Poloria's POV
"Mother. I'm back." Kai approached with his face and body covered completely in blood. "Good job. Wash yourself in the river and come eat." He nodded and walked off. I watched him walk away and smiled.
His martial arts have improved drastically in real life battles. He thankfully didn't have any large injuries, but he's learned a lot and gotten battle clever as a result.
"He resembles you in your younger years, Master." Kana said. "Really?" I asked. "Yes, Master. A hundred and some men were mostly wiped out by young master. He also captured the captain on his own. He's very able."
"That's good. If he didn't improve, bringing him out would've been for nothing." I throw another stick in the fire. "Any news?" I glance at her and she shook her head. "Not yet."
"Sis~!" I look up to see Ri running towards me with a smile. "What are you? A child?" I asked. "I was just excited to see you." I shake my head. "Pour her some water." Kana nodded and Ri gave me the letter in her hand. "Here. I personally brought you the news."
I open the letter and read it. "It's done. He's been taken out." I throw the letter in the fire and watch it burn. "What next?" Ri asked. "Take care of things here and head back. As long as nothing untoward happens."
"Master. The Princess of Lino Kingdom is here." Someone said from behind me. "Escort her in." Kai said as he approached. I stand up, take the rabbit soup off the fire and put some of it in two bowls.
I gave own bowl to Ri and the other to Kai. "Thank you, Mother." He said with a smile. "Sit and eat." I took the towel that he was drying his hair with from him when he sat down and began drying his hair.
"Master, they're here." Kana said as she stepped aside. The Princess herself was young, a few years older than Kai but still young. "You're the one in charge?" She asked, looking at Kai. Mannerless too, how original. "I didn't know the one who killed over a hundred of our people was led by someone so young." Kai ignored her.
"I'm talking to you. How dare you ignore me?" She raised her voice and took a step forward but was stopped. "What's her name?" Kai asked. "Lovian Malin." Kana answered.
I glanced up at the group that walked in with her and looked away. "What is her standing?" Kai drank another spoonful of the soup as he looked at Kana. "You rude littl-..." Kai glared at the Princess and she stopped talking, taking a step back out of fear.
"She is the only Princess of Lino Kingdom. Any other Princess was killed in birth or before they came to term." Kai looked away from the Princess.
"What about the King?" Kana shook her head. "The Queen only has two children. The Crown Prince and this Princess but the Queen doesn't like the King as she was forced into the marriage. To show his dissatisfaction for the Queen not liking him, he began doting on his high-ranking Consort." Kana glanced at the Princess.
"Together, they have a prince who is in great power and is trying his hardest to kill the Crown Prince." Kai nodded. "Then killing her will be of no use. Send her back but kill those she came with." Swords were drawn immediately, ready to carry out Kai's orders.
I raise my hand and everyone stepped back. "Killing her has no value but using her does." I say to him. "Do you all think I am deaf and blind? How dare talk about me as though I am not even here?" I hand the towel to Kana and stepped forward.
"Did you know those men you used weren't yours? The moment you would've gone to raid the camp where your father's general is, you would've died. You know why?" She didn't answer. "Because those men were your half-brother's. The prince actively trying to kill you."
"She's right, Lovian." A man spoke up from behind her. She turned in shock, to see her brother standing in the back of the group. "Walking into an unknown camp with only these few men would get you killed before you even reached the General's camp." He walked forward. "Brother... You."
He walked past her, stopped in front of me and bowed. "Greetings, Master." I nod. "It's been a while Lanin. With the news I was hearing, I thought you'd grown incompetent." He bowed again. "I was soon about to make my move. I hadn't expected that Master would appear."
"Excuses aren't like you but I seem to keep hearing them a lot lately. Is it an upward trend among you?" He chuckled and bowed his head again.
"I wasn't aware I had junior siblings." I raised an eyebrow at his attempt of a joke. "Why would I have more of you? I have enough children." He smiled and switched the topic. "I was surprised when I saw marks that looked like yours when I inspected the bodies earlier. I hadn't expected that you gave birth to a miniature version of yourself."
"My child is nothing short of impressive but you... What have you been doing?" He sighed deeply. "My sister is too young. She thinks about the surface and not the depths. So, I'm using this time to hone her skills and mind." I nod. "You've been using my teachings. At least you aren't completely useless."
Ri scoffed. "She's not young. She's just stupid." Lanin looked at Ri and smiled. "Ri. It's been a while." She rolled her eyes at him. "This isn't time for you to start a romance with my aunt. Prince Lanin." Kai said as he stood up.
"Mother also brought me out to hone my skills and I am younger than your sister yet I'm making better decisions with a twenty-person team than she is with a fifty-person team. Your way of teaching is correct, but the speed is too lax. By the time she gets smart, the Capital will no longer be yours for the taking." I sit down and watch them interact, quietly.
"You think that because you're my brother's master's son that you can do and say as you please? In a one-on-one fight, you're nothing but a bag of bones with a heavy sword you know how to swing." Kai chuckled. "Is this your way of trying to insult me? Too weak. I've heard worse from the women in this camp."
Kai unsheathes his sword. "I can gouge your eyes out and cut your tongue from where I stand, and your brother will think you deserve it. So, watch your mouth if you can't back it up with your actions." I couldn't help but to smile. He adjusted his role quickly.
Lanin looked at the sword in Kai's hands and reached out. "This is your sword?" Kai sheathed the sword before Lanin could touch it.
"You recognize it?" Kai asked. "Of course I did. I-..." I cut him off. "That camp a few miles south, is it yours?" Lanin looked at me and nodded. "Yes. They managed to destroy a batch of Janve before it reached the Capital. A banquet will be happening three months from now, so they will be using it there to get rid of us." He confirmed.
"Then you no longer need me here. I originally came to investigate what was happening and since I've done that, then there's no need to stay anymore." He bowed. "Thank you, Master." I stand up, walk over to him and pat his shoulder. "Don't speak things you shouldn't." I stepped back. "Send news of your coronation and I'll be here."
"Yes, Master."