Growl
"Rei, I am hungry..."
Growl
"It's your fault for not buying food in the beginning, Bai"
Growl
"At this rate, I am gonna die of hunger"
Growl
After erecting the grave for Azule, we ran away from those bastard Prison Sector as we continued our journey to this unknown area for me. Only full of fields, and I am walking slowly while having no energy...
The field is beautiful and full of flowers...only with a companion and sadly my companion is a ghost latched onto me so I can't even appreciate it. Then, I blanked out...
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Year 10xx, Area 13462
Area 13462, recorded as one of the area that were ignorant of their own surrounding. One of the reasons were their lacking in the technology. They had their magic skills and nobles surrounding their own kingdoms. It is truly an ignorant area...
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Day 5, Month 2, Year 10xx, Area 13462
A carriage went down the road. A carriage with a sigil from royalties, colored with gold color. A fancy carriage had even a few other carriages behind and in front of the main carriage as the escort.
A rather slow pace of travel had made the person riding inside the main carriage becoming bored. This person doesn't like the boredom since loneliness accompanies them. Then, the carriage went to a halt.
"Why did you stop, Raven?"
"Your Highness, it seems there was a body here. I will remove it first so that it won't disturb our journey."
The man named Raven bowed slightly before stepping down from the carriage. His movement was disciplined and silent, the kind of precision only those with years of loyal service could perform. The faint sound of boots against the dirt was the only disturbance in the field of swaying flowers.
The carriage door creaked open slightly, and a soft, gentle voice came from within.
"...A body?"
Raven froze for a moment before turning his head slightly as he was checking the body closely.
"...Yes, Your Highness. It's a man with a lot of scars and most possibly burn wounds as well under his clothes."
"So, it's a man with a lot of scars?"
A different person, lighter and younger but carrying a regal confidence in her voice, walked out of the carriage toward her butler. Her golden hair flowed like liquid light beneath the morning sun, her eyes reflecting the faintest tint of sapphire blue. Her dress shimmered with threads of pale ivory, fit for a royal but tailored lightly enough for travel.
"Your Highness, please return inside the carriage. I can take of th-"
"...Raven, let's carry him back to the palace."
"...Eh??"
Ignoring him, she knelt beside the body—Bai—lying quietly among the flowers. The soft breeze brushed his black-and-silver hair, his expression calm but pale, as though in deep slumber rather than death.
The young lady's eyes narrowed slightly.
"He's still alive. Seems to be famished and tired."
"Your Highness—"
"Help me carry him into the carriage."
Raven hesitated.
"But your highness! We don't even know who he is."
"Then we'll find out when he wakes."
The young lady replied with her gentle but firm tone as she swept Bai's hair softly to the side.
"No one deserves to be left under the sun like this. Also..."
"Also?"
"It's nothing. Carry him inside."
"As you wish, Your Highness."
Raven replied with a sigh. He knows that nothing can change her mind when she sets her hearts on it. Unknowing to Raven, the young lady mutter slowly.
'Also, he seems to be stirring my heart...why do my heart feels this way..."
Even to her, this feeling was the first, and she will find out about it later on.
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Night, Day 5, Month 2, Year 10xx, Area 13462
"His pulse has stabilized, Your Highness."
The royal physician, a man with deep wrinkles of wisdom and fatigue, straightened his back after finishing the examination.
"He was suffering from fatigue and malnutrition. It looks like he's been journeying for a long time, seeing the condition of the soles of his legs too."
"So he will live?"
The young lady asked with a concerned voice. The physician thought a bit before speaking up.
"Yes, Your Highness. But he needs at least two days of rest. His body is severely strained."
The young lady exhaled in relief, a soft smile forming on her lips.
"Thank you, doctor."
Raven, standing beside her, leaned forward with worries showed on his face.
"Should we inform His Majesty that an unidentified man is in the palace? The guards are already uneasy."
"Not yet. Let's wait until he wakes. He may not be a threat."
Raven's brow furrowed upon hearing the young lady words.
"With all due respect, Your Highness, the last time someone said that, we had an assassin in the—"
"Raven! Sometimes, trusting a stranger is less dangerous than doubting everyone."
He lowered his head in defeat. "…Understood, Princess Anasistasia."
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The soft glow of moonlight filtered through the massive palace window, soft, cold wind traversing through the room. The curtains fluttered lightly as the moonlight showcase two figures in the room.
A man stirred for a moment before opening his eyes. He stares at the unknown ceilings as he feels something heavy on his left hand. He turned around and saw a young lady, golden hair that flowed past her slender shoulder.
"…Where…"
He stares at the young lady and before murmured something.
"Rei, you there?"
Rei, the spirit doesn't even replied to him. He stared at the air again as he heard a rustling sound. Someone woke up beside him and rubbed her eyes. The young lady, sleeping on the chair while holding his hand stares at Bai.
She and Bai stares at each other for a while before she realizes something.
'He really is stirring my heart crazy!'
Unknown to her thoughts, Bai stares at her eyes for a while before speaking out.
"Uhh...hi?"
"...Oh. OH!!!"
She went red faced and stood up immediately. With a still blushed face, she stormed outside while shouting.
"Hi and wait a bit!!!!"
Bai blinked for a bit before chuckling. He thought of her as a clumsy but cute girl.
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A few minutes later...
She arrived with a physician, a group of guards and a few high ranking people with one of them wearing a crown.
The physician, arriving immediately went to check on Bai's condition. The guards were chattering about him, the young lady having a talk with the high ranking people and Bai having no thought at all.
"The check up is done. Unbelievable. he should be in recovery but he is able to recover in less than few hours."
"I'm glad. Thank you, Physician Juzet"
The physician was making his final checkup as he observed and gave the results to the young lady. The man with a crown then came near the physician and tapped his shoulder.
"Now, that his healthy...He should be able to talk right?"
With that word, the mood in the room turned tense. Immediately, the whole guards that came with him brandished their weapons at Bai. The young lady was shocked to see that everyone were threaten him. She immediately went in front of the man with the crown and stood with glare on her eyes.
"Father! What is the meaning of this?"
"My daughter, Anasistasia...You are too naive. You don't even know him, and you think you can bring anyone into the royal palace? What's more...you bring him into your royal chamber!"
"That's..."
The man, Emperor Truwaz Ayut Von Rylee XII, went aside his daughter and appeared in front of Bai. He signaled the guards to come closer, bringing the threat for real.
"Outsider, tell me your purpose for approaching the first princess of the Rylee Empire. Is it for wealth, fame, or herself?"
Then, silence came in. No words were uttered as the emperor questioned Bai. Everyone were still waiting for Bai to answer the question. As for the person in question...
"..."
Bai kept on staring at the windows leading to outside as neither the question that was asked nor the threat by the guards posed any meaning to him. He was simply staring blankly...
Raven, Anasistasia's butler came closer to Bai and pointing his sword to him. He simply glared at him as the situation turned for the worse.
"Answer, you insolent plebeian! What's your intention?!"
The room turned into chaotic. As Anasistasia ran toward Raven and questioned his motive, the emperor kept on pressing and the guards were inching closer. The onlookers noble and royal family were busy chatting and gossiping about the royal princess, Anasistasia's relationship with Bai, the man in question. It was then...
THUD!
A loud sound was heard inside the room. Everyone turned toward the person who created the sound. Anasistasia, with her hand clapped together, glared at everyone in the room and pointed her finger toward the door.
"Everyone, out...now!"
"B-But Princ-"
"I said out!"
Everyone was shocked with the sudden outburst and immediately complied with it.
"That's right! All of you go out and refresh y-"
"You too, Father. Out now!"
"Eh?"
"I said everyone means everyone, including you!"
"B-But daugh-"
"Out! Now!"
The emperor reluctantly walked out of the room together with the guards, leaving Anasistasia and Bai alone. As the emperor steps outside, he saw everyone that were in the room just now were standing outside, waiting.
"Your Majesty, what's the situation inside?"
Everyone was holding their breath, waiting for the answer. The emperor, with a serious face were facing them.
"All of you, go and disperse. I will be the one waiting here."
"Your Majesty, that..."
"Are you trying to disobey the emperor?"
With that one question, the hallway turned quiet as everyone immediately scurried away. Including Raven, no one left behind. The emperor then smiled a little bit as he was standing outside the door, waiting.
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After everyone was kicked out by Anasistasia, she went to Bai and sit beside him. He was still staring at the windows, with moonlight shining upon them.
"Hey...My name is Anasistasia Rylee Nai Baal. What's your name?"
"..."
"Wouldn't you talk to me?"
"..."
"I just want to know you..."
Anasistasia voice came out as almost in tears while clenching her hands on the blanket. Bai heard her voice and turned toward her.
"...Bai"
"...Huh?"
"Bai. I am given the name Bai."
Bai gave a small replied as he introduced himself to her. Anasistasia heard that and started to smile brightly.
"Hi Bai. What a weird name."
She replied to his name as she muttered something else under her breath.
"B-But, I like your name..."
Bai with his senses heard that asked her the question he truly wanted to ask.
"Why did you save me?"
"Huh? Oh...uh...Cause I wanted to?"
She gave an answer that she doesn't even sure of as Bai chuckled a bit.
"Are you intending to torture me for something I know?"
"Huh? No! That's not it."
"But the people just now doesn't looks like it. They were more hostile than I expected. Should I expected to be boil when I'm alone with you? It seems to me like that based on my experiences."
He voiced out his concerns as he made a worried face. Anasistasia noticed his sad voice and worried face and put her hand on her chest.
"Don't worry. I don't know what you have been through but I won't do anything to you. I swear with my name."
"Your name seems powerful~"
Bai chuckling as he smiled a bit. Anasistasia was entranced by that smiles and was blushing a bit.
"Anyway, the name Anasistasia seems too long. Can I call you Ana?"
"Eh?"
"Is it not okay?"
Anasistasia was stunned as she heard his suggestion that she let out a small shocked sound. Bai thought she was not thrilled with it when she then hold his hand.
"No one had called me that. Sure. I will let you call me Ana"
"...Good then."
He made a small smile and Ana noticed it. Then, she stood up as if she remembering something.
"I think you might need more rest so I'm just gonna leave you be."
"The-"
"I will see you tomorrow, Bai"
"Good night, Ana"
She then stormed toward the door and Bai shouted at her as he thought he needs to be mindful of his manners at times like this.
She stopped before the door and turned toward him with a huge smile.
"Sleep well."
As she went away after closing the doors, Rei appeared beside him.
'Looks like you're smitten'
'Shut up'
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Waiting outside the door, the emperor was still waiting as a few minutes had passed since he left both Anasistasia and Bai alone. Then, the door was opened and he saw it. The huge smiles her daughter last had. He never thought he saw it again here, with her showing to a complete the stranger that smile.
Anasistasia then walked out of the room only to be greeted by his father, the emperor. She was shocked, thinking he already went away.
"F-Father?!"
"What with that expression? You thought I would truly left you alone together?"
"..."
The emperor saw his crestfallen face as her daughter she was going to be punished. That moment, he knew that her daughter was already smitten.
"Tell me about the man."
The emperor sighed. He doesn't know that the stranger could made her daughter fall in love with him. Ana went instantly brightened as she heard he father's word.
"Yes. He is actually..."
That night, the emperor ears bled as he had to endure her daughters talk about other man as her voices faded into the night.
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As the night came, so was the feelings of two people. Neither realized it but no one expected that this feelings will later came as strongest weapon for one another to survive even longer.