Chapter 23

After keeping the bastard through his magic. Sahana tried his best to calm down so he could meet up with his master.

Eiliff is probably with Lady Prestine this time. He must not notice it yet, but their master is caring too much to their lady. He's not a bit against about it. It was that it is making him uncomfortable.

The smiling Prestine was what he remembers most of the time. A sudden realization came in and that was when she was in trouble.

"So, have you found out anything?" His master asked him.

He was guided to the next room when he arrived.

"They were assassins and was targetting Lady Prestine, but they all died before answering me about who sent them." He coldy answered his master.

He heard his master gritted it's teeth. It will be more dangerous for everyone if he would lose his cool.

"Dave was stabbed by a sword imbued with an anti-magic. That's why it will take him more time to recover." He informed. "How's Lady Prestine, my lord?"

His master look at him and scoffs. "Fix yourself now." Was the only answered he heard before his master left him.

For now, they will be staying in a two-room building. This house was meant for the evacuees who suffered from the disasters created by those weakling magicians.

But when the knight in-charge saw their master, it was obliged to offer the house for them.

"It will take some time too for us to leave. The count wanted us to report to them."

He look at the door where Baley was standing.

"That's for sure." He simply answered.

"How's the situation there? Have you found any informations?" Baley ask again.

Sahana didn't bother answering and left Baley standing. He took all his things and clean himself.

Without any scratch or cuts he refreshened himself by bathing. When he felt that Baley finally left, he took his time cleaning his body. Especially those hands that got dirtied cleaning outside.

Baley was stunned when Sahana left him hanging. All he ever wanted was to get informations about those who attacked their lady!

Sahana being Sahana, selfish and arrogant most of the time, just looked at him and left!

'He's so rude. So rude that wanted me to grab his neck!' He grumbled to himself.

When he noticed that he was standing infront of the room Lady Prestine was occupying. He argued to his mind whether to check up on her or not.

He sigh and slowly open the door. There, she was. Lady Prestine is sleeping in the bed. She was not alone. Their master was also there. Seated next to her.

"She won't be waking up sooner." It was his master's voice.

He walk few steps in and remained standing. Staring at their lady sleeping.

"Forgive me for being late. I was unable to save my lady." He said in a low voice. Lowering his head, he sigh.

"That already happened. Now do something about those nobles. We have to leave as soon as possible."

As soon as his master commanded, he bowed his head. Giving one last look to their lady and leave.

He was assigned to deal with the nobles. Smiling to himself, he obliged.

'I will get to finish the work early.'

On the other part of the small house. Arcon look at Baley's smiling face. Looking like an idiot coming out from that room.

He fisted his hand when he remember Lady Prestine in that condition.

'Useless Dave.' He thought blaming Dave would change anything that happened already.

Looking outside the window, regret, that he was unable to do anything for their lady's safety.

**

I slowly moved my hand, it still feels like trembling. But someone hold my hand and gently pressed it.

The golden brown haired guy was smiling happily at me.

"Haniaen, we should watch the parade later!" Smiling like an idiot, I rolled my eyes and grab my hand back.

"Your Higness.." Emphasizing his title, I gave him my sweetest smile. "You are planning to skip your lessons again." Reprimanding this troublesome Prince.

"But!" With his lips pouted, his eyes about to tear up. He look at me pleading. "But they said it will be exciting!"

Again, rolling my eyes at him and scold."You should stop thinking about skipping your lessons! You are a prince! The prince of this land! The future monarch! Stop being childish! Don't even forget those shinanigans you did that affected me and my brother!"

"But..." He said scratching his head. Trying to make another excuse, I widen my eyes, signaling him to shut up.

"Then... you have to become my queen once I become the king of this land.."

***

I wanted to scream with the pain I am feeling right now. My head feels like it was about to split in to two. My leg stings so much that it's even hard to move.

Slowly, I tried to condone and open my eyes.

The window was open, so I can see that it was already night. Darkness was what I have to see when I look around the room.

Waking up in a strange room is what made me got up. This it not the room I was occupying.

No, of course not. I felt sadden when I remember those entities that attacked the inn. It was not only the inn, but the neighboring houses was destroyed.

My heart pained when I remembered clearly what happened.

Looking at my trembling hand, I wanted someone with me right now. The room is so dark that I can't even see anything.

I opened my mouth to call out for someone but got alarmed when the door suddenly opens.

"W-who...?" I was on guard and ready to scream but when my eyes adjusted I blew a sigh and stay still.

"My lady, may I enter...?" Sahana ask. His voice was different from what I heard before.

His voice was scared. He asked me, lowering his head.

I tried smiling. "Come here..." I said and raised my hand.

When he was few steps from me, he reached my hand and hold it gently.

"I am happy to see you now.." He said, closed eyes. He put my palm to his cheeks.

I wanted to cry seeing him like that. The ever-gentle Sahana is with me. Though I got to see how different he was back then, a conclusion came up that maybe he was just angry seeing us, Dave and me in that state.

"Were you hurt anywhere?" I ask him, letting me touch his cheeks. He is warm. So warm that made my heart felt warm as well.

He shook his head and smile faintly. "Forgive me for being late. If I only I was---"

"Sahana, it was fine. Even if you were late. You still saved me..." I cut him off that made him look at me.

Though I am feeling the pain in my body. I smile at him. "I am safe now. You promised that, right?.. so, thank you for saving me."

"But my lady... you still got hurt.." He look at my face.

From the bandage from my forehead to my covered leg. His face became dark. "That bastard don't deserve an easy death..."

I tried laughing of what he said. "He sure don't deserve to die easily..." Trying to calm my slightly nervous heart. His face just darkened but he looks different from his usually kind looking gestures.

Seeing him like that maybe he was one of those kind hearted persons but dangerous when they are at their limits. In short scary when they are angry.

He must have felt me being nervous. He smiled. "I cleaned everything up. It will take us few days here. But as soon as they finished dealing with the nobles, we will start traveling..."

"Where to,?"

"It will take us more days to reach the next town. But that town is way too far from here. They even have a different seasons unlike the rest of the towns here." He informed me.

"You mean to say, that they have a different weather. For example this place is now rainy season and that town you mentioned was different like summer?" I curiously ask.

Isn't it normal to have a different timeline each country?

"I heard it was winter there now.."

"Winter?" I suddenly got excited. Unlike this rainy season here, I enjoy winter season! Of all the season from the world where I came in, I love it when its winter season!

"I am not certain my lady. Sorry for keeping you excited over an unsure detail." He said.

I closed my eyes when I felt a pang of pain from it.

"My lady? Are you alright..?" His voice panicked.

"Y-yea? I guess..." I closed my eyes even harder when the pain won't stop. "not..." I slowly answered and remained my eyes close.

"Get back to bed please.." He said and helped me lay down. "I will call the physician now..." He said.

The pain became worse as time passes.I didn't notice that Sahana already left.

'It hurt like hell!'

An excruciating pain that I can't ignore. Pain usually made me feel lonely. With no one to depend on. No one to share. But for heaven's sake. This is my pain! Within my body!

The pain.

I wanted to scream loud when the pain gets even more worse.

'Sahana!'

**

Everyone was in disarray for Lady Prestine's condition. It's been two days already but she was still unconscious.

Flora, who was injured too felt sadness for the lady.

All she wanted to do was to bath her lady. She should have followed what Lady Prestine said. That they should immediately leave the area. It was her fault for not listening to her.

For her to suffer like that.

"The lady! Where's the physician?!" Sahana's dread voice helped Flora comeback to her senses.

"Is the Lady awake now?!" She asked. But got ignored when Sahana kept looking for the physician.

"What happened?!" It was Sir Baley who helped her stand up.

"Sir Sahana was looking for the physician. He just got out from Lady Prestine's room.!"

After saying that Sir Baley guided her to the lady's room.

What they witnessed break her heart. Her lady, silently crying while holding her head. She must have been suffering from pain.

"Milady!" She cried out and hold her lady's arm. Trying to think what she could do to help her lady's pain ease. "Milady..."

Flora's tears was already wetting her cheeks. Seeing Lady Prestine in this state is heart breaking.

"Milady, hang on a bit. Sahana is calling the physician right now." It was Sir Baley's voice.

"It--it h-hurts...." Lady Prestine said. Her voice was also in pain.

Flora sob at what she's seeing. "Milady....hold on a bit, I beg of you..."

They were expecting for the physician, but when they saw that it was Arcon they felt disappointed.

"Milady. Let me hold you for a second..." Is what Sir Arcon said.

Few minutes later. Lady Prestine passed out in her arms.

"What did you do?! Sir Arcon..?!" She blurted out, worried for Lady Prestine's well-being.

"Her pain tolerance was this low..." Sir Arcon commented and left them.

Another guest came it and it was finally the physician they've been waiting. Flora just let out her worried sigh and stayed beside her lady

As the physician said, they all listened to everywords he said. If it was all about the condition of the lady, they are willing to do everything to heal her.

"She must have never experienced any beating. For this low level of pain to be crying.." Arcon said while sighing.

He shiver when Flora glared at her. "For you to say that about my lady, sir Arcon..That's indefensible!"

"Pardon me..."

"I gave you credit for taking the lady's pain." Baley smirk. "So useful of you Sir Arcon."

Instead of retorting back to what Baley said, he just tsked at him and sit on the floor.

"Everything has been prepared. All we have to do is leave this town." Chess who just came in and was holding a cup of tea.

He immediately handed it to the lady's servant. "Thank you sir Chess.."

"What will happen to us once we reach our next destination?" It was Baley who ask and placed himself next to Arcon.

"Let's wait for the lady to wake up first." Chess who seated next to Baley as well.

"Yeah, travelling will be hard for the lady." Arcon.

"She was excited to finally see the real tower when I mentioned it to her before." Chess said in a deppressing voice.

Baley sigh and his mood became sad. "Yeah, I was excited to show her around the area."

Then Arcon felt uneasy with these two. "She loves flowers. I hope you, two, know about that."

"Of course!"

"You think we didn't know that?!"

Both Baley and Chess stops when they realized how loud their voices are. Arcon sigh and rested his body to the wall.

"This never ending rain is getting into my nerves now.." Arcon complained when he felt his back getting cold from the wall. But he didn' budge.

"Yeah, it's getting boring too. I was planning to try my new attack spell. But I was unable to do." Chess.

"Were you learning new spells now?" Baley.

"When the Lady arrived." Chess glance at their lady. "I was actually inspired to learn more."

"Damn this lazy ass! How long do you think have you been just roaming around?!"

Flora just sigh and look at Lady Prestine. Sleeping with these bunch of noisy must be uncomfortable. But hearing those deep breathing, she must be unaware of the sorroundings.

Baley and Chess kept bickering with each other.

Flora moved and slowly get up from the bed. The night became deeper and she somehow feel sleepy. She looked around the three magicians who suddenly quited down.

When Flora felt that these three magicians don't have any plan leaving, she made her way out and slowly closed the door.

"You think the lady will be fine when she wakes up?" Baley ask. He wanted to keep the question to himself but to think that it was Lady Prestine's condition, he wanted to know about it.

Arcon was the one who reacted by sighing. Then answered. "This has never occurred to her before, so that question you asked was useless..."

"I was at the tower when that magician attacked, I saw how she handled the intruder." Chess. "But knowing that Dave got stabbed before her eyes is a very traumatic Baley."

"I am worried about her. Her condition. Her wounds. She was even hit in the face..." Baley was angered when the bruise on her face is becoming limpid.

"Those bastards don't deserve to die peacefully...."

They all stop talking when they heard the movement Prestine made.

Baley was the one who run next to her, only to find her crying. Crying in her sleep made him furious..

"Don-don't touch me....!" Lady Prestine mumble. Both hands are tremendously shaking in fear.

"M-milady!" Both Arcon and Chess hurriedly moved to be beside her.

"Don't touch me..!" She was mumbling. Tears flowing continously from her closed eyes.

They were unable to do anything with her condition. Prestine is probably dreaming. No, it looks like she's having nightmares. And based on the fear and crying face she's having, they could think that it was because of what happened few days ago.

Baley's vein pop on to his face. He's mad enough seeing Lady Prestine like this. When in fact she shoulnd't had to suffer like that.

"Don-don't touch----"

"What the hell are you three just doing?!"

The three of them jumped out from the voice behind them. They were too nervous with the sitaution, but here Sahana entered the room. Annoyance was all over his face.

"Do---"

They got all agitated when Lady Prestine wakes up.

Even when she's gasping for air, her breathing uneven due to her quivering body.

Baley got stunned.

Chess can feel his heart beating rapidly, while Arcon tried not to look at Lady Prestine. Who was now gasping for air. Her sobs can be heard inside the small room.

Sahana was quick to sit beside their lady and comfort her.

"Milady...there's nothing to worry about now." He said in the most gentle voice.

Prestine twitched when she saw Sahana's hand about to touch her.

"Don't touch me..." her frightened voice gets to their nerves.

How could she say that to them? To Sahana? But when they all calmed down. They manage to take a look at Prestine who's barely awake.

"Forgive me Milady..." Sahana. "You were having a nightmare.. It was just a nightmare. No one will hurt you now.."

Arcon can't take his eyes from their lady. She's really scared to the point not wanting to be held. He was expecting her to wake up in this state. But seeing her like that breaks his heart.

'Useless Dave!'

The three of them thought. Though blaming Dave won't change everything.

"S-Sahana..... he tr-tried.. he tried to touch me..." Prestine said. Every words came out intangible.

Sahana was taken by surprise. He should have tortured them back then! Rather than sending to hell easily.

"It's okay now Lady Prestine."

Arcon took his steps and about to leave when he heard another words from their lady.

"I was so scared. So scared..."

Closing Arcon's eyes trying to calm his nerves. Whoever sent those bastards shall pay the exact price. It was the slow death for them, that was what he was thinking.

Chess, holding his chest, feeling his heart that beating so loud was also nervous. He can't take seeing Lady Prestine like this! Blaming himself that he was too late to meet up with her.

'Useless Dave. Suffer you incompetent bastard!'

Baley look at Chess and Arcon leaving. He wanted to leave this room too. But seeing his lady, he decided to himself not to leave. Rather he wanted to stay by her side.

Prestine cries became louder and louder. Every sob was like a knife to Baley's heart.

"I'm so scared." She kept repeating those words while crying.

Baley sighed deeply before placing himself next to Lady Prestine's side.

"Milady..." He called her. "Lady Prestine.." Calling her again.

When he got her attention, he smiled at her. A weak smile that was seen by Prestine.

"You are safe here with us my lady..." He started.

Sahana look at him with a deadly glare. He ignored him and continue. "Forgive us for being late to arrived when all of that happened to you. Please forgive us.."

"B-but...t-they wer---"

Baley raised his hand. Prestine flinch when she saw that but closed her eyes.

Placing his hand softly at her head. "You are safe now. Please calm down. We won't..I won't let that happen from now on. I promise in my name..." He said sincerely.

When he felt that Lady Prestine finally calms down, he smiled. Feeling his heart calmed down too.

"Yes, we won't let you get hurt again Lady Prestine..." Sahana followed what he said.

Baley being true to himself. He promised. That whatever happens to them in the future, he will surely stay by Lady Prestine's side. No matter what it was.

His strength, being one of the strongest magician won't be put into useless fights. Now that he said his words, every magic he created, will be created will be dedicated for her safety.

Now that they have someone to protect to, they have to do everything in their power to keep her safe while she's with them. While Prestine is in this world. Until the very last seconds she's with them.

Until then, her safety will be prioritized.