The rustling of leaves caressed the surface of the skin that was getting cold. The moonless sky managed to make the forest even darker. The sounds of night animals added to the scattered horror. It was crowded and lonely.
Under a large tree, an indigo-haired girl sharpened her silver eyes, watching for any movement. Slowly, slender legs cut through the grass, looking for an opening to keep walking. Occasionally tripping over tree roots that crept along the surface.
There was no light apart from the white crystal necklace on the silver lotus flower. A magic necklace given by someone whose name was well known in the Cluster Continent.
Krak!
The sound of a twig breaking rang out loudly. Osie spun around slowly to make sure that no beasts, monsters, or perhaps Bika were around. However, a white-black marble fox swallowed the fear that had been created in Osie's heart.
The fox looked tiny and adorable. It almost made Osie tempted to hold it. Osie realized that this was a dense forest, there were no tame cuddly animals here. So, she hurried away from the marble fox.
"It might be a while before the demon bares its fangs. I must quickly find the last of Yoghiwara's descendants before those demons find the green heirloom." Osie decided to take a little rest. However, the Fox approached her with sharp eyes.
Osie prepared to take out the kitchen knife that she had tucked into the top of her pants before running away from Bika. She started to stand up when the Fox's eyes turned red.
"Damn!"
The red-eyed fox with a body that slowly enlarged to create monstrous muscles in some areas that Osie guessed to be petrossa—a demon's pet—leaped up with sharp nails ready to tear her skin at any moment. Osie swiftly swiped the kitchen knife until it grazed a few feathers.
Osie swore several times. It was certain that this petrossa-owning demon knew the purpose of looking for the Heir. Osie regretted having muttered that earlier.
"Get lost, you bastard!"
Osie was completely at her wit's end. Her stamina was drained after escaping from Bika and now she wasn't sure she could defeat the marble fox petrossa. Osie might be good with swords and arrows, but without those tools, Osie was just a weak girl born without magic.
The fox jumped again and Osie greeted the attack by pointing the knife in a stabbing formation. She planned to stab it in the stomach, but it didn't work. Instead, the petrossa's claws scratched Osie's cheek, creating a bloody snare.
Osie was further backed into a corner when petrossa's blood-red eyes emitted a red light that could cut through trees in a single beam. The slightest part of Osie's body was exposed to that ray, and her life was over.
"So, these two years ... were all for nothing?"
Despair gnawed at her as Petrossa approached with a sharp grin. She tried to avoid the red dagger-like gaze. Until memories of the many things she had missed during these two years began to fill her head.
Osie remembered when she was forcibly dragged away by a group of men to be sold as a slave to one of the nobles in the Inlane Kingdom, how she struggled against the oppression she received during her time as a slave, how she tried to get out of the noble's mansion to return to see the Grand Wizard Aykalas to help her escape from the pursuit of the Inlane nobles who wanted to continue enslaving her, how she survived the famine after successfully crossing the forest and returning to Jegedi territory. Meeting the palace doctor—Sansega and Bika.
It all flashed like a kaleidoscope trying to show a rousing welcome for her soul that was about to depart. Osie surrendered until her consciousness began to fade and her vision became blurry. After a while, the dark scenery dominated her vision. No, it wasn't the forest that negated the light, but her eyes that couldn't bear the weight in her head.
Osie lost consciousness before seeing a silver-haired man knock down the petrossa with a single slash.
🥨🥨🥨
Her short eyelashes blinked softly as yellowish light entered through the cracks in the window. Osie tried to block out the sunlight that stung her eyeballs and got up from her sleep.
The tiny head began to snake around detecting every corner of the room. Osie's mind was filled with questions. Shouldn't she have been killed by Petrossa? Or perhaps... this was the residence of the demon that owned the petrossa last night?
A wooden house painted in light gray. Glass windows with wooden frames and plain white curtains completed it. Osie could confirm that the owner of this house had the same terrace as Sansega's house. The style of their houses was similar.
"Is this really where a demon lives? It's ... not—"
"I'm not a demon." A silver-haired person with hazel eyes was dressed like the people in Pyalpe—a plain black robe made of foil and long cotton pants—stood with his chest crossed in front of the bedroom door.
His face was impassive. The broad shoulders that supported the upper body gave off the impression of a warrior. However, there was one thing that emanated from that man's body, a very strong noble aura.
Osie swallowed bitter saliva. Her hands trembled violently, even her heart beat twice as fast. She never imagined that she would see the figure in front of her again. The second prince of the Jegedi Kingdom, Hagarino Ramelison.
"The Light of Jegedi, Your Highness the Second Prince." Osie said as she bowed. Her body was still trembling.
The Prince walked over to Osie who was still on the bed. The girl had not fully recovered, her hair was disheveled, there were blood spots in some areas, and the scratches of last night's fox claws still littered around her body.
"A girl like you ... why would you be in the forest?" asked Hagarino looking straight at the girl before him.
"I ... got lost, Your Highness."
Hagarino's gaze shifted to the white lotus crystal necklace Osie was wearing. His brow furrowed as a memory came to him. Not just a memory, the powerful magical aura that encompassed the necklace made Hagarino prepare to wield the sword.
He had seen a picture of the necklace in an ancient book kept in the palace library. A light magic necklace that could counterbalance the energy of the green heirloom. Hagarino thought, if his estimation was correct, then the girl on the bed was no ordinary girl.
"Who are you? Why do you have that magic necklace?!"
Osie was silent. After being interrogated by Bika and ending up fleeing into the forest, now she also had to deal with Hagarino.
She felt that the mission was getting harder. Ah, no, it seemed to be more difficult while in Inlane. Being a slave was the worst thing she had ever experienced. This time Osie would just have to lie to the Prince, wouldn't she?
"This is the necklace my grandmother gave me. What is it, Your Highness? Do you know anything about this necklace?" Osie pretended to be surprised.
Seeing the astonished expression on Osie's face made Hagarino snort in annoyance. He put his sword back into his pocket. However, he would not stop there. As a prince, he should protect the country, the people, and the great heirlooms that could be disastrous for everyone.
The demons were currently hunting the green heirloom which meant they also needed the white lotus crystal necklace. Hence, he would take the necklace from Osie.
"Give me the necklace! I'll secure that heirloom because she's too dangerous for everyone!" Hagarino ordered firmly.
"What do you mean? I can't give this to just anyone!"
Hagarino raised one eyebrow.
"So, you refuse?"
"Of course! Even though you're a prince, I still have to be vigilant. This necklace is just as you said, dangerous and must be guarded. And just so you know, not just anyone can hold or even touch this necklace."
Hagarino grinned widely. Touching Osie's jaw which the girl immediately brushed off. The Prince's laughter burst out. He had never been treated like this before.
Now he knew that the girl who had stirred his heart from the first time he saw her was no ordinary girl.
She was the one who caused him to leave the palace and travel around the country. She was the girl who had enlisted the help of the Great Witch Aykalas to change the memories of everyone throughout the Cluster Continent that Hugofara Ramelison, the Lord of Jegedi, had no princess and only two princes.
She is the Third Princess and the only daughter of the ruling King of Jegedi. The brave princess who left the palace for a big mission and what made Hagarino even more inscrutable was that she was willing to give up her royal family by implanting false memories.
"You think I'm stupid, Little Sister?" Hagarino pointed the sword at Osie's neck.
Flashback
That afternoon, the orange sky illuminated the entire country. Butterflies fluttered happily among the blooming flowers in the palace garden. The garden chairs as well as the stone table were the favorite spots of the Second Prince, Hagarino Ramelison. Often the nineteen-year-old spent half of his time here reading a book or simply sipping a glass of tea.
While doing the same, he noticed his sister—Oceana Ramelison—standing on the balcony of her room directly facing the garden. The indigo-haired girl was daydreaming, her lips that were always polished with color now looking unusually pale.
It had been three days since Hagarino had seen his sister daydreaming. Even when eating together, she didn't look excited. The Empress often asked about Osie's condition, but her sister never answered truthfully and always argued that she was fine.
Since that day, Hagarino had always observed Osie's activities. Including the activities where Osie secretly left the palace and met Aykalas the Grand Wizard.
Osie went through the underground passage that connected the main castle with the prison. There were many prisoners there, but Hagarino who followed Osie didn't see any signs of the girl being frightened.
The third princess walked through the prison until the end of the dead-end passage. She didn't realize that Hagarino was behind her because the noise of the prisoners cursing accompanied Osie's steps at that time.
In front of the wall at the end of the hallway, Osie was holding the pendant of the necklace she was wearing. Hagarino himself didn't see what Osie was holding before a white light enveloped the princess.
The Prince reflexively closed his eyes to block out the too-bright light. However, when Hagarino opened his eyes he did not see Osie anywhere.
"Teleportation? She... has magic?" As far as he knew, Osie was not blessed with a magic core from birth. So, where did that magic come from?
So Hagarino stepped over to where Osie was before. He closed his eyes and began to cast a spell. Instantly, a blue light emanated from beneath his royal robes. A few seconds later, he disappeared as well.
The large room, surrounded by red candles with green flames, held many shabby books that were placed in rows of tall and large cabinets. A furnace made of black stone held a black liquid in a stone jug, next to which was a blue crystal ball that used to help a the Great Witch predict the future.
"Did you bring a friend, Your Highness Princess?" asked Aykalas the Grand Wizard chuckling softly.
Osie frowned as she quickly turned her gaze to the rest of the room until she found a towering man clutching his chest a few meters behind her.