Chapter Four
_ The Woman Who Kidnapped the Prince?!
* * *
There was something moving near me, on my face, in a ticklish way. When I opened my eyes, I found the child on all fours, crawling beside me, playing with my hair, and making sweet cooing sounds like someone who had found something fun to play with...
I shook the sleep from my eyes; the moon was in the center of the sky, indicating that I had slept the entire day. I got out of bed quickly and carried the little one to feed him, as he hadn't eaten anything since the morning..
Before I could leave the room, the door opened to reveal a short shadow, and then the boy named Jan entered. When he saw me awake, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"You're awake, My Lady. I thought you'd never wake up.."
"Why?!"
"You slept like the dead. The little one cried because he was hungry, and perhaps he was worried because you didn't get up despite hearing his cries, so he cried even more..."
'I'm sorry, my sweet little one'
I looked at the little one and felt sad for him. Did he cry that much? I patted his cheeks gently, making him laugh even more. I looked at the boy and asked:
"And what happened after that?!"
"Forgive me for intruding, but I came back and took him. Since Mrs. Catherine was still here, she fed him and said you were very exhausted and that I shouldn't wake you.."
I felt truly grateful to them and patted Jan's head, saying kindly:
"You seem like a smart boy. How old are you?! And why do you work here?!"
"Thank you. I'm nine years old, I believe. I live with my mother; my father passed away and we inherited the inn from him... It's true not many people come here, but business is good."
"You're a good boy; your parents must be proud of you."
I patted his head and said that, which made the child smile with a bright face. The boy placed the plates he was carrying on the table and said:
"Have your dinner."
The boy left, and I looked at the table; the food was good—a large, appetizing piece of bread, vegetable soup that smelled delicious, and a salad with cheese. Perhaps no one knows, but this food was exactly to my taste. I sat on the chair while carrying the child, who sat in my lap quietly..
I ate with a great appetite until I was full. I felt that after a peaceful sleep and a full stomach, my mind had become clear again, and I would be able to think more calmly.. Let's sort everything out:
First: The transportation tool is shattered, and I cannot leave Carson.
Second: Everyone in this village knows my new identity, _ Lucia Pons _, which is an identity my father forged before his death. No one knows about it; he didn't even tell those close to him. Perhaps he gave me my mother's first name as a final memento...
Third: Everyone thinks the child is mine, which is not what I wanted to do. I was going to forge my relationship to him, but things evolved here. If I decide to settle in Toriz Village, I will lie about my relation to him, but if the child grows up here, I will feel like I'm deceiving him...
Settling here is somewhat beneficial; no one will believe that I haven't left Carson. I'll give myself some time to rest and won't answer the Lady yet...
"Ah, did you get bored?!"
The child was playing with my hair and pulled it slightly. When I looked at him, he started waving at me. I left the table, embraced him, went near the bed, and pulled a small blanket. I covered him with it and left the room, as I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep..
I wandered through the simple inn and went out to the front garden. The air was a bit cold, but it was beautiful in a way that inspired serenity. I looked at the horizon; farms and orchards spread in every corner..
I looked at the little one, who was looking at his surroundings and laughing. I kissed his cheek, and he laughed even more. I tried again, and he emitted the most beautiful laugh I had ever heard in my life. I have cared for this little one from afar since his birth, and now I must protect him and care for him until the right time comes. I hugged him closer to my chest, smelling the sweet baby scent, and whispered in his ear:
"My sweet little one, from now on I will be your mother who loves you more than anything. I will protect you with my soul and body. I will give you all the affection in the world and make you strong, capable of protecting yourself from villains with a brave and kind heart... I will love you more than myself, my sweet child... Damian.."
* * *
The morning was very bright, and the movement of the knights at the borders was majestic. The village residents, who rarely saw knights, were in a state of anticipation and excitement as the knights belonging to several major families passed by..
"The residents of the border villages are very generous.."
"Boy, these people consider us heroes for repelling the danger of neighboring kingdoms and magical monsters..."
"They are very simple and kind, sir.."
The recruit's face was hidden under his cloak, but his warm smile was enough for his commander to know he was moved.. His commander spoke in an official manner:
"Go to the far east toward the mountain. Take the third and fourth squads with you and take some magic knights; there is a risk of monsters and bandits there.. I will set out with Peter and the first squad for this area."
"At your command, sir.."
The commander separated from his assistant. He went with a group of soldiers and a second man who remained silent the whole time, calmly contemplating the view of the peach orchards here. They headed toward the nearest inn to this village, while the assistant went with a large number of soldiers in the opposite direction..
"Sir, do you think he is capable of doing it?! The mountains are dangerous, and don't forget the risk of them encountering Halzan's soldiers.."
"Peter.. I know you're worried about the boy, but from the moment he set foot in the Knight's Order, he hasn't stopped amazing me.."
"I can't deny his abilities, but he will try to prove his talent at his own expense. Don't you remember when he jumped alone into the heart of the Nubia Mountains to save the knights stranded there? If the healing mages hadn't been there at the right time, he would have lost his left hand... Or is it that you admire him because he reminds you of your youth, _ Caral _..."
_ Caral _ laughed, looked at _ Peter _, and punched him playfully..
"You know how to joke..."
* * *
"The harvest was good this year... stop messing with this... we can find new techniques for preservation.... don't touch that..."
The beautiful woman with dark indigo hair stopped delivering her report and snatched the ink from the hand of that naughty child, looking at him sternly to stop..
_ Catherine _ laughed from her heart and said:
" _ Lucia _, let the child play.."
The child looked at _ Nyla _ with puppy-dog eyes—shimmering smoky eyes—but she was stubborn and said calmly after lowering herself to his eye level:
" _ Dami _, these things are dangerous.."
"Mother, what's dangerous about ink?"
_ Catherine _ laughed, for the child was smart, and said:
" _ Dami _ inherited intelligence from his mother. Damian, my little one, ink is truly harmful, and you might get poisoned if you swallow it..."
"Auntie, I'll be eight in a few months, so how would I eat ink... I'm not a child..."
It was his persistence that made _ Nyla _ laugh, so she tried asking him a question for which she knew the answer..
"Then why do you want to take the ink?!"
"My beloved mother knows that I want to write..."
"You mean scribble... your handwriting is terrible.."
"Mother, your handwriting isn't better than mine..."
_ Catherine _ suppressed her laughter and turned the other way so as not to embarrass them...
" _ Lucia _, although you are very, very smart, what _ Dami _ said is true.."
_ Nyla _'s ears turned red, for she knew her handwriting was very bad and that _ Damian _ had better handwriting than her. She ignored the matter and asked:
"What are you going to write?!"
"A letter to _ Rowen _. He said he would come in the spring, but he's late.."
" _ Rowen _ doesn't keep appointments, you know that. Don't worry, he'll come... fine, take the ink and write the letter. I'll review the mistakes.."
The child smiled broadly, hugged his mother, and said:
"Mother, you are the best mother in the world."
_ Nyla _ laughed at _ Damian _'s enthusiastic gesture and left him be to finish her work with Mrs. _ Catherine _...
"He is a smart child."
"He is my wonderful child... though he is a bit stubborn and quick-tempered."
_ Nyla _ looked at _ Damian _'s back with strong affection and sighed, returning to the usual work atmosphere..
* * *
"How long do you think we'll keep hovering in this area?!"
"The orders are directly from the Duke; protecting these areas is one of our highest and most extreme priorities..."
"Fine... I'm hungry. Let's finish this patrol in the forest and head back to the inn.."
"Alright."
CRACKLE!!!
" _ Peter _, did you hear 그 noise?!"
_ Peter _ looked at _ Caral _, and they headed toward the source of the sound. When they arrived, there was a group of children, and before them was a huge bear lying on the ground. Before _ Caral _ could open his mouth to reassure the children not to be afraid, _ Peter _ pointed at the bear and whispered:
"It's dead.."
_ Caral _ swallowed hard; the children weren't afraid but rather amazed. How did the huge bear die when their ages were no more than nine or eight years? _ Peter _ and _ Caral _ approached the children, who were surprised by them and moved back anxiously, except for one among them who was calm and looked at _ Caral _ steadily with clear eyes:
"How may I serve the Sir Knight?!"
The child's manner was polite and confident, making _ Caral _ look closely at the boy until he felt a stiffness in his limbs; bright silver eyes and dull black hair, a beautiful face, and a confident expression. If not for the eye color, he would have thought him someone else...
'It can't be..'
He took a step back but felt a slight magical surge. It was a magic familiar to him. He looked at the fallen bear and realized it died from a magical attack, and the caster of the magic was none other than the child before him. He hesitated a little, then asked the child:
"What is your name, boy?!"
" _ Damian _, but why is the Sir Knight so curious?!"
_ Caral _ felt tense. He looked at the child in shock but tried to act contrary to what was stirring in his heart:
"You are a mage. Shouldn't every child possessing magical ability register and become a magic knight?"
Even the most talented children wouldn't be able to topple this savage bear with such ease. _ Caral _ realized that this child was his master's son, but how could a child whose corpse was found seven years ago be alive and living among commoners with different eyes?!
"Mother says I'm not forced to register. No one has the right to decide my life for me... that's what Mother says."
Even _ Peter _, who was ignorant of _ Caral _'s strange behavior toward the child, snorted and said:
"It seems your mother doesn't know that failing to register mages is against the law. If someone reports it, it will be a problem."
"And who will report it?!"
_ Peter _ and _ Caral _ looked at the children, who were clearly following _ Damian _ like a leader, as if possessed by him. It wasn't magic or suppression, but rather the child's personality was strong and majestic. _ Caral _, who knows _ Elion _, felt he was seeing his twelve-year-old master when he served him for the first time. The recruit _ Caral Percion _, nineteen years old, was the third son of Count _ Percion _, one of the families subordinate to _ Walter _. When he had a good talent for swordsmanship, his father pushed him to become one of _ Walter _'s knights and told him he must serve the young master of _ Walter _. The child before him was his master; he had been frustrated, but on that day when he swore the knight's oath, his master said with a provocative smile:
["Sir Percion, you seem frustrated"]
The young _ Caral _ felt embarrassed, for among all the knights, he was the only one addressed in that manner. _ Caral _ stammered and tried to deny it, but his young master sighed and moved his hands with a frown, approaching _ Caral _ and speaking calmly in a clear voice:
["We must work together, shouldn't we get along... No matter how much you hate having a child as your master, what matters to me is your hard and loyal work for _ Walter _. What matters is _ Walter _"]
After that moment, all the frustrated and hesitant faces changed. Those in the Knight's Order learned that the one before them was a strong and capable master....
_ Caral _ sighed as he looked at the child and said:
"Fine, I won't speak. You may leave.. S—..."
He realized at the right moment that he was about to address him formally, but he pulled back and stepped away. _ Damian _ smiled broadly, looked at the children, and said in a cheerful voice:
"Come, let's go..."
_ Damian _ moved with the children behind him, talking about his move and how he performed it. _ Caral _ heard _ Damian _ repeating to them not to tell his mother about his deed.
'Who is that woman whom the young master refers to as Mother?!'
_ Peter _ looked at _ Caral _ and said:
"There's something about you. Are you going to tell me?!"
"I don't know how to tell you, but the child who just left is the young Prince of _ Walter _."
_ Peter _'s jaw dropped, and he looked at _ Caral _ in disbelief. A thousand questions echoed in his head: Didn't the child die? Didn't they find a mutilated corpse of a child in the village near the palace? Many questions were echoing in his head, so he looked at his commander and said:
"What are we going to do?!"
"His Majesty must be informed. In the meantime, we must watch the child closely."
"At your command, sir."
_ Peter _ was _ Caral _'s friend, but he was also a subordinate working faithfully for his commander. He answered with loyalty and looked toward the village where the children had headed.
* * *
"How was your day?!"
"I played with my friends, helped Auntie _ Rita _ herd the sheep, and I fed _ Tito _, Mrs. _ Martha _'s cat..."
The child was listing what he did enthusiastically, looking with shimmering eyes at his mother, who pinched his nose as she placed the food plates on the table and sat across from him, looking with focused eyes:
"You didn't go to the forest, right..?!"
He almost stammered but smiled embarrassedly, closed his eyes, and said:
"Only once today..."
"And what did you hunt this time, _ Dami _?!"
_ Nyla _ sighed and asked the usual question. He was a passionate and strong child, possessing powerful magical strength. It would be a waste if he didn't try to train and refine it, as if stripping a strong knight of his sword. She didn't suppress him, nor did she encourage him. She trained him alone at first with the help of books, but she was later forced to seek help from _ Rowen _, who assisted her when _ Damian _'s magical power went out of control when he was four years old...
_ Damian _ smiled broadly and opened his hands:
"It was a bear this size! It died in an instant."
"Did you try to show off in front of the children again?..."
"Moooooother!"
_ Nyla _ smiled, patted _ Damian _'s head, and said with a gentle rebuke:
"It's okay to practice magic, but you must be careful.. You are strong, but the children won't be safe if things get out of control and magical monsters come to the forest attracted by your magic. So if you want to practice, take me with you or wait until _ Rowen _ comes.."
_ Damian _ understood _ Nyla _'s warning and said sincerely:
"I won't be reckless again. My strength will be to serve others..."
"My child is strong and wonderful. Eat your food so you can grow up."
"I'll grow up and become strong and protect Mother from everything."
_ Nyla _ patted his soft black hair, her heart feeling full, and she felt that tears would flow from happiness. How was she deprived of that happiness in her previous life? In _ Nyla _'s body, she found many happy things: affectionate and wonderful parents and a sweet child. She decided to protect the world in which this child exists, just as her father protected her before his death..
'I will protect you if it's the last thing I do in my life..'
It was a usual, warm meal in this small house. The two men were watching the small house from afar quietly. _ Caral _ could barely absorb the second shock; his young master is alive, and more importantly, he lives in this remote village with a young woman who is said to be his mother. And what a woman?! It's _ Nyla Harvey _, whom he saw several times in _ Walter _ Palace throughout the year she lived there with a stern and calm face, whereas here she is _ Lucia Pons _, the young mother living with her child, kind and affectionate by all standards. All the time the child was around her, she only looked at him with pure tenderness and affection...
He was in a state of confusion, not knowing what was truly happening around him. Why did she kidnap the child?! And why is she raising him?! Didn't she want revenge on the Archduke?!
'Why is the woman who kidnapped the Prince taking such good care of him?!'
...... To be continued ......