178Please respect copyright.PENANA0L4a0lYmM6
"You should've prevent yourself from the beginning."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAGIidXOvdQC
"You should've done that."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAoSuMa7TE9n
"You should just ignore everything."
178Please respect copyright.PENANA6OcW8dEXv0
"You're too impulsive. Now you'll lost something in your future the same as what you take."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAvynffhkPkW
***
178Please respect copyright.PENANAO04BonUKQJ
Sloan woke up with a tear that falls in her left eye forgetting the cause when she opened her eyes.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAB5lZv4CXuQ
Flash of memories of what happened at the Palace Garden takes in her head and rush to get off the bed. Her body hasn't had enough rest still, but decided to open the door of the room holding a sword she found beside the bed.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAgoDD9hwGDe
She even hasn't hold the doorknob when it opened and revealed the face of the prince.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAg1NMOrgwGt
Prince Sage, after noticing that she was holding a sword, eyebrows furrowed and tried to take it from her when she moved fast and step back.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAobjvNjq4rS
Sage clicked his tongue. "I'll tell you everything, put the sword down."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAo6mCem3a4B
"No, your highness, I will figure it myself. I hate something immaculate." She pointed the sword at Sage, the poised of a duel. "Please, your highness, I don't want to fight you."
178Please respect copyright.PENANA8C1l2Almib
Sage's face paled. "You're clearly pointing a sword to me, Sloan."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAW2pElZlC2Z
Sloan gripped the handle and sighed before throwing it away on the side. "I apologize, your highness. But please, I need to check something."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAae3oTNFOux
"I know. You're impatient." He only replied and turned his head away. He's gone picking a dress over the cabinet where Sloan's dressed newly placed at, the next moment.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAfuX98D6IXk
"Change your clothes first. You can't walk outside in your nightgown."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAbEbMcfHNlp
That's when Sloan only noticed what she's wearing. Her blood boiled. "Who changed my clothes? It's too thin...and it's cold."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAHNNTmuqVoY
"The head maid, Amanda."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAEAdTIW8kcC
Her?
178Please respect copyright.PENANAF4puuJbnu3
Sloan's eyes fell on the floor. She changed her clothes?
178Please respect copyright.PENANAprY2dreAlT
"The gardener you saved a while ago was her only son. His name was Ahron."
178Please respect copyright.PENANATZaIMr45QB
She was astonished by that fact. She couldn't spout words for a moment.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAlZ8P9wl5H3
Sage told her what happened.
178Please respect copyright.PENANA4BkNVCkvJR
He was out finding her all over the palace to bring her to the queen (her hunch was right). But then Ahron was hastingly came shouting all over the palace while he was like running for his life. He kept repeating the words 'the princess is in danger!!!! There's a big snake at the palace Garden! OHMYGOD, YOUR HIGHNESSSSSS!!!!'
178Please respect copyright.PENANAQjUMVy3NiY
Sage showed her how his ear must have been deaf hours ago. And he told her he saw how she killed the snake when he rushed there, and it was too late for him to do that job. She fainted shouting and wanting to go near the dead snake to check on it. The physician said it was because of exhaustion. And her sole in her right foot was intrigued too. The physician scold the prince too, why would he let the her walked with this kind of foot...and how could she walk and run with the kind of speed no one could ever if their foot was injured?
178Please respect copyright.PENANAg7KA4w0900
Seriously, is the soon-to-be-princess, Shae's daughter, got a thing on her head?
178Please respect copyright.PENANAf0QwfFobW3
"Well, that's not nice." Sloan could only say her opinion.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAcdM5YEKaY1
"That's why you should think before you move. You're an obstinate person."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAIVBYrhAabc
"...No. No, I'm not. Please, your highness, I really need to get out of this room."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAO5iM2g4kfM
It took Sage fifteen minutes to get her a dress, for he knows she hates eye-catching dresses to wear and she always say it's uncomfortable. There's only about five normal dresses that he thinks would be uncomfortable for her and he took the pink one.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAONwiuxu0KB
"Go change. I'll bring you to the drawing room. The king and queen's there, and the priest."
178Please respect copyright.PENANA4gNdoD71WQ
Sloan take the dress. "Priest? Why would the priest---?"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAM9foFKXdVf
"Father was worried. He thought of it as omen and hurriedly call a priest---No, don't change infront of me, can you?"
178Please respect copyright.PENANACkBVkwEKV5
"Oh, sorry, I forgot."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAdo7uDrBmfc
Sloan went to the backroom and change her dress. Sage got annoyed seeing her hair a mess and volunteered of fixing it.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAk2Bc67uCz4
"Your highness, you do know that I'm impatient to go out,"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAgnAD6zgyNJ
"Just a minute."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAsNcrYaV7eU
Sloan chuckled. "You should be a hairdresser,"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAiuhhxm9vvF
"Stop bluffing me,"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAfKuZ2yycnY
"I'm not bluffing, you do always fix my hair. Do you like fixing hairs?"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAUGs84V1agk
"Just your hair. I am annoyed seeing it always tangled. Why you don't care about your hair?"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAb93cAiVB31
"And why you do, your highness?"
178Please respect copyright.PENANA857ZiUi2BR
Sage felt silenced.
178Please respect copyright.PENANA5LD10SVfsH
The reason.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAoCvNaFdeap
Think.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAxFRObwXXrv
He can't think of anything.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAoP47vQt8XK
"Well maybe I have a thing to fix your hair,"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAlfZMLwwcJ4
"Your highness, you're really strange."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAwKdCoRgpcc
"So are you, Sloan."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAvuZjDq82fg
Sage's words kept Sloan distracted from the thoughts that bugs her. When they got out of the room, Sloan said that she doesn't need his support to walk. She's really fine, but they walked rather slowly.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAeA44751CD8
Sage sighed. "Shae wouldn't like it,"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAp4A5v0ojYc
"Wouldn't like what, your highness?"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAZhBxrNwIpj
"You won't telling everything about who hurt you in this place, I'm beginning to be overwhelmed by curiousness and madness about wanting to know who that is. And it wasn't really my thing to feel things. Why won't you tell and I'll punish her or him?"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAfRyqiTWn1d
"Punishing will only make matters worse, not everything about it will be a solution."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAwjeGPkrFfV
"I'll tell Shae,"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAyHuxkQsWJQ
"No, your highness, you won't."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAoS0d51Ph7L
"Yes. Yes, I will."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAkw21h6sZki
Sloan's eyebrows furrowed. If it wouldn't for his title, he already dueled him a long time ago.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAoWUu29Rb9p
"OHMYGOD, HER HIGHNESS!!!!!!!!"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAlLNuAFGQ2C
They saw some sillouhette at the hallway coming towards them. Sage, hearing the sound of the loud voice, sighed and step forward.
178Please respect copyright.PENANANyvUD7pCT9
"Ahron,"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAxS6H2pZwJd
"YOUR HIGHNESS!!!!"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAD9UTJsIEQ0
Ahron? Ah!
178Please respect copyright.PENANALNLnDzQhJd
Sloan only just realized it and steadied her poised. Ahron hastingly bowed his head infront of them while almost kowtowing Sloan.
178Please respect copyright.PENANA84gaga9dAY
"Ahron, stop it."
178Please respect copyright.PENANA1Sx7Y1XzCH
"Thank you for saving my life, your highness!!!! Please, what can I do for you??????" Ahron was almost kowtowing Sloan.
178Please respect copyright.PENANArQXccCWjAu
Sloan shakes her head and held his arms to prevent him from doing it anymore. "No, it's alright. Ahron."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAOGgQc6Mie5
"Ack! Your highness, you know m'name??????"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAA1nTtycpAi
Sloan nod. "His highness told me. And you don't need to do that."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAglFfMGO6OS
"But your highness!"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAUdKNS8bri3
Sage interrupted him. "Ahron, get back to your work."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAf7RLwY3knC
Sloan beamed, looking at Ahron.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAW182y1IK5z
Ahron bowed, he sadly sighed. "Your highness, I really thank you. I thought I'm gonna die a while ago. If I die, then, my mother will be left alone...I'm the only one she has, and she's the only one I have. I really thank you, your highness. Please, what can I do for you?" Ahron begged.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAYbY8nHkPIr
Sloan's eyes fell on the floor.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAigcY53zmRW
This is Amanda's son, only child she has? The one that hates her and didn't come to help her treat her deep wound. And the reason why she has that deep wound. And she saved her son she wasn't aware of.
178Please respect copyright.PENANA4bpjsfq5Nx
But Sloan...didn't she come to expect the mistreatment of the people of the palace? She already pin in her mind that anyone here might contradict her, for the reason that she's the one who has gained a new power to eliminate anyone here, and she's a threat to them. Maybe they're thinking she's bad, like the other nobles that mistreated them everytime they visits here at the palace.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAYtkBxzZNri
But I'm not like that. I know my place.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAdeWBbauxQp
Sloan never admitted it yesterday, but she's upset. It's still agonizing to think it happened even though she already expected it.
178Please respect copyright.PENANA97ZZKslJOA
"...Just..." Sloan felt overwhelmed for the reason she don't know. "Just do as his highness said???" She don't know what to say.
178Please respect copyright.PENANATQyfi3tjaU
Ahron confusingly looked at her, and she's beaming.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAkx7KlLmQbt
A sincere smile.
178Please respect copyright.PENANABGIvcVegsq
Ahron knows that smile. It felt familiar. A smile her mother always made for him. A fragile yet modest smile.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAMJtyf6Odym
Her highness...
178Please respect copyright.PENANA4OW0LjWbP0
"Ahron, get back to your work. We've got something to go now."
178Please respect copyright.PENANASureEoeaGx
Ahron bowed once again. "Yes...yes! I apologized! Thank you really much, your highness!"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAOkKEvfv9uX
Ahron run back to the garden.
178Please respect copyright.PENANASpYunrkolh
Sloan couldn't help it. She was never the one to hold a grudge.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAwL7qEeAfC4
Just like her father told her, holding a grudge will only make a person weak inside. It's a wicked thing that can grabbed you to be like it.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAg5GQjqPAPu
And she never wanted that.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAvYww5FCfkH
What she wanted was to be a strong one, a brave, fearless lady that anyone could call by the time there's a chaos. Just like her father. She takes it from him.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAvtxp6d8yQS
"What are you thinking?" Sage noticed her in deep thought and asked.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAqnhIu8Y26x
"...Nothing. Let us go on, your highness."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAkFcBsrWkKc
When they've reach the drawing room, the queen hurried and worried about Sloan. Sloan almost tripped and fall but Sage was there to prevent her from falling, Sage couldn't help but sighed.
178Please respect copyright.PENANALIWFiXZr24
"Your majesty,"
178Please respect copyright.PENANARyLneMrXLV
"I apologized! Please, come here, sit, Sloan, I thought you'll wake up tomorrow,"
178Please respect copyright.PENANA5isNMRnfpz
The king nod his head at the both of them.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAd6edanWbqm
They saw the priest sitting at the chair opposite to them. The priest bowed his head.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAlTGrKKW0GA
"I greet your highness, the prince, and miss Sloan, the future princess,"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAzMyr8nWix2
Sloan nod her head.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAkl1VetqHsO
"Priest Claude,"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAeEPnzL9sV0
The priest beamed a little. "Right, I supposed you remember me, miss Sloan. You came at the temple five years ago,"
178Please respect copyright.PENANA8pTElif8gE
Sloan nod. She remembered going there after persuading Shae that she wanted to see the appearance of the temple. Coincidentally, Shae's new mission has something to do with the temple and brought her there but she was left at the temple's entrance due to the reason that going inside there was forbidden for a normal person like her. Priest Claude saw Sloan goofing out and came to give her acquaintance.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAWNBoav7pCS
Sloan introduced herself as so Priest Claude did. Priest Claude offered her to sit at the temple stairs as they tell each other some stories.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAtMBChp3n4O
Sloan felt comfortable, but as the minutes goes on, Priest Claude was getting an unknown muffled feeling beside her. When their conversation ended, Priest Claude bid goodbyes to Sloan as he went inside the temple and prayed, asking questions why does he felt like there was something inside the Captain of the Blue Knight's daughter that he can't just explained, like a glint glimpse of gifted fate that has something to do with the Gods.
178Please respect copyright.PENANA1N3Icf1pZ7
A powerful feeling.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAnXvizzEkja
But since that moment, he hasn't received any answer from Gods.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAUDvZPbb7NC
And after years, he has come to know that Sloan was becoming a princess, the future queen.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAQoQhIVmxJn
Maybe, Priest Claude thought, it was this feeling he felt that time. The faint feeling from talking to the future ruler of the kingdom. The one who's trusted by the Gods who will overcome the future journeys they have bestowed upon.
178Please respect copyright.PENANA5k5d0w9UHJ
Now, he felt a sting of chills.
178Please respect copyright.PENANATsmuBrQQnZ
Sage was the first to spoke to asked. "Priest Claude, can you tell us what was wrong about the snake that she killed a while ago?"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAMz8Vf7O171
Priest Claude bowed his head. "I actually already told her and his Majesty about it, your highness. But it wouldn't be bad to repeat what I said this time since Miss Sloan was here," He turned his gaze on Sloan.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAAYh42uW3rK
"Miss Sloan, the snake you killed comes from the Cephas Kingdom, I prayed to Gods and made sure of it."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAgq4ESXIorQ
"Cephas Kingdom...Why would the snake from the Cephas Kingdom sudenly appear here? Is there any possible reason of informing us to start a war----"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAvmJv8tfcUc
The priest shakes his head. "There was never an urge like that, Miss Sloan."
178Please respect copyright.PENANA6lbHpuTot6
"Then...Then...what?"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAfy69bW9xhi
"There's a possible chance of something dangerous was happening on Cephas Kingdom's West Side Forest that the king hasn't been handling about. That big snake was seemed to seeking help even if it was about to die out of hunger, maybe there's others like it that's on the other kingdoms notifying a need of aid."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAhvgxqeRo8T
Sloan's mouth fell slightly open. "...I killed it. And it needs help."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAHJsoT6pLXz
Sage snorted and comforted her patting her back. "It was about to kill you because of hunger, you need to defend yourself."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAg5XFwgoURP
Sloan can't make eye contact to everyone around her and left silenced.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAWy6rm1D5CL
Priest Claude rubbed his forehead. "Uhh, his highness said was right."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAdHJRGN0skF
Sage asked. "What are we going to do now?"
178Please respect copyright.PENANARVMcTisPwK
The king spoke. "We need to go at the Cephas Kingdom, Sage. We need to figure out what's happening that the king Niven of the Cephas Kingdom hasn't giving intendance with. He's too..." The king sighed. Can't think of anything to say because of the overwhelming frustration about the king of the Cephas Kingdom.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAG9Ny3J5QYK
Sloan and Sage gazed at each other due to the realization.
178Please respect copyright.PENANA70ubvBxtW1
They're going there tomorrow to speak with the princess!
178Please respect copyright.PENANA6V0VUpvnIe
Sage stands, she held Sloan's hands. "We're going there, your majesty. We're to depart tomorrow."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAWsxEeUBZnO
"Tomorrow?" The queen and the king asked astonishingly in chorus.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAnyArPoNfxb
Sage nod. "We received a letter from the princess few days ago inviting us to the Cephas Kingdom, and we planned to depart this day. It's already decided since two days ago. I never thought this would happen and was planning to cancel our departure, but I guess it wasn't needed anymore."
178Please respect copyright.PENANA4U5IQMhcWC
Sloan's face twitched.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAuD61xP508u
We? Your highness, the letter's only for you!
178Please respect copyright.PENANAEyRVimUBVp
"Did the princess send a letter because of the matrimony in six months?" The king asked.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAKft9cRpvfy
Sage nod. "It is, your majesty. You don't need to go. We'll be the one to go and take care of everything."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAoui5zDDShh
It is, but it's more than that. If his Majesty was to know the contents of the letter, he'll faint.
178Please respect copyright.PENANA6CqsI91Dtz
"But it would be dangerous, Sloan, just stay here." The queen said, worryingly.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAWoHFcJp9yi
Sloan bowed her head. "I trust myself, your majesty. I'll really be alright. I take all my father's teachings with me."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAaI8sivfV9W
"You haven't even recovered with...and your right foot. You still can't walk normally...." The queen paled.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAQZanX3S6uF
Sage step forward, still holding her hand. "I'll be on her back the whole time, your majesty."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAeoYpOXeRKn
"What? Sage? You're going to make her your shield?"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5wxXjeUd9
Sloan rubbed her forehead. The queen just misunderstood the statement.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAl68vvCdihD
"His highness meant to protect me if there's something I can't handle of, your majesty."
178Please respect copyright.PENANA3ua2PJf3tV
"Oh," The queen blushed and went silent.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAQA887JQYig
The priest proceeded to give Sage and Sloan a blessing for their departure that was to happen tomorrow. The king and the queen went to prepare what they will need for their journey on the way to the Cephas Kingdom.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAM5bGw0pdYz
After giving his blessing, Priest Claude bid his goodbyes.
178Please respect copyright.PENANARaHiUj0izQ
Sloan and Sage was about to turn around and went to their chamber when someone hastingly come towards them and bowed on her knees, trembling.
178Please respect copyright.PENANAOGeTxGJvyO
"Your highness, forgive me!!!!!"
178Please respect copyright.PENANATeL4lwrDr2
That voice...Amanda???
178Please respect copyright.PENANAGTC685kMtM
Sloan's eyes widened. Sage confusingly turned his head at Sloan, for he knows that 'your highness's wasn't referring to him but her.
178Please respect copyright.PENANALwHMdbx6nP
"Sloan, why is she..."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAuTpYrOSuZ5
Sloan gulped. "I don't know. Your highness, let's go."
178Please respect copyright.PENANAVfhYgZb00p
She'll be punished. He must never know.
178Please respect copyright.PENANA5UUeuzKbmU
"YOUR HIGHNESS! PLEASE! DON'T LEAVE, ACCEPT MY APOLOGY, I'll do everything!"
178Please respect copyright.PENANAAMEsZh9BXx
Sage grabbed her arms. "No. No, you know."
ns216.73.216.48da2