CHAPTER 156: ASSASSINATION SCHEME (1)

"Achoo!"

Nolan, seated on his horse, suddenly let out a loud sneeze.

He glanced around cautiously, his eyes scanning the surroundings with vigilance.

Beside him, Elina gave her brother a puzzled look. "What’s wrong with you, brother? Did something happen?"

Nolan shook his head and replied casually, "Nothing. I just sneezed. Probably because someone out there is harboring evil thoughts about me."

"Someone has evil thoughts about you?" Elina blinked in confusion. "Is that even real? Isn’t that just a superstition?"

Nolan shrugged. "It’s not superstition. Maybe you don’t know this, but the human body is special. We have something called perception—the ability to sense another person’s intentions, whether good or bad. It’s similar to how animals use their instincts to sense danger."

Elina’s expression turned serious. She believed her brother wholeheartedly and took his words to heart.

Nearby, Luvistar overheard their conversation and found himself intrigued.

Having experienced countless battles, he naturally agreed with Nolan’s remark.

The human body was indeed remarkable—he had witnessed it firsthand on the battlefield.

And the fact that someone so young, who hadn’t even stepped into combat yet, could grasp such things so clearly—Luvistar couldn’t help but be impressed.

His opinion of Nolan quietly began to change.

Half an hour passed quickly, and they had already entered the eastern region. However, Ostravia City was still quite a distance from their current location.

It was estimated that it would take another one to two days of marching to reach it.

"Well then, let’s take a short break, Princess Elina and Prince Nolan," Luvistar said respectfully. "Coincidentally, there’s a stream about a hundred meters ahead. Our horses can drink there."

Elina didn’t refuse. She gave a small nod and said, "Very well. Let’s rest. Please inform the soldiers, General Luvistar."

"As you command, Princess," Luvistar replied, clasping his hands respectfully.

Holding the reins, he led his horse to the back where the soldiers were.

Meanwhile, Nolan and Elina guided their mounts toward the stream Luvistar had mentioned.

It took only two minutes on horseback before they arrived. The stream was calm and appeared safe from any predators.

Its water was clear and cool, no deeper than one to two meters.

After dismounting and letting their horses drink, Nolan and Elina didn’t remain idle.

They washed their faces, which were dulled by the dust of travel.

"How refreshing!" Elina exclaimed with a bright smile as she splashed the cool water on her face.

Nolan nodded in agreement. "You’re right, Elina. Looks like this stream flows from that mountain over there."

He pointed to a distant peak, its summit almost hidden by clouds.

"It does seem that way," Elina nodded. "No wonder the water’s so clear and refreshing."

Once they’d finished, Nolan was about to lead Elina back to the line of soldiers about fifty meters away—but she suddenly stopped him.

"Brother, how about we take a short walk?" Elina asked, her eyes sparkling with eagerness.

Nolan hesitated, but before he could say a word, Elina clung to his arm and pleaded, "Please, brother? Just a short walk, okay? I’m so bored of this journey—I need something to lift my spirits."

Faced with her pampering tone, how could Nolan say no?

In the end, he gave in with a sigh and gently pinched her cheek.

"Alright, let’s go. But don’t take too long—Luvistar and the others might start to worry."

"Okay!" Elina beamed and eagerly led Nolan to the south.

***

"Hmm? Where are Prince Nolan and Princess Elina?"

Luvistar, who had been stretching his body, suddenly realized the two were nowhere in sight.

He looked around, scanning both sides, but saw no sign of them. A flicker of worry stirred in his chest, though he quickly forced himself to stay calm.

Spotting a soldier chatting with his comrades, he called out, "You there, come here."

The soldier looked startled, then pointed at himself uncertainly.

Luvistar gave a small nod, and the soldier hurried over.

"Do you need something, General?" he asked respectfully.

Crossing his arms, Luvistar gave a firm order, "Track down Prince Nolan and Princess Elina. I haven’t seen them for a while. Take a few men with you—and go now."

The soldier hesitated for a brief second, then turned and dashed off to relay the command to his comrades.

Luvistar let out a quiet sigh and muttered under his breath, Let’s hope they haven’t gone too far.

***

"Wow, Brother, look at that!" Elina exclaimed excitedly, pointing ahead. "I didn’t expect to find a natural flower garden in a place like this!"

Nolan followed her gaze, and a sense of wonder filled him.

"It’s beautiful," he murmured softly.

The garden stretched wide—easily twice the size of the one in the palace. But because it had grown naturally, the variety of flowers was far greater.

Some were familiar, but many were unlike anything they had seen. In certain spots, vines sprawled wildly, slightly disrupting the harmony of the scene.

Still, for a garden untouched by human hands, it was incredibly beautiful—almost magical.

They stepped closer, and Elina’s joy became even more evident.

She had always loved flowers—often visiting the palace garden just to admire them or lend a hand to the maids tending them.

And now, standing before a garden even larger and more vibrant than the one at home—it felt like she had stumbled upon a hidden treasure.

While Elina wandered with delight, Nolan stayed close behind, keeping watch over her with quiet vigilance.

He didn’t believe this place was truly safe. On the contrary, it was the perfect setting for an ambush—a beautiful trap designed for assassination.

They enjoyed the peaceful scene for about ten minutes before finally deciding to head back to where the soldiers were waiting.

Rustle! Rustle!

Just as they began to walk back, the sound of shifting bushes suddenly broke the calm.

Elina instinctively tensed and stepped forward, as if trying to shield her brother.

Rustle!

The bushes shook again—and moments later, a red rabbit hopped out from behind the leaves.

Elina’s caution melted away the instant she saw it. She let out a breath of relief.

"Ah, it’s just a rabbit," she said, patting her chest.

Smiling, she crouched down and extended her hand.

"Cute bunny... Come here, little one."

"Piuu?" The rabbit tilted its head, and Elina’s heart melted at the sight.

"Yes, that’s it... Come here," she coaxed gently.

The rabbit slowly hopped closer. As it came within reach, Elina began stroking its fur.

"So soft... and fluffy too," she murmured, her eyes curving into sweet crescent moons.

But suddenly, Nolan—watching from behind—widened his eyes in alarm.

"No—this isn’t good!"

He tried to drag her back, but the timing was off—he was too late...

Boom!

The rabbit exploded, releasing a powerful blast that sent thick black smoke surging outward, covering an area of fifty meters.

"Ahem!" Nolan coughed, squinting through the thick black smoke.

He reached out, trying to grab Elina—but his hand closed on nothing but air.

"What...?" He muttered in disbelief. "How could she... just vanish?"

----

Author’s Note: I can’t believe a month has already passed—it flew by without me even noticing.

Thank you so much to all my loyal readers for your continued support. I’m truly grateful that you’re enjoying my work; it really motivates me to keep writing!

I hope you’ll continue supporting me in the coming month. Thank you again!