"Haah…haah….ahhhh where did those brats go"
In the dense forest a young man and his companions were running around.
"Sir tom the sunset is approaching what do we do?"
"HAAAA WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT SHOULD WE DO WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO FIND THEM!!…otherwise were dead"
The young man flinched and closed his mouth following behind tom.
Gritting his teeth tom ran faster and harder checking every side and corner.
On the others side of the forest the small shadows of animals could be seen running for dear life.
"Waaa brother I'm scared"
"Sob sob"
"It's alright you two we just need to run a bit more and find a good place to hide and they won't find us"
"But I'm tired we've been running for so long"
"Sob sob t..tired"
"Just a bit more a bit more and will be safe okay?"
"Okayyy"
"Sob sob yes"
****
Clack clack
The carriage was passing by a forest half a day has passed since it started moving.
Yawn!!
"For how much longer will we be riding today?"
"We will be at marshal town in an hour your highness and we shall stay there for the night"
"I see"
'I can't believe we actually did not stop at all. I knew they were overprotective but this just too much'
Sigh!
Through out the way today the carriage did not stop and both Reynard and Bernard ate inside.Reynard could not even get them to open the shutters.
'Two weeks huh'
The trip to the capital was two weeks long reynard felt suffocated thinking about being stuck in the carriage all day for two weeks. Not even being able to look out of the window.
'Haaaa'
To distract himself from the suffocating thoughts he started to organize his plans about what he is going to do from now on.
'Firstly assuming the trip will be uneventful everything will start at the capital..for starters I will decline my rights to the throne firmly not giving them any chance to try and put me there, those self centered nobles will obviously try to do that for their gains not bothering to think what the empire and its citizens will suffer to them as a prince with a strong background and particularly no knowledge about the empire situation I'm a perfect target that is easy to control just like a puppet with strings, a jewel that came rolling down to their feet '
'to make sure that will not happen I am going to resort to shutting them up with a blood vow'
Smirk.
'that way they won't be able to do anything unless they want me dead or more specifically themselves dead that is'
While reynard was lost in his thoughts the carriage was slowly reaching the town.
****
"Captain we will be reaching the town soon" One of the knights reported to Alfred.
Nodding his head Alfred said"the scouting team should go in advance to check the situation of the town for safety measures"
"Yes captain!!"
Dudududu
With the sound of horse hooves the scout team departed.
Knock knock
"Hmmm.."
Knocking on the carriage window Alfred reported to Reynard " your highness we've sent the scouting team in advance to make sure everything is alright, so we might have to be delayed for a bit"
"Alright"
Hearing Reynard brief answer alfred bowed and returned to his position.
'So meticulous' was what Reynard thought.
****
"AHHHH! Sir Tom over there they are over there!"a young man cried elated and pointed with his finger.
"WHAT!!" Tom who heard the young man quickly looked at the direction he was pointing and squinted his eyes to see better. To his pleasure he saw the young jewel children they have been looking around for.
"HAHAHA great job let us capture them now."
"YES!!"
"Dai and Frey from the right and left can and I will be taking the front and back"
"Scatter"
"yes sir"
'Heheh wil get them for sure'
'There is no where to hide' clenching his teeth the oldest of the jeweled children thought.
Looking at the sides 'Were completely surrounded by thick trees only' turning his head to the front all he could see was the small road filled with tree leaves and branches.
'Ken and ren are tired we won't be able to run for much longer'
A hopeless situation where there was nowhere for them to go and no one for them to depend on biting his lips zen the oldest sibling continued running wishing for help to arrive.
****
Luck was apparently not on their side as the have finally been surrounded by the slave traders. With no where to go the siblings gathered together and tried to resist which was futile since they were but little children after all.
eventually they got caught by the salve traders
.
"MASTER!!"
"MASTER WE GOT THEM MASTER"
The middle aged man who heard tom's voice laughed loudly"HAHAHA you did it you finally did it"
Running to toms side he patted him on the shoulders.
"Hoho so these are the jeweled children. Seeing them up close they are really unparalleled. Such treasures such treasures" the middle aged man cackled with a vicious glint in his eyes while looking at the children who were knocked unconscious and tied up.
"Let's go to the nearby town for now"
"Yes master!"
****
Dudududu
"Ah..captain the scouting squad is back" one of the knights cried.
Alfred nodded "Mmm"
A member of the scouting squad came toward Alfred and saluted "captain we have checked the town and it's surrounding. Everything was fine and nothing was out of the ordinary"
Patting the knight shoulder Alfred said "Good job"
"Yes! Thank you very much" the knight bowed and returned to his position.
Knocking on the carriage Alfred said that they should be entering the town soon. nodding in response to Alfred report Bernard rummaged in one of the bags they had inside the carriage taking out a piece of clothing.
He offered it to Reynard" your highness we will be going down soon please put this on"
Reynard picked up the piece of clothes which was a white cloak "alright".
'Will I was going to ask for one anyway.it will be much more comfortable like this '
Reynard overly good looks will attract so much attention let alone his unique silver hair which is a trade mark of the imperial family.
Putting on the cloak and pulling the hood over his head Reynard got ready to finally leave the carriage.
'The carriage is very luxurious especially on the inside but that does not mean it's not tiresome to be stuck inside a confined space without even being able to peak outside'
Sigh!
"Will be staying in an inn?" Reynard inquired.
Nodding Bernard answered" yes we have booked the best inn in town for the night"
"I see"
'So they booked the whole inn....I kind of expected that' Reynard thought with a nonchalant face.
Soon the carriage halted and the door was swung open.
"We have arrived your highness" Alfred who appeared at the door said.
Nodding his Reynard got down from the carriage followed by Bernard. He noticed that the inn's employees has come out to greet him.
Bowing to the waist they welcomed him" we welcome our estimated guest"
Reynard gave a curt greeting"hello"
Guiding them inside the owner said "Dinner and baths have already been prepared.please call if you need anything" he bowed and left.
"Then Shall we eat first?"
"Yes your highness"
Reynard alongside Bernard ,Alfred and the escort knights sat at the tables and started eating their dinner.finishing the meal Reynard took a bath and changed into a much comfortable outfit.
Realizing that he was not feeling sleepy yet he decided to go on a walk.
'They let me go on a walk won't they?' Reynard thought to himself in worry.
As he was stealthily walking towards the backdoor of the inn he heard a voice calling to him.
"Your highness where are you going?" Asked Alfred.
'Of course I can't escape from this meticulous man' Reynard sighed
"I wish to go on a walk" he decided to be honest since beating around the bush won't get him anywhere.
"A walk this late..." he inquired with an expression full of worries.
"As you know I've stuck in a carriage all day. And it is not even that late"
"I see.....then I will come with you" Alfred said with a determined face.
'Seems like he won't have it any other way'
"That's fine"
The two of them went out the back door the night view was breathtaking with a bright full moon and a beautiful sky filled with stars the air was cool and the atmosphere was calming.
Walking around Reynard reveled in the calming atmosphere and the cool night breeze brushing past him.
****
"Master what should we do there is no place to spend the night" Tom asked.
"HOW WOULD I KNOW" the middle aged man cried in anger.
Tom and his companions cowered hearing the middle aged man screamed.
'Damn why is there nowhere to stay here'
"We will be sleeping out for the night"
"B....but some animals may attack us here"
"HAAA...shut up coward we don't have time for this will be leaving first Thing in the morning"
****
"Hmmm..."
While on his walk Reynard noticed something in the forest.squinting his eyes he realized that it was a light from a fire.
"Alfred is that not a fire over there?.."
"Yes?....oh you are right your highness...I wonder who would light a fire here?"
"Mmmm"
'Smells fishy'