Princess Nelliel pt 12

Back at the castle, Rebel remained in the cage. He spent the past few days gnawing away at the rusty steel bars. He didn't eat or drink for days, since Scar left on the suicide mission. He didn't feel any pain. Like scar he was immortal but it wasn't the same since Scar became immortal from the original source. Since Rebel became immortal through Scar his body was linked to her. If she died he would definitely feel it. He knew she wasn't dead. Beside him was a cell that Mel sat in. She was curled up in the corner. She never spoke a word since she was moved to the prison. She ignored everyone who tried to speak to her, whether it was the guards telling her to eat or Rebel checking if she was alright. She felt a mixture of confusion and rage. She didn't know Scar that well but somehow she might die because of Scar.

"Hey," She began with a small voice. It had been a while since she ate so her voice was weak. Rebels ears perked up when he heard her for the first time. "Who is Scar?" She asked looking at Rebel dead in the eyes. Rebel hesitated. "Tell me. What is her connection to the King? Why are we involved in this?" She began bombarding him with more questions.

"It's difficult to explain like this-"

"I don't care. She owes me an explanation, but since she's not here, you will have to do." She said sharply.

"If you want to know about her then I'll tell you." A guard walked up to the cell. The same guard that let Scar out. Nobody was around. He took a nearby stool and sat down in front of the cell.

"Who are you?" Rebel asked, perplexed.

"I'm a friend-" He began but was cut off by Mel.

"A friend wouldn't lock us up!" SHe exclaimed clenching the bars of the cell.

"Not yours. Her highnesses." He said looking down.

"You knew Scar before she died?" Rebel couldn't believe his ears. Scar never talked to him about her life before she became immortal. He was still a pup when he met he thought being with her was as natural as breathing, yet it wasn't the same for her. Most of what he knew of her was either obvious or he had to connect the dots himself. He finally had a chance to learn more about her.

"I'll start from when I first came to the palace. I was seven at the time but her highness was already 17 years old," He began.

Twenty years ago - Clover Kingdom

A 17-year-old Scar (Nelliel) was sitting on her own in the palace's garden drinking tea. Even though there was a servant standing by her, they seemed completely invisible next to her. She had long sunshine blonde hair and clear blue eyes. Her posture was perfect and she was the embodiment of a delicate flower. It was almost as if looking at a painting.

She sometimes walked around the palace when she was bored and that was when she bumped into the youngest knight apprentice Landon who Nelliel nicknamed Donny. They didn't talk often but when they did their conversations consisted of Landon excitedly talking about his training or feeling discouraged, while Nelliel would listen, praise and encourage the child. They didn't have many times to meet especially when Nelliel got horrifying news from one of her lady's in waiting.

"Father is it true that the Spade Kingdom just declared war on us? Why?! I thought the alliance was going well!" Nelliel exclaimed storming into the throne room.

"Don't shout Nelliel, it's not dignified." The King said rubbing his temples. The officials in the room began to murmur amongst themselves. With the king's signal, everyone in the throne room left except him and Nelliel. "Where did you hear that from anyway?"

"Is that important right now? What reason could they possibly have to start a war?" The king stayed silent for a few moments thinking about his next few words before replying.

"The King had proposed a deal but I couldn't fulfil my end, that was all it was." He said.

"That's all? Father, you must be joking or hiding something. He may be new to the throne but there is no way he'd risk his men for something so petty."

"Unfortunately that's all it was. I do not wish to get into the details, you don't need to worry about it." The king said making his way towards her. " We have time to prepare for now. Since the weather is still harsh from the cold winter, the SPade Kingdom won't charge into our territory before Spring. Even so, please don't get involved in this." He said pained eyes. However, Nelliel was too frustrated to think about how her actions would affect her father. She left the throne room and later that night she heard of something from her lady in waiting.

"Valour's heart? I'm sure I've read about it before." Nelliel said thoughtfully while her lady in waiting combed her hair.

"It's one of those bedtime stories we read as children. It has the form of the most beautiful gem. So shiny that it reflects what the founder desires and it grants wishes at a price." She said.

"If it's a story then doesn't that mean it's not real?"

"Valour's heart is real your highness. I heard about it from my brother's friends aunty's sister. Apparently, they were in desperate need of help because of the sister baron. Though they did pray her husband didn't think it would look for valour's heart. He eventually found it and wished for a child. Miraculously his wife became pregnant soon after but even though they gave birth to a son the man neglected him his whole life. Apparently, the man is supposed to be 56 years old but still looks like he's in his 20's while his wife is already grey and wrinkly. This made the family become distant." She said with a sigh.

"So where is it now?" Nelliel asked determined.

"Were you not listening? The story has an unhappy ending. In the end, the price the man had to pay was his love for his son and now he goes around fooling around with younger women, your highness." She added the formality at the end forgetting that she was talking to a royal.

"But it worked. If I can find it I can stop the war." Nelliel said but then noticed the gloom on her lady in waiting's face. She was taken aback and then disguised her determination for laughter. "I was joking Mielle. I trust my father, I'm sure he will handle this." She said trying to relieve Mielle of worry. Mielle gave a sigh of relief before leaving the princess to rest. Nelliel was always impulsive so she started feeling unsure of what to do about the situation. She wanted to save her kingdom and didn't care if she personally had to go and find Valour's heart.