The road to Hazel Grove was tortuous.
Neebo unconsciously sat cross-legged inside the prison carriage, and along the way, Prince Archilles would hand pick the survivors that he deemed amusing. Right after the army departed the territories of the kingdom of Ironfort, they encountered survivors from the battle. It was a group of old people with young teenage girls and children.
Among them was Lila, the kind-hearted girl that Neebo had once tormented in the labyrinthine streets of Ironfort. If not for Sir Easton, Neebo would have abused this pure and innocent girl.
Prince Archilles found Lila very pleasing to the eye, and decided to have her as her own maid servant, "You are truly lucky to have been chosen by me, and become my very own maid servant! haha! Come, when we return home, you shall be trained of your duties and responsibilities." Prince Archilles boisterous laugh resounded right after.
Lila was sent inside the prison carriage Neebo was on, together with a few little girls that Prince Archilles thought had a lot of potential to be groomed.
Along the way, Lila's attention was to comfort the five little girls that was taken along with her, who was separated from the refugee group they were with.
"Hush now, we will be fine. The Young Lord seem to be willing to take care of us, I'm definitely sure we will be fine." Lile assured.
Among the captives was another young maiden; she had a long silver hair, purple eyes, and jade-like skin. Clearly, Prince Archilles thought of taking the maiden away for she might become a peerless beauty someday. the silver haired girl was seated in between Neebo and Lila. Because Neebo fell unconscious as they departed, he had been leaning over to this girl's shoulder, as he lay to rest.
The silver haired girl witnessed how Lila gave comfort to the little ones, but she thought differently. She knew how horrible Prince Archilles was, as she was from a neighboring kingdom that was devastated before Ironfort. And she too, witnessed how cruel and brutal the Prince was. If not for her beauty and features, Prince Archilles would have long tortured her to death.
Hours of travel turned into days, and days into a week. Finally, they are nearing their destination. The commotion of excitement coming from the army tells that they were a day far from Hazel Grove kingdom. Surrounded by a jungle of Amber tree's, how Hazel Grove's was named could be figured out just by these jungle alone.
On this day, Neebo finally recovered his consciousness. Still left in the cage of the prison carriage, Neebo found himself covered with bruises from the humiliation he received from Prince Archilles. His neck and limbs were bounded by metal chains.
"Don't get up just yet, or else you'll be played around and tortured by the Prince." a soft whisper warned Neebo.
Neebo felt like he was leaning comfortably against something soft, He then found out that the whisper came from this silver haired girl, whom he was leaning against. As a spoiled Prince, He felt like it was just an ordinary sleep he was having; To be asleep in such a comfortable softness, "How long has it been since I lost consciousness?" Neebo inquired softly
"It has been 8 days since you've laid your head by my shoulders. By tomorrow, we'd be entering the capital of Hazel Grove kingdom." the silver haired girl replied.
"Who are you?" after some time, Neebo inquired once more.
"My name is Leia" the silver haired girl answered.
Neebo sat upright and stretched his upper body slightly, this action greatly frightened Leia who was warning him about the discrimination that might be brought upon Neebo, if Hazel Grove's men notices of his awakening.
Neebo gaze firmly landed eye to eye at Leia, she was the first person to give him such kindness after the miserable experience that he had just experienced. "Thank you Leia, I will never forget this kindness."
"If you were that thankful, you could've heed my warning and keep your miserable life for a little more longer. But since you're just so daring to catch everyone's attention, I shall take it as an act of pity towards a dead person." Leia then pointed to the surrounding Hazel Grove's men who have caught sight of Neebo waking.
Some of these men witnessed the defiant nature of Neebo after the battle at Ironfort. How this Ironfort Prince humiliated their most respected Young Lord. They remembered how Neebo spat a mouthful of saliva towards Prince Archilles, nearly choking him. They then developed hatred towards Neebo, and now that he had woken up and in this joyous day coincidentally.
They went closer towards the prison carriage that Neebo was in. Their faces reflects mocking and a wicked expressions. As they were a few steps closer and was looking to gang up Neebo; Neebo proudly raised his heads up, in his mind, these small fries are beneath him.
"What? Did your cowardly Prince broken through a higher level of cowardice after just a few days, that he is now sending a whole bunch of his puny and cowardly soldiers to take care of me?" Neebo sarcastically announced.
Contrary to the celebratory atmosphere of the entire Hazel Grove's army, the soldiers that was near Neebo felt extreme rage and insult. They felt a huge slap sent by this shameful sandbag of a Prince. If they do something, Neebo's words would seem true and they would be the reason why Prince Archilles be a subject for lambaste and condemnation.
"Haha, you don't have to blame yourselves! Come, don't pity me! Obey the commands of your Young Lord and humiliate me, the Charming Prince of Kindheartedness! I'm sure his doing this because my existence infuriates him, for his jealousy knows no bound like his cowardice!" Neebo mocking voice resounded and slowly changing the surrounding atmosphere, that into displeasure.
The soldiers that were surrounding Neebo's carriage turned silent, they would've never predicted the level of shamefulness of this Prince. They could only turn pale from his provocations.
But one loyal soldier couldn't take Neebo's insults any longer, he stepped forward and pointed towards him, "Shut you filthy mouth! You don't have the right to speak insults towards the Young Lord! He is not the cowa...."
But before he could finish what he was saying, Neebo with his 1st level of Qi Condensation stage cultivation cut him off with his voice. "Oh would you look at this! The cowardly Prince have truly proven himself once again! Sending his loyal dogshit as a stand-in to defend himself against the Charming Prince of Kindheartedness! Hahahaha" His mocking laughter resounded amidst the silenced crowd.
The loyal soldier who stood up for his Young Lord greatly paled and dropped to his knees. The soldiers near him moved away from him and avoided the blow that might include them.
Leia was quite amused at how Neebo navigated his way out of the bullying that he was about to go through. Beside her was Lila, who just took notice of Neebo, The notorious Prince who have once tortured her in fear. Looking at Neebo, She noticed how badly beaten and bruised this person was. And by the looks of it, Prince Neebo had truly endured a great deal of torture inside Ironfort. She never would have thought that the perverted Prince of Ironfort would be laying near her inside this prison carriage.
"Haha! That's it, clear the area! I don't want any of you destroy the peaceful atmosphere around me! Cant you see how I am surrounded by pretty ladies over here? Can you give us some privacy, you perverted cowardly dogshits!" Neebo declared. "Your disgusting presence is destroying my inner peace! Now move out and stay clear a hundred meters from me! Hahahaha"
"Your shamelessness is truly entertaining, my brilliant slave. Mocking my name and even throwing insults in front of my subordinates. You are truly an amusement." Prince Archilles voice came to the soldiers rescue, he was mounting his own imperial horse.
"There he is! Your famed cowardly prince has just arrived and saved the day! Now come and greet this Charming Prince of Kindheartedness! What nonsense brilliant slave were you talking about, everyone here knows very well how jealous you are to my majesty! Hahahaha" Neebo unfazed by Prince Archilles presence, continued his insults with matching hand movements that was like calling for a dog to come closer.
Prince Archilles dismounted his horse and had a hint of fury betrayed from his composed bearing. He came closer to Neebo as he warned him, "Neebo, remember your place...."
But before Prince Archilles could finish, Neebo spat on his face. A mouthful this time. "Now now, shall I make you remember how to talk respectfully towards greatness?" Neebo spoke mockingly.
Seeing Prince Archilles was about to vent out his anger. While he was still wiping the spit away from his face, Neebo continued on, "Now hush yourself, everyone of your soldier is looking up to you! The great Young Lord of Hazel Grave! Don't let them see the ugly and horrible side that you are keeping away from them. Breathe, get yourself together now."
The surrounding soldiers were furious for their Young Lord. Some were about to throw something at Neebo, what kept them waiting was the reaction of their Young Lord. They were waiting for the command, for sure, Prince Archilles was about to punish this shameful bastard and make an example out of him.
"You... have truly exceeded my expectations... you shameful bastard!" Prince Archilles rages.
"I know, what can you expect from a lowly coward like you, your expectations are surely within the confines of your puny and primitive understanding." Neebo exclaimed proudly.
The people around gaped in his shamelessness.
"What a bold bastard"
"I never knew the extent of shamelessness until witnessing this guy!"
"I bet he will never see the light of day ever again haha"
"Yes, let's keep away from this guy. Who knows we might become the next victim of his theatrics."
Prince Archilles was burning with anger inside, his eyes gaze deeply into Neebo's soul. After hearing the surrounding clamor, He had a brilliant idea how to keep this bastards mouth shut.
"Guards! Take that bastard out of that carriage and bring him over!" Prince Archilles ordered