76 Maybe It May Not Be As Hard

"What happened? Why are you here?" I watch as Prince Marin devastated fall on the couch as I pour him a glass of water.

It took him a couple of seconds before he groaned and pouted. His sudden cry disappeared as if it never happened. This young man's broken face makes me want to hug him.

"Okay," he sighed and drank the water, "I went here to tell you Sia's going to marry your stupid prince."

I raised my brows when I heard him call Forest stupid. I guess they're not in good terms.

"I know," I said and sat down.

"You know and you're not going to do anything? You're just chilling here?"

"Excuse me?"

His furrowed brows and frustrated eyes stare at me, "You're not going to stop their wedding?"

"Is this why you're here? To tell me that? I'm sorry, but I have a much more important matter to do, Prince Marin. The marriage is.--" I paused and looked away, "--is not the priority."

I tried to suppress my anger and sadness about the engagement of Princess Tellusia and Forest, I can't be swayed by this boy's emotion. It's true that it's not the priority.

"I thought you can help us. Sia told me to go to you because we know you won't let anyone else get married to Prince Forest," Prince Marin stood up with his fists clenched.

"I want to stop the engagement, Your Highness. But can't you see it? The Charlie Kingdom's already fallen. I was supposed to stop it but I can't."

My wrinkled face looked out the window. The smoke's beginning to disappear, but whatever was burned, is nothing but ashes now.

I miss the days when my only problem was passing an essay that's due the next day or a pop quiz. I want to be stressed by normal things again. I don't care if I'm stressed every day of my life as long as it's normal.

"Yeah, um," Prince Marin went back to sit and his face has turned back into ease, "You see that's not the only reason why I'm here. I also found out something. Sia's on her way to tell Prince Forest the same thing."

He looked at my hand and stared at it for a moment, then he suddenly draws a sword out of nowhere.

"Are being manipulated?" His eyes grew large in anger as his sword points at me.

"No," I mumbled then I looked at my hand, he must've seen the ring, "How did you know about this?"

"Prove it. I can't let you hear what I'm about to say unless you show me you're not under a spell."

I groaned and sighed heavily, I don't have time for drama.

"I don't know what to tell you honestly. We're not close and I don't know you. But I know about the ring before they placed it on me, I already talked to the ones who cast the spell and they're on my side. They're my allies."

He stared at me with suspicion. His eyes go back and forth from my face to the ring. He doesn't seem to believe me since he's still pointing the sword at me.

"Prince Marin, I'm sorry but if you're going to take the whole day deciding whether I am being manipulated or not, please just go back home."

I shook my head in frustration and covered my face with my hand. I can't believe it, Prince Marin's from the Beta Kingdom. I shouldn't let my guard down. Yet here I am, disclosing information to him.

"I can't go home."

My breath paused when I heard his words. I looked back at him and he's already sinking on the couch with his bitter expression.

"Why?" I asked him.

"Your ring-- my father's wearing the same one as a necklace. I never saw it before, he didn't have that before when everything was still peaceful. I used my power to analyze the gem in that ring when he was sleeping and I," he closed his eyes and pressed his lips, "It has manipulation spell. That means all those times, he's not my father."

I looked at the ring. I never thought about it before, but what would've happened if I was put into manipulation? Will I be the one burning the Charlie Kingdom now? Would I forget about my family? About Forest?

Prince Marin continued speaking as he rests his arm on his lap, "I know he'll never be a good father, but he's a good king. It did make sense that he will work with King Sorin, since it'll be the safety of the Kingdom. But I know he won't destroy another kingdom just for that."

I nodded, "King Sorin's mind is just, I don't know, how can something be so evil?"

Prince Marin shrugged, then his eyes widen in excitement, "Oh, and yeah, when I told Sia about it, she also began searching for an item with a similar gem and she did found that the ring his father was wearing has a gem. And when I had the opportunity to talk to him, I analyzed it and yes, it has manipulation magic."

"Nobody really noticed this before?" I asked.

"No, you know Kings, they love wearing jewelry. It's not weird if they always have rings or necklaces."

"Then, this means, if we take the rings from the kings, they would likely help us stop King Sorin?"

Prince Marin taps his finger on the table, for a moment, I pictured him sitting with me, Princess Tellusia and Aiven. We looked like we were talking about something, and then we laughed. It was a beautiful scenery. I bet it was part of my memories before.

"Yes, I also asked some of our knights and as well as the Delta Kingdom's knights, they said they will protect the kingdom no matter what. They're also willing to help the other kingdom if it's needed," Prince Marin told me in a confidence.

I smiled, this is good news. At least I know the Delta Kingdom and Beta Kingdom are not against us intentionally. They're just victims of King Sorin.

I clenched my fist, this is going on our way. If this continues, everything will be smoother and better. But then, Prince Marin sob surprised me.

"If only I paid more attention to my father, maybe King Sorin wouldn't have given him such a ring. I might've able to analyze it first before he wore it."

His words pierced through me, "No, don't blame yourself, Your Highness. It's not your fault it happened. You can't some control things, they just happen."

"But if only I stayed by his side instead of Sia, I would have known about this. I could've sensed that something was different, I--" Prince Marin buried his face in his hands and tried to suppress his sobs.

If this young man's feeling this way, I wonder how Princess Tellusia feels. Both of them are still young, like Kai, they're not supposed to be in this kind of situation. Instead of classes, they attend meetings and practices. Instead of friends, they meet people they can use in the future.

"Prince Marin, thank you for the information."

I stood up, starting today, I'll work a hundred times harder and faster. I can't wait to see everyone smiling free of fear.

"I promise you, I'll do everything to save everyone. I'll destroy King Sorin. You and everyone else will be happy again. But I will need your help."

Prince Marin wiped his face and nodded. I gave him instructions about how to get as many people as he can to help us from his Kingdom as well as from the Delta Kingdom.

I'm sure Princess Tellusia wants to help too. If she asked for help to stop the engagement between her and Forest, that means she's not in favor of anything to.

But in this case, I have to talk to King Lorcan. Not because Forest's helping us, doesn't mean the King's willing to too.

"Also, can you find King Lorcan for me?"

Prince Marin's face was crumpled into disbelief, "Are you sure you're asking me that? Don't you know how invisible the Lorcan family is when they hide? They can be anywhere and you will never see them unless they let you to."

"What? Is that how hard it is?"

Prince Marin nodded, "Yeah, Fisher, the Prince Forest's knight, can find him though. But it's still almost impossible. From what I heard, he often goes to Queen Elena's old home in the Sunset Peak."

Sunset Peak, that's in the Gathrin Kingdom. It's near the Castle, isn't it?

"Alright," I sighed, "Anyway, you go back now. People might be suspecting now. Be careful, Prince Marin."

I watch him as his appearance change back into the large bald Fishman. I smirked, it's amazing how he can change that easily.

"I'll be on my way now, Amy." He waved goodbye and opened the door.

The knights outside assisted him and they don't seem to be listening to what we were talking about. I watched Prince Marin went away riding a pegasus.