*VOL. 5 CH.273 BUTTING HEADS

As time passed, Quinus found himself constantly balancing his responsibilities, his relationship with his fiancée, his obligations to his second fiancée, and the task of entertaining Prince Zane. While Quinus found fulfillment in the first three aspects, Prince Zane's demands brought him nothing but distress.

Zane was an arrogant noble who only saw women as hindrances and kept trying to convert him to the Three. There wasn't a moment that went by without him trying to get Quinus to abandon his faith, turn his back on the Goddess Iyomelka, and swear his allegiance to the Holy Order of the Divine Three.

Quinus effectively undermined Zane's self-esteem by pointing out that the Church of Balance had already been recognized as the Divine Three when Iyomelka welcomed Nils and Nebulus. Quinus saw no justification for becoming a part of the Holy Alliance's Divine Three. Despite this, Zane remained determined and persistent.

'Goddess be damned, this man is a fool,' Quinus cursed in his mind.

"I have a question, your highness," Zane asked.

"What is it, Prince Zane?" Quinus asked.

"I'd like to know about this... Dark Elf, you're planning to marry," Zane stated.

"What about her?" Quinus inquired.

"Well, you must know that she's a Dark Elf," Zane said, "They're evil and treacherous by nature... So why would you want her as a bride? And more importantly, how is my sister not better than her?"

Quinus pinched the bridge of his nose as their carriage was moving down the country roads south of the capital. They were heading to the Raski Forest, where monsters spawned and adventurers fought for money.

"She's not evil, Zane... And this is the tenth time we had this conversation," Quinus said through grinned teeth, "And even if she was evil, I wouldn't care because she's mine and I am hers."

"It sounds like you've been ensnared by her trap—"

"Have you even been in love, Zame?" Quinus cut him off.

"It's Prince Zane," he corrected.

"I'll call you by your name if you earn it! And answer my question," Quinus demanded, "Have you been in love? Do you understand what it means to be in love?"

Zane frowned and remained silent. Quinus knew the answer.

"Of course, you don't... I see how you stare at all the women in the castle," Quinus said.

"Is that supposed to mean something?" Zane asked.

"If you truly had a woman's heart... If you truly were in love with a woman, then you would know how I feel about her," Quinus said, "But you look at every one of them in disgust... Even your own half-sister, Princess Hilda."

"That's because they are all—"

"Sinners?" Quinus cut him off again, "Do you even know what love is?"

"Why are we even discussing this?" Zane demanded, "Why does it matter?"

"Because I've seen your type before... Your arrogant, closed minded, and a bigot... You're nothing but a pawn—a slave to your Gods... The day you think for yourself is the day all seven hells freeze over," Quinus said with a stoic face causing Zane to glare at him.

Zane's been praying to the Three to help free this man from whatever curse the Dark Elf has put on Quinus. But it hasn't worked yet. Zane's been trying to figure out what the dark one did to Quinus and he thinks she's some kind of witchcraft.

"And besides... You're in my carriage and you will show me respect," Quinus said as he glared at Zane.

Zane wanted to argue but Quinus' glare was too much for him.

"My the Three have mercy on you soul," Zane prayed.

"Fuck your Three," Quinus spat.

Zane would have slayed anyone who spoke ill about the Divine Three, but he was under orders not to harm the Crown Prince of Fiafyr. But Quinus was testing his faith.

"You don't understand the damage that demon will cause," Zane warned, "Her very presence alone will taint the minds of those who follow you."

"Then maybe I want to be tainted," Quinus said and looked out the carriage's window seeing the Raski Forest coming closer, "If you're worried about being tainted then stay away from her... And on top of that, stay away from your sister... I saw you threatening her."

"She committed the worst sin of all!" Zane spat.

"Yeah... Getting accepted by Iyomelka... It seems my Goddess that's in those who've been wronged... I'm warning you, Zame. If you try to purge her if she gets sent home, then I will fucking destroy everything you care about. And when you're on your knees, broken and beaten, then I will send you off to join the Three. Do I make myself clear?" Quinus threatened.

Prince Zane glared at him but he kept his cool, "If I were to meet the Three then it would be the greatest honor a follower of their holy word could ask for."

Quinus looked him dead in the eyes and came up with another threat, "Then I'll ask my future Queen to help me rid your Gods from Tertius... If anyone could find a way to destroy them. It would be her."

"Blasphemy! My gods are the strongest, and they will never be defeated by anyone," Zane argued, "Sending her would be instant death."

"You don't know what she's capable of," Quinus told him, "I've seen what she can do, and she's the only one who will find a way to kill a god. Now shut the fuck up and pray to your gods that I don't send her."

"You're beyond gone... We'll need to pray for your salvation... And I pray that it isn't a purging that is needed," Zane said.

"You're the one who's lost and beyond saving," Quinus spat. "I don't know if Iyomelka would forgive you. But I'm only human after all and forgiveness isn't something that I give out for free."

"It's not Iyomelka that you need forgiveness from," Zane retorted.

"It's the Three, isn't it?" Quinus said and looked at him, "If the Three are the most righteous gods, then why do they punish people for things they had no control over? Like your half-sister's mother?... I didn't know that a woman should be purged after being raped... Maybe it should have been your father that got purged instead for being a rapist..."

Zane clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. His anger was building up. He had a lot he wanted to say.

"Hmm... So I struck a cord with you, didn't I? I don't like you, Zame... And I can't wait for you to disappear," Quinus added.

"My family is more righteous than you and yours ever will be," Zane spat.

"That's where you're wrong... Your family is full of hypocrites... The Holy Order is nothing but a cult, and the Divine Three are false gods," Quinus stated, "Your sister's mother was just a woman who got raped and was blamed for being a whore because she had a child out of wedlock."

"Fuck you! She was a whore! She seduced my father with her feminine wiles, and she tricked him into giving her a child. It was a scheme to weaken my family!" Zane yelled.

"I didn't a prisoner of war had such power over the First Son of the Divine Order... The Head of the Principality... Who knew he was so weak to women's wiles?" Quinus taunted.

Zane shut his mouth. He was livid and was done with trying to reason with this heathen. He needed to consult with Father Gil about the Crown Prince's madness.

The two were silent as the carriage was almost to their destination. Quinus looked out the window and saw the Raski Forest coming into view.

"This is where we part ways, Zame," Quinus said, "You will take a different carriage, and you will be escorted by a couple of knights to the capital."

"So you don't want me to join you for the purge?... What would the Prime Minister think," Zane questioned, "We were supposed to arrive together and have a public display of unity for the people."

"I don't give a fuck what Duval wants... And I don't trust you," Quinus responded, "I don't want you anywhere near me, Hilda, my friends or Rya... After being around you these past three days, it's a miracle that Hilda kept her personnel around zealots like you. Your hatred of elves, beastmen, and dwarves is sickening. You are a hypocrite, and I am tired of hearing your voice. Just get the fuck out of my face."

Quinus then knocked on the carriage and the driver stopped. The door was opened by Percy, and Quinus stepped out.

Zane got out as well. 

"My Lord?" Sir George asked.

"Sir George, please assign some men to escort Young Lord Zane to the capital, and make sure to send him back to the Ecros Manor. He's the Prime Minister's problem now," Quinus ordered as he walked away, grabbing her sword, the Sun's Fury, from Percy.

"Yes, My Lord," Sir George nodded and signaled his men to surround the young lord.

"Where are you going?!" Roared Sir Darius as he and his squire hopped off their horses and came to their Prince's aid.

Prince Zane signaled to his Paladin to calm down.

"We are leaving, Sir Darius. It wouldn't be wise if we lingered here," Zane said, "The Crown Prince has shown his true colors and doesn't deserve our leniency."

Sir Darius was still pissed and he looked at the Crown Prince who was walking away from them.

"Sir Darius... We have a long ride ahead of us. Let's go," Zane commanded.

"Yes, My Lord," Darius relented, "Come on, Kaelin gather the horses. I'll be riding with the Prince."

"Yes, My Lord," Kaelin bowed and ran to their horses.

Sir George's men escorted them away from the Crown Prince and the used the Alliance's carriage to head back to the capital.

Quinus watched them leave and was glad that he was free of their presence.

"Percy, let's go, I want to see the village," Quinus said.

"Yes, my Prince," Percy smiled, "Your Lady should be there."

"Oh, really," Quinus blushed.

"Well... It's her golem, but Lady Tayna is with her. She's trying to help Tayna grow her Mana Vein," Percy explained.

"Really?... I guess she doesn't want to become a hostage again... Good for her, let's see if we can help her along the way," Quinus grinned.

"I'll have the men ready the horses, My Lord," Sir George saluted.

"Very good, Sir George. Let's head to Mangst before we head to the forest. Seeing Rya will help me clear my head," Quinus ordered.

"At once, My Lord," Sir George said and then he walked off to gather the four knights.

"Let's go," Quinus smiled as he saddled his horse and the seven men rode toward the town of Mangst.