Chapter 90: 90: Playing The Duke II
Eden knew Leo was the most stubborn amongst the three. He was a proud type who wouldn’t give in so easily.
So he didn’t expect Leo to give in immediately. But as long as he had planted that seed, Eden was confident at least.
"You’re fairly close to the royal family and most especially, the Princes. So what makes you think I’d allow someone like you to even work with me? Isn’t that setting myself up?"
Eden laughed "Your Grace, you’re actually more naive than I even thought. What makes you think I’m close to them? And most especially... friends with them?"
He smiled now as he continued "You’re underestimating me though. Haven’t you perhaps, heard of the world... Pretence?"
Leo watched Eden as Eden continued. "it’s said that if you want something from someone, you have to work even harder than a Chameleon to get it"
Eden knew no one says that. But still!
"So it’s all an act?"
"I thought you could tell. But oh well, I guess I’m just too good with my acting" Eden smiled.
Leo hesitated "What do you want from them then?" He questioned Leo.
"If I tell you, then it won’t be confidential anymore" Eden said "So I don’t think you even need to know about what I want from the Royal family. As long it doesn’t have anything to do with you"
Leo knew he wouldn’t even bother telling him even if he threatened to kill him right now at the spot. So he didn’t bother pushing it.
"But since we actually have similar stands against the Royal family, why don’t we perhaps work together and take them down? I promise, I will play it fair and won’t harm you. You do that too. That way, we both win. What do you say?"
He raised an eyebrow, staring curiously at Leo while wondering what reply he had to give.
"If you could be pretentious with the Royal family, what makes me different? How can I not expect to be stabbed by you?" Leo questioned.
"It’s easy. We have a common gaol against them. And that’s what ties us together. So don’t worry, we’ll play a fair game till they’re out of sight. And then we can continue our enmity. What do you say?"
Leo had no predictable expression while he stared at Eden. It was as though he was still trying to read through him. "And how helpful.. can you even be?"
"A whole lot. As much as you want me to. I stay within their walls, so I can get any evidence you want from them. Enough evidence to convict them publicly" He explained.
Now Leo pushed the sword closer to his neck while leaning closer to meet Eden’s face "You’re a wizard who was able to magically know about this. So why can’t you magically get me the evidence?"
Eden smiled "It doesn’t work like that honey. I’m powerless, remember?" He asked knowing that even Leo wouldn’t buy that.
"And knowing is different from having. You need concrete evidence right now, which you have no stand of getting. So why don’t you let someone you can rely on get it for you?"
Eden added "We’ll be partners. Partners working towards the same aim for a period of time. How does that sound? Exciting, right?" He smiled.
Leo kept on staring at Eden as though he was going to pluck out his soul with his eyes. Eden didn’t even know how to feel about the state.
And just then Leo finally pulled backwards, removing the sword from Eden’s neck.
Eden let out a sharp gasp.
He couldn’t believe it, did it actually work? Was he not going to kill him but rather let him help him?
Eden would have actually believed that his plan had worked faster than he imagined, if Leo hadn’t said.
"And what makes a wizard like you think you’re worthy of striking a deal with me? Just because you know some secrets?" He questioned walked towards his horse, his back against Eden.
Eden paused.
Leo scoffed "If you know the secrets so well, maybe you should take them to your grave for me" Leo now turned to face Eden "That would keep the secret safer for me"
Eden gasped now, a different one all together. It was obvious now that this proud Duke was going to have his head.
Not only to get the Emperor’s attention, but to keep his freaking secret!
"Damn, Lenny. Be on standby.." Eden said in his mind, knowing that he had to flee!
"Sure thing" Lenny replied.
"And what do you mean?" Eden questioned, even while knowing what he meant.
Leo smiled, now vicious "Easy. I’ll kill you to shut up you and still get my glory"
Eden could tell he was just that proud to give in to his flawed plot and ask Eden for help. Typical of his character!
Eden didn’t want to look defeated. He casually smiled "Is that so? Then I’d like to see how you do it"
Leo smirked "Then be my guest" He pulled out his sword, aiming to cut off Eden’s head with it.
But immediately the horses that lined up behind Eden suddenly cried and fell down. Automatically, those who sat on the horses fell too..
"Ahhhh"
There was a scream from behind as they all turned to see what was happening. The horses kept falling down one by one and so did the men on them.
Leo was confused as he subconsciously brought down his sword "What’s happening?"
He questioned as he looked around, alert. The guards on their horse behind were also looking around at alert.
"What’s happening?"
"What’s that?"
"I think something’s in the woods"
While they looked around, Eden smiled knowing that Lenny was at work. Taking them all down from the leg.
The horses kept falling as Leo and his guards looked around to see what was the cause of it. They couldn’t see the snake that was quickly roaming through the ground, biting down the horses.
Eden smiled, it was his cue to escape.