Chapter 14: Unpleasant Welcoming Return

Upon the dark prison in which the young man, Dan Alastair was trapped, drooling in his slumber. 

Clack, Clack, Clack 

What he awaits finally comes to surface. The usually silent dark prison, now finally occupied with footsteps all over the place. A knight finally came over to take Kendrick to the surface.

The footsteps took long before it finally came to halt, and when it finally stopped, a charming and soothing voice could be heard.

"How can he even fall asleep in such a situation?!"

It was none other than Julius, personal knights of the royal families.

Rather than angry, the voice was rather— perplexed by what he witnessed. He's right though, no one in their right mind would fall asleep in such situations. It's like sleeping in the middle of being tortured, except being tortured is so much worse. But still…

"Sigh… If it were me I'd be dead awake for days or no matter how long. He sure is such an interesting fellow."

Originally, Julius came here in order to threaten him and somehow make him spill the beans since he's already proven innocence by now. He was ready to use every means before he returned to the surface, but seeing him sleeping so peacefully like a baby, made him rethink his ways.

Julius smiled while staring at the young lad before whispering and muttering something to himself.

"Milady, this was the guy that saved your life. Forgive his insolence for being asleep in front of your presence. Please do the favor and slap him out of reality."

"Noooo, JULIUS! It's alright, he's someone I know, you don't have to be alerted."

A beautiful blooming young lady appeared to be standing beside Julius, she had hair so blonde, it shines like the sun. It was none other than Princess Ruri.

Princess Ruri looked at Kendrick full of worry. In truth, from the start, she's been desiring to help him prove his innocence but it was also her role to be a strong and ruthless ruler, so she can't afford to show any weakness. After the events that occurred too.

Princess Ruri no disregarded her role as the princess and run up to him, before shaking his body over and over. He could feel his pale yet warm body upon her hands. 

"Dann!! Daannn!!! Wake up!"

It looks so adorable and painful at the same time. Princess Ruri shook him over and over, her angelic doll-like face looked so annoyed and worried at the same time. It took her a while before Kendrick finally snapped out of his slumber.

Kendrick slowly lifts his head up only to see some familiar face sitting in front of him. His brows arched up in the process. It was a very unpleasant face he'd never wish to see ever again.

"Am I in hell?"

Princess Ruri snapped out of the picture, and slapped his face real hard, leaving her hand imprints upon his cheeks.

"You didn't even apologize or thank me for waking you up…"

There were slight tears about to fall off upon her eyeballs any moment by now. It looks like she was about to start crying. She seems more like a child than a princess right now.

"Princess Ruri..? How did you get here??"

"You're ignoring me?!?!"

Kendrick ignored the rambling of the childish princess, and turned his attention over the knight beside her. The knight beside her looked so attractive, Kendrick even mistaken him as one of the heroines in the otome game. Though Kendrick was dead sure, it's a face never introduced even in the game.

"Will I die today..?"

The attractive knight replied in ease, "We're not sure about that."

"Is that so…" Kendrick already predicted this happening so he's no longer disappointed. At most, he's glad he's done good before his very death. 

However, it looks like it wasn't his bad luck today.

Julius smiled at him and informed him of the great news.

"However, you'll be able to head back home for today. Although highly put under inspection, a variety of nobles insisted on leaving you out of custody." And in a very low voice, he whispered, "You should thank, Milady. She was the main reason they were able to reason with the Majesty even at such a state. If not, you'd be rotting right here till you're innocent. I honestly prefer the latter…"

Kendrick glanced at Princess Ruri and seeing her so pouted even more, makes it even harder for him to act all cool and calm.

"Soooo, what's going to happen to me now?"

Kendrick thought that Silvia was lying but now that it was laid open in front of him, he can now trust her resources, a little. There's no way he's going to fully trust her.

The attractive knight immediately reassures him and tells him everything will be fine.

"In five days, you had to be in the audience with the King itself. For now, Milady and I will escort you out to your transport home. Get some rest and be ready before then."

Kendrick could finally breathe in peace. Although unsure of what may occur in the future, at least for now, he's pretty sure about his survival for the past five days. There must be a way to escape before then. Like leaving the country.

He must find a way how…

The attractive knight walked up to him and uncuffed him from the wall.

"Finally, they're off."

Kendrick rubbed both his hands with his own. His dirty little pale hands couldn't stop shaking as he did so. He's been cuffed like a god for a long time, to the point he could visibly see his hands looks like a smashed tomato from how it bleeds.

"Let's go, before the Majesty changes his mind." 

Princess Ruri smiled at peace knowing her hero will be safe… At least for now.

The knight escorted Kendrick to his transport with the Princess. And soon enough, they all bid farewell as Kendrick got into his carriage.

"Goodbye Dan… Be safe."

Princess Ruri gave him a warm goodbye and smiled to her heart's content.

"You know, we'll see each other again, no?"

In return, he gave her a cool end. 

Supposedly, yes. That's the last time Kendrick planned on seeing her. If he survives today or soon, he plans on avoiding being in conflict with her. That's what he learned from last time. 

Princess Ruri smiled once more and chuckled softly.

"I guess I'll be seeing you in five days, my knight in shining armor!"

"Yes, expect it soon."

And as soon as they finished saying farewells to each other, the carriage soon left, to deliver the man to his demise.

Now awaits him a wonderful and terrifying return…

The carriage soon left and after a few hours, they soon arrived at their gate's territory.

Jredd greeted him with a large smile and opened the gate for them.

"Welcome back, Milord."

Over the days he was gone, the young man seemed more exhausted than ever before. He figured that since he was gone, his sibling must have done her usual work on him. The poor man looks like he'll fall down in a single push.

Jredd on the contrary didn't mind the strange look Kendrick was giving him and led him inside their estates.

Kendrick followed him quietly, till they finally got into the dining room. 

Jredd whispered something to Kendrick in a voice only they would hear, '"Milord, please be safe."

And with his very pale weak hands, Jredd opened the door for his Milord.

And that's when….

The nightmare will finally start.

Instead of a warm welcoming return, what unfolds before his eyes is a very— terrifying thing to witness.

Every main part of their household was inside. Including his father, mother, siblings. Though it was surprising to see the group gathered. What's worst was… They were all, staring at him and waiting. 

They were all staring at him with bloodshot eyes. All of his siblings were with a grin, while his father had those eyes looking at its prey staring at him.

Viscount Anwir greeted him with a smile on his face. 

"Welcome home, Dan."

His voice sounded so cold, it terrifies Kendrick and somehow, he could feel cold crawl at his spine.

Kendrick has mixed emotions as he is greeted.

He almost forgot one of the most important things.

Supposedly, if the plan of villainess worked, they would have an insane amount of treasure and would be able to rise in ranks. But because of his intervention, the story now changes…

'Why didn't I think of this sooner…'

Now he could totally say…

He's doomed.

And now, finally… The new story will start.