A/N: action. as i promised. this chapter really gets into the T section of this. it's gruesome, just to warn you.

The morning air was cool and crisp as a slight breeze blew against the soldiers out on the field. They began their morning preparations before heading back out into battle. Corona had suffered little casualties unlike the kingdom of Falria, who had suffered a bit more. A few more months had passed since Eugene found out about the birth of his children. Within those short months, they had already arrived to the kingdoms borders. The soldiers had to be well hidden, along with the main area of the camp. If they played their cards right, Eugene should finish the job in a few days, and the war will end. Only resulting in about nine months out. That was the motive they had planned to stick too.

Eugene was already awake before the other soldiers. The Captain wanted to make sure he was well-prepared for the critical mission ahead of him. Eugene headed towards the camp and saw the Captain. He gave a nod of acknowledgement before heading over to Eugene. He handed him a belt with a dagger, a change of clothing, and a dark cloak. Eugene grabbed them and quickly changed. The new clothing felt familiar to his old style which made him feel significantly better.

"Alright, Fitzherbert. Here's the plan." The Captain started, "You will be following behind a few of the other guards in a similar disguise. They will lead you to the gates of the castle where you will scale the wall over to the other side. The guards will be stationed at the front gates and doors. You will go through the courtyard and climb towards the room. There you will go to the lowest tower and climb in. You will keep going down the hallway until you reach the fifth room on your right. Climb in, kill the man, leave as quick as you can. Since we are on schedule, the man should still be asleep. Now let's get going."

Eugene nodded and threw the cloak over his shoulder. He lifted the hood as his hand fiddled with the edge of the dagger. He gave a deep breath, closing his eyes to sort out his thoughts. Eugene felt incredibly queasy about having to stab someone. He knew what it felt like. He knew how it felt to die. Eugene didn't want to do this, but he had too. There was no choice in the matter. He needed to do it for his kingdom.

His family.

Everything had started to happen in a blur. Before Eugene knew it, he stood at the gates of the castle. He had gotten many good lucks and see you soon. Eugene let out a deep breath, he sincerely hoped so.

He carefully, quietly climbed the wall before jumping down on the other side. Eugene looked around to see no one had noticed him yet. This cloak was irritating and just getting in the way. He untied it, dropping it onto the floor. Much better. Eugene made a quick dash across the courtyard before arriving at another wall. He looked up before looking at it thoughtfully. If he played his cards right, this should be easy. Eugene stepped back a few steps before making a running head-start and jumping onto the wall. Climbing it was easy enough for him.

Eugene had made it to the top before looking around once more. He was safe and started sprinting along the top of the roof. He skillfully jumped from top to top until arriving at the instructed place. Eugene looked around once more before climbing through the window. He landed with a loud thump on the old staircase. Eugene headed down the staircase quickly. He hid from any guards that stood in his way before bounding down the hallway. Eugene arrived at the instructed door before quietly slipping in.

There the man was, sleeping away like no tomorrow. Only then did Eugene realized who that was. The crowned prince of the kingdom. Eugene wanted to run. He wanted to so badly. But this had to be done. He unsheathed his dagger, holding it tightly in his hand. Eugene quietly made it by the bedside, raising the dagger to plunge it into the chest of the man. Just as Eugene was itches from the man's chest, a hand swiftly reached up, catching Eugene's wrist. The man rose from his bed, twisting Eugene's wrist in a painful way as his arm twisted.

"You think you people would learn the element of surprise doesn't work anymore." The man hissed, pushing Eugene back as he stood from his bed. He came closer to Eugene, grabbing the dagger and throwing it towards the window. He grabbed his Eugene's collar, pushing him against the wall, "Honestly. I'm sure you could come up with more crafty ways of assassination attempts."

The man let go with one hand, balling it into a fist before blowing a punch into Eugene's stomach. He tossed him on the ground as Eugene tried to ignore the pulsing pain in his stomach, "How rude of me. Allow me to introduce myself. Prince Elthon of Falria. And you are?" He asked, extending his hand. Eugene glared at the man before trying to get up. Elthon only laughed, kicking Eugene in the ribcage, causing him to fall back on the ground. He lowered himself to Eugene's level, "My, my. You do look familiar." He said in lowered tone as Eugene took this chance to aim a throw at the man's nose. And it worked.

The Prince scowled and immediately rose, calling for guards. They quickly came, picking Eugene up off the ground, "Take him to the dungeons. I believe you know what cell to place him in. I'll be there shortly." He said. And with that, the men had started to drag Eugene off.

But he wasn't going down without a fight. Eugene thrashed about but the guards only responded with harsh blows to the Prince Consort. After what seemed like an eternity, Eugene was thrown into a cell. He frowned once looking around. Shackled stood against the wall as there was no windows and the only door was the one he was shoved it.

What was going to happen to him?

After a few minutes, the Prince came back in, finely dressed. He handed the guards a quill and parchment paper as he held some sort of whip in his hands. For the first time in a few years, Eugene was genuinely frightened. The guards were instructed to chain Eugene to the wall, which they did. The Prince was wearing a look he knew all to well, "Remove his shirt and vest." He ordered. The guards did as they instructed and were ordered to leave the room.

"So. Who are you?" Elthon asked, toying with the end of the whip that he had. Eugene didn't dare look at the man. He was not going to answer him. He couldn't risk his family's life, "Do you have a family?" He asked, trying to hit a chord with the man in front of him. Elthon seemed quite displeased by the lack of answers. He walked in front of Eugene and placed a hand under his chin, roughly pulling it up to look at him. And that's when the Prince realized who exactly he was face to face with. This made everything seem so much sweeter.

"Ah! So you're Eugene Fitzherbert, are you not?" He asked, "Prince Consort to the absolutely stunning Princess. And I hear you are a father now! How hard this must be for you." Eugene refused to answer that. He was still not going to stay a word to this man, "Oh? You are neither going to confirm nor deny this?"

Elthon pressed a firm slap to Eugene's face, his cheek becoming red instantly. Eugene pursed his lips together, ignoring the pain he felt, "If you don't answer me right now, you will be begging for mercy." He threatened. Eugene could hear that this man had meant it. Eugene merely shrugged, head hung low. Elthon only let out a pleasured chuckle, unraveling the whip he had with him. Eugene saw this. He closed his eyes, preparing for the worth. If this was going to keep his family safe, so be it.

Elthon went around to Eugene's back, cracking it as Eugene continued to brace the worst. The Prince muttered something under his breath before striking Eugene's back. A lash mark instantly appeared, already drawing a bit of blood. The man did not seem pleased with this. Again he did it, this time harder. Eugene tried so hard to stop from crying out in pain. There was no way he was going to let this man see him in such a weakened state. Eugene bit his lip, trying to keep from screaming in agony.

"Oh? Going to play it rough are we?" He asked in a mock voice, "Two can place at this game, Mr. Fitzherbert. And no need to tell me now, your actions speak so much louder than words." Eugene shook his head.

He knew.

xxxx

Eugene wasn't sure how much time passed until Elthon left him alone. All he could feel was the amount of pain he was in. He was sure there was over fifty lashes on his back. Eugene could feel the blood running down his back and pretty sure it was already pooling on the ground below him. Eugene was pretty sure he had never felt such pain before. It was hard not to cry out. Luckily, he was able to muffle his cries down. Eugene sagged down against the chains, his knees barely touching the ground.

Eugene thought the Prince was going to leave him alone for the rest of the day. That wasn't the case. Only after a few minutes of his brutal beatings, the Prince had returned. A small writing desk was placed before him, along with a quill and parchment. Elthon had a dagger in his hands as he walked back over to Eugene.

"How are you feeling? Not in too much pain, are you?" He asked. Elthon used the tip of the dagger to lift up Eugene's face. He could see the pain etched onto the man's face. His expression was worn and tired. Elthon simply shrugged, walking back behind Eugene's back to inspect the damage he had done. He used the dagger to deepen some of the lashings, drawing more blood from his face. Eugene couldn't help the agonizing yelp that left his throat. Elthon seemed pleased with this. He withdrew his dagger, only trailing it lightly up and down Eugene's arm.

"Have you ever written a letter in blood? Works wonders to the people you send it too. You get practically anything." Elthon said in a sickening way. He dug the dagger deeper into Eugene's arm, sliding it down to cut his skin vertically. Eugene couldn't help the yell that left his throat this time. Stopping above the elbow, Elthon threw the dagger onto the ground, pleased with his results. Eugene couldn't take this. And it was only the first day of this. How long was this bound to go on for?

Elthon grabbed his quill, running it along the incision he made in Eugene's arm, "How do you think your wife would feel if I wrote her a letter with your blood? What about your kids?" He asked, sitting down.

That did it.

Despite all the pain radiating throughout Eugene's body, he thrashed against the chains, "You disgusting pig! If you send that to my wife, I will not hesitate to kill you this time. You can torture me all you want, but my family stays out of this." Eugene yelled. Elthon only laughed as he elegantly wrote on the parchment, the dark red, staining the paper.

"There's a price of being royalty, Fitzherbert. It's a shame she had to marry the likes of someone like you. Being a disgusting thief and all." Elthon said, repeating the motion in Eugene's arm, "Too bad she had to go and taint the royal bloodline." Eugene growled and thrashed against the chains against, "Struggling only makes it worse."

Eugene couldn't handle it anymore. What seemed to drag out, Elthon finally finished his disgusting letting, "Well thanks for your patient. Though I could have done without the nasty words you called me. I'll give this to your guards and make sure it gets back to Corona. I took the liberty to mention this is your blood. I can't wait till your wife gets this." He finished with a sickening expression. Eugene yelled after him, only falling in defeat. His body hurt, tears stained down his eyes.

He was powerless.