Chapter 8

In a forest, several trees and vines intertwined around with trees making a small room that has a canopy as its roof. A boy with crimson eyes appeared gazing around on a platform where a portal was present.

' Did the portal malfunction' Ben thought, his eyes scanning the area.

'' Where is this place? " Ben looked around to find a way out. There was no door only way out was to climb over these vines and jump over to the other side.

" Hey, anyone there," Ben tried calling but no reply came 

" I am here myself, Mr. Escape Expert," he said, trying to boost his morale with his famous nickname, but the silence remained.

'Am I imprisoned? Why does the thing I don't want to happen always occur?' he thought, frustration creeping into his voice.

Thirty minutes passed, and no one came. Ben couldn't hold out any longer. Determined, he reached for a vine and started climbing.

As he climbed a few meters from the ground, suddenly, the vines he was standing on retracted, making him dwindle in mid-air and fall with a thud.

' Ow, It doesn't hurt does my strong constitution help me reduce the fall damage but why is this ground beneath so soft ' Ben's hand immediately grabbed at the ground, and squeezed it but just as he saw what he was touching on the ground his heart escaped from his chest to eyes.

Valine was lying on the ground and Ben was squeezing her breasts. 

"Kya... You Pervert!! Stand up " Valine yelled, her face flushed red as their eyes met.

Ben immediately retracted his hands and stood up looking at them one more time before acting as if nothing had happened.

'Whatever, it wasn't my fault. She deserves it,' he thought, casting a glance at her body.

She saw Ben gazing at her body and again she fixed her clothes and yelled at Ben a pervert one more time. 

" So you were trying to jump from the wall but you fell because the vine you were standing on was gone" Her face was still flushed, with a tiny hue of red as she clasped her hands together. 

Ben nodded, still feeling the sting of the event that occurred.

well then it's not his fault it was my mistake for not looking out 

" Why are we here, not in the castle " Ben asked with a tinge of frustration

" Do you think I will use the castle teleport for your incoming 

" Think how stupid I will be looking to allow a thief to enter their own house " Valine

" If it is like that then how stupid would you look when someone knows the great Valine is asking for help from a thief " Ben shot back.

" Enough, we don't have a full day you have to complete the task in three days, " Valine said, her expression turning serious and stoic, all traces of fluster gone.

"Wait, three days? Isn't that too little? It will take two days just to make a proper path," Ben protested.

"That's your problem to manage. You only have two days because, after that, the royal guards will be back," Valine stated firmly.

'Royal guards are not present, that's new. In the novel, it was not informed. Well looks like luck on my side, 'Ben thought.t

"ok "he agreed nonetheless.

The royal guards were no ordinary guards; they had extraordinary abilities and had reached grandmaster rank, with some even supreme. A whole group of knights can destroy a sky island very easily if want.

Ben reached the castle along with Valine, entering the castle's main gate introducing. She introduced him as the new Gardner for the princess garden.

" Ignorance is bliss" Ben muttered, watching hundreds of soldiers march around the castle in every direction ignoring ben presence.

The sky was dark the castle was shining like a big light, illuminating the surrounding area. 

Ben swiftly passed from the soldier into the main entrance with a giant door.

"Where is the garden ?" Ben asked.

"I'll take you there, but first, you need to meet the previous caretaker to understand your duties," Valine replied.

While the two conversed, their action was being watched by guards present.

They reached a room where an old woman was packing her things, ready to leave the palace. Her wrinkled face and hands showed her age.

" You have arrived lady Valine, I will leave soon. I will meet my grandson after a long time, "the old lady said with a bow and stepped back.

She saw Ben with a smile.

"He'll work as the new gardener, so inform him of all things that need to be done," Valine informed the Old lady, handing over clothes of a completely white color.

The old lady informed Ben about the task he had to perform. 

The garden

The garden was inside the castle walls, centered around a fountain with a statue of a mermaid, water emerging from her mouth. Surrounding the fountain, vibrant rose beds bloomed in a spectrum of colors, arranged to form a path leading to it.

The garden was enormous, larger than the stay house where Ben had been staying.

Ben was not allowed to venture deep, As it was princess personal.

'I shouldn't attempt anything dangerous, or I'll have my head cut off,' Ben thought.

" From now on, you are on your own, " Valine said and Left Ben all alone in the garden.

' Finally, alone, why do these guards look at me with animosity ' Ben pondered, as he started his work.

The guards weren't looking at Ben with animosity because he was strange but because they saw their goddess roaming with him. Unaware of this. If he knows only his presence has made him the enemy of many already. 

'I don't have enough time and at night the security will be tightened and it will be impossible to wander.' Ben thought, increasing his speed.

Ben's work was simple he had to keep the garden clean, water every plant, and not let anyone venture in the garden.

Suddenly he heard something from the side bush, the sound growing louder.

" Rustle!!..Rustle!!"