A young woman was drowning, Vince didn't hesitate and jumped in the river. He is a soldier and his body's quick response to emergency cases is natural.
"Prince Aiji, I'll go save her!"
The prince wasn't able to say anything since Vince had jumped while saying those words.
The worried prince stood on the side. Vince carried the young woman and walked towards him. A few minutes later, three young men descended from the woods to the muddy riverbank.
"Lyka!" An anxious voice was heard.
Vince looked ahead and saw a young man dressed in a red coat and short pants, with layers of gold necklaces around his neck, thick golden bracelets, and huge dangling gold earrings. He was followed by two young men, dressed in plain white coats and red pants with lesser accessories in their bodies. They were racing in their direction.
Vince, carrying the young woman, was standing in front of Prince Aiji. The three young men arrived too.
"Lyka, I told you not to swim without anyone assisting you!" The red-clothed young man yelled.
"I don't like your soldiers, they don't look good!" The young woman yelled back.
Vince was quite displeased by the young woman's response. He bent to put her down, but she didn't let go! She even tightened her grip around his neck. Vince was stunned and annoyed at the same time.
"Did I just rescue a brat?"
Vince looked at Prince Aiji and saw the gentle face turned red and rigid. Without knowing why Vince was feeling guilty. He gently yet firmly took the young woman's arms around his neck and put her down.
"Please let go."
Vince managed to put her down, but the young woman stomped her feet on the muddy riverside. The mud flew upwards in different directions, not sparing Vince and Prince Aiji.
"Lyka!" The red-clothed young man pulled her to his side.
"Please pardon us, my sister is still young and ignorant!" The red-clothed young man was embarrassed.
"It's fine." Vince faked a smile as he took a few steps back to clean his mudded feet on the river. It wasn't fine, but he needed to stay calm since they were just passing by.
The prince was silent yet his gentle face was annoyed. He didn't wipe his murder feet, so Vince bent squatted, and wipe these fair feet and ankles with his bare hands. There were pairs of curious eyes looking, but those gazes immediately shifted when they met the gentle yet piercing eyes.
After cleaning the prince's feet. Vince stood up.
"I am Lontoc, the second prince of Datong tribe."
The red-clothed young man introduced himself to Vince.
"I am Vince, and this is my friend Jester, we are travelers."
Vince glanced at Lontoc, but his attention was on the grumpy prince.
"So you are Vince, I am deeply thankful to you for saving my sister. By the way, this is my younger sister...
"I am Princess Lyka!"
The young woman interrupted and cheerfully introduced herself, but Vince just threw her a glance and nodded a bit, then looked at Prince Lontoc again.
Prince Lontoc pulled his sister. The mad princess stomped her feet again! And for the second time, mud flew and dirtied their feet.
Vince was at a loss, he glanced at Prince Aiji and saw the innocent eyes were irritated.
"I'm very sorry brothers, will you come with us to our camp? This place is one of our tribe's entrances. I am patrolling this area. We have our camp at the back of the hill nearby." Prince Lontoc said.
Vince glanced at the mad prince and knew instantly that he should refuse the offer.
"I am sorry but we are just passing by. We will resume our journey early tomorrow, so we don't want to bother you."
The princess stomped her feet again and pulled his brother's arm, with a pitying look. Prince Lontoc looked at her with patience. He seemed to have unlimited tolerance to his bratty little sister.
"Please come with us, I will treat you to dinner as my gratitude for saving my sister. And besides, you cannot spend the night here, on the other side is the Apitong tribe and they are constantly attacking us at night. They might harm you later."
Vince hesitated, he looked at Prince Aiji but his face was expressionless.
"Thank you for your concern, good prince. We will just follow you later."
"Okay, we will wait at the foot of the hill."
Prince Lontoc pulled his sister to leave.
"Follow us quickly!" The princess eagerly said while being dragged by her brother.
"What a brat!"
Vince looked at Prince Aiji. The prince's annoyed face was adorable in his crooked eyes. His lips curved up.
The prince's forehead furrowed, but Vince just pulled him to the water to wash their feet.
"Prince Aiji... I guess it's safer to spend the night there...
"I don't like that mischievous young princess! Dari, stay away from her!"
The prince said and walked to the water to clean his dirty feet.
"I know, but as Prince Lontoc said, it's dangerous to camp here."
The prince was silent. He continued washing his feet without uttering another word. After washing, he walked towards Red and Gorgeous who were at the side. But he stopped before reaching the little animals. Vince, who was following him, halted his steps.
"Okay, but..." The prince said.
"But what?"
"Stay away from that mischievous princess!" Prince Aiji said without looking back.
"I will!" Vince eagerly replied. Something ticklish crept into his senses. He was getting crazy!
"He is jealous!"
That tiny voice echoed in his thoughts again! But Vince didn't scold himself this time. He had no time to since he was busy feeling the ticklish sensation that started from his heart that crept to his stomach.
That powerful force inside him seemed to be awake too, and urged him to put his hands around the prince's slender waist, tightly...
"Hurry up! Just take five steps... only five steps and you will be able to embrace him tight!"
"One..."
"Two..."
"Three..."
"Four..."