Heart that Lies

HEART THAT LIES

In the border of the Borneous Kingdom, there's a small town filled with retired knights. A man named Nick lives there with his most trusted maid.

Nick gets his coat that was laying on the couch before he asks permission to Mia.

"I'll look around in the town, again" Nick told to his housemaid.

Nick toured around the town, not until he saw a glimpse of a familiar face.

He saw someone who wears an armor, which is mostly used only by men, and who almost acts as a man but is not a man. Nick blinked a couple of times to make sure if he was seeing the right person.

Just after he confirmed it, the said person went closer to him and was about to bow but Nick immediately stopped them.

"Hi, I'm a retired royal knight. The name is Nick. May I know who you are and what may I help you?" Nick introduced himself.

Von was gave him a questioning look but he followed Nick's lead.

"I'm an adventurer with the name, Von. I have my magical weapon accompanying me, his name is Eli. We just arrived here so we were looking for a place to stay"

"If that is the case, you could temporarily stay with us." Nick invited the two.

Von and Eli gratefully accepted his offer.

•••

After Von and Eli arrived at Nick's house they met Mia, the housemaid, and Herold, Nick's other visitor.

"This is Mia, my housemaid and this is Herold. He is a good friend of ours, he usually visits Mia for unknown reason." Nick said as he introduced the others.

Eli smiled meaningfully, wanting to tease Mia and Herold.

"Uhm, I'm sorry to ask you this but are you related with Prince Nickolas perhaps?" Von can't help but to ask after they sat down.

Both of them noticed how Herold's eyes widened after she ask that question, but Mia and Nick didn't react that much.

"Oh no! I know him since I've served him a few years ago but we are not blood related" Nick denied. "Please, excuse me for a while" Nick excused himself before he went to a room. Mia went to follow him.

The person who was left in the living room was Herold, Von and Eli.

"May I ask how'd you know Prince Nickolas?" Herold asked.

Von contemplated for a while before he decided whether to answer Herold's question or not.

"He is a friend of mine."

Herold nodded. "So, that is why you've noticed who Nick really was even though he's under a spell"

Von furrowed her brows, feeling confused. Spell? Von doesn't recognize any spell cast to Nick though.

"What do you mean?" Von asked.

Herold breathe deeply before answering her question. "I'm the personal royal knight of Prince Nickolas, not until he got exiled. He was thrown out of the palace and lived here in the borders. He lived as if he was a retired knight due to the spell that was cast on him"

"Exiled?"

"Prince Nickolas was accused for attempted murder to the crowned Prince"

Eli gasped as he nudged Von using his elbow.

"I don't think Prince Nickolas would do such thing"

Herold nodded in agreement. "Yes, but that news quickly spread to many people thus many asked for the Prince's head as the punishment for the crime. That's why it was decided to put the prince in a spell and will never let him enter the palace ever again, just so the people would stop. "

"I see." Von whispered as she secretly agreed to their decision. It's was a sacrifice that has to be done.

But Von thinks it could be solve without sacrificing the Prince.

"Then, why did the Prince got accused if he didn't do it?" Von asked.

"The only person who was in the scene was Prince Nickolas. But he was only there to stop the crown prince from doing a suicide."

Von could actually imagine that scene. Von suddenly remembered when the crown prince of Borneous Kingdom visited Hesperia. Von also tried to stop the crown prince from doing a suicide a couple of times.

•••

Two days have passed and Von and Eli temporarily stayed at Nick's place. When morning came, the two decided to tour around for the last time before they leave for another set of adventure.

"Do you think Herold and Mia have a relationship?" Eli asked while they were walking.

Von looked at Eli as she shook her head after seeing its appearance. "Can you change to your human form before you as me some questions? People are looking at us!"

Eli changed from horse to human form. "I was more comfortable that way." Eli complained as he pouted.

"No, Herold and Mia don't have that kind of relationship. That's what I want to think. As far as I know, Mia is prince Nickolas' fiancé." Von answered to Eli's question earlier.

"Hmm? But didn't they say that Mia is only Nick's maid?"

Von shrugged as she was too lazy to care about their situation. "Maybe they also put Mia under a spell?"

"But I don't sense any magic used?"

"Let's not dwell on their issues too much, Eli." Von reminded him.

Both of them went to the highest place there was on the town. They stayed there for a couple of hours to kill some time. They watched how the people of the town walk down on the streets, talk to each other, and laugh together.

Von stretched his arms upward, "Being in another kingdom is nice"

"Have you not been in this place before?" Eli asked.

"I have been here before but I didn't really enjoyed my stay that much, since we went directly to the palace. I didn't have the time to roam around freely" Von answered as she smiled bitterly.

"Being a royalty, is it really that hard?"

She shook her head. "It's not actually that bad. Many would like to have our position, but I guess It's not suitable for a person like me." she admitted. "Well, if I hadn't met Esperanza maybe my perspective wouldn't be like this. Maybe, I'd even try to compete for the crown with my siblings."

•••

Von and Eli bowed as a symbol of their thanks to Nick.

"We really appreciate your hospitality and welcoming us, Prince Nickolas" Von whispered to Nick.

Nick gave a small smile. "Do you mind coming with me for a second, Von? I just want to tell you something"

Von looked at Eli, giving him a look which tells that she'll return in a while. Eli nodded to give her permission to follow Nick and he'll just wait for her.

When Von and Nick arrived at a place where no one else was, Nick started to talk.

"I'm deeply sorry for my disrespectful behavior, Princess Lyian" Nick asked for forgiveness. He was about to bow but Von immediately stopped him.

"You don't have to be sorry, Prince Nickolas. I already throw my title when I left the palace. I'm only an adventurer now." Von explained.

Nick was stunned at what she have said, but after some seconds he immediately smiled as he understood what she meant.

"I know Herold already told you everything, but I know you've also already noticed it. When my sister was about to put on the spell on me, she stopped and told me that she wouldn't do it. She said that I should just pretend that I lost my memories and she did put the spell. When I asked her why, she said that I'd totally forget about them, my family, and even everything about Mia. I'm really thankful for her. That's also why, in return for her kindness, I'm pretending to be under the spell so my sister won't get punish for not doing her job. It is also so that the issue about my brother's case won't get too big anymore.

Mia doesn't know a thing and all she knows is that I got charged for attempted murder. Everyday, I lie to her that I don't know her and she was never been my fiancé. But… I'm satisfied with this. As long as we live together and I could see her everyday, I'm already satisfied with it." Nick told her.

Von just stared at him after he told the truth.

"So, how's Esperanza?" Nick changed the topic. Von just shrugged as her response.

"He's still traveling like his father, huh?" Nick said as he laugh. Von just smiled.

•••

"So what you're saying is that Nick is really not under a spell?! But Mia is not also under in any kind of spell! So what's stopping them?" Eli asked confusedly.

Eli also learned earlier that Mia willingly applied to Nick's maid, just so she could be with him.

On the other hand, Herold only come to their house whenever Nick is away so he could protect her. Herold already knows that Nick could already protect himself from any assassin that might come after them, but Mia still needs protection.

Von just shrugged once again to Eli's question. "They're contented with what they have, Eli."

"Then, they are together but at the same time they are not?" Eli asked. Pointing out that the both of them might still be in a relationship but actually also not.

Von also thought about it. "I think so? But maybe it's really not like that too?"

Von just shook her head to not think about Nick and Mia's complicated situation. She knows that they could've handle their relationship better despite of what happened. But if both of them is satisfied with what they have then Von don't have the right to say anything about it.