Fated encounter (The ancient world-2)

Mr Moon double-checked his list before handing it over to Anuradha. The list was about plenty of plants that used to make magic potions. Anuradha also glanced at the list. Her face brightened instantly.

She was so bored of staying inside the wizard's house the whole day. Now it was her chance to take a stroll in his massive garden. Speaking of the wizard's garden, instead of calling it a garden, it's more suitable to address it as a little forest. There were so many giant and tall trees that grew up recklessly anywhere and everywhere.

During the night, they looked like skeletons of ghosts. Anuradha didn't like to even spare a single glance at the garden at night. This time, it was still evening. So she didn't find anything to be scared of as she happily headed towards the little forest, holding a reed basket. When she spent her own sweet time checking for the plants mentioned in the list, it already started darkening.

The winter season was around the corner. Thus the weather was so cold and the temperature was so low. Anuradha felt like she was freezing. Considering these things, she became impatient as she quickened her steps to collect the plants as soon as possible.

When she went towards a huge bush and started searching for the plant named 'Silver Line', she suddenly felt a huge pain in her ankle. When she looked down, her eyes widened in shock and terror.

A giant snake bit her ankle and vanished into the darkness. Anuradha felt tears welling up in her eyes and her vision turned blurry. Her grip on the reed basket was loosened. As a result, it fell to the ground. Not long after, Anuradha also laid down on the grass, trembling. She couldn't bear the pain. Plus the cold climate... all of them made her helpless and hopeless.

Anuradha couldn't believe that she was going to die in such a way. However, she had no regrets. No one'd be sad if she died anyways. Thinking in that way, finally, her anxious heart started calming down. When she lost all hope in her life, she felt someone's cold touch on her body. She groaned uncomfortably.

"What happened to you?" A magnetic voice sounded next to her ear. It was low, majestic and soothing at the same time. Anuradha squeezed out two words with huge difficulty.

"S-snake b-bite"

The owner of the harmonious voice knelt beside Anuradha and gently lifted her ankle. Without giving a warning, he started sucking the snake poison using his lips! Anuradha felt her pain slowly fading away. When she regained her senses, she started yelling at the person who just saved her life.

"Hey, are you crazy? You would have died along with me!"

The boy smiled. His red eyes, which had golden outlines in them, appeared like two tiny stars in the darkness.

"Don't worry. No poison succeeded in killing me."

Anuradha couldn't understand what he was saying. Thus she questioned, "What did you mean?"

The boy smiled yet again.

"As a prince, I'm trained to drink every kind of poison since I was a kid. You know... royalties have so many enemies who wish for their death. Same goes with me."

Anuradha's jaw dropped.

"Wha-what did you say? You are a prince?"

"Of course I am. Why? You can't believe it? Don't I look like one?" He asked, raising his eyebrows, pretending to be upset.

Anuradha quickly waved her hands.

"No, no. I didn't mean that."

Then she finally saw his outfit. Indeed he was wearing a very expensive, long black coat that reached the back of his knees. On his shoulders, there were some badges made of gold that specified his extraordinary eyes. She could finally realize that he was from the royal family.

Anuradha quickly apologized.

"I-I'm sorry, your highness. By the way, are you prince Ashley?"

"Mmm-hmm..." The prince shook his head, disappointed.

"I'm not him. He's my cousin."

Anuradha racked her brain to remember who he was. She had never seen the royal family to begin with. So it was no wonder that she wasn't familiar with this royal prince.

Suddenly Anuradha's eyes wide opened as the realization drowned upon her. Pointing her index finger at him, she stuttered, "You-you're the crown prince?! Prince Ebriem Blooddrop!?"

She hurriedly tried to stand up from the ground only to fall back to her previous position.

"Don't stand up. I know your body is still weak." The prince said, collecting the spread plants and leaves, and putting them back in the reed basket.

Anuradha looked around. The whole place was so dark that she could barely see the person in front of her.

"It's late."

She tried to stand up as she spoke.

"If you don't mind, let me carry you, my lady." The prince stated, offering his hand to her.

Anuradha rolled her eyes.

"I'm not from a noble family, your grace. So please don't call me lady." She said rather mockingly. The prince pressed his lips together.

"Nope. To me, every person should be respected. It doesn't matter whether you are a noble girl or not. Nobility doesn't come with blood or birth. It depends on someone's actions and inner thoughts."

Anuradha smiled, nodding her head.

"I'm glad our future king is not a stern and prideful person." Saying that she took his hand.

"Then your grace, I'm honoured to be carried by you."

The prince held her by her waist and legs, slowly carrying her up in the princess style.

Alas!

Although he was extremely careful in picking her up, still they both fell to the ground with a loud thud as the prince's hold on her weakened. Apparently, even though he's immune to poison, it somehow affected him by enfeebling his body too. Their position was so intimate as the prince fell on top of her. Their faces were only inches apart and they could even feel each other's breaths on their faces.

Both of them blushed simultaneously. They looked into each other's eyes without saying anything like they were hypnotized. Eventually, Anuradha broke their two-second-lasted eye contact by uttering, "Heavy, heavy, you are heavy. Get down!"

Saying that she even tapped his arm a few times.

"Aah, what did you eat for lunch? An elephant?"

The prince's face darkened immediately.

"I'm not THAT heavy. If you dare say such things again, you can just lay here all day. I won't carry you anymore!"