When all was quiet, Elisa broke the silence with her question. "Does His Majesty already know about that force?" Elisa asked again with a worried tone.
"Not only His Majesty King Nalvon knows. Almost all the nobles in this kingdom already know about the existence of those griffons!"
Elisa, Allen, Zeto, and the other assassins only learned about the griffons' existence right now. Information that important apparently hadn't spread in the capital.
It seems the kingdom has kept our family's air force a secret, Elisa thought quickly. Not only that! Information about the existence of a High Elf like Alvin living in this kingdom also hasn't been heard. Truly secrets kept very neatly by His Majesty.
"What did you recruit those griffons for?" Elisa asked investigatingly.
Kazien's face turned serious. "For preparation! Diplomatic relations between this kingdom and the Ignias Kingdom are very poor! It is better for me to prepare everything in advance than to be too late and end up regretting my stupidity."
After explaining that, Kazien went back to Borris, the living corpse still standing tall awaiting orders. Kazien asked him in a softer tone.
"Do you have a family?"
"I only have a son, Master!" answered Borris stiffly.
"Where is your wife?"
"She left me and our child 8 years ago, Master."
"How old is your son?"
"He just turned 13 few days ago, Master."
Kazien fell silent. Guilt seized his heart. He had killed a single father. Unexpectedly, Kazien immediately hugged the undead's cold body.
"Forgive me for killing you. I was forced to do it because you attacked me."
Borris, who had become an undead, turned out to still possess a shred of feeling tied to his soul. From his empty eyes, he shed tears as he remembered his son.
"I order you to say everything you want to say to me!" commanded Kazien.
"Please... guard and take care of my son, Master. He has no one else left in this world." Borris pleaded with a trembling voice.
"What is your son's name?" asked Kazien again.
"My son's name is Arken, Master."
Kazien released his hug, looking at Borris's face with regret.
It is a shame Borris was killed by me. Even though I detected no ill intent from him. I shouldn't have killed him like that, Kazien regretted inwardly. I will apologize to Arken. He must be very sad to lose the father he loved so much.
"Not only guard and take care of him, I will also apologize to your son. Because it was my doing that you were killed here."
"You need not worry about my death, Master." answered Borris, his body remaining upright as a loyal servant. "That was indeed the risk I took by choosing to become an assassin."
Kazien nodded slowly, then turned to look at Zeto with a sharp and demanding gaze. Zeto was both shocked and daunted by that look.
"Zeto, tell me! Are you and all your members willing to join as troops under the command of the Altavis family?"
Zeto did not answer immediately. He looked at the faces of all his members one by one, seeking approval.
"We will always follow you! Whatever your answer, we are always loyal to you until the end, chief." said one of the members.
The assassin's words were met with firm nods from the other assassins.
After knowing the answer from all his members, Zeto took a deep breath, then immediately knelt before Kazien. The other assassins simultaneously knelt as well.
"Young Master Kazien, from this moment until forever, we all swear to be loyal to the Altavis family!"
The oath of allegiance spoken by Zeto echoed in the room, witnessed directly by Alvin, Elisa, and Allen. Elisa never expected her nephew to successfully recruit the assassins.
With the addition of these great assassin troops, our family becomes even stronger, Elisa thought in amazement.
However, Kazien's reaction was unexpected. He frowned seeing them kneeling to him.
"Shouldn't you kneel and swear allegiance before the legitimate leader? I am not a leader, nor am I an heir!"
Zeto and the assassins lifted their faces, confused. They never expected that the figure who possessed the power and charisma of a leader was not an heir.
"Why?" asked Zeto innocently. "I feel that it is you who possess the charisma of a leader and are very suitable to become an heir."
Kazien looked away, staring elsewhere with a flat expression.
"I'm not interested! I prefer to support from behind the scenes. That way, I can be myself without having to put on an act in front of everyone, especially in front of the nobles!"
His answer shocked everyone, especially Elisa, his aunt.
Everyone present was still baffled by the answer that came out of Kazien's mouth. No interested the position of a leader or an heir just after showing absolute dominance made no sense to them.
However, not for Allen.
Kazien's purple-haired cousin stared at the young man's back with a different gaze. Amidst the others' confusion, Allen was transfixed.
For some reason, he looks so cool and amazing in my eyes, Allen thought. His heart beat erratically, a rhythm that shouldn't exist for his own cousin.
Allen lowered his face, trying to hide the blush spreading to his cheeks. However, that warm feeling quickly turned into a piercing pain.
Oh goddess, I've really fallen for him! Will Alvin and my mother forgive me for being so bold as to fall in love with him?
Allen gripped the fabric of his trousers tightly. Tight! My chest feels so tight!
Reality hit him without mercy. Liking someone he couldn't have. Especially someone who already had a bond with Alvin made him even more frustrated with this reality. Guilt and growing love created a tormenting storm inside his heart.
Unconsciously, Allen's fist clenched harder until his knuckles turned white. The tightness in his heart made him increasingly frantic, as if the air supply in that vast corridor was thinning just for him.
He was so pressured by his feelings of affection. But Allen was an Altavis.