MASKS TO UNVEIL CHAPTER ONE: WHEELCHAIR'S OWNER
A wheelchair went out from a lavishing home and a group of men with their black masks greeted the man sitting on the wheelchair. The Yen family who wanted to covet the empire before the crown prince's eyes shamelessly, ended up sending a few men to inform the crown prince to stop fighting with him because he'd only lose his life.
"Greetings, Crown Prince." The men said in synchronization.
The man sitting on the wheelchair swept his gaze to the people in front of him, but again squinted his eyes after realizing that they were from Yen's family.
The man they referred to as the Crown Prince fanned himself with the white fan with some trees and pink flowers painted on it. The crown prince wasn't pleased after seeing them, bowing at him as if they really respected him.
He skimmed through the men and smiled lively. "May I know why you came here, Official Yen's men?" he asked with his sharp question.
The men shivered in shock. They weren't ready for that revelation. Their boss; Official Yen had warned them beforehand that the Crown Prince would know who their Boss was in one glance, and he wasn't wrong. They were stunned that the crown prince would really familiarize himself to them when he was nothing but a crippled man?
The Crown Prince was indeed a genius, however, couldn't stand up with his legs paralyzed. Such a waste. Why would they be scared when if he's alone, he is nothing? His paralyzed legs are something restraining him to be the person his father wanted him to be.
Although crowned as the crown prince, he doubts if the emperor will really entrust him the whole empire. Why would a talented, wise, and fair person give the empire to a paralyzed man like him? He wouldn't be able to widen his connections.
The man in front of the Crown Prince with his knee on the ground, bowed to him.
"I'm warning you, stop. He said, Your Highness."
The Crown prince passed the fan to the guard beside him and let the guard fan him instead. He touched his lip and smiled widely. "Is that so? Are you done?" Although he was smiling, he held that cold aura that people would be scared until they couldn't breathe. He curved the corners of his lips and looked at them with his eyes which seemed like they were examining them naked.
The whole empire knew that he couldn't fight because of his legs so why is his aura this intimidating? It made me sick and I felt controlled. The man in front of the Crown Prince asked himself.
"Yes, Your Highness." After that, they stood up then flew away.
The Crown Prince took off his lovely smile then raised his brows. He lifted his right hand to call the guard beside him to lean forward since he had something to say.
"Yes, Crown Prince Mier, what do you want me to do?" he asked with his head bowed down.
"Look out for them. Official Yen had warned us this time, I think we need to keep ourselves low-key.
His guard nodded.
"Yes, I will do so, Your Highness."
"Push me inside my manor." He ordered.
The guard bowed and nodded.
The night was filled with stars and it was a calm night. After ensuring that the door is already closed, the guard kneeled, "Crown Prince, you can now stand up. They are already gone."
Upon hearing him, the Crown Prince stood up slowly. He put his left hand behind his waist and smirked. "Those fools were tricked for so long yet they had no clue about this. Go get my clothes, I'm going outside. I'll be quick." He spoke in a calm manner.
The guard didn't say anything and lightly chuckled. "Crown Prince you said you'll increase my wage, but you haven't done it, I am afraid I can't disguise you for tonight." He complained.
"Oh…?" he turned around.
The guard brightly smiled and was firm as his eyes were implying that he wouldn't disguise himself as the crown prince.
"Then I guess you have no reason to live continuously." The Crown prince blurted out, fanning himself.
"Don't kid me ah."
The guard whined, while standing straight.
The Crown prince lightly laughed, "All right, go with me."
The Crown Prince; Naxzi Thower Mier, was known for his undeniably handsome face, his sweet smile, yet he was most famous for being unable to walk. Also, his shadow guard beside him became a top handsome man among the guards, and ladies couldn't help but to fall in love with his guard named, Sanc.
When the Crown Prince was young, he was shot by a poisonous arrow since he was trying to save his grandmother, but rather, he lost his consciousness when he was shot by an unknown man. His grandmother died after hearing the news that his legs were crippled.
Afterward, a doctor kept on checking him but the doctor knew that he wouldn't make it anymore, therefore, out of courtesy, he kept on checking him and reported it to the emperor.
From that day onwards, women gossiped about him and they stopped clinging onto him because they knew if he became their husband, they won't be able to conceive because of his legs.
It was an advantageous situation for him since he was already annoyed by those girls, but was a disadvantage because he must not stand when facing them or when he was already mad to death. But it was fine, because he knew, with him faking his legs would be great. Officials would compliment him in front of the Emperor but when they faced him alone, they would insult him. In the shadows, where his enemies had no idea, he'd kill them instantly.
From the medicine store, a woman surrounded by numerous people went outside with her mask tied around her face. She was known as the lovely, Hero Lanlan. Though they haven't seen her face, they were already sure that she was stunning based on her eyes that were painted lavender with blue.
After going outside of the store, people left her alone so she wouldn't be uncomfortable.
She turned around and checked the area before flying over houses. She bought something for her friend and was quite in a hurry.
As she flew, she turned around and looked at the people walking back and forth. They were so noisy that she smiled just witnessing such a great situation. She was flying backwards and didn't know that there were people behind her. And as a result, she accidentally hit the back of a person.
She turned around to face him, but had lost her balance, and therefore jumped high and stood on her feet, looking at them. She breathed and looked at them.
With her narrowed eyes, she looked at their composure and frowned.
'A man with such an intimidating aura beside a man, who seemed like his guard. A noble? No, someone from the imperial family?'
She asked herself, speculating about everything.
The man in front of her looked like an almighty person, but with a mask covering his face. And he let out a frightening ambience that people would surely hesitate before provoking him.
She bowed in front of them, "I am really sorry for my actions. Are you hurt somewhere?"
The crown prince looked at his guard and lifted his brow as if saying that his guard should talk to the woman.
The woman tilted her head and spoke again.
"If there's somewhere aching, here is some ointment."
She offered and the crown prince stayed silent. His guard, Sanc, stepped out and replied, giving respect to her.
"Please do not worry, Miss. A mere stumble won't create a wound."
The woman hid the ointment she offered.
Unbeknownst to her, they were Crown Prince with his guard. Naxzi looked at her. They were standing on the roof, and wind gushed out of nowhere. Her silky black hair moved with the wind as it blew and it made a picturesque appearance that it can be painted.
Naxzi bowed to her, "Excuse this gentleman for not warning you beforehand too." With his calm yet so manly actions, she was surprised. Most of the people she had bumped into, he was the only one who apologized to her although it was her own fault.
He was the one she found a bit creepy. Although his voice was calm, his demeanor carried a heavy one and she furrowed her brows slightly.
'Just who are these people?'
She finally looked up and he was shocked to see her unique eyes.
"May… I know your name, Miss?" he asked with his brows frowned. He was sure that he had seen someone who had those eyes.
She smiled behind her mask, "I am known as Lanlan. May I know thy names?"
Naxzi cleared his throat and lightly hit Sanc for him to introduce them.
Sanc bowed his head then pointed at Naxzi, "Miss, this man you bumped into was named, Min. I am his guard named,…" Sanc was at a loss of words since he had no other name than his real name Sanc. They were supposed to keep their identities hidden so he must not reveal his real name. Sanc looked at the crown prince and he coughed, covering up for Sanc's mistake.
"An, his name is An." Naxzi continued his answer.
His guard thanked him secretly and Naxzi scolded him with his eyes.
Naxzi saw the medicine hidden behind Lanlan's belt. "Your friend seemed to be stabbed with a sword, right?"
Lanlan was surprised that he saw the medicine she tried so hard to hide only to realize that the medicine was displayed ¼ of its original size. She breathed out and didn't bother hiding it since he had seen it.
'As expected, he is surely a suspicious man. I have never met him before. Who is he?'
She nodded, "Yes, my friend badly needs treatment, so I bought this medicine for her wound to heal quickly."
Naxzi nodded seemingly interested, "Then, I won't bother Miss Lanlan anymore. Please go on your way." He said with a bow.
Lanlan looked at his eyes, "Gentlemen, it was nice to meet you, once again in the future, I am hoping to encounter you two again. Lastly, please forgive me for bumping into you. Then…" she bowed then hurriedly flew over roofs. She was so fast that he was impressed.
He looked back at his guard, "Check on that woman for me."
Sanc giggled, "Actually, I know her."
"Ha?" Naxzi was confused. "You two are friends?"
"No. She is the Hero Lanlan, known as the cute hero of the kingdom." Sanc answered.
Naxzi looked at the direction she flew earlier, "Cute hero? They had seen her face?"
Sanc shook his head, "I am afraid no. She was a very secretive woman that when I tried to investigate her, I couldn't get anything . Her guard was really great at fighting."
Naxzi looked back to him again, "So you two fought each other in the past?"
"No, when I was investigating her, she found out and lured me to one place. It was a forest and before I knew it, a girl was already following me all the way. When I realized her presence, she was actually just waiting for me to look back and she'd kill me for sure if that time I didn't escape." He explained sorrowfully.
"So, that means, there were still people who covered themselves just like me. How did she become the Hero Lanlan though? I thought I was the only hero."
Sanc let out a noise from his nose, as if indicating that Naxzi was actually showing off his identity. "From what I gathered, she fought bunches of assassins and she saved a whole village's lives. Of course, some were wounded, but they were still alive until now. From that day, people referred to her as their life savior."
"Interesting…"
Sanc bowed, "Should I investigate her?"
Naxzi rolled his eyes at him. "You said she was a secretive person and that you didn't gather useful stuff. Are you making yourself an idiot, An?"
Sanc was hurt patting his poor chest after hearing him. "That hurts ah."
Naxzi slightly shook his clothes, "It should be." Then went down with his guard following him behind.
Naxzi frowned. 'Who is that woman? Have I seen her before?'