"Want to run away with me?"
For the first time, Lucia didn't understand Timothy. Run away? Where? Are they not running away now?
"What do you mean Tim?" She asked.
Timothy looked at the moon and sighed. "I'm tired Lucia. I'm exhausted."
"I still don't understand"
Timothy lay on the grass and looked at sky. He then slowly grabbed Lucia and made her lay on his arms. The warmth of his body gave Lucia a sense of security.
"When I found out that you were in danger, I lost it Lucia. They not only schemed against me, but also against you. We didn't do anything yet they attacked us. I was furious that time. No, I'm still furious."
Lucia nodded. She also had the same experience that time King Leopold and Skall Wismar conspired to get Timothy killed. She was furious. She wanted to make them pay for scheming against Timothy.
"My original plan was to rescue you and then go back to Solon to gather my army. I would then besiege Nirvana and force my father to hand over Skall Wismar." Timothy looked at her and winked "I know it's a bad plan"
"It is" Lucia agreed. "You can't force your father. Even if your soldiers are experienced, they are few. They can't threaten the walls of Nirvana. Also I've heard that one of your brothers is currently in Ledega with a huge army. He can cut your supply lines if you dare besiege Nirvana."
"I never knew that you are versed in the art of war" Timothy grinned.
"Are you mocking me rooster prince?" Lucia pinched his nose. She then put her head on his chest. "So, something tells me that you changed your mind"
Timothy was silent for a while. "When I saw you fall from your horse, I was so worried. When we were being hunted, I feared for your life. Seeing you suffer is painful. I care for you Lucia. I want to give you the best in the world. And then it occurred to me that getting revenge for you and making Skall Wismar pay will not alleviate your pain. I need to focus on you rather than revenge. I will make him pay if I'm able, but your well-being should come first."
"Thank you Tim. That's all I wanted from you." She put a kiss on his cheek. "But I still can't connect it with you wanting to run away."
"The current Castonia is a messed up place Lucia. People scheme here. The involvement of Skall Wismar further complicates the power struggle. I want to leave Castonia behind. I want to start a new life with you in Vanadis. I'm tired of politics."
Lucia was slightly surprised. She never thought that Timothy would abandon his fame and power in Castonia just to live a peaceful life with her in Vanadis. Even if she marries him, his position in Vanadis would be lower compared to being the third Prince of Castonia. Also, the people currently cheer his name. They treat Timothy as a hero. He was willing to give that away. Lucia felt emotional.
"Are you sure you want that? What about your responsibilities Tim?"
"The moment my father schemed against me, I lost the responsibility of being a prince. Sure, I saved the Western Region from destruction but that's because I care for the people. But now my father and my brothers have this under control. They can now repel the Tulosans even if General Rickard comes back. Castonia doesn't need me anymore. This may sound like I'm being selfish, but I'm really tired Lucia. The only downside of this is that Vanadis will not get the alliance it wanted."
"It's okay Tim. You can be our general. I'm sure you can reform the Vanadian military. Your presence will be enough to secure Vanadis' borders."
"So you agree? You will run away with me?" He smiled widely.
"Don't make it sound like we're eloping Tim" Lucia laughed. She then nodded. "If you're fine with losing your popularity, then I will take you to Vanadis."
"It's decided then. After we get back to Solon, I will inform Erik, Freya, Marvin and Mathias of my decision. We will then elope to Vanadis" he grinned.
Lucia laughed again. "I told you already, that is not eloping."
"But it sounds more romantic that way" Timothy reasoned.
Lucia gave a sigh of resignation "Fine then, we will elope to Vanadis" she hugged Timothy.
**********************************************************************************
After cuddling for a while, Timothy and Lucia went back to the bonfire. They did not finish their meals because of Abraham's tale.
"and then Prince Timothy said, 'danger is my middle name'" Timothy again heard Abraham's preposterous tales about him. It was painful to listen to.
He and Lucia sat back on the log. The villagers had their attention to Abraham.
"Hey, where did you the two of you go to?" Abraham stopped his story and asked them.
"Stop it Abraham. What they did in secret is none of our business" A villager said "Besides, we all know what they did" he gave Timothy and Lucia a meaningful smile.
The villagers laughed. It seems that they had the wrong idea. This is embarrassing, Timothy thought. He looked at Lucia and saw that she was blushing.
"So, Theo and Alice, tell us about yourselves."
"Yeah! Both of you are so good looking that I still can't believe you are merchants. You look like nobles."
"We were just lucky to have met each other I guess" Timothy tried to find an excuse.
"But you look so young. How old are you anyway?"
"Let's not pry into their private lives" It was Samuel who saved them from being discovered. But Timothy noticed that the old man was already drunk.
After hearing what Samuel said, the villagers stopped their questions and looked for other means to entertain themselves.
Samuel went beside Timothy. He was holding a bottle of wine. The old man then put his hand on Timothy's shoulder.
"Don't mind them Your Highness. It's so boring here that they will search for any rumors."
"It's alright Samuel. I'm just afraid they will find out about our identities. I wonder what Abraham's reaction will be if that happened"
Samuel laughed. "I think he will piss himself"
Timothy laughed with the old man. But then he noticed a brand on Samuel's hand.
"Is that…" he stared closely at the brand "You were a royal guard?"
Samuel retracted his hand and looked at the brand. "Oh this? Yes, I was a royal guard. But I quit many years ago."
Timothy doesn't understand. Why would he quit? Royal Guards were the best paid soldiers in Castonia.
"Why would you quit? Many people dream of being a royal guard" It was Lucia who asked.
Samuel stared at them for a long time. Timothy started to think that the old man had already fallen asleep. "It was a long story" he finally said.
"Alright then." Timothy didn't want to pry into Samuel's life. But he was still curious so he asked, "You know my father then? What was he like in the past?"
Samuel's eyes lit up. He nodded "Yes, I know your father very well. He and I were close friends"
Timothy doubted him. Even though King Leopold was fond of the royal guards, he wasn't friendly towards them.
"Close friends?" Timothy asked "So what was he like when you were still in the palace?"
Samuel put down the bottle and looked at the distance. "Your father and I had a love-hate relationship. He was my friend, Your Highness. But honestly, he was an asshole"
Timothy was surprised. Even if what Samuel said was his own opinion, he was still talking about the King. Samuel was the first person Timothy met who described the King as an ass.
"Really? He was like that?" Timothy asked
Samuel laughed. "He was. He's not a good person Your Highness. He's also kind of a jerk. He even took my lover once. Also he seduced the Queen. Nevertheless, he's my friend. He likes to eat wild mushrooms and that's why we called him 'Mushrooms'. He loves it so much that he would eat it every day."
Timothy frowned. Why does it feel like they are not talking about the same person? Seduced the Queen? Likes eating mushrooms? That doesn't sound like King Leopold.
"You look like him, Your Highness." Samuel continued "Exactly like him. When I first saw you this morning, I thought I've seen a ghost. Your face, your voice, it's like a copy of him. I think you also got your eloquence from him. But at the same time, you are opposites. Your attitudes are very different." He patted Timothy on the shoulder "I'm glad you didn't grow up like him"
Samuel then grabbed the bottle of wine and left. Timothy looked at Lucia.
"What was that all about?"
Lucia shrugged. "Maybe he was talking about someone else. He's drunk so his memories could be mixed."
"Maybe" Timothy said as he looked at Samuel "But I really think he's talking about my father."
The gathering lasted until midnight. Most of the villagers were drunk. Timothy himself was a little drunk. He and Lucia went back to their hut. It had been a long and wonderful day.
*******************************************************************************
Amir stopped his horse as they reached the end of the forest.
"They're not here" he said.
"But where could they go?" a soldier asked him "We lost their tracks already"
Amir grabbed a map from his pocket. Even if it was dark, he could see clearly because of the full moon. He examined the map.
"We should go back here" he pointed to the other end of the forest.
"But that part is uninhabited. Why would they go that way?"
Amir closed the map and put it in his pocket. "I don't know, but my instincts tell me that we will find them there"
His men turned their horses around.