"Your highness, please kneel.

I know you aren't stupid..... so connect the dots yourself."

"_"

Eli's eyes bulged out widely and his mind went blank for a moment.

Typically, he knew how to control his expressions very well.

But this particular incident had him shook.

His mouth opened up slightly, and he looked at Zarius in shock.

Why?

Why did he betray him?

Wasn't he good to Zarius all these years?

Even though Zarius wasn't one of his aides... He was still one of his closest knights who had always been by his side.

In fact, one would say that Zarius was like his personal secretary.

But even at that, because Zarius' status wasn't as high as those of his aides, not all information could be passed onto Zarius... At least not until the moment they were setting out for war or anything else.

Because when he discussed with his aides, they usually agreed to keep things away from everyone else... Even their best friends and families.

So as protocol, Eli typically didn't tell Zarius any of his plans... Until it was time for him to take action.

All he could do was tell Zarius to prepare the men for an upcoming mission..... But that was it.

.

Of course, Eli didn't mind sharing or showing Zarius some letters or important info.

But whenever Zarius asked him what were his next steps, he would always stay silent and tell Zarius to prepare the men instead.

He never specified anything or even gave any specific date for when they would move out.

The men just knew that they had to be prepared, and could move out anytime that their leader commanded it.

After all, they got paid to train and battle... So they had no right to question their leader's commands.

Zarius was usually the person who personally gave messages to Eli, and after reading it... Eli would give third massages to Zarius to read as well.

But whatever Eli decided to do about the issue, Zarius had never known until the time to move out.

Again... One should know that Eli received several good and bad messages several times in one month.

And all the time, Eli would just tell him to prepare the men.

So it was generally hard for anyone to guess what they were preparing the men for.

Was it to go to the Capital and make plans against Alec, raid over places and take in more men, or even deal with Slytherin Cord's mess.

In fact, Eli had also had some matters out of Arcadina that directly involved him.

So he was always on the move, and none of the men knew when or what battle they would be fighting next... At least not until the day they were setting out.

In short, as protocol... Eli had always kept his next plans silent.

Looking at Zarius now, he immediately understood why any leader should keep their mouth shut even with their 'most loyal' men.

Because one never knew when these people might turn against them.

If he had been sharing everything with Zarius, then wouldn't he have died ages ago?

.

"Hahahahhahahaha!

I, the great Eli Barn, have truly been blind!

Zarius!

Do you know what you are doing?!!!!" Eli said coldly.

Hid aides who were currently battling in the side, were also shocked as well.

Their bodies trembled, and their mind went all over the place when they thought of the bastard's betrayal.

After everything that their master had done to promote the bastard's position, how dare he pay Eli back with betrayal?

Dammit!

They wanted to quickly run over and tear the son of a b**ch into pieces!

But how could they, when these Baymardians were constantly holding them back?

"Bastard!

Get away from his highness!"

"How dare you?!

Remove that blade from his highness's throat Now!"

The aides and all the rest of Eli's men who were currently fighting beside them bellowed out angrily at what they had just witnessed.

But Eli's men weren't the only ones who were in rage as well.

Connor currently had a blade pointed to his neck as well, by none other than Nicodemus, who was one of his most trusted aides too.

He gritted his teeth and glared at the traitor in rage... All the while imaging how he would steam the traitor's body when he finally escaped from here.

Yes!

He still thought that he could escape!

Landon was also confused as well.

Because even though he saw these men approaching earlier on, the look that they gave their masters made him feel like they weren't coming for him.

And so he decided to see what their intentions were.

The whole thing looked like a movie to him.

Eh?

So this was the famous traitor scene in the movies?

.

Eli and Connor looked at Landon hatefully.

No wonder Landon had arrived here today as well.

So it turns out that these traitors had found a way to sneak out information to him ages ago.

Even Eli who had hidden this information well, was surprised that Zarius had known of his plans ahead of time and had even informed Landon about them too.

It really looked like he had been raising a wolf all this while.

Connor also thought in the same manner as well.

And when both princes looked at Landon, they wanted to see what made him so special that their people would be bought over by him in such a short period of time.

"Little brother... It seemed that we have truly underestimated you once more.

To think that you would be able to make our men turn against us in such a short time."

"Little brother, you are truly great!"

Landon looked at his angry brothers and couldn't help but smile helplessly.

"Elder brothers... I'm innocent alright?"

"Hmph!

Little brother, do you take us for fools?

Do you really want us to believe that you came here purely on coincidence?

How naive do you think that we are?!!"

"In addition to that, If you're innocent.... then who's the real culprit?"

"I Am!!" Said a deep voice from behind the duo.

They tilted their heads and looked at the culprit in shock and confusion.

How... How could it be him?

They stared at the person moving towards them amidst the battle in shock.

As for the culprit, he was none other than William.

"Excuse me... Coming through...ah! Because with your sword friend, it looks really sharp."

(-_-)

William was currently holding peanuts in his hands while waiting and avoiding the men who were fighting along his path.

Of course, he was also surrounded by some Baymardian soldiers as well.

"Sigh... Little cousins, I was so bored in that vehicle... So I decided to see you all instead.

Hm... These peanuts are so good.

Eh... Do any of you want any?"

"_"