I'm guessing it's related to a succession war of some kind. They were all Silvia's followers, so killing them lowers Silvia's military power. Additionally, getting your subordinates killed makes her look even worse. And saving her gives the prince a bunch of bonus points. It's killing three birds with one stone for him.If the elves are so accurate with their bows to get a headshot, why kill the hostage first? Couldn’t they like, just put an arrow in his head instead?
Its not about freeing them its about him securing the path to throne, its the real reason why hes even there in the first place. Which after all things said and done, its utterly logical and unsurprising for him to show up there. Its more like the manhwa writer was making it a point that this is an assassination plot disguised as a rescue mission by using bows.If the elves are so accurate with their bows to get a headshot, why kill the hostage first? Couldn’t they like, just put an arrow in his head instead?
Killing off all the witnesses is a good reason, but quite brutal.