Lucian fell down desperate until Magnus, as his skin plumped and his breath became heavier. Turning him to the ground, the prince checked the bullet wound, frowning as he noticed through the hole in the clothes a thin metal plate covering his chest.
"But what the hell...?"
Opening the vest and button-down shirt without blinking, Lucian was surprised that his husband was wearing some kind of protection. However, the bullet still hit him by piercing such protection.
"Your Holiness, we managed to capture the rebels. We must go.", a knight bowed and spoke directly with the prince.
"R-Right" Lucian stammered while giving space.
Two knights helped Magnus climb on the back of a third. Watching them, Lucian noticed the other two wounds in the husband, which also bled.
"Why is he hurt like that... Damn."
"Lucian, calm down" Raven approached her shoulder "Let's go back to the Earl's mansion first."
To ask for calm in such a moment was not so easy. Lucian had so many questions and so many frustrations that barely fit on his chest. While they were escorted back to the mansion by the knights of the temple, the Eighth Prince broached frustration and guilt.
Relied too much on the original story. If it followed
If wasn't for the knights of the temple looking for him, because Lucian is the Saint, what would have happened?
Rubbing his trembling fingers, Lucian became increasingly troubled by his own incompetence.
Lucian knew he was weak. Even for an alpha, Lucian was pathetic for not knowing how to protect himself. However, when he took that sword at that time, the body moved astonishingly on its own. He seemed to know at least to dodge the attacks of the mercenary. Probably the real prince began to train fencing, but never completed?
Another mystery in the Eighth Prince's life.
As soon as they left the forest, Skyler and Rehael were waiting for them with their arms crossed, accompanied by some imperial knights. Both serious and — apparently — calm until they see the knights leaving. The wounded were carried by the knights of the temple and the mercenaries were pulled by ropes. Immediately the Emperor took the lead.
"Leave the rebels with me", a firm voice accompanied the gesture of hand and imperial soldiers, who accompany the Emperor, left their formation and were in charge of the mercenaries. So, Rehael could turn to the two sons "Are they hurt?"
"We're fine, my father", Raven timidly replied.
Rehael noticed the wound on Raven's neck, and rubbed it gently wiping dry blood off her skin. The Emperor let out a grunt when he saw his wounded childs. The Emperor's clear eyes returned to Lucian, noticing that the younger prince was watching Skyler check on Magnus and Stephen's condition.
"Lucian", called him, finally gaining his attention, "They will be well in the care of the priests. You two should go to the mansion with the others. Your brothers and Cassander are worried."
"Yes, my father."
When Raven pulled Lucian's hand, he stood still. For the second time, Lucian turned away from his sister's touch and looked at the princess and the Emperor.
"I want to stay with my husband. Excuse me."
Without waiting for an answer, and desiring silence more than anything, Lucian approached Skyler looking at him without having the need to ask any questions. It was enough to face him for the priest to know what to say.
"I don't know how he is. At first it didn't seem deep", Skyler answered directly and looked at the knights of the temple. "The doctor has arrived, take them both to Count Vauhnir, he will direct a suitable room for them. And tell the family of young Baragnon that he has been found."
The knights did not take long to follow orders. A few steps back, Skyler walked with Lucian, having the Emperor and the Princess a few meters ahead. There was a quiet and uncomfortable tension there. In Lucian's head there was a pressure in mind that judged each act his own bad decision and end up putting several people in danger.
His mind was so mischievous that, seeing the calm expression of Skyler, the prince came to consider his slight frown as a sign of judgment. Maybe Skyler didn't really care about his attitude, or maybe he wouldn't even know what happened, but Lucian still felt like he was being condemned in the priest's mind.
Sometimes our greatest enemy is ourselves.
"Why do you look like that, Your Highness? Are you worried about your husband?"
Blinking slightly stunned by being caught staring at him, Lucian was surprised to hear the priest pulling subject with him.
"The whole situation is worrying."
The agonizing silence was replaced by chaos when they arrived at the mansion. The knights, for the most part, seemed to follow express orders from the Emperor and Cadec, taking care of the captured rebels and mercenaries, taking them somewhere far away from the sun. The knights of the temple were instructed by Cassander and the Countess to treat the wounded, showing the rooms and rooms that were prepared at the last minute to help in the treatment.
Even before Lucian thought of anything, Cassander spotted him and ran to hug him tight.
"Lucian! By the Goddess!!! Thank you.... Thanks for being alive!!"
The warmth and gripping voice of the Imperial Consort was encouraging on some level. The prince could hear his father's heart beating fast and his hands trembling as he pressed it against his chest. For the first time saw him so scared and fragile, which confused Lucian even more.
"Are you hurt? Have they done you any harm?"
"I'm fine, the knights of the temple rescued us."
"Surely your father and I will hear everything you have to say later.", Cassander slid his fingers gently through the prince's golden hair, bringing that feeling of being a child in the care of his father. "You should be evaluated by the village doctor... And soon the real doctor will arrive and we can have all the help possible."
"I think His Highness should rest", opined Skyler "He looks in shock."
"Sure, sure. Please let him rest in the same room as the Grimwood. The younger brothers are waiting for them."
Cassander let Lucian go to rest by sliding his fingers in his hair one last time. As Lucian passed through Count Vauhnir's mansion, the voices and laments were mere humming in his ears. For the first time he witnessed such chaos, this being a mere attack of rebels. It was not like a war, but still as stormy and destructive as one. The nobles who were so proud of their pompas now were crying with sadness.
The room where Magnus was taken was on the second floor, spacious environment and seemed ready to receive him. Leaving the side room, the doctor changed his gloves and went straight to the huge bed where the Grand Duke was lying.
"Okay, let's see the damage..."
Lucian stopped at the door and watched the doctor do the first tests with some assistants. It was surprising to see Eugene himself helping him, looking focused.
"He volunteered to care for the wounded" He heard a voice say behind him.
Turning surprised, Lucian saw Jesse with his arms crossed.
"What about your wife?"
"She also volunteered. Some young people from families followed their example and are helping this doctor. He has not stopped since he arrived, and we hope that more help will come tonight."
"I understand."
Through the whole process of the doctor cleaning Magnus' wounds, assessing his condition, looking at his medicine case and preparing something to give to the Grand Duke... Lucian watched everything in silence and remorse. He bit his own lip without knowing exactly what to feel. He could be relieved to see Magnus semi-conscious and drinking the medicine, but there was also concern to see the blood stains on his clothes.
After long and agonizing minutes, the doctor turned to the Grimwood.
"Rest and change bandages later. I will come back later to give him more medicine, but for now he is fine. When the royal doctor arrives, I will let him take care of His Grace."
"Thank you very much."
The doctor just waved to Lucian and left in a rush to probably see another patient. Eugene just hugged Lucian's shoulders before following him leaving him alone with Jesse and Skyler.
His stomach weighed, even though the worst had passed, the feeling of suffocation remained. Lucian sat down in a chair and rubbed his trembling fingers on the forehead without noticing the Emperor and Cassander coming into the room. Even when he heard them asking for news from Jesse, Lucian remained head down being eaten alive by the guilt.
Rehael closed the door of the room and took exactly three steps to stop in front of Lucian. Even when the alpha did not look directly at his father, his low but very serious voice made his youngest son tremble.
"What the hell was going through your head, Lucian? Why did you run off into the woods when the riders were bringing you here?"
Lucian raised his head facing the harsh gaze of the Emperor. That intense presence, that stoic expression that made him want to bow his shoulders and beg forgiveness for the mistake committed. The cowardice always existing within him.
"I just... thought I could bring young Baragnon back..."
"Do you know how to fight? Do you know how to wield a sword?"
"No, I..."
"Then why did you act in such a way, Lucian? You're a prince! There are knights here to protect you."
"I know that, I just thought I could bring that guy back..."
"You are a prince and not a knight, Lucian!", shouted the Emperor, making his son tremble slightly. Noticing the dread in his own son's eyes, Rehael took a deep breath and lowered his voice "The Grand Duke warned me about your prophecy, we were prepared for any danger. In addition to the guards positioned at visible points, we had men hidden around the hunting field within the forest. The knights of the Grimwood family themselves were summoned to this mission. Even I asked for help from the knights of the temple, considering that this was a warning from a Saint!"
Those words fed the guilt of Lucian on his shoulders. The shame and embarrassment he gave certainly cost dearly. It's okay that he did not have the slightest idea of the greatness of this operation, after all Magnus was discreet and rarely talked about confidential matters of his work. However, his husband had confirmed that something was being done, and Lucian chose to act on his own, ignoring the danger of that reality.
"When the Goddess uses the sickle to follow the fate of the human, no one is able to stop it" whispered Skyler. When their eyes met, the priest's serene voice continued to sound like a secret "That serves for this afternoon's attack."
Lucian felt even more sick. Now he would have to face the fury of those people who would surely judge his actions.