"Okay let's get out of here first." the young prince said then he started running with the fair maiden.
Immediately the young prince, Ogidigbo spread the ash on his face, and breathed in. he felt an overwhelming, heaviness capture his body. His young handsome face, instantly became pale and grimace.
"My prince what's the problem, are you alright? Do you need my help." The fair maiden, Ose, feigned ignorance and behaved surprised at the sudden change in the expression young prince.
The prince remained silent, and endured.
"Ok, get on my back, I'll carry you all the way back" The fair maiden squatted to let the price climb unto her back. As she was especially skilled at deceit, she did everything possible to ensure the prince believed she was on his side, and tried to make sure he never suspected her.
"No! I'll be fine, thanks" Unexpectedly, the young prince declined.
Shocked and disappointed, she rolled her eyes at the prince, "Really? You do not look fine at all!" She had never thought the young prince would refuse her help, for the second time, especially since she was able to easily convince him otherwise, the first time.
What made it worse, however, was that the young prince kept staring at her suspiciously, when she noticed his peering eyes, she panicked.
"What!?" She asked anxiously, she was obviously bothered by the young prince's subtile gaze, 'Oh God! Does he know about me, did he figure out the purpose of the ash? If he knows, then I'm surely done for. Is this really how I'm going to die!' she kept thinking to herself.
"Humph." The young prince smiled bitterly, when he noticed her queer behavior.
The young prince was not behaving like a five year old child at all, his mind seemed to be so mature, for his age; he acted like someone who had just uncovered some deep evil secretes.
As a matter of fact, there were actually some people, who had concluded due to the young prince's talents, and determined will, that he was the reincarnate of a fallen, ancient Sage. However, this believe was mostly augmented by his eyes of four alternating colors of red, light blue, green and black pupils.
"Let's go." the young prince, Ogidigbo, said as he pulled himself up to walk. However, barely three strides later, he fainted and collapsed.
"Uhn, he fainted? Oh God! What do I do now! Do I kill him? No! I can't kill him, I'm still not so sure if he suspects me or not, also his friend had already gone to get the palace guards. Shit! I was so stupid, why did i let that boy get the guards. I could have killed him and his friend if they were both here." the fair maiden fretted and wrestled with her herself.
"Damn you, stupid kid! Why are you so difficult to deal with!"
The fair woman took the young prince on her back, and started strolling out of the jungle.
However. Moments later a group of strongmen intercepted her.
"Stop there! who are you?" One strong palace guard ordered her.
"Commander! look, she's with the prince!" Another palace guard said to the first man.
"You! what are you doing with the prince in the jungle?" The black burly man tone was harsh, and demanding. He held a spear with his right hand and a shield with the left. his head was scraped low and glossy.
"Good day Sirs. I–i–i came here to search for the prince, when the prince's young friend told me he was trapped here..." She then went on to tell the guards what had happened earlier, amending the story to eliminate the part where she gave the prince a white powder to use.
"Oh okay. Thank you for helping the prince. You, take the prince from her. You can go now lady." The commander ordered a guard, who rushed up to do as he was commanded.
However, just as she was about to take her leave.
"Wait! Are you not Ose, queen Idia's handmaiden?" One guard asked abruptly "Yes I know her. commander she's the one."
The fair maiden's heart skipped a beat, she knew that if she was recognized as queen Idia 's personal maiden, things were going to get complicated.