"What did you say?" Kaid, who was initially surprised, relaxed his expression and tried to appear calm. Meliora's brows shot up in surprise, realizing she had just blurted out those words without thinking.
Her face flushed red with embarrassment, and she waved her hand in the air. "I was just joking!" she stuttered, quickly rushing over to Ashtarte and Lucie, who both glared at her.
They were clearly prepared to give her a proper scolding when they were alone. Some ladies couldn't handle the intensity of the event and decided to leave for the night. Meliora was among the first to go.
Kaid insisted on walking her to the carriage, and though Meliora initially wanted to refuse, she changed her mind and allowed him to accompany her. She was afraid they might attack her again, but with Kaid by her side, she felt safe.
The safety she meant was the assurance that Kaid always appeared to save her every time she needed him. Rylan was there, but he wasn't enough.
"Princess," Rylan, who noticed Meliora approaching the carriage, bowed his head. When he saw blood at the hem of her dress, his brows shot up in surprise, and he straightened immediately.
"Did you get hurt, my princess?" he asked worriedly, stepping closer to Meliora, only for Kaid to block him with his sword, preventing him from getting any closer. Rylan turned to Kaid and glared.
"What is the meaning of this?" he growled, and Kaid shrugged, still not lowering his sword.
"Someone attempted to kill her, and I helped you get rid of the person. Is this how you repay your princess's savior?" he drawled, tilting his head slightly with a hand resting on his waist.
"What?!" Rylan exclaimed, cold sweat dripping down his back. He turned to Meliora, who was lazily watching them, and she nodded, confirming Kaid's words.
"I am truly sorry for not being there to protect you. It is my negligence!" Rylan bent forward and deeply apologized, feeling like the worst person on earth. He clenched his fists and jaws, fleeting disappointment flashing in his eyes.
Meliora seemed to notice something, as she suddenly tapped his shoulder and pulled him to straighten his back. He looked surprised to see her.
She shrugged. "There's really nothing to be sorry for. Come on, let's go back to the inn. I'm pretty tired." She yawned, sidestepped him, and entered the carriage. Ashtarte and Lucie followed behind her.
Once she had settled in, Rylan started the carriage, and Kaid sulked. Meliora didn't even look at him when leaving. He shook his head and sighed.
"Maybe I was too harsh." He lifted his sword and looked at the blood coating it. "I shouldn't have cut her head off. Now she's angry with me." He pulled out a silk cloth and wiped the blood off his sword.
While he was doing this, his right-hand man appeared from the shadows, breathless as if something had happened. Kaid noticed immediately and turned to him.
"Speak!" he instructed coldly.
"I did as you asked and took her to the dungeon, but when I went back to check on her, I found her dead. Someone must have killed her, but there was no wound internally or externally and no sign of intrusion." He hurriedly spat out the words, gritting his teeth.
Kaid, on the other hand, remained calm. "I didn't think she would be this fast. Send the maid's head to the Queen of Clariant and tell her that I am warning her. Remember to make it as romantic as ever," he instructed, nodding his head proudly. A cold smirk appeared at the corner of his lips as he disappeared, leaving his subordinate there, confused.
The man tilted his head and tapped his chin with his finger. "What did the king mean by romantic?"
*****
Meliora arrived at the inn. She waited for them to remove her clothes and jewelry before plopping onto the bed. Ashtarte and Lucie found the way she drifted off to sleep cute until Meliora suddenly sat up.
"Wait! Ashtarte, we have something to discuss!" she squealed. The two ladies, scared for their lives, almost ran, only to sigh in relief, realizing it was just Meliora displaying her weird behavior.
"I thought you were sleeping, Princess," Ashtarte said softly, walking towards the bed. Lucie stood there, yawning lazily. Meliora seemed to notice because she turned to Lucie.
"Don't worry, Lucie, go to bed." She instructed, and Lucie quickly obeyed, bowing before dragging her tired body out of the room. Now, it was only Ashtarte and Meliora left.
Meliora yawned lazily as she grabbed Ashtarte's hands and gave her a stern expression. "You still haven't told me how I can get rid of this scar!" she declared, and Ashtarte's brows shot up in surprise.
"Is there a pressing reason why you need the scar gone?" Ashtarte asked, pressing her lips into a thin line, and Meliora's brow rose in confusion. She also bit her lower lip.
"Is there a reason I shouldn't want it gone? You should know how much pain this scar has caused me." She feigned a cracking voice, blinking as if trying to force tears that weren't there.
[Ask if there is something your mother left for you.]
"Is there any information my mother left behind for me?" she mused, and Ashtarte gasped in surprise. She darted her eyes away from Meliora and nibbled on her lower lip.
Meliora knew that Ashtarte was hiding something.
"Why can't you just—"
"Ashtarte, if I want to stand strong in this world, I must remove this scar." Meliora interrupted Ashtarte before she could say anything more, gazing coldly at her. Ashtarte flinched at her words.
Ashtarte knew she was right, but who in her right mind would want to risk their loved one's life? She shook her head.
"Ashtarte—"
Just before Meliora could continue coercing Ashtarte, there was a sudden explosion, and the wall went flying. Meliora immediately grabbed Ashtarte, and they ducked down to avoid being wounded.
When the dust cleared, someone dressed in black dived into the room, his eyes darting everywhere in search of something. Meliora gestured for Ashtarte to stay quiet.
[Master, keep still.]
Meliora quickly obeyed Crucifix's words and froze. She instructed Ashtarte to do the same using sign language—something she had learned—but Ashtarte didn't seem to understand and moved just a bit.
Meliora's eyes widened in horror as the intruder noticed Ashtarte and immediately approached.
[This is bad.]
Crucifix suddenly declared, making Meliora's heart pound wildly in fear. She gulped as the man approached her, one of his eyes glowing red, the other half of his face hidden under a cloak.
"Found you," he croaked, a crazy smile spreading across his lips. Meliora trembled, feeling helpless. She was going to die after all her efforts. The man, instead of going for Ashtarte, reached for Meliora.
He was about to grab her hand when Ashtarte, who had been shoved to the side, suddenly rushed in and bit the man on his wrist. She bit so hard that she nearly tore his flesh.
In the heat of the moment, the man shrieked, and with his other hand, he slapped Ashtarte so violently that she flew across the room, her back slamming against the wall. She couldn't survive that collision, slumping to the floor unconscious.
Meliora screamed in rage as she rushed forward, wanting to check on Ashtarte, only for the intruder to grab her by the waist, lifting her until her legs flailed in the air.
She thrashed around, attempting to bite him, but then he produced a cloth and tied it around her mouth, muting her. He pressed her against the bed, and tears stung her eyes.
[Don't worry, Master. Help is coming.]
Meliora was already losing her sanity. She didn't want to die; she still had a way to return home. If she died here, she would never go back.
The man yanked her from the bed and, with immense strength, flung her to the floor. Her back scraped against the debris, drawing blood. She squealed from the pain, tears flowing endlessly down her face.
Just as the man approached with a knife and a crazed look in his eyes, someone suddenly appeared, standing in front of Meliora and blocking her view.
Meliora would recognize that silhouette anywhere, and seeing it again when she was on the verge of death, a weak smile tugged at her lips.
"Kaid..." she whispered his name as he suddenly slashed down on her enemy. The room shook from the force they used to fight, and Meliora watched them, slipping in and out of consciousness.
Her vision was blurry, but she knew the person who drew the last breath was the enemy. Though Kaid was wounded, he staggered towards her.
Meliora raised her hand weakly, hoping to hold his, when suddenly another person in black appeared, supporting Kaid, who almost collapsed from exhaustion, bleeding profusely from his side.
"Your Majesty!" the right-hand man squealed in fear. Meliora's hand dropped in surprise, her ears ringing as if bells were tolling somewhere. Kaid, still having
Kaid, still having little strength, told his right-hand man to help Meliora.
But she was still reeling from what she had just heard, even as she succumbed to the darkness from the intense pain.
'Your Majesty?'