3. ATTACK IN THE DARK
After the feast, Pascal went to King Brent and Queen Ophelia to say his farewells. Being the last prince to face the rulers of the Orva Kingdom after Prince Leonard of the Lucard Kingdom.
''Give my regards to Queen Ruby and King Lumiere, Your Highness. Orva's soldiers will escort you safely to Valliant.''
''With all due respect, Your Majesty. Thank you for your kindness. But really, it's an unnecessary thing. I can travel safely without an escort.'' Pascal bowed his head, refusing politely.
King Brent's gaze at the queen made Queen Ophelia reluctant to insist. So she stopped to worry about the safety of Pascal who was not at all afraid of the dangers of the way.
''Prince Valliant will always be welcome in the Kingdom of Orva. Any kind of difficulty and need for help, Orva will always welcome with open arms.''
Pascal sighed. In his mind, how long would Queen Ophelia continue to worry about him? He wasn't Prince Logan who would be the companion for Princess Crysta. He was just a prince who meant nothing to Orva. To be more precise- had no relationship that entitled him to special treatment from the queen of this kingdom.
First Princess Crysta, now Queen Ophelia. As if his daughter wasn't enough, now Pascal was a little confused by the queen. But Pascal won't ask why because now he prefers to retreat and pass through the place he went before to Titan.
However, when he returned from the balcony, the giant animal was no longer there.
A brown-haired servant approached Pascal who seemed to be combing the palace halls with his cold, sharp bead. ''Your Highness, your animal has left the hall.''
Titan would never have left his post if not ordered by Pascal. Therefore, he felt a little hesitant to believe the words of the servant known as Monic.
''Titan!'' Pascal screeched to find the animal with its back to him but reflexively turned around when he called out.
He grunted, approached the Titan but immediately backed away when he saw who was behind the animal's body. The figure was smiling, stroking a thick golden mane that made the Titan's head move comfortably in the direction of the caress.
''Princess?''
Crysta widened her dress, bowing to the prince. Smiling, looking at him softly. ''I like your pet better than the black pearls you brought from the eastern seas.''
Monic folded his lips, smiling. Knowing that the princess was trying to get close to the prince.
But Pascal only let Crysta admire the two-meter tall animal. Choosing to step aside- folding his arms across his chest- then leaning against the wall with the carved vines painted in gold-colored ink.
''I want to climb up!" Crysta said.
''Princess...''
Monic's reprimand was ignored. Crysta tried to grab the saddle while jumping up and down to get on the Titan's back, but failed. Her beady eyes glanced at Pascal, hoping for help. But the prince's cold face was as cold as his demeanor. Pascal ignored her.
It was only when Crysta snorted in exasperation and gave up that Pascal left his back- cutting the distance between him and Crysta.
''Don't insist. You could fall down.''
A blush suddenly appeared on her cheeks. Crysta hid the tinge by looking away. To Crysta's ears, it sounded like a form of concern. But to Pascal, it was a warning. Because the prince said it very seriously.
''Princess...''
Crysta turned her head when Pascal called out. With hazel eyes, an oval face, a high nose, dense eyelashes and eyebrows, dark brown hair, and a perfect height and build, Pascal dominated perfection as a prince.
''I have to go.''
That was not the sentence she expected. Suddenly Crysta looked down gloomily.
And in between her beady eyes on the floor, Crysta was shocked to see a dark-colored animal skin-covered palm trying to grab her fingers. And she was even more surprised when Pascal brought her to his lips. He kissed the back of her hand while looking at her flatly.
''Goodbye, Your Highness.'' Pascal's thumb played on Crysta's pinky and ring finger for a few seconds. Before completely unlinking the fingers and replacing them with the saddle pinned to the Titan's back. Then climbed onto it.
''Prince Pascal!''
Titan growled- stopping in his tracks because he had just been intercepted.
''I want pink pearls,'' Crysta asked suddenly.
Monic scratched her head.
Pearls of that color were extremely rare. And the only woman who had them was Queen Ruby, Queen of the Valliant Kingdom.
It took months for Pascal to collect the pearls to fill the velvet box. Plus, the pearls Crysta requested were of a type complicated enough to be found at the bottom of the ocean, so Pascal could not be sure how long he would be able to fulfill Crysta's wish.
Besides, even if he granted the princess of the Orva Kingdom's wish, Pascal would not agree with the color Crysta requested.
''I can't,'' Pascal interrupted.
''Why?''
''It's not good for a prince to give pearls of that color to a princess who is already wedded.'' The right bridle pulled back, the Titan went in the direction Pascal wanted to go. Dodging and leaving Crysta behind. Both the one being ridden and the one riding, both passed by without turning their heads.
''It seems Prince Pascal doesn't understand your meaning, Your Highness.'' Monic also looked at Pascal who passed by the line of Orva soldiers on the right and left of the palace grounds. Empathizing with the princess's feelings.
''You're wrong. He understands my meaning very well, Monic. The pink pearl is a symbol of love. He said that because he didn't want to ruin my relationship with Logan.''
Silence in the darkness of the forest. Titan carried Pascal with the speed of a thousand tigers. The wolf's howl was intermittent. Moonlight was the only illumination on the road.
From the outermost borders of the Orva Kingdom, access to every other kingdom went straight through six separate paths. There was no way Pascal or the other princes could convoy together to return to their respective palaces.
And before completely sinking deep into the valley without an opening to the Kingdom of Valliant, Pascal's hazel bead still saw the torches of the other kingdoms' processions from between the trees.
Judging by the moon's current position, it was already three in the morning. He had been traveling for four hours without stopping. For a moment Pascal scanned the forest with a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree beam while patting his neck with his wind-blown mane. Making the Titan lower his speed. Half-running to slowly walking at a leisurely pace.
Once he was sure it was safe, Pascal steered Titan away from the main road and led him into a bushy area. Looking for the biggest tree to rest in.
From the murmurs that could be heard, the beast seemed unhappy when Pascal leaned against the body with so much fur.
''Just for today. After that you can go back to sleeping under the pile of goose feathers in my room, Titan.'' Pascal said with a small chuckle after glancing at Titan who was licking his own feet. Then struggled with the tall weeds that reached his face area.
Without realizing it, the movement of the weeds that swayed not because of the night breeze had continued since Pascal fell asleep.
A black shadow appeared behind a soldier. He was standing guard outside a prince's tent. Realizing that there were two shadows from the reflection of the blazing fire, the soldier then turned around. He did find someone in a black robe, but it was difficult for the soldier to recognize the figure that had blurred his vision due to a stab.
The silent, starless night bore silent witness to the attack on a prince's stop. To make matters worse, the black-robed figure finished off all the soldiers, the captain of the guard and left the prince as the final prey. Without knowing what had happened outside.
In an instant, blood splattered the white tent with the golden eagle emblem as the cloaked figure entered with a sword covered in a thick red liquid.
The next day...
Dawn breaks from the east and its light strikes Pascal's closed bead. The piercing glare caused him to blink several times to adjust his vision before opening his eyes completely.
While Pascal was still lazily getting up, Prince Logan and Prince Axa's carriage had arrived at the Kingdom of Mytris. It was quite strange for the gatekeepers to see the luxurious carriage arrive without its troops and charioteers.
''Prince Axa and Prince Logan left in different carriages. So there should be two. But why did only one of them return?''
In the confusion of the gatekeeping soldiers, one of them then gave an order.
''Quickly check!''
Two soldiers ran over and opened the carriage door. Knocked on it. Then called the names of the two princes but received no answer. Until finally forcibly opening the door which immediately made the soldier with the thick mustache scream.
The kingdom of Mytris was shocked by the two princes' bodies that returned in a lifeless state. Filled with many wounds and also blood. To make matters worse, Prince Logan returned with an incomplete body. Missing the right hand. Where the piece turned out to be on another train that was in the Kingdom of Orva. In a chest of gold. Which is now in the presence of King Brent, Queen Ophelia and Princess Crysta.