In a famous tavern where a story teller was patronized by people, his voice was heard saying…

"After the Great Bloody War 300 years ago, the great general Hamon prophesied something about the future before he died. With his only sword struck on the ground to support him, blood rushing from the thousand cuts he received, his soldiers heard him saying…

'This bloody war will leave decades of peace to the Azure Continent. However, soon, the enchantress will appear and destroy this peace we had stolen. With alluring beauty, three great men will raise their swords. The world will yet again taste the rage of war, and only one sword shall stand.'."

The people in the tavern were lost in the story teller's words, all was wondering and amused. Seeing how lost they were to even speak a single letter, the story teller grinned and continued.

"It had been three centuries since that prophecy was proclaimed. The time has come. Soon, we will witness the world crumbling down with the appearance of the unearthly beauty-"

"Liar! You really have such a deceptive tongue, Herdin! Do you think someone will believe your non-sense?! How can a single woman destroy the world!?" the drunkard's arm flew into the air, raising his glass of liquor that some were spilled on the floor.

"Right! How can a woman do something that great?"

"Nonsense! Nonsense!"

As some audience started to protest, one single young woman stood up and threw her fan on the first protester who keep disrupting the story teller. "Lowly creature! If you don't want to hear the story, then keep you mouth shut! or…maybe you want me to make you unable to make noises anymore?"

"Who are you!? How dare you-" as the drunk-man walked towards the young woman, suddenly, two men appeared from the crowd and pointed a sword at him.

"Impudent! You dare to anger Lady Sera?!"

With the mention of the name of the eldest lady of the Zou Family, all people in the tavern stood up and bowed to her. rising from her seat, she walked towards the exit after throwing a bag of gold to the story-teller.

Seeing the arrogant lady leave, Hardin grinned and continued his story…

***

"Your majesty. The Sea Hunt has already ended. We should leave now." Sigmund put on a coat on Derian, king of Rian Kingdom. "It's the coldest time in the sea. You should head back in the cabin now, your majesty."

Derian couldn't help but smile and tap his back. "Sig. sometimes, I really wonder whether you're my imperial guard or my wife. You're even scolding me more than a wife does."

With his joke, Sigmund's face turned light red as he dropped his eyes. "You're joke is not fun, your majesty."

"Fine, fine, fine. I'll just stay here for few minutes and return to my cabin. Tell them to prepare dinner."

"Yes, your majesty."

As Derian listen to his footsteps, he looked up towards the sky and breathed in the cold breeze of the sea. It smelled and tasted salt. Unlike in his kingdom, the weather here was too gloomy. He couldn't help but miss the sun burning his skin.

"After this, my old hardworking life of a king will resume. I won't even have the luxury to keep staring at the sky like this." he sighed but still smiled, grateful that he still have few days before returning to the palace. However, before he turned his eyes away from the horizon, his caught a sight of something on the blue waves, appearing and disappearing from his sight.

His eyes were wide. "That's…"

'It was his majesty's voice' Sigmund thought as adrenaline rushed in his blood. No. it wasn't just his voice that made him nervous. But the anxiety in his king's tone. Immediately, he run and leaped as fast as he could to reach the terrace of the ship where he left him.

His anxiousness eased a bit seeing his king still there with no obvious harm done to him.

"Sig! Hurry! Call some of our men and ask them to rescue that person!" With meeting brows, Sigmund followed where he was pointing at and saw the little glimpse of a thing floating on the sea. Though they're far above, the thing was obviously a person. It kept appearing and disappearing as the waves fall and rise.

'But your majesty, that person might be dead already." Though his voice was low and the sea waves were harsh and loud, King Derian was still able to hear it. He halted for a second but when his eyes turned to Sigmund, it was full of determination and authority.

That time, Sigmund was aware. He couldn't disobey him this time.

"Guards! Prepare and dive in the waters. Rescue that person, right now!"

"Yes, captain!" in an instant, several imperial guards dived into the sea, with the command to save whoever that special person was that the king decided to rescue.

Though it's a zero percent to determine that that person was still alive.

"YOUR MAJESTY! IT'S a woman!"

Hearing those words, Derian immediately went towards the person who was rescued. She was surrounded by the imperial guards, inspecting her too.

"Your majesty. Please don't be near her. we don't know whether she can bring harm to you." suddenly, Sigmund blocked him with his arm. His stoic face indicated his objection to his decision.

"Sigmund. It's fine." With nothing to reason anymore, he dropped his arm and let his king approach the woman. All the imperial guards dispersed and let their king pass, leaving the woman on the wooden floor.

In an instant sight of the woman, King Derian was stoped in his tracks as his lips fell apart. "This woman…"

It was almost hard to believe of what he was seeing. Though this woman was drenched and wearing a piece of ragged white dress, her breathtaking beauty was undeniable.

Derian felt a gush of cold liquid in his spine. "Quick! Is she alive?!" his panicking voice startled all the imperial guards and though they wanted to check whether the woman was still breathing, no one dared. For it was too obvious. This woman had captured the king's heart.

Noticing everyone was hesitant, Derian fell on his knees and placed his ear near the woman's nose. It was too close that the guards were all stunned.

"Your majesty!" Sigmund protested but was still unable to stop his stubborn king.

"She's breathing! She's alive!" Derian shouted in delight with a smile on his lips.

With no more hesitation, Derian took his coat off and warped it around the woman's body. He carried her on his arms, leading to his cabin.

Whereas, Sigmund was left on the terrace. And he could swear, it was the most genuine smile he ever saw from him. since Derian became the king, he rarely showed a genuine smile. In reality, it wasn't hard to gain a smile from his king. Though it was only he would know. That most of those smiles were just a form of politeness and business-purposed.

"Yet, because of that unknown woman, you smiled for real this time." with lips on a thin line, Sigmund left towards his king. He wouldn't let anyone harm him.