Everyone had their eyes on them from the distance where they were.
They stared closely as Elvis and Eden stood there, staring at each other. Elvis had a confused and shocked expression on while Eden had a calm and manipulative stare fixed on Elvis.
The tension between them was high at the moment.
"What the hell are you talking about…?" Elvis was almost whispering.
"Do you think I kissed you because I liked your mouth so much?" Eden scoffed softly "No silly. It was because I was poisoning you…"
Now Eden raised a finger which he placed on Elvis's broad chest. A move that was so bold that people who saw it were stunned.
"Why is he touching The Crown prince?" A noble lady asked.
"Now they're getting bold. In public?" Another added.
"What next are they going to do? Kiss?"
Eden smiled, staring at Elvis's chest, the spot his fingers were on "And soon the poison will take effect fully. Slowly going… and going.." he ran his hands around his chest "Until it hits your heart. And boom… it's over for you my prince" Eden's smile was devious.
Elvis was too stunned to speak. He even forgot to brush Eden's hands off him. And when he did, Eden casually laughed.
"You… you devil. What did you do to me?" He questioned, his voice not so low now.
Eden looked around "Many people are watching, My Prince. This doesn't seem like the perfect place to talk about it. Why don't we go somewhere more… private?" He winked at Elvis.
Elvis was boiling within. Still stunned by what Eden had done to him. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that Eden had just poisoned him under his nose!
"Or…." Eden continued "You can also kill me here. And soon you'll be the one to die next. Followed by The Royal Family…" Eden smiled.
He guessed Elvis might not be too moved if he said he'd be the only to die. So he mentioned his whole Royal Family to trigger him.
Elvis hesitated for a while. And then he slowly turned and looked around.
Everyone was anxious to hear what he'd say. They had talked quietly for a while. So they were curious what the outcome of their talk was.
"Let's pause this ceremony here for a while," Elvis announced.
Everyone was stunned.
"Huh? Why is he pausing it?"
"Is everything this wizard said true? Why is he bowing down to his request?"
"What's happening?"
The King was furious "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" He snapped.
"Don't worry Father. He'll be beheaded today. That, I promise. But before that I want to settle some scores with him. I promise it won't take long"
Elvis said as he stared at Eden "Let's go. Don't even try anything funny" He said, leading the way as Eden happily followed behind.
"Stop them!" The king ordered as some guards blocked Elvis and Eden.
The audience were shocked by the whole drama that was unfolding right before their eyes. They all had one or two to say about it. Mostly suggesting that indeed The Crown prince must have something going on with the wizard. But they didn't dare say it out loud.
Elvis stared at the guards who blocked his way with their swords. He looked up at his father. "Trust me. Father"
"Stop this nonsense at once. Get away from that devious wizard at this moment! Don't put me to shame any further!" The King roared, furious.
Elvis said nothing. He didn't move away either but stood there staring up at his father.
"Are you disobeying my orders or what? Do you want to face my wrath here?" The King threatened.
But the Queen that sat closest to him, his first wife, approached the King and urged him to leave Elvis.
"He must have a good reason. He's a reasonable kid and I'm sure he knows what he wants to do. Trust him" She quietly urged his husband who reluctantly sat down, furious.
With that, the guards cleared the road for Elvis. And Elvis walked off with Eden happily following behind.
Eden had a big smile on his face as he left. His plan had worked. He had escaped dying at this moment. Now he had to think about how to survive dying today.
He had to live for another day if he would think of more plans. Day by day, if he had to. Even if the chances of doing so were low.
********
Elvis said nothing but led Eden up to the palace. They went up to one of the top floors of the palace and in the corridor, Elvis stopped walking.
He had his back against Eden as he stared at the painting on the wall. The painting of The Royal Phoenix.
Eden was behind him, staring. Elvis wasn't saying anything for what seems like a minute now so he wondered what was running through his mind.
Was he planning on how to kill him right here and now?
Was he thinking of how to strike a deal with him to escape the poison?
Eden couldn't tell.
Just as he stood there staring at the broad back figure of Elvis that Stood before him, he felt something calling his attention from the side.
Eden looked at a distance to sight Lenny. Lenney was peeping from a corner of the wall.
"What did you get yourself into now??" The cat spoke. But not physically. It was with his mind. But Eden could hear it!
Eden tried talking with his mind back after figuring out it must be some sort of skill.
"How can you talk with your mind?"
"That doesn't matter. What matters is what's gonna happen now?"
Eden shrugged, staring at the Cat "I have to first survive dying today to think of a plan B!"
"How the hell are you going to survive death after creating that scandal outside! You'll be lucky enough if he can just kill you right now so you'll die a peaceful death!" Lenny panicked.
Before Eden could reply to Lenny, he felt the sharp light ray of a sword heading towards his direction.
He went stiff.