Chapter 13
The Princess stabbed at the creature's tail with her small knife, barely managing to stay alive in the violent, churning water.
Princess: "John!! My sword!!"
John stood frozen at the shore.
His entire body trembled.
Memories of his past trauma crashed into him like a tidal wave, locking his movements, crushing his will.
Princess: "John!!"
Water exploded around her as the monster thrashed. Her face remained determined, but exhaustion was written clearly in her eyes. Every second felt like an eternity stretching into nothingness.
John wanted to move.
He needed to move.
But his mind kept dragging him back into the past—into something he had never escaped.
His chest tightened. His vision blurred.
John: "P-Princess… I… I… wait… I'm coming…"
His shaking hand slowly reached for his sword. He forced himself—step by painful step—to gather courage.
The Princess noticed the change in him.
Princess (thinking): What happened to him? …I can't wait.
The monster lunged again.
Even wounded, the Princess tightened her grip on the knife and surged forward.
She slashed the creature's side.
A furious roar echoed beneath the water.
Its tail whipped violently—striking her with brutal force and sending her crashing back against the surface.
She gasped sharply.
Blood began to spread slowly into the water from her wound.
Still—she did not stop.
The monster attacked again.
This time, she dodged and drove her knife deep into its arm.
The beast screamed in rage.
But before she could retreat—
Its massive tail wrapped tightly around her leg.
She was dragged downward.
Deeper.
Into the dark, swallowing water.
The Princess struggled desperately, trying to cut through the tail, but her strength was fading.
Her lungs burned.
Her movements slowed.
The world above began to blur.
Her knife slipped slightly from her weakening grip.
Her eyes trembled shut.
Princess (thinking): Is this… the end…?
---
Flashback
A memory surfaced.
She saw herself as a child again.
The little Princess ran through the palace gardens, laughter echoing under warm sunlight. Another child ran beside her. Everything was bright. Safe. Alive.
Then—
Her foot slipped.
She fell into a royal pond.
Cold water swallowed her instantly.
She panicked, flailing her small arms, trying to reach the surface—but she was too small.
Her voice never escaped the water.
Her strength faded quickly.
The light above her blurred.
Her eyes slowly closed.
Child Princess (thinking): Is this the end…? Am I going to die?
Then—
Someone jumped in.
Strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her upward.
Moments later, she was safe.
Water dripped from her hair as she opened her eyes.
A man held her tightly.
Man: "Princess!!"
His voice shook with fear.
The moment he saw she was alive, he pulled her into a desperate embrace.
Man: "Oh, Princess… my dear child!"
She burst into tears.
Princess: "Papa!! I thought I was going to die!"
He gently wiped her tears.
Papa: "Not while Papa is here."
She sniffled, still trembling.
Princess: "I was so scared…"
He smiled softly and placed a hand on her head.
Papa: "Don't cry. You are the future of this kingdom. Tears do not suit a princess."
He looked at her warmly.
Papa: "And remember… as long as I am here, nothing will ever happen to you."
The little Princess looked up.
Princess: "Really?"
---
Present
She drifted underwater, eyes still closed.
Princess (thinking): Papa… you're not here anymore… what will happen to me now…?
Suddenly—
A scream tore through the water.
The Princess's eyes snapped open.
Through the blurred surface, she saw him.
John.
He was fighting.
His sword moved violently through the water, cutting into the creature again and again.
The monster lunged—but John dodged and slashed its side.
Dark blood spread through the water.
The beast roared in rage.
It swung its tail—
John grabbed it.
And with one brutal motion, he severed it.
The monster screamed.
John didn't hesitate.
He drove his sword straight into its head.
The creature trembled… then slowly went still.
Silence returned.
---
John rushed forward and pulled the Princess from the water.
She coughed, gasping for air, still clutching her knife tightly.
John held her close.
His face was soaked, streaked with water and blood—but relief was clear in his eyes.
Princess (thinking): John…
For a moment, she simply stared at him.
The world felt distant.
Quiet.
Almost unreal.
John's chest rose and fell heavily.
John: "Are you… okay?"
Princess: "I… I'm fine."
John: "I'm sorry… I just—"
She gently placed a hand on his arm.
Princess: "It's okay… calm down."
---
Arrival
A voice suddenly cut through the silence.
Guinevere: "Princess!!"
Both of them turned.
Guinevere approached quickly with soldiers behind her. She froze the moment she saw them—soaked, standing close together in the water.
Her eyes widened.
Guinevere: "What… is happening here?"
The Princess stepped out of the water calmly.
Princess: "Prepare the carriage. I'm exhausted."
She paused.
Princess: "And arrange a meeting later. I want a full report on the battlefield."
Guinevere was still visibly stunned.
Marco arrived behind her.
Marco: "Finally… Princess, you're okay."
Princess: "I'm tired."
Marco's gaze shifted toward John, noticing both of them were drenched and silent.
Marco: "Wait… what exactly happened here?"
Tomasi approached on horseback.
Tomasi: "Seems like… I missed something important."
The Princess turned sharply toward Marco.
Her expression hardened instantly.
Princess: "I ordered you to escort everyone to safety."
She pointed toward Tomasi.
Princess: "Why is he still here?"
Guinevere shrugged.
Guinevere: "He insisted. Said he could fight too. I didn't think it mattered."
The Princess stared at her in disbelief.
Princess: "What?"
She sighed, exhausted.
Princess: "Both of you will give me a full report later."
Guinevere: "Yeah, yeah… relax. I thought you lost an arm or something. But you're fine."
Marco gestured toward the road.
Marco: "Princess, your carriage is ready."
Then he glanced at John still standing near the water.
Marco: "Oi! We're leaving. How long are you planning to stand there?"
---
Next Morning
Inside the command tent, morning light filtered through fabric walls.
The Princess sat on her bed while Amas carefully wrapped bandages around her injured arm.
Guinevere and Marco stood nearby, discussing the aftermath.
Marco: "Some soldiers were heavily injured, so I sent them back. Most are stable."
He folded his arms.
Marco: "Everything else is under control."
The Princess nodded silently.
Marco: "Oh—and the King sent you a letter."
Guinevere leaned in immediately.
Guinevere: "Oh? What does it say?"
Marco handed it over.
The Princess opened it and began reading.
Her eyes suddenly widened.
---
Outside the tent, soldiers spoke quietly.
Soldier 1: "Hey… I heard we might get a break soon."
Soldier 2: "A break?"
Soldier 1: "Yeah. The next kingdom we pass… isn't that the Princess's future husband's kingdom?"
Soldier 3: "Haha, seriously? Finally some rest then."
Soldier 2: "But what about Manasa's stone body? Aren't we still searching?"
Soldier 1: "I don't know… but if she stops there to marry, it'll delay everything."
Soldier 3: "Yeah… something feels off about this."
A quieter soldier shook his head.
Soldier 4: "Shut up. We should trust the Princess. She knows what she's doing."
He shrugged.
Soldier 4: "Still… I won't complain if we get a break."
---
Not far away, John stood behind stacked crates.
He had heard everything.
His breath stopped.
John (thinking): She's… going to get married…?
His chest tightened painfully.
For a moment, it felt like the ground beneath him disappeared.
...CHAPTER 13ENDS...