After two hours, I was done but the Princess of Delta Kingdom finished faster than me.
Regin helped me back to the tent while the maids cleaned my shoes, and granny gave me some refreshments.
"What's the name of the Princess of Delta Kingdom?"
I asked while I wipe my sweat.
"She's Tellusia, if you're close with her, they say you can call her Sia," Lala answered.
I watch Princess Tellusia as she goes out of her carriage, changed into different clothes, then she went to her tent and relaxed.
She looks really young to be in this bride candidate game, she's like 12 from her height and she's really small.
"Where did you learn how to harvest, Miss?" Lulu asked.
"We did it when we were in 6th grade, but I learned it on YouTube."
Regin, Granny, and the maids looked at me with confusion.
"You're in a tube when you learned it?" Lala frowned, "Was it hard being in a tube?"
I stared at Lala, how did she come up with that idea?
"No!" I laughed, gosh, I shook my head as tears started forming in my eyes from laughing too hard. "It was an entertainment site!"
"So, it is a place?" Lulu raised her brows.
"No!" I took a deep breath from laughing too hard, "It has channels where you can watch different videos."
"Channel? Is this some sort of power?" Granny asked.
After laughing too hard, their comments are getting lamer and lamer, "No." I shook my head, "It's a human thing, please, don't mind it too much. Anyway, I learned it from watching. That's it."
I shouldn't have mentioned something that they don't know.
I really wonder how they get to live without the internet.
Maybe sooner or later, they can invent it.
I want to do it, but I don't know how science works. If I was a science geek, I might've invented something already while I stay here.
"Prince!" Yelled some brides, "We can't do it anymore! The soil is too hard!"
I looked at their area, but the soil wasn't the problem, it's how they use their tools.
For apple's sake! They're holding it with their pointy finger and thumb while their pinkies are raised. No wonder why they can't dig the soil.
"My hands are aching!" One added.
I shook my head, I don't know if I should pity them or be annoyed.
"30 minutes left! If you don't finish this, you're out!" The butler yelled.
A guard went in our tent and bowed, "Please prepare the crops, it'll be judged after the harvesting."
The maids hurriedly washed the crops, while Regin went with the guard because they have something to talk about with the Prince.
Granny was sitting, watching the other brides dig in the soil.
I took the last sip of my refreshment when I saw a couple of old woman and man, whose backs are already crooked while carrying a sack of potatoes.
I wanted to ask granny if I can go to the old couple, but she was already assisting a yelling bride about carrying her tools.
She's my attendant, but I can't tell a bride, who might be royalty, to not order Granny around.
I might find myself in trouble again if that happens.
I walked towards the old couple, their clothes were ravaged and their hands are all covered with soil and are full of cuts.
"Sir, Ma'am, please let me carry those."
I said as I walk beside them. The sack's not full, and it doesn't look that heavy, I'm sure I can carry those.
The old man, with a face full of wrinkles and exhaustion, looked at me.
Then he smiled, "My, aren't you kind, my dear," he whispered with a grandpa tone.
I can't help but smile as the old woman let me carry her sack, "Thank you so much, dear. I will gladly ask for your help, my back's killing me."
I carried the sack with my arms, and it really wasn't that heavy. "Please, wait for me here. I'll carry your sack, too, Sir. Where should I take this?"
The old man was hesitant to tell me at first, but the old woman taps his shoulders with a smile, "She'll be fine. She's a kind person."
I was bugged by her reasoning, but I lost focus when the old man told me to put it on a farm carriage in the middle of the forest.
"There's a road in the middle of the forest, the carriage is waiting there. My son's there, don't worry."
I nodded then I started walking.
The moment I was already surrounded by trees, I was in awe of how tranquil this place is.
I can hear the voices of the brides not far from where I am, and the sound of the flowing river.
The birds chirping also made the ambiance much more beautiful.
I saw the carriage not far and I saw a young man with red fiery eyes and orange hair.
"Hello, are you the son of the farmers?" I asked.
It was then I only noticed that he was just sitting on the carriage because his feet looked paralyzed. I was about to think why such a young man let his parents carry sacks of vegetables, I should really stop judging people by their appearance.
"Yes," he smiled, "Where are they?"
I put the sack on the carriage and took a breath, "They're waiting for me. I'll take the other sack and bring it here."
"I see, didn't you pass by them?" He asked with the same smile.
"Who? Your parents?"
"No. The ex-residencia."
I shook my head, I didn't meet any ex-residencia.
"Anyway, I'll go back and take the other sack, please wait here," I said as I walk back.
He smiled and nodded.
I took my time while admiring the view as I stare up the sky.
The trees were like covering the cloudy sky, like an umbrella, but the sunlight still finds its way inside the forest.
The wind was perfectly cool as the sun was being shaded. I stopped for a while to lean on a tree.
Ah, this is a perfect place to relax.
I forgot about their warning of not going here in the forest, but why would they say that?
"Is that enough as a hostage?" I heard a voice said.
I looked around but I saw nothing but trees, plants, and rocks.
Wait, there wasn't any rock when I passed by here earlier.
I took a step back, "Who are you?"
I stare at the large rocks, then suddenly they moved and revealed themselves as two huge men with a rock-like body.
"She's not afraid! Look! She's amazed!" A small one appeared behind them.
"Yes, she's not screaming." The largest one nodded.
Why would I scream? I've seen a lot of things and seeing another weird person won't send me screaming.
"Who are you?" I asked again.
I'm ready to run once they show any sign that they'll hurt me.
"Can't you read what's on our chest!?" Yelled the second largest while he punches his chest.
I saw a large tattoo with a dove design, "Ex... uh," I squinted my eyes to read the blurred lettering, "...residencia. Oh!" My eyes went huge in meeting the people the young man said, "You're the one. I was wondering who ex-residencia is. So, you're a group?"
The small one nodded, "Yes! We are ex-residencia, we live everywhere and no kingdom owns us!"
I nodded, I see. But I wonder why they were talking about hostage earlier.
And if they're not under any kingdom, aren't they like a terrorist?
I forced to keep my smile, but I was taking a few steps backward.
Are they the reason why the Prince was warning us about the forest?
Is this the danger he was afraid of?
"Why are you walking away?" The smallest one asked.
"She found out, Schimzee! Take her!" Yelled the largest.
Then the other one came running to me, but before I can even run away, I was tripped by a tree branch and I landed face-first on the ground.
I felt my cheek sting the moment I raised my head.
"Oh no! She's hurt! Help her!" I heard the small one say.
"Stop blabbering, Ophenzyn! Schimzee, help the girl."
My head started spinning when I sat on the ground. It's as if the world was whirling and my vision was blurred.
"Let's take her to the camp, the women can heal her," their voices were getting fainter as my world started to turn dark.
"We could've taken the rabbit as a hostage earlier for my wife to surrender my bow if only she didn't appear," the largest one said as he carries me to his back.
"Lartznier, just take her to the camp, if someone finds us here, we're done for! I heard the Prince of the Gathrin kingdom's here." Ophenzyn said as he looks around.
I found myself feeling heavier as they walk to the deepest part of the forest, then my eyes closed and my mind went to rest.