Chapter 9: Revealing Ties

I didn't expect that he would react that way it was just Callixa's instruction to me.

I don't know if he is embarrassed or annoyed.

"Demion?" I asked.

".." he remains quiet. He is red as a tomato.

Maybe I can do it again if he likes it to soothe his temper but how vulgar of me?

But having this kind of guy by my side means he is someone safe.

He clears his throat. "As I said I will tell you something about yourself," he said pretending that nothing happened.

"Do you want another one?" it suddenly came out of my mouth.

He was so surprised that he moved distant away from me like he would almost jump off the carriage that we were riding.

"NO! YOU! DON'T YOU DARE!" he exclaimed releasing his warning.

He erected his posture at much distance from me and began to speak,

"We will be taking a certain route," he said.

"Your return as a knight won't gonna be easy kid," he said and continued, "Princess Harmony will do her best to fight for it, You don't need to be afraid because the other knights in the southern kingdom will be supporting us." he sighed and pat my head—his expression changes.

I forgot. I am in a very difficult situation and they are the people who are doing their very best to fight for me. As they stated.

"Will you tell me about the other knights in the south," I asked him.

"There are 6 knights assigned to each of the royal heirs. You- Callixa, Me- Demion, and the others. Our leader, Xeno, Floyd, Jaquelyn, and Eris.

Everyone represents their own color of fire and the sin it loves to devour.

Usually, the cool colors are assigned to the Southern heir and the warm colors to the Northern heir."

"Xeno" I muttered repeating what he just said.

"Xeno is the one who proposes that you are innocent." He said. "We thought that we would have lost you" he uttered a cheezy line.

I looked down and at my side, doubting.

"As I said before, his fire did not harm you," he said and he laughed playfully. "Because Chief's fire ates injustice"

I'm glad that his mood finally altered.

"I didn't know that I am this blessed to have you guys"

First, the princess who is a kind-hearted master, friends knights like family, and even power and rare gifts and skills.

Is the prince's affection included?

"You were not actually that err.." he stopped hesitating to continue.

What is it that he wants to tell me?

"Come on, tell me" I punch him on his arm. Trying to imitate Callixa's possible action.

"You are an orphan," he said. "that was taken in by the royal family when the twin royals found you interesting," he said.

"Aside from winning their favor in taking you over as a servant. You won their love, favor and even the right to be in their defense unit. You won their trust." he said.

"You won the twin's hearts," he said followed by a scoffing laughter. 

What is that? What did I see as I stared at his face?

Is that a sight of envy? or perhaps jealousy?

I held his face with my hands.

"Hey," I said and he smiled as he realized and laughed in sarcasm as he seemed to catch himself doing so.

"You are amazing" he uttered in such tone and assertion that I can't bear to accept.

Probably that's because it's not really meant for me.

"You shouldn't let yourself be caught when that incident happened. You don't have any idea how worried everyone is when you are in the trial room. We are not allowed to reach you. The princess even makes her way to meet her father and even the prince. However, the prince was the victim so we are unable to ... " he clenched his fists and bit his lips.

"The prince spared me," I said.

"Yeah, unexpectedly," he said.

"He surprisingly does. It was probably out of guilt" he said.

As expected he asked me what the prince did that made me that upset. Unfortunately, the only answer that I can say is. "I don't know. I can't remember"

How considerate of him to accept it.

"The princess is never wrong to send me. Right now, you are the highest prey in the hunting game. When you return trials will be coming more often until your case is fixed and your name is cleared.

He leans back on the carriage.

"We will trace the path of the Refuge cities in coming to the Southern castle that way you will be spared," he said.

At first, his words make me puzzled because I don't know but as he further explains it to me. I finally understand.

This place has an unusual law.

If someone was attacked or killed. The protector of the family has the right to kill the person who says to commit the crime. All families have their own protector or avenger.

A refuge place is a place where those people who are accused and not proven guilty can stay without being killed before the next trial is held.

It will take 3 days to reach the first refuge city.

Unfortunately, on the last day, they have reached the entrance.

Ma-an, the knight of the prince stands in front of us preventing us from entering.

"I'm going to kill you while you are still here outside," She said.

In the refuge city, if anyone kills even the guilty they shall be punished by the law.