The Pirate's Treasure Ch.14

The Pirate's Treasure

Chapter Fourteen: His royal folly
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Antonio walks around annoyed, Marcello and Peter talking his ear off. It was bad enough that he ended up with Marcello today, but did Lovino really have to go off without him? He didn't even tell him, so when he was ready to leave all he had was an angry Marcello with no idea where his brother was. If Matthew is stealing his treasure, there will be war. Francis' cousin or not.
"Hmph, how could you lose my brother?" Marcello grumbles and Antonio looks to him annoyed.

"He is your brother, I would assume with how up his ass you are that you would be keeping an eye on him."

"You guys are aware he's old enough to go off on his own, right?" Peter asks, receiving a dark look from Antonio and Marcello. "N-never mind…"

As Peter continues the search with Lovino's brother and captain, the mermaid in question heads into a large castle with a very awkward-walking Matthew.

"Perhaps we should not do this after all…" Lovino whispers to the blonde, who giggles.

"Do not be silly, Lovino. This is the most joyous part of the job." Matthew let's go of the merman's arm and begins to walk confidently down the hall before a soldier comes up in armor.

"Halt! Who walks these halls?" The man asks in a gruff voice and Matthew smiles sweetly.

"My apologies, dear knight! I was simply coming in with my young priest to meet with the owner of this manor." Matthew says in a sickeningly sweet voice that makes Lovino question many, many things about this world.

"Oh but of course, miss, father." The knight says, bowing to the both of them.

"Have a wonderful day, sir knight!" Matthew says before whispering something for Lovino to say.

"May god be with you." Lovino adds, unsure of what he just said as Matthew drags him along the halls. "So where is the owner of this place?" He asks and Matthew lets out a quiet chuckle.

"You are so innocent, dear Lovino. We are not here to see the owner, remember? We are here to look for treasures." Matthew reminds him as they round a corner to see a large door. "Now we just have to be careful about where we go. Most castles in this country that are not owned by kings have their treasures in a wall coming from their bedroom."

"How do we get in their sleeping chambers?" Lovino asks curiously and Matthew pats him on the head.

"No one is in their bedroom during the day. We simply sneak in."

The prince sighs to himself and looks out a nearby window. "I wonder what the others are doing."

"You mean Antonio. No doubt he is doing business." Matthew says, leading Lovino around the castle. "We came here for business; he must meet and complete it. Once that is done however, he might come searching for us if we are not back then."

"I was actually thinking more along the lines of Marcello…" Lovino points out annoyed. "He has never been as mean to someone as he is with Antonio, it's strange."

"His love for his brother is creepy." Matthew says and Lovino glares.

"Marcello is in no way creepy. He is simply adjusting to circumstances he never prepared for."

"Like losing both his brothers to human men."

"It's for different reasons, but yes." The merman says, crossing his arms.

Matthew nods. "If you say so." He comes to a sudden stop in front of a room with double doors, making Lovino bump into his back. "Here it is." The blonde whispers, quietly opening the door and having Lovino follow him in.

Inside the room is a bed, chests, and a dresser; all the things Antonio's ship has in the rooms. However, this bed is different. The four posts are very tall and there is a cloth draping down from them. The dresser is pure white and outlined in gold, along with the chests, and all of the things inside are at least three times bigger than the ones in Antonio's rooms.

"This room is amazing." Lovino blurts out and Matthew laughs.

"Yeah, compared to a pirate ship's bedroom, these are pretty impressive." The blonde agrees, gesturing to the bed. "Have you ever seen this type of bed before?"

"Yes! Antonio showed me one in a painting. He said it was called a cantaloupe bed." Lovino says proudly and Matthew smiles sympathetically.

"Close. It's called a canopy bed." He reaches under his dress and pulls out some tools Lovino has yet to learn. "Why don't you go try the bed out while I look for the treasure?" Matthew offers and before Lovino can answer, a strange cackle comes from nearby.

"Kesesese! Why don't you try the bed out with me and let the strange one do all the work?" The familiar voice offers and before the albino man from earlier comes out of seemingly nowhere wearing armor.

"It's you!" Matthew gasps, standing quickly as his face heats up. "Gilbert!"

"Hmmm?" Gilbert looks at Matthew curiously as he moves closer to the blonde. "I thought you looked familiar…" He says, placing a hand on the boy's head and grinning. "You look different in a dress, Matthew! You even got the crown too, how thorough!"

"Who is this man?" Lovino asks annoyed, wanting to hurry and leave the castle to ensure they do not get caught.

"I'm Gilbert!" The albino says and Lovino huffs.

"I know not who that is! Would you mind leaving us be so we can get to work?"

"I will leave you be." Gilbert wraps an arm around Matthew's shoulders. "But Matthew and I have catching up to do."

"Must it be done in a castle?" Lovino grumbles and Gilbert laughs.

"Stealing is more fun when there is a bigger chance of being caught."

"This man is insane, Matthew!" Lovino accuses and Matthew sighs.

"He's right, Gilbert, let's leave from here and catch up…preferably after I change."

"Halt intruders!" A voice calls before the men are swarmed by soldiers. "As lord of this castle, I will not idly sit by and let a woman and her merry men steel my things!" A man says, coming up and taking Matthew's hand. "Wait….you are no woman." His expression darkens with rage and disgust. "Take the three of them to the torture room. See what they are here for."

"Torture…?" Lovino asks in shock and the man nods.

"That's right! I will be kind and let you all chose your own torture. You may go first, miss." He says bitterly to Matthew as he leads him to a torture chamber.

"What…?" Matthew asks, horrified at the sights in front of him.

"Can't decide yourself? Alright then, I will chose for you!" The man scoops Matthew up and lays him on a large square piece of stone before tying his arms and legs to wood. "Now then place the others into things." He orders and the soldiers take Gilbert and Lovino, both of whom are protesting vehemently.

"Let him go! It is my fault he is in those clothes!" Gilbert lies as he is tied to a seat.

"I do not care." The lord says before a man begins to prepare a strange tool to use on Gilbert.

Lovino looks at the strange situation confused as he is placed in a body shaped case with spikes on one end. He has never seen such items and doesn't know what is happening. Until Matthew begins to scream in pain, followed by grunts from Gilbert as something happens to him behind Lovino as well. A disgusted rage begins to build in the prince as a man begins to close the case on him.

The case is soon shattered by a surge of water coming from the ground. The water raises in a definite shape, one that almost looks like an Asian dragon. The water circles the room, crashing into men with a force that kills them as it whirls faster and faster in a circle around the room.

"Wh-what's happening?" Matthew yells as Gilbert escaped his chair and comes to untie the blonde.

"I believe the prince is tapping into the water supply flowing beneath the castle and using it to attack these men." Gilbert explains, picking Matthew up bridal style. "Are you alright?"

"My limbs hurt…but I will be fine…and you?" Matthew asks, noticing cuts in the man's clothes and blood staining the fabric.

"Oh, don't you worry about me. All we need to do now is calm your buddy down." Gilbert says and Matthew nods.

"Lovino! Calm down!" Matthew hollers from the other side of the room.

"It is a witch! The son of satan is dressed in holy garb! Destroy him!" The lord orders of his men, who are quickly destroyed by the water. "You monster!" He yells, pulling up a sword and lunging at the dazed prince.

Before he can make any form of contact, Lovino's hand shoots up and holds the blade of the sword in a tight grip, ignoring the blood now escaping his hand. "Do not touch me, you heathen." His eyes look to the man, cold and distant, before he tears the sword from the man and thrusts it into his chest.

"Um…we need to get out of here." Gilbert says and Matthew shakes his head.

"I cannot leave Lovino here!"

"The water is going to hit us soon, or drowned us, we must go! He will be fine!"

Matthew goes to protest but quickly goes silent when a man comes in through the door. "…Antonio?"

Antonio shoots Matthew a dark look before he walks brusquely towards Lovino. "You two leave." He orders and Gilbert nods, heading out of the room and the castle. "So, Marcello was right…you were up to something." Antonio says, looking around the room. "A torture chamber probably doesn't exist in your world, does it?" He asks, receiving no answer as the water continues to whirl above their heads.

"I do not like this place, Antonio." Lovino finally says and Antonio nods. "I want to destroy it…but Matthew says there are valuable things here."

Antonio notices the blood dripping from Lovino's hand and twitches, angered at the sight of his treasure scuffed in any way. "I do not care about the things here. They pale in comparison to your worth, so calm down and let's leave."

"NO!" Lovino hisses, the water now crashing into the walls as it grows larger. "I want to tear this place apart!"

"Damnit, Lovino, stop it now!" Antonio commands, annoyed with the boy. "First you run off, then you go off and kill a castle full of men with magic! If you were anyone else, ANYONE else, I would leave you here to die and teach you a lesson!" He yells before coming right up to Lovino. "It pains me to even do what I am about to." His voice is quieter this time, and without any warning his fist come out to punch Lovino in the gut.

Lovino's eyes widen and he lets out a quiet grunt before collapsing into Antonio's arms, the water now crashing down to the ground nearly drowning Antonio. Luckily he finds a window and escapes before the building, filled with all sorts of weapons and gun powder, explodes behind him.

"You are more trouble than you're worth." Antonio grumbles, looking at Lovino annoyed. "Out of control prince."

The crews buy rooms at hotels in the area for the night and Antonio decides to keep Lovino away from everyone for the night, having him rest in his room. The room Antonio does not leave either as the prince sleeps. This goes on for about two hours, Antonio staring at a sleeping body annoyed, until finally Lovino's eyes shoot open and he sits up.

"Antonio!" He calls and Antonio looks at him curiously from his chair.

"Yes?"

Lovino visibly relaxes as he looks at Antonio. "Matthew and I went to a castle today…"

"I'm aware of that." Antonio says calmly before Lovino continues.

"They had a horrible room that hurt everyone…" He mumbles in a shaky tone and Antonio nods. "I killed a lot of people…I am sorry…" Lovino whispers, looking to his bandaged hand before he notices bandages on Antonio's chest and head. "…What happened to you?"

"A bratty little prince made a fuss in a castle today. I had to make him take a nap." Antonio answers, a sort of frustration in his voice.

"So I hurt you?" Lovino asks and Antonio shrugs.

"The water you pulled up did." Antonio corrects, standing up and walking to Lovino on the bed, grabbing the back of his head. He digs his fingers in the boy's hair and leans forward to his ear to whisper. "Do not do that again." He hisses before tilting the boy's head up and crashing his lips against Lovino's forehead. "I will not watch my property hurt itself, or me, again. You and Matthew are banned from being alone for a month, understood?" Antonio asks, his voice firm, except a hint of embarrassment in it.

Lovino stares up at Antonio with wide eyes and a bright red face. "I understand…captain."

"I should seriously kill him for this…" Antonio grumbles. "But the damn brat is too important…and I have a feeling it was mostly Gilbert's fault anyways."

Lovino looks to Antonio curiously. "Why is it not my fault?"

"You did not know what you were doing. I do not believe in blaming the dog for what the handler does." Antonio answers and Lovino twitches.

"Are you comparing me to a dog?" He yells and Antonio nods.

"A little yipping one. Because that is what you are. Now shut up and sleep. I have a surprise for you in the morning." Antonio orders.

"Are you…um…sleeping in here as well?" Lovino asks and Antonio nods.

"That's right, I do not trust you to be alone anymore."

"I'm not a child!"

"Yes you are, Lovi."
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A/N: Ugghh why can't I describe actiiooonnnnn? DX Anyways...here's.....this.