2 Chapter 2: The stranger by the river

The night passed by and it was time to move again. Reo checked out of the inn and rode her horse to the path towards the next town but stopped when he saw imperial guards on the road. The King has sent messages to the nearby kingdoms about the missing princess. Reo turned her horse that they may go through the thick forest and there she can plan further her escape. Reo stopped at a nearby river to refill her container with water and to let the horse rest when they saw a very peculiar man. He was well dressed up and had fine dark hair. He looked as though he was lost since he kept looking around finally catching a glimpse of Reo. He approached her and looked at her from head to toe.

"Hey, um..do you know which way to the main road? I'm kinda lost."

This guy looks like he's so out of the blue. What the hell is he doing here in the middle of the forest?

"Go straight to east. that should head you to the main road. It'll take an hour to get to the main road if you walk so I suggest you get going."

"Oh."

The stranger stood still there and started to look at Reo's horse.

"NO."

"It's just a tiny favor. I'll return to you back ten folds Miss...?"

"Look, I'm in a hurry, too. So if I were you, I'd start walking."

Reo started to ride her horse.

"Hya!"

"Wait please!" The stranger dropped on the ground as he got tackled by the horse accidentally while blocking Reo.

"Are you okay!?"

"I'm f-" the guy's chest ached as Reo saw a bruise formed peaking from his neck.

Crap.

Feeling responsible for what happened, Reo let him ride on her back and headed towards the main road.

"I'll drop you by the town's clinic. You need to get that looked at. It looks really bad." Reo said with a straight face.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

Silence peaked between the two with only the birds singing and the river running could be heard.

"So, are you a local around here? you seem to know a lot about this place." the stranger opened a conversation disrupting the awkward silence.

"Kind of. I used to live a few miles from this town." She said referring to the place she lived in for 6 years.

"How about you? Where'd you come from? You certainly don't belong in this part of the continent." she continued.

"I ran away from home."

His words shocked Reo because she too was running away.

"Really? How come?" she asked to continue the coversation.

"The responsibilities are too heavy to carry. And it just.. crossed the line this time."

"I know what you mean." Reo sorrowfully empatized.

A few minutes later, they arrived on the clinic in town. Reo got down first and assisted the stranger to go down. They walked in the clinic with the stranger's hand around Reo's neck.

"Someone, please help." She asked as an old woman helped them.

Reo was about to go when she was stopped by a nurse.

"Miss, you need to stay until the check up is over."

"Why? He's obviously awake and consc.." she looked at the stranger who was fast asleep.

"Look miss, I don't really know the guy. We just met a couple of moments ago and.."

"We need you to tell us what happened to his bruises."

"Bruises? I only gave him one-"

Ah sht. I shouldn't have said that.

The nurse gave her a sneer.

"Listen, Miss I didn't do that to him. He blocked my way while I was riding a horse and the horse accidentally tackled him! I swear!"

"Yeah, we're gonna have to call the guards."

"No! Wait! Listen um.. why don't we just wake him up and you can ask him yourself."

The nurse gave her a sigh "Alright, but you have to stay here until he wakes up, Miss. We can't wake him up right now. He needs plenty of rest."

"Okay, okay. geez."

A few hours passed by and many patients have come and go as the sun was setting. Reo saw the staff murmuring to each other and wondered if they always gossip about their patients when the stranger woke up from his sleep.

Finally.

"Ugh. What happened?" The stranger asked.

"Doctor!Doctor! He's awake!" Reo called with excitement.

The doctor came running in and immediate checked him up.

"You seem to be in good condition except for the bruises. We found 4 old ones and a new one."

"It was accidental right?? The new bruise you got was from my horse remember?" frantic Reo asked.

"Huh? Ah, yeah." the stranger answered.

"Nice! Can I go now?"

"Not yet. Because..um." the doctor stuttered.

"C'mon! He already testified that I had nothing to do with his other bruises! So, I'm going!"

"No wait! Princess!" The doctor covered his mouth the moment he realized what he blurted out.

Princess?

Her eyebrows furrowed knowing what this means. She ran towards the door but the royal guards were already there. They captured her out of the clinic holding both her arms.

"Don't touch me!" She pulled her arms out of their grasp.

"I'm not that stupid to run away now." She said with 30 guards around her.

"Let go! Let go of me! Cut this crap!" the tantrum of a familiar voice caught her attention. It was the stranger she helped.

She couldn't see much but she saw a carriage stop and someone came down that made him stop the tantrum.

She couldn't hear anything they were talking about.

"Don't reason out with me! Insolent boy!" A deep voice yelled. She instantly looked and saw an old man raising his hand about to slap the guy.

Slap

Everyone was shocked. Reo received a slap that made her furious.

"You have no right to hurt this person. No matter what your status is, no one is ever previliged to hurt someone for whatever the reason may be!" The royal guards pulled Reo out of the scenario and into her carriage to go back to the palace.

Unable to do anything else, she looked back furiously at the scene. She wanted to change it. She felt so powerless that it made her so angry.

How can nobles be so heartless when they aren't the only ones entitled to life?

She thought to herself.

I want to change that.

When they arrived in the palace, she spent no second to waste and barged in the King's hall.

"I'll do it. I'll do your stupid palace game."

The King, shocked, stood up from his chair.

"In one condition."

"Speak." the King replied.

"I will sit as one of the ministers of peace and order in this country."

The request of her daughter did not shock the King.

"Very well. But, before you sit in the position, you are to learn the basics and the complex function of the kingdom. Your position will be open depending on the progress you have displayed everyday."

"Fair enough."

"Tomorrow there will be a ball and there you shall meet your groom candidates. Be sure to be at your best."

Reo clenched her fist and turned her back to go out of the hall.

"Reo.."

She stopped when her father called out.

"I'm proud of you."

She continued to walk away from the hall seemingly apathetic.

The next day came, and Reo was preparing with the 3 old ladies she put her trust on.

"You look stunning darling." Lady Anne awed as Reo looked at herself in the mirror.

A knock was heard on the door.

"It's time." she told herself.

She walk towards the hallroom where she hear people already chattering.

"The princess has arrived."

The wide door opened as everyone's attention was caught by the beauty that Reo displayed. Her eyes wandered across the room as she saw 4 gentlemen in royal suit. And to her surprise, one of them was the stranger she helped!

WHAT THE HELL?

Meanwhile, in a place far from the kingdom, a dark force has gathered together for a plan that will destroy what fate has written.

"The ball starts today, huh."

"Yes, your highness."

"Let them enjoy this moment and let them think they can have a happy. ever. after."

An ominous laugh echoed through the large room for who knows what the plans they have for the kingdom of Strauss.