Together

Estelle hold her chest and calmingly put herself together.

'Nope! This man is definitely on the no no list. I shouldn't get close to him'

"Would you like to walk back together?" Drake broke the silence, after getting back his coolness.

"No!" Estelle shouted. Her loud voice jump scare the Dude. "I mean, that would be uncomfortable. We barely know each other."

Estelle was trying so hard to keep her Princess demeanor.

"That would be fine. I cannot leave a harmless lady here." Drake said with a soft smile.

Estelle was speechless over his words. First of all, the Duke's movement was suspicious and weird. The sudden change in personality is making bugs crawl up Estelle's spine. Second, does he not suspect her at all? Supposedly a harmless lady is within the Woods of Earl which is famous for it's terrifying creatures. The fact that Estelle was already in the middle of the woods, that does not pertain her as harmless.

'Is the Duke not paying attention or is he just acting innocently stupid?' Estelle thought. Her stares could be thought of daggers cutting through the soul of Drake but that does not harm him at all. Instead he looked embarrass.

"So you coming?" Drake gave of a more warming smile. It was creeping Estelle out.

Estelle looked away to not show the disgust on her face.

"What about the Dragon Egg?" Both of them looked at the egg in the throne. It was still wiggling, and a tiny noise of cracking can be heard. It was also emitting a large flame like aura.

"Would you like to keep it?" Drake said. Estelle looked at him who was now looking at Estelle. Her faced flushed and immediately looked away.

"Too troublesome."

Drake chuckled.

"It might draw attention if seen within the palace. I'll take it back to my house."

Estelle sighed. She turned to look directly at his eyes, without being embarrass. "Do you know why it's here?"

"No." Drake shook his head. "I just stumbled the path after chasing after a Reaper."

Estelle then flinched and remembered the Reaper whom she killed earlier. She then opened her bag and looked for the crystalline that had the monster's dead body.

"Ohh you mean this?" Estelle showed the crystalline to Drake who observed it for a little bit by leaning a bit closer. Drake's movement made Estelle uneasy, so she pulled back her hand that was holding the crystalline, back into the bag. She then took a step back, getting into a defensive position.

Drake was surprised for a moment. He chuckled. His laugh was so annoying which helped Estelle realized that she was acting weird. To hide her feeling of being weak, she leaped back and composed a full-on defensive position. Estelle glared at Drake.

Estelle's response made Drake laugh a little. But it can't go on like this. Drake shook the laughter, even though he wanted to see Estelle looking cute a few minutes longer.

Drake looked at the egg. He then raised his hand and chant a teleportation spell. Estelle watched him for a little while, calming herself in the process and went into normal mode. She sighed. Estelle used her magic to teleport her mask that was on the floor into her hand. She turned towards the door and was about to walk away.

"Please wait!" Drake screamed, which made Estelle stop but she didn't look back. She just stood on her place.

"E-Estelle".

Teleported in front of Estelle. He was only a few inches away but that didn't bother Estelle. Since she wore a mask, but if she didn't, she won't stop feeling shy while looking straight to Drake's face.

"Since our final destination is the Bloody Guild, how about we go together?"

Estelle flinched. So it turns out. He was there for the same reason. Yet why does he think Estelle is a harmless girl?

'That word is insulting'

Estelle compiled her thought's before making a decision. She sighed.

"My magic does not work well when I'm with you."

Estelle looked up. Although she was wearing a mask, the feeling of knowing that Drake was close made Estelle's heart beat faster. It was a weird feeling, but she didn't allow it to get her down.

"Don't get the wrong idea, it's because there's a spell on you which weakens my power."

Her words made Drake surprised. He then moved a few steps back away from Estelle to look closely at himself.

"But I don't see any." Drake said, shaking his head.

"You can't see it. Take it as a spell to keep away evil." Estelle said.

"Evil?"

Estelle ignored the question and walked on the right side of Drake and stop when he was parallel to him.

"If I wasn't this weak, I would have killed you already for being troublesome." Estelle whispered.

Drake was surprised, but instead of being scared, he smiled. Drake faced Estelle, hold onto her shoulder and moved closer to her ear.

"Would you?" Teased Drake on Estelle's ear.

Estelle's face flushed red, but her face wasn't visible due to the mask.

"Hmmp!" Response of Estelle to Drake's teasing. He shook Drake's arm off her shoulder and continued to walk away.

Yet, again, Drake stop her by holding her hand.

"I believe there are more Reapers in the area".

"As I've said, my powers are useless now that you're here." Estelle said as she tried to shake his grip on her hand with her other hand, but her strength was too low to overpower him.

Estelle used her free hand to take off the mask and threw it on the ground, making it break.

"Let go! You'll get me killed!" Estelle glared at Drake.

Their face was now so close to each other that it would only be a few centimeters before their lips touch. Estelle was frozen on the spot and so was Drake. Both of them was surprised that they couldn't move. They didn't move. Both their breaths slowly touched their skin.

The heat they felt on their faces became hotter because of embarrassment.