Dada opened his eyes. It was barely past midnight.
Quietly, he rose and moved toward where Idowu lay. He was sharing the room with Idowu and Ayo, after it had been agreed that he could journey with them.
He stood there for a moment, watching Idowu sleep—peaceful, innocently, unaware.
He could do it-
He could - no, should end him right now.
Then afterwards, he could end the two princes in the other room.
He knew carrying out the assignment give to him by the Emperor would be easy. He is well trained, the best assassin in the entire country. Just, he never knew it would be just so easy - this easy to carry out the mission. The princes had practically presented themselves to him.
He watched Idowu . His chest rose and fell steadily, his breathing low and smooth.
Dada had never watched someone sleep before. When he found a target asleep, he killed without hesitation. No second looks. No pauses.
But this time, he'd paused.
He dipped his hand into his pouch and brought out a needle. A poisoned one. Once it pierced the skin, the effects were immediate. Ten seconds—and the victim would be dead.
Slowly, he lowered his hand toward Idowu's neck.
Idowu groaned softly.
Dada froze.
" Fa- father.. don't.. please.. don't leave me. "
Dada blinked.
A memory surfaced—himself, wandering, searching for parents he could no longer remember.
Slowly, he lowered his hand and let it fall to his side..
" Seriously." he muttered, staring at Idowu, who had no idea how close to death he was.
" Well, he saved my life once. " He said quietly. He returned to his mat but didn't lie down. Instead, he sat there, legs crossed, eyes fixed on Idowu.
He thought - the only reason why he was letting him live was because he saved him, once.
Next time, he promised himself, he would finish him off.
Beside, he thinks traveling with the princes for a while might be interesting. He wanted to see how things will end. He wanted to know what will become of them- what each of them were plotting.
They were under the same building. They shared rooms, shared roads, completely unaware that they were rivals.
'Fools. Indulge me-, for now. ' he thought. 'Just until I get sick of you all and finally carry out my mission.'
At last, he looked away from Idowu. Lay back, closed his eyes—and drifted into sleep.
.
.
.
.
The next morning, Adrian rose first.
It was still early. The light outside was pale and unsure, barely touching the edges of the room. Adrian moved quietly, careful not to make a sound as he prepared for the day. He stopped near the bed where William was sleeping.
William had forced his way into Adrian's room the night before. After several failed attempts to send him away, Adrian had given up.
He stared. William was completely relaxed, breathing evenly, his face calm in a way Adrian rarely saw. Adrian's gaze drifted slowly—from William's face, down his neck, to his shoulders.
He paused.
William's clothes were crooked, slipping off one shoulder, exposing bare collarbones, skin, and a glimpse of his chest.
Adrian swallowed.
He blinked and looked away.
Three seconds passed.
He turned to look at him again. This time, with a frown.
" At least he's quiet for once." He muttered, clicking his tongue as he turned to leave the room.
He guessed Idowu and Dada were probably still asleep. Deciding not to wait, Adrian headed downstairs. He paid for breakfast and, with the help of the inn's servants, set the table himself.
When everything was ready, he sat down to wait.
The book he had found the day before rested in his hands.
Moments later, he heard a door open.
He looked up.
"Good morning," Adrian said.
Dada took a few steps toward the table. "Uhm," he replied simply.
Adrian took no offense. He gestured toward the food. "Breakfast."
Dada studied him for a moment before sitting across from him. His eyes flicked to the book in Adrian's hands.
The title read: Hearts Behind the Crown.
Not truly curious—but wanting to start a conversation, to understand the man before him—Dada asked, "What's the book about?"
Adrian looked at him. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"It's about princes."
"Ah," Dada thought. How iconic.
"Seems interesting," he said flatly, clearly not interested.
Adrian only nodded and returned to his book.
Dada observed him quietly.
The man before him was known across the kingdom—the second prince- from Ikoro kingdom. Beautiful. Composed. Well-mannered. Loved by many. And yet, rumors said he was lazy, uninterested in the sword, preferring books and quiet pursuits. Sharp-tongued, too, when provoked.
The door opposite them opened.
William walked out, yawning loudly.
"Temi—you should've told me you were awake," he said, stretching.
Adrian didn't even glance up from his book.
"I was afraid another man had taken you away," William added when he got no response.
"I'm more afraid of you," Adrian replied, frowning slightly.
William flopped down beside him. "Temi—don't say that. It hurts."
Dada watched the banter unfold silently, eyes sharp, taking in every word, every movement.
Another door opened.
Idowu stepped out with Ayo beside him. At the sight of them, Idowu bowed slightly—mostly toward Adrian.
Dada watched - it was crazy. He really had made the best decision of traveling with them to see how they ended up.
Adrian smiled and motioned for them to come closer. "Sit."
"Eh—Ayo, come here," William called.
The boy ignored him completely.
Instead, Ayo walked straight to Dada and sat beside him, wrapping his small hands around Dada's arm.
"Tsk." William scoffed.
Idowu sat beside Ayo.
Dada glanced down at the boy, then back at Idowu.
Cheerful. Normal. Completely unaware that he had nearly died the night before.
Dada said nothing.
.
.
.
Two days later, they all set out. The road stretched long and dry beneath the morning sun, dust lifting with every step they took.
They walked in twos.
William walked ahead with Adrian, talking—of course. His voice carried easily, lively, animated, filled with stories of fights he had won and mistakes he had survived. He used his hands when he spoke, sometimes forgetting the road entirely.
"And then he swung like this—wild, completely wild—and I thought, ah, this man truly wishes to die today," William said, laughing.
Adrian hummed softly in response, eyes lowered to the book in his hands. He turned a page without looking up.
William glanced sideways. "You're not listening."
"I am," Adrian replied calmly.
"You just turned a page."
"And?"
William scoffed. "Cruel."
Adrian did not answer. But after a moment, he closed the book and tucked it under his arm.
William noticed. He smiled.
Behind them, Dada walked with Idowu.
Idowu was talking.
Not loudly. Just… constantly.
"The road should be smoother after the next bend," Idowu said. "Traders usually pass there. Oh—and the shade is better too. Ayo will like it."
Dada gave a quiet grunt in response.
Idowu did not mind.
Ayo walked between them for a while, then slowed. His steps became uneven, small feet dragging against the dirt.
Dada noticed first.
He stopped abruptly. "Lift him."
Idowu blinked. "Huh?"
"He's tired," Dada said flatly. "Lift him."
Before Idowu could react, Dada bent down and picked Ayo up, settling the boy against his side as though it were instinct.
Ayo yawned and leaned into him without complaint.
Idowu stared.
"Oh," he said softly. "Thank you."
Dada said nothing.
He adjusted his grip, annoyed at how easily the boy fit against him. How light he was. How warm.
Ahead, Adrian glanced back.
He slowed his steps slightly, watching the scene behind them with quiet eyes.
William followed his gaze. "Huh," he said. "Didn't expect that."
Adrian did not respond.
The road narrowed as they moved forward, trees closing in on both sides. The air grew quieter. Even William's voice softened.
Dada's hand hovered near his sword.
Not because of danger.
Because of proximity.
Idowu walked close now. Too close.
Their arms brushed once.
Idowu did not notice.
Dada did.
He clenched his jaw and forced himself to keep walking.
This is temporary, he reminded himself.
Just the road. Just a journey.
Ahead of them, Irele waited.
And none of them truly knew what would reach it alive