The Useless Prince Is A Gangster
Chapter 186. Why does it hurt so much?

Chapter 186: 186. Why does it hurt so much?

On the northern edge of the forest, where Leo, Lucian, Erin, and Duke Alric were sitting on logs with tense expressions on their faces, the glow from the campfire created flickering shadows.

The names scratched in the dirt were poked by Leo’s stick. "Velmera and Rin are actually the primary targets of the cult."

The crackle of the fire filled the stunned silence as Lucian and Alric froze. Leo continued, his red eyes fixed on the floor. "The forest mercenaries are not as strong as the thirty people in the camp. They pose a much greater threat."

With shock and rage, Lucian’s voice cracked. "Why Velmera? Why Rin? What did they do to deserve this?" He leaned forward, his hands clenched into fists, his gray eyes blazing.

Even though a silent rage burned beneath his tone, Leo’s hold on the stick tightened. "They’re not interested in their deaths. They plan to capture them."

Anger flushed Lucian’s face as he leaped to his feet. "Kidnap them? And you’re just sitting there, completely relaxed? Velmera needs to leave right now!" His boots crunched on the forest floor as he walked toward the camp.

He was stopped by Erin’s sharp, imposing voice. "Look at your brother, Lucian. Do you think he is at ease?"

Lucian stopped and turned around, frowning. Erin’s violet eyes moved to Leo, who was staring at Rin’s name in the dirt with a faintly trembling hand that betrayed his anger beneath his composed exterior.

Lucian and Alric followed her gaze, noticing the subtle shake in Leo’s fingers.

Leo looked them in the eye. "Lucian, sending them away won’t work. Almost every home in Valenwood was under the Cult’s control. The emperor himself was involved. We can’t hide them forever—it’ll only make them bigger targets"

Lucian’s rage turned to frustration as his shoulders drooped. "So, what is the strategy? We cannot simply wait for them to take them both away."

With the help of Elynn’s data, Leo’s stick moved precisely, creating a crude map of the hunting grounds in the forest on the dirt.

He pointed out a section.

"Rin and Gregor will hunt here tomorrow."

He tapped another area close by.

"Velmera’s in this area."

He drew three points forming a triangle around them. "We’ll surround them by positioning ourselves here, here, and here. First, we eliminate the mercenaries in the vicinity of their hunting areas. If we can catch one alive, we introgate them to get answers, but if not, we kill them."

Alric’s voice was rough with concern as he leaned forward, his deep green cloak shifting. "What about the girls? While you’re hunting mercenaries, how can we protect them?"

Leo’s red eyes gleamed with subdued confidence as his lips formed a slight smirk. "They already have protection. I’ll be alerted immediately if the cult moves. You’ll hurry to Rin, Erin. You’ll go to Velmera, Lucian. We will begin the rescue. Finding the motive behind their targeting is our primary objective."

Alric’s tone was heavy with worry, and his brow was furrowed. "How can I help with this?"

Leo voice was firm but respectful, and he looked directly into Duke’s eyes. "father, you must maintain the camp’s stability. Act as though nothing is wrong after I give you my first signal. Don’t let the cult know we’re onto them."

Alric nodded slowly, but his eyes darkened with unease. "And if your plan falls apart?"

Leo’s stick paused, his voice steady but serious. "If I send a second flare—a red one—it means we’re in trouble. That’s when you take our soldiers and charge to our position immediately."

"You’re asking me to sit back while my sons walk into danger. That’s a heavy burden, Leonhardt."

Lucian muttered with resolve, his voice strong and unwavering. "Father, trust us. The cult’s gone too far—first targeting Brother, then kidnapping Vivien, now threatening Velmera and Rin. They’ve crossed a line. We’re House Caulem. We don’t run from a fight, no matter the stakes."

Alric sighs and rubs his palm on his face in frustration as his eyes soften. "Lucian, you’re right. Caulem blood is strong."

"I’ll contribute. But Leonhardt, you protect your brother. And also yourself."

Leo gave a nod. "Father, we’re going to end this."

*************

Rin and Velmera were sitting at a small wooden table at the Saravelle camp as firelight flickered across it, the warm glow reducing the chill of the night. Between them was a bottle of spiced wine, its heady aroma mingling with the smoke.

Rin’s eyes were glassy from drinking too much, her cheeks glowing a deep red, and every heavy sip was motivated by her frustration.

She sagged in her seat, barely conscious. She stared at Velmera, who was sipping her wine calmly across the table, while her fingers gripped her glass tightly and her voice slurred.

"I heard..." Rin muttered, her voice full of unfiltered emotion, "Leonhardt is planning to break the record and offer his prize to... someone special."As if her friend had the secret to her suffering, her lips trembled and her eyes begged Velmera for clarification.

Even though Velmera’s eyes softened, she remained silent because she knew Rin was Leo’s intended. She looked at Rin’s drunk sincerity with a mixture of kindness and mild amusement.

Rin tipped her head unsteadily and laughed bitterly. "I get sick at the idea of him picking someone else....." She tightened her hold on the glass as her voice broke. "Velmera, why does it hurt so much?"

After setting down her glass, Velmera got up and walked around the table to stand next to Rin, who was staring up with wide, vulnerable eyes like a lost child. As Velmera ruffled Rin’s violet hair, her lips formed a warm, playful smile.

"Maybe because you love Leonhardt so deeply that, even after everything, you can’t let him go," she said, her voice kind but direct, hoping to guide Rin toward her own truth.

Rin’s breath caught, tears welling as Velmera’s words hit her heart. She lurched forward, wrapping her arms around Velmera’s waist, her face pressing into the soft fabric of Velmera’s gown.

Tears soaked through, Rin’s shoulders shaking as she clung to her friend, the weight of her unspoken love for Leonhardt pouring out under the quiet stars.

*********

As they returned, Leo, Lucian, and Duke Alric’s tense faces were illuminated by the burning campfire at the Caulem camp. Looking up from her seat by the fire, Maria’s keen eyes saw the concern on their faces.

"Where have you three been sneaking off to?" she asked, her voice firm but laced with motherly concern.

In order to conceal his discomfort, Leo feigned a small laugh as he approached Vivien, who was sitting on a padded chair and holding a plush griffin. She rustled in her frilly dress as he easily picked her up and placed her on his lap before settling into her seat.

"Duchess," he said in a lighthearted tone, "just a little men’s business."

With her little hands pulling at his red hunting tunic, Vivien laughed. "Did you catch any bunnies today, brother?" she inquired, her voice full of enthusiasm.

As Leo’s fingers softly tousled her hair, his smirk grew softer. He assured Vivi, "I’ll get you those fluffy ones tommorow."

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