The fourth princess
Chapter 42: The fourth princess
Sowing seeds of fear within those centaurs was the first thing.
They would develop in fear, then the dullahan would choose the most appropriate one. This was where some complications arose.
It wasn't only fear that turned those centaurs into the best mounts, but also the natural respect.
It meant that not every dullahan was the same in every centaur's eyes. Some were more terrified of women, so the dullahan ladies were the scariest. Some had different traumas and all of them developed a different kind of fear.
So if a particular centaur grew too strong and a few dullahans took a fancy into him at the same time, then there would be an inward battle between those whose impression was the closest to dullahan's scar in his heart.
As the nightmare continued, Vis just told Miku to go around and expose herself. There was no need for any fancy moves. Her strength and status were too weak, so other dullahans would stop her before she tried to make the mount.
But Miku didn't even know how to go for it, so Vis wasn't worried about her.
He just continued to tread, his eyes looking at the whole nightmare from the third-person's perspective.
Because of that, Vis could see more than those and he soon found a woman with four fox tails. She was speaking with dullahan whose head was absent, but the voice still came out from his black streak.
This dullahan's emotions could be only seen through his tone and body movement, but Vis was more focused on the woman with four tails.
Her image suited the person he had to learn about… The fox tails and other features that matched the fourth princess from Tsuni Empire told Vis that she must be his fiancee.
It was a rather fancy meeting here, but Vis planned to just listen to their talk.
Once he came closer, the dullahan's voice entered his ears, "That wouldn't be a problem. But are you ready to pay the price? At the end of the day, it will be me dealing with those ghosts; if they find out, that is."
"I am." The fourth princess stated decisively. Her eyes looked sharp and the pressure emitting from those didn't seem weak at all.
She had her principles in this world and no one could trample on those due to weak strength.
Vis found it surprising, "I thought they would wed me to a useless princess, but she is pretty good…" He already could tell that the fourth princess wasn't someone to toy with.
Her next words ensured it, "I will give you a few headless bodies and heads from the Tsuni Empire… This price and sacrifice are for the empire's sake, so they will understand."
"I wonder what's happening in your little empire," The dullahan laughed, his body also kept trembling from fun, "Then, you can meet me here in a few days. I will be back with the item you want." Since the fourth princess didn't look like she would share some more secrets, the dullahan turned heels and his form slowly faded away.
Left alone in the dark forest, the princess was just about to turn away as well, but her fox ears trembled.
She recorded a faint sound of a step and her eyes instantly swept through the source, "What did you hear?" She threatened the person emerging out from the side with a sharp tone; the one you would expect on the royalty.
Vis just shrugged and took off his hoodie. His mummy bandages got tightly grasped by him, then he tore those to expose his face, "Nice to meet you, my fiance. Our first meeting surely wasn't expected by our parents."
"You… can't be him, right?" The person before her looked exactly like her fiance she had to marry. That was why the princess spoke in an incredulous tone that yearned for an answer.
Vis just delivered it with no problem, "I am Vis. Well, the emperor already knows that I am not that useless, so you can be aware of it too. It seems like we both have secrets that should stay between us."
He put his finger on lips, then smiled widely.
The fourth princess, Karin, just stood in a frozen state while looking at the prince. His appearance, the strength, and confidence behind his eyes, and the fact that he had just heard her conversation greatly changed her plans.
To this princess, Vis just shrugged, "You know that I am supposed to be useless, but I will honestly tell you that I know nothing about you. How about we go for a walk?"
"Lead the way…" Karin just whispered faintly, then followed Vis who climbed up a small hill. On this hill, both of them could see the whole centaur village getting raided by dullahans. Their nightmare continued to do its job and one wouldn't want to be here with a fiance as it was the furthest from the romantic view.
After a few breaths passed, Vis turned his eyes to the lady. Shrouded in the moonlight, her worries faded away from her countenance and just beauty was left for Vis' eyes to feast upon.
A fox woman looked especially beautiful with the moon's help.
"I feel like we can become a good pair, actually. I got a free pass from the emperor to go around the world. I just need to contribute a few times…" Vis looked to the side. Freedom was greatly emphasized after seeing those dullahans.
The fox woman replied, "If you bothered to learn about me, then you would also know that I am not interested in royal affairs… But the deal you just have heard about… There was no other way as I suspect that one of my family members made contact with necromancers… Or even worse, with the Soul Collector's servant…"
"Are you fine sharing it with me?" Vis smiled.
"I am… Aren't you too honest with me? Let me share a few of my worries too…" Karin closed her eyes, then raised her face. A moon soon reflected on her jewels and she seemed to be lost in thought.
Now that she shared a part of her burden with someone, she felt like asking for help. The Soul Collector was someone that only the emperor could speak with and his servants were maniacs that went against the whole world!
If their master was hated by the whole world, why wouldn't they be the same?
"So you need something to confirm your suspicions… And then?" Vis question wasn't answered as even Karin didn't know what she would do.
She just continued to glance at the moon as if trying to find an answer here.
"You can forget about that dullahan. Just leave this matter to me." Vis sudden words brought the lady back from the moon. She raised her eyes at him, then the fiance continued, "I can find the necromancers and the Soul Collector's servants too. Just give me some time and I will be able to go to the Tsuni Empire with you… There's a matter I have to deal with in my empire too, you know."
"How can you find them?" Karin asked. She knew that Vis wanted to become closer with her as they were already engaged, so she just needed Vis to ensure his words.
He raised his hand, then revealed black energy, "I am one of them."
"..." Karin's brows instantly creased and she even got paler. She just didn't know what to say nor what to do while being so close to the necromancer. Would he turn into some undead and guide mindless weaker undead at her with quantity?
As her mind got flooded with various thoughts, Vis chuckled, "I am from the Soul Collector's side." Her heart sunk after these words…
"How.. unlucky am I?" Karin asked herself, not even daring to take a step back. At this point, it felt futile as she wouldn't be able to properly defend herself.
The whole event was too sudden, but Vis reassured, "Very lucky. I am still a human with a titan god bloodline and I am not someone who would drown the whole empire or tribe for dead bodies or energy… Let's say that I just have a little promise to take down every necromancer. Other than that, I am pretty free."
"A man with no goals is often scarier…" Karin whispered, but it seemed like Vis had his principles. She soon calmed down and joined him.
But she was really assertive and kept an appropriate distance.
On the first night, Karin said, "You actually have that kind of problem…"
"Shut up."
"But why? Is it because of the height? I feel like 165cm is fine for a man…"
"I was lacking a princess by my side. Now that you are here, help me fix that sleepless night issue."
"We aren't married yet. Sorry!"
"There is your answer."
"..."