27 XXVI. The Fight

Casey was struggling as the leader of the bandits was looking at her as she was being dragged by the bandits. They have surrounded the market and since Casey was the closest to the leader, he told his goons to take her. And right now, she was being dragged to the stage.

"Ah! And here we have the first to be demonstrated on for the mistake of the king." The leader said as he was gripping Casey's chin. He thought that he got a maid but instead, he got the princess of the realm.

Casey was saved the disguise that Magnus insisted that they wore when they went to the market that day.

"So, do you have anything to say to the king before you were being made as an example?" the leader said but Casey was looking at him. And he blinked for he recognized who he was holding in his hands right now. The leader smirked.

"Well, now this is interesting," the leader said before someone was screaming at them. They all turned and Casey's heart was galloping when she saw that Magnus was coming at her. My love, turn around! She wanted to scream but she held her breaths as her husband was coming at her.

"Unhand her, you insolent oaf!" Magnus said as he was staring at the leader. Casey sucked on her breaths when the leader was laughing at them.

"And why should I be doing that? I got the best offer here and you have no rights to demand of me," he said before Magnus was smirking at the leader.

"Because you're outnumbered," her husband said confidently before something was hitting her captors. The bandits that were holding her has fallen and right at that moment, Magnus came for Casey before they were running from the bandits.

"After them!" the leader said as he was screaming at his goons. Then, Casey heard the sound that she would least expect at this moment.

"If you can, try to catch them then," Chad's voice carried on before she turned to look over her shoulder and Chad was coming after the leader.

"We should be okay here," Magnus said as he was leaning against the wall in the back alley. Casey was breathing hard before she was looking at him. He smiled when she suddenly slapped his arm.

"Ow! Why do you do that?" Magnus said as he was rubbing his arm. Casey snorted before she was looking over the alley. He pulled back his wife back into the alley to stay away from the fight that was happening in the market center.

"What is Chad doing here? And why are the Baron of Laderhurst, Duke of Montsworth as well as Earl of Hexshire helping him as well?" Casey asked Magnus before he shrugged.

"I don't know. But they tried to undo the bandits' control on the market. I heard that Chad has been anticipating the attack here," he said before his wife sighed.

"And they have to do it when we're on our date together. This is getting better and better," Casey said before she was looking at Magnus. He chuckled.

"But at least, we're together," he said before he was pulling Casey into his arms and kissed her on the lips. His wife sighed before someone was clearing their throat behind them.

"I hate to interrupt your session together but we have to go now, Your Highnesses,"

Magnus turned around to look at someone with black hair and hazel eyes. Casey blushed before she was clearing her throat.

"Yes, thank you, Monstworth. We will be there," his wife said before Magnus blinked his eyes and turned to look at the newcomer again. So this is the Duke of Monstworth, he thought before the duke was moving away from their spot.

"Well, let's go now before my brother decided to grace us with his presence," his wife said as she took Magnus's hand and got out of the alleyway.

*****

They walked back to the castle as the duke, the earl, and the baron was escorting them. Chad was in the front as he was looking around. He was on edge today for it was the first time in years that bandits have decided to take over the Walled City.

This cannot be happening, he thought as the crown prince was walking ahead of his sister and her husband. Chad knew that he has to tell the king and queen about this expedition that he was trying to make but right now, Chad was hoping that his new idea will not be making his life difficult that it already was.

That has much more to unpack from his miserable life.

"We should head to the court and let them know immediately about what was happening in the market today," Chad said as he was looking over his shoulder. He looked at his sister and Magnus before his friends were glancing at each other.

"Are you sure that would be wise?" his sister asked before she was looking at him. Her grey eyes, the same one as their mother, were wide and glistening. Chad knew that she was trying to put a strong front as she did not want to let people think that she was afraid or weak.

Chad smiled inwardly as he was amazed at his sister.

"I think it would do us good if we told the court, love. That way, they will not be questioned about it when they heard tomorrow or later," Magnus said as he was patting his sister's shoulder, pulling her toward him.

Goodman, Chad thought before he turned ahead and walked toward the castle.

"And I would suggest that you change before we're meeting the court. We don't want them to worry that the princess of the realm was almost got abducted, again," Chad said as he left them to change as he was heading toward the courtroom.

*****

Casey was dumping the cap that she put on her head. It was warm and right now, with Magnus stripping down his waistcoat and shirt in front of her, it got warmer and warmer. Her husband was oblivious to her attention on her body as he was striding around the dressing chamber as Casey was trying to get the lace of her corset.

"Here, let me help you," her husband said before his warm hands were on her back. Casey stilled for a moment as Magnus was working on her lacing. The silence was loud until he sighed.

"I'm sorry," her husband said before Casey was glancing over her shoulder. Magnus was diligent as always on her lacing until the corset was loose enough for her to tug it free.

"For what?"

"For today's event. If I have known that the bandits would—"

Casey put her fingers on his lips. Magnus stopped mid-sentence as she was smiling up at him.

"We wouldn't have known that the bandits will be coming for the walled city. And even if we'd known about it, I think I would take that risk to spend some time with you in the public out of prying eyes," she said before she remembered that scandalmongers were everywhere, waiting for the princess of the realm to make mistakes.

"Anyway, I think I should apologize. I don't know what I would do if the leader got his hands on you again," Magnus said before he was cupping Casey's cheeks. They were staring at each other before she sighed.

"You would come for me. I know you would, my love," she said before she leaned up and kissed her husband passionately on the lips. Magnus sighed before he pulled her closer until the clothes were the only barriers against their skin.

"We should clean up and go to the courtroom. I don't think your brother will appreciate it if we're late for his meeting. You know how the crown prince is," Magnus said before Casey laughed.

She knew much about her brother that she was not afraid of that plutonious prince anymore. He's her brother after all.

"Well, if you insist, my lord. But for now, I think I want to wash your back and you can wash mine," Casey said as she was dragging Magnus by the wrists toward the copper bathtub that has been filled with hot water.

The servants were diligent for their privacy together.

"If my lady wishes," Magnus grunted before Casey laughed, and then a splash of water was sounded.

*****

"Is this true? Are your sister and her husband alright?" the king asked Chad as the crown prince stood inside his private study.

"As the sun is shining, father. I did not make this up and yes, they are alright. Good thing me and my crew went there when the bandits were not terrorizing the city just yet," Chad said confidently as his father was rubbing his chin.

"How could this happen? I thought the walls protect us," the king asked before Chad was staring at him.

"They are but I think there was a way that they could have gone inside the city, my king," Chad said before the king snapped his eyes toward him. He narrowed his gaze

"What do you mean?"

Chad has to make sure that he played this right. He did not want to repeat what was happening with the fate of his marriage and another aspect of his life again that made him a sore loser in the end.

No, this time, he will be the champion of them all.

"I have a theory that someone wanted to make chaos inside the city under your reign, father. And if you permit me to do the right thing for the benefit of the country, I will make sure that the bandits will not breathe down our necks much longer," Chad said before the king sighed.

"You know I cannot grant you that—"

"You're the king, father. Perhaps you should start acting like one and not being controlled by someone else's noose," he knew that this would be harsh but it has to be said. The king squinted his eyes at his son before Chad was staring ahead. He knew that he hit the mark and right now, he was hoping that his father would choose his side than his advisers of the court.

"Very well, I grant it,"

Chad blinked before he was staring at the king again, making sure that his father the king was not pulling his legs.

"Are you serious?" he asked dumbly before the king smiled.

"As the sun is shining. You have your wish and I recommend that you will make use of it to the end," the king stated before Chad bowed to him.

"You will not regret a thing, Your Majesty," Chad promised, smiling that he had won his father's favor for the good of the realm.

Until the haunting past of his mistakes came to bother him again.