What are you doing?! Letting him get caught like that!" he tried to make his way towards Elliot but was immediately blocked by a group of men.

George was too engrossed with the fight that he truly didn't notice until he heard the shout. He turned towards Elliot in a panic, “Prince-!”

But once he looked away, he felt an unbearable sting on his back. The man in black had struck him cleanly. With that, he nimbly went past him towards Elliot.

Elliot continued to struggle regardless of the discomfort in his chest, cursing in his mind.

"Let go, or I'll bite my tongue," he warned.

The person in brown paused. Sure enough, they didn't want to kill him. At least not yet. Confusion carpeted their eyes. "You-" before they could say anymore, Elliot used as much force as he could to bite down on the person's arm. 

The person cursed and reflexively released him, giving him time to bolt away. 

As he ran, Elliot felt a hot sting in his chest. Climbing and building up in his body. It was unbearably heavy, though he pushed forward. He couldn’t be caught right now! He needed to at least see the throne before he died!

Elliot was surprisingly slippery as he escaped. Weaving through the fighting people. He managed to make it into the forest. Trees passed him as he let out strained coughs. The sound of fighting slowly faded as he continued deeper. 

He knew he had gotten far, but he didn't feel it was enough. He forced his way through, but his body finally couldn't handle it.

His knees started to buckle, his sight was getting blurry, and his head was pounding with pain that stemmed from his chest reaching towards his throat. Whatever was lingering inside him was starting to come out. He felt he was going to wretch any second.

He suddenly felt his body fall forward as he coughed up a mouthful of blood. But just when he thought he would feel the cold floor slam against his body, a warm arm tightly grasped his chest.

Elliot was alarmed, but it was hard to move. His body tensed but subconsciously eased when he heard a gentle hoarse voice pant beside his ear.

“You're such a troublesome king. To think you’ve run so far.”

The man in black pulled Elliot closer to his body and easily picked him up into his arms. Elliot glared at the man. He hurriedly scratched at his face but paused as soon as he pulled the black mask off.

Flynn held onto Elliot's hand, pulling it away from his face with a slight frown. Though, this frown didn't show any anger. Rather, it seemed more distressed.

 “Don’t overexert yourself like that again. You know how much your body can handle.” Flynn’s face was stern as he wiped away the excess blood on Elliot’s face.

Elliot dumbly stared at this familiar man. He thought he was dreaming, and despite himself, lifted a hand, pinching the man’s cheek.

Flynn was taken aback by this action but quickly cooled his expression. He let the little prince do as he liked as he softly chuckled. 

“I'm back, your highness.”