"Isn't this a bit too easy?" one of them smugly spoke.
"They are too low on security… There are only six guards around the carriage, three at the back and three at the front. No one is on the side… The current target is like a sitting duck" another commented.
The one with the black hood and black rose emblem on it clicked his tongue, "Such a pity… There's not much thrill in finishing this…" his monotonous voice whispered. He turned back to the one who was farther away from them. He was sitting on the tree branch with nothing but silence.
"You better not fail here or else… I'll personally kill you… Akihiko"
The other turned his head away and grasped the handle of his sword in frustration. He did not and would never want to do the thing he was bound to do for his overly power-thirsty father.
'I shouldn't have accepted this cruel assignment and joined this band of blood thirsty killers for power and wealth' he scolded himself. But what can he do? He cannot escape the duty as one of the four Warlords of The Great Western Empire.
~The day before~
"You've called for us your majesty?"
"Yes, I've been expecting you" a low and cold voice answered. Fuyuhiko Usami, Emperor of the Great Western Empire, turned away from the window of his study. He walked to his table and sat on his comfy red satin chair Even though the Emperor lived for over 85 years in human time, his hair did not turn gray for he was a half-breed. Part human, part demon. The only sign of his old age was the wrinkles under his eyes.
The tallest and the eldest one took off his cloak revealing his magnolia colored hair and light brown eyes. He bowed before the Emperor, "What is your wish your majesty?"
"You're too formal Asahina. We all know that his majesty called for us to finish off someone," the one on his left groaned as he took off his cloak. His flippy mahogany colored hair sprung out.
Asahina covered the latter's mouth, "Forgive Ryuuichiro-sama for his foul mouth, your majesty" he bowed his head and Isaka's head.
Fuyuhiko chuckled, "It's alright. I'm used to his blunt personality" he paused and took something out from his table drawer.
"Like what Lord Isaka said, I do have a job for my elite assassins," he rolled out a scroll.
The youngest one's eyes widened in shock, "Isn't that Queen Hanako of Futsu Kingdom?" he exclaimed in surprise.
"That's correct…"
The other hooded one let out a small chuckle, "You want us to kill the Queen of Futsu Kingdom? How clever…" he spoke with sarcasm.
"But that's preposterous! We've signed a treaty of peace with them! You can't do this!" the youngest objected.
The other's looked at him, expressionless. The Emperor stood up and smiled, "Of course, I can… And I will" he answered monotonously.
The youngest gritted his teeth; "Such a foul measure to be taken by a person who calls himself a noble ruler" he glared.
The hooded one grabbed the younger one's collar and slammed him on the wall. He raised him a foot from the floor. The younger one's hood wore off and revealed his silver colored hair and his cold amethyst eyes.
"Watch your mouth Akihiko…" the hooded one snarled.
The silver haired youth glared at the other and tried to free himself from the iron grip of the other.
"Haruhiko! Put him down!" Fuyuhiko barked.
The said man instantly let the other go. Akihiko stood up and fixed the collar of his shirt.
"Don't mind your little brother. He's new to this kind of things" Isaka yawned.
Fuyuhiko approached them, he brushed Akihiko's shoulders, "Now, now, Akihiko… Let's not be feisty towards each other" he smiled.
"How can I not be? You plan to kill a leader of another country! Moreover, they're just starting to recover from the lost of their king" Akihiko tried to reason out but the only answer he received was a scowl.
Fuyuhiko walked back to his table and pulled a lever next to it. A giant map appeared before them.
Akihiko's brows furrowed, "This is the map of The Grand Continent…"
"Correct…" Fuyuhiko replied and picked up a long stick.
"And these are our colonies…" the Emperor pointed at the countries marked red. There are 11 countries in The Grand Continent and six of them are under the direct control of The Great Western Empire. The colonies are ruled by Feudal Lords of Emperor Fuyuhiko.
"As you can see my dear child, The Futsu Kingdom is right on the middle of the continent with Iro Kingdom on their east and Koto Kingdom on their south. Both Kingdoms are well-armed and Iro Kingdom is their solid ally. Koto Kingdom stands as an independent Kingdom and does not participate in any kind of war" Fuyuhiko explained.
"Then why do you want to conquer Futsu Kingdom? Why don't you take over Koto Kingdom first?" Akihiko asked.
The Emperor laughed and shook his head, "My, my, Akihiko, you do not want me to have Futsu Kingdom but you suggest that we should conquer another kingdom?" he spoke sarcastically.
Akihiko looked away. Haruhiko, on the other hand, stepped forward, "I believe that my beloved half-brother formed a bond with the Crown Prince of Futsu Kingdom. That's why he is reluctant to take this task" the bespectacled one spoke as he looked at his brother with hatred.
"Oh! The Crown Prince huh. I didn't see him on the battlefield. He must be a weakling to be hidden by his father" Isaka laughed.
"Shut up! He's not like you! A Blood Thirsty Killer" Akihiko growled.
"Silence!" Fuyuhiko exclaimed, making the whole room tremble.
The Emperor approached his youngest son and glared down at him, "Ally or not, I will still take over their kingdom and you will help me as the Crown Prince of this Empire!" Fuyuhiko spoke with a high sense of authority. He always got what he wanted no matter what it cost him.
Fuyuhiko turned to the other, "According to our spy, Queen Hanako will fetch his son from Iro Kingdom personally tomorrow. Ambush her when she journeys back to their Kingdom. Kill them all," he ordered.
The three bowed, "Yes, your majesty"
"As for you Akihiko," Fuyuhiko turned to his heir.
"You will be in charge of the young prince's life"
"And if I refuse," Akihiko growled. He wasn't really asking. He was imploring it.
Fuyuhiko grimaced, " You can never refuse me or you have to suffer the consequences *again*"
The prince left and followed the others.
The convoy of the Queen and the Prince started to journey back down the mountain side. Escort guards were on the front ad back of the convoy. Haruhiko silently waited until the convoy reached the curve of the mountain path.
He signaled the attack.
Asahina was the first one to attack and killed all three guards with stealth.
Isaka clicked his tongue; "He's too serious about work" he sighed and fled down over the carriage. The brunette tapped the chauffeur's shoulder. The innocent driver looked back and saw the grinning assailant.
"Who are-"his query was left unfinished. Isaka slashed his throat making the chauffeur let go of the reins and sat there dead as a doornail.
The assassin killed the other three guards up front. The royal escorts fell of their horses and to the cliff beside them.
Isaka jumped back to the top of the carriage, where Asahina looked at him with annoyance.
The brunette grinned, "What's wrong Asahina?"
Asahina looked at him, disinterested, "You mustn't mess around in the middle of a mission, Ryuuichiro-sama"
"Eh.. So cold, Asahina. I just wanna have fun. Maybe I should've kissed the chauffeur before I killed him. A taste of heaven before going to hell won't be so bad, right?" Isaka smiled mischievously.
The cream-haired man turned away and signaled at the Usami brothers.
Haruhiko nodded and turned to Akihiko. He glared hard at his brother, who was obviously reluctant to the task at hand.
"Don't you dare jeopardize this mission, Akihiko" Haruhiko hissed and jumped on the carriage's roof with a loud thud. He pulled his hood on and covered half of his face.
The silver haired prince bit his lip in frustration and followed his half-brother.
"What was that Kaachan?" Young Misaki asked his mother, who was shaking as she stared at the curtained window.
"Kaachan, what's wrong?" the green eyed prince asked again in worry.
Queen Hanako turned to Misaki and tried her best to hide either fear or panic before her beloved son. She held Misaki tight, which made the young prince even more worried.
"Kaachan-"
"Shush…" The Queen gently hushed and fought back the tears forming on her emerald colored eyes. She kissed her son's forehead.
'Misaki, p-promise Kaachan that no matter what happens, you'll be a brave prince and go back to Niichan. Did you get that?" she whispered.
"B-but why-"
"Just promise me, okay?" Hanako sobbed and smiled at her child. The young prince nodded innocently.
The Queen held out her pinky, "Promise?"
Misaki smiled, "Promise"
Suddenly, the carriage's door flew off. A man in a black robe sat in front of the mother and child, who shook in fear.