The words left him. He took a step back, fearing the outcome of the encounter. The soldier advances toward him.
"What are you doing here? Are you not supposed to be down in the well?". The question hit his panic button.
Dante stepped back, mouth closing and opening without forming any words. He couldn't think of anything to defend himself. The man would never believe him if he said he had no idea how he got there.
"Are you stealing?"
It was more of an accusation than a question. Dane felt like he was soaked in ice. His emotions were all over the place, jumbling his mind in a frenzy.
The soldier matched towards him, ready to throw him out, but Dante was faster. Slipping away from his hold, he dashed out of the room without looking back.
The cold morning breeze slapped his skin. Though the hair provided some form of warmth, the cold was still enough to make Dante grit his teeth.
On arriving at his barn, he unwrapped the duvet and emptied his bag of clothes. He skimmed through the clothes for something presentable, but they were no better than the other.
Dante sighed, disappointed at himself for trying to please someone way out of his league. Nothing he owned could even measure up to the poor standard.
Someone violently kicked the door open. Dante jumped in fright. The color drained out his face when he saw Xander.
"I see the rumors are true…" Xander blurted in surprise. Dante shook his head, terrified of the disgust in his brother's eyes. "You are not only cursed, but you possess mystic powers too".
"No.. no I don't. I…I don't know what happened…" Dante desperately pleaded.
"Seize him. The King must hear about this" Xander ordered.
"No! No, your highness, please…. Don't do this to me… I'll do anything…" Dante's pleas fell on deep ears as they grabbed him.
He struggled as they dragged his naked self to the courtyard. They shoved him to the ground, while Xander went in to inform his father. Dante tried to remember how he got out of the well, but his mind provided nothing other than him suffering inside the well, then him on the princess' bed.
The sight of the King was more frightening than his experience in the well. Every time Dante encountered the King, his situation grew ten times tougher. Anyone would argue that he came from the man's loins.
Dante quickly bowed before the King. Eye contact was heavily prohibited for him.
"It has been brought to my notice that you have been practicing dark magic in my kingdom," King Edwardo began.
"No, your highness. I ..."
"How dare you speak while the king is still speaking?" Xander snapped. Dante muttered a silent prayer, praying to every god he could think of to rescue him.
"Let him speak, Xander. I was curious to hear what he has to say in his defense," King Edwardo said. Xander was surprised at his father's decision to listen.
Dante was stunned for a few seconds, but he recovered quickly. He wasn't ready to lose the only opportunity he would get to save himself from the impending doom.
"I… I do not practice dark m-magic. I woke up in the princess' room. W-We talked b-before she left….."
"Father, you can't possibly believe this nonsense. What are you insinuating? That Princess Almira healed you? Do you know the gravity of that accusation?" Xander interrupted angrily.
"I am not accusing the princess," Dante defended. "I only said I woke up to meet her. I only think she might have an idea of what happened since she wasn't surprised to see me," Dante explained.
King Edwardo considered his words. Xander was ready to defend the princess again but the king stopped him.
"If he is telling the truth, then he is saving us from a possible threat. However, if his statements are false…" The king threw Dante a glance, " - he will be punished for lying".
Xander calmed down on hearing that. He was more than confident that Dante was falsely accusing the Princess. She barely spoke politely to him, so why would she consider a worthless slave?
Dante's worry was evident on his face. If Princess Almira decided to deny him, he would be in much more trouble. Maybe he should have kept his mouth shut and pleaded for mercy instead.
Almira could sense a bad vibe from the sea. Determined to find out what it was, she headed to the sea without informing Kimorra. It got stronger as she got closer to the sea.
On arriving there, she saw the reason for her uneasiness. Her usual blank expression was gone when the fierce emerald eyes met her.
"I thought it was just a rumor. Once again, you disappointed me," He spat the words like they were poisonous.
Almira gulped, "It is not what you think".
"Really? What is it then, Mira? What are you doing on dry land?" His green eyes conveyed his distrust. "You went in search of him, didn't you?".
"Yes, but not for the reason you think. I will never betray you, Jephthah" She assured him. His lip quirked in a sneer.
"He is your mate. Do you take me for a fool?" Jephthah scoffed. Almira stepped into the water.
"I do not care if he is my mate or not. All I want to do is drive a dagger through his chest and retrieve my heart. My love for you is bigger than any mate bond. Do you still doubt me?" She asked. His emerald eyes searched hers thoroughly before a smile crossed his hardened features. His expression softened.
"I will never doubt your love. I am scared the ocean might plan a trick on us. I cannot bear the thought of losing you. It is bad enough that we cannot be together openly" Jephthah sighed.
Almira went deeper into the water, her dress shredding to make way for her true form. She reached him and touched his face like it was the most delicate thing in the world.
"I love you and I will do everything possible to make sure our love strives to the end. Once I get my throne, I will lift the ban on all the banished tritons and you, my love will rule by my side," Almira assured him.
Jephthah planted a light kiss on her lips. "I was furious before now, but seeing you look at me the same way you used to feels like a blessing".
Almira gave a beautiful smile that melted his insides. He cupped her face.
"Remember your promise to me?" He asked.
"Which of them?" She asked, smiling wider.
"That you will never show this smile to anyone other than me," Jephthah reminded me.
"Right," Almira chuckled, but right at that moment, Dante's face flashed in her mind.
Those beautiful innocent blue eyes. The scene of him falling off the bed and her echoing laughter.
"Are you okay?" Jephthah asked, noticing her change in demeanor. Almira couldn't bring herself to answer as guilt ate deep into her.
How could she forget a promise she had kept for so long? She looked into the worried emerald eyes.
How would she tell him that she broke that promise a few hours before meeting him?