After the embarrassing incident, Skyler explained the details of our mission. He emphasized the importance of delivering the stolen ring to Leroy Monroe, also known as "The Young King," who resided in the town.
While Skyler spoke, my mind wandered, contemplating the significance of our mission and Leroy's interest in the ring. Curiosity and intrigue grew within me, and I longed to unravel the mysteries surrounding this task.
Siana returned from the bathroom, her earlier embarrassment fading away.
As Skyler stood up to hand us the ring,
"Are we going to be fine with this?"
Siana took it from him and voiced her concerns.
"Don't worry, I'll be supporting you guys."
Aina, still chuckling from the earlier incident, chimed in.
With the agreement settled, we prepared to move. Siana and I pulled up our hoods, making sure we wouldn't be recognized by the gang we encountered earlier. With cautious glances around us, we then began to walk towards the grand castle standing tall in the distance.
Midway through our walk, I apologized to Siana for my previous words, and couldn't hold back my curiosity to ask Siana about her earlier nervousness.
"You'll see when we get there."
She sighed and replied.
Intrigued by her cryptic response, we finally arrived at the castle, its towering structure nestled amidst a cluster of trees.
"Hey, Aki, can we sneak into the castle?"
As I reached to ring the bell according to Skyler's plan, Siana abruptly stopped me and suggested.
"Huh!? Are you crazy? Aren't we supposed to meet the king in person?"
Her unexpected suggestion caught me off guard, as I questioned.
"Please, just trust me. I'll explain everything later, but right now, we need to sneak in."
With a pleading look, she begged me to trust her and implored me.
And with that, she took off running.
Without much choice, I reluctantly followed her lead, knowing that she held the ring in her possession.
Siana led me to the back of the castle, where a ladder was conveniently attached to a tall tree. She swiftly climbed to the top, inching her way along a log that reached nearly a window.
With little time to hesitate, I followed her lead, climbing onto the log and making my way toward the window. Together, we successfully infiltrated the castle.
Upon entering through the window, we found ourselves in a lavishly decorated room with a grand bed—a clear sign of wealth and opulence.
Siana quietly opened the door to check for any signs of people nearby. Motioning for me to follow, she stepped out into a hallway illuminated by a bright light streaming through a large window.
While making our way down the corridor toward the king's room, doubt began to gnaw at me.
"This is crazy, Siana. What if someone sees us? Even Skyler told us not to be suspicious."
I voiced my concerns, asking Siana why she had chosen this risky path.
"Ugh! Aki, trust me. I've got this. Just stick with me, and we'll be fine—"
Frustrated by my words, Siana snapped.
Before she could finish, the sound of footsteps interrupted our argument, echoing ominously from the far end of the hallway.
Suddenly, the man halted, his gaze fixated on me. In an instant, he lunged at me with a sword raised, poised to strike.
Reacting swiftly, I deflected his attack with my dagger, causing my hood to slip back and reveal my face in the heat of the moment.
"Who are you?"
At that moment, I felt a surge of power emanating from him as his intense gaze bore into me, he demanded.
Fear gripped me as I recognized his attire—a clear indication that he was none other than The Young King himself, the one who had attacked me before.
"Please, Your Highness. I mean no harm. I simply wanted to talk to—"
Attempting to diffuse the tension, I mustered the courage to speak.
Before I could finish my sentence, Siana intervened, striking him from behind with her fist.
"Stop it, Brother! He's my friend!"
With surprise and disbelief, I watched as she shouted.
"Huh!? I thought you had no friends—"
The Young King turned to face her, pain evident on his face.
"Shut up!"
She hit him again, this time with more force, and interrupted him firmly.
Shocked by her actions, I observed the unfolding scene.
"Siana... can you please explain what is happening?"
Siana's brother appeared perplexed, and he eventually spoke, seeking an explanation.
As realization dawned on Siana's face, she hesitated before reluctantly deciding to answer, knowing there was no other choice. With honesty, she proceeded to explain everything to her brother.
As he listened intently, a combination of frustration and concern painted his expression.
"Siana! I thought you promised not to venture outside alone! It's too dangerous out there. What if he hadn't been there to save you?"
He finally spoke, his voice tinged with worry.
"Look, Brother, I just want to explore the outside world! It's full of mystery and excitement. But you never let me leave the town. Why don't you understand?"
Siana tears welling up in her eyes, reacted with a mixture of sadness and determination.
"I just… don't want you to end up like our parents. You know what happened to them. Please, Siana, I don't want to lose another family member."
Her brother's voice trembled as he replied, his concern evident.
"Why can't you trust me?"
Siana's frustration escalated as she confronted her brother.
With tears streaming down her face, she turned and ran away. Her brother reached out, hesitating, but ultimately let her go, knowing he had made a mistake.
"Sigh... Here she goes again."
He muttered softly to himself, a hint of exasperation in his voice.
"You're the one who helped her, right? Since you're her friend... maybe you can talk some sense into her for me. I know she wouldn't want to see me right now. Could you do that?"
Siana's brother interrupted as I readied myself to go after her, asking for my assistance.
I accepted his request, and as I turned to leave, he asked for my name.
"Aki."
I turned back and calmly responded.
He nodded appreciatively,
"Aki... sounds familiar... Thank you, Aki. I'm truly grateful that you were there for her."
With his gratitude lingering in the air, I rushed outside to find Siana. As I turned the corner outside the castle, I spotted her sitting on the grass, her eyes filled with sadness.
Contemplating how to comfort her, I decided to sit beside her and offer my words of solace.
"Hey... I know it's hard for you to speak right now..."
I said gently, my gaze meeting hers as tears continued to stream down her face.
"Sigh, I might not know everything about what's going on, but your brother seems to have your best interests at heart, you know? He's just concerned about you, that's all—"
I paused mid-sentence, my words trailing off.
"You don't get it, Aki! Ugh! I... sigh... I just want to explore the world, to embrace new experiences. I don't want to be kept sheltered forever."
Siana's voice quivered as she cut me off, tears cascading down her cheeks.
"I get it, Siana. Wanting to break free and see the world is normal. But... family matters too. Maybe there's a way, to pursue your dreams while also maintaining the trust and connection with your family."
Taking a brief pause, I pondered her situation before speaking again.
"Maybe you're right... I'll figure out a way to make him see, to prove that I'm capable of looking after myself. I don't want to cause him pain or worry either."
Siana said, her gaze meeting mine, a blend of sadness and determination shining in her eyes.
"Haha, glad you got it to figure it out. It'll be tough, but I know you can do it."
I affirmed with a nod, offering my unwavering support.
With gratitude in her eyes, Siana wiped away her tears and took a deep breath.
"Thank you, Aki. Your words mean a lot to me. Alright, I got this!"
She stood up, ready to face her brother and engage in a heartfelt conversation.
Walking back towards the castle, Siana steeled herself for the conversation that awaited her.
With newfound determination, she aimed to bridge the gap between her dreams and her family's concerns, seeking a compromise that would allow her to explore the world while maintaining her bond with her brother.
As Siana's brother heard her side of the story, relief washed over him, realizing that she finally understood his perspective. He escorted her back to her room, instructing her to rest.
Meanwhile, he approached me to express his gratitude.
"Thank you, Aki, for looking out for my sister. I won't forget this."
He expressed his gratitude.
"Hm... There's someone I've been trained with for years that I think you should meet. Follow me to the backyard."
He said after a moment of thought, his eyes carefully assessing me from head to toe before he spoke.
Curiosity piqued, I followed him to the backyard, eager to uncover the identity of this mysterious person.