Inara shielded her face with an arm as the force blasted Keres away.
Gazing at the unexpected arrival, her face turned sour. Why is he here, and could his timing be any worse?— She wondered, her anticipation shattered as his footsteps approached closer.
"Ina..." He called, startling the princess with his voice.
"Lord... Invel..."
She could only attempt rowing herself against the rising wave emotions. And as those emotions surged, she clenched her trembling fingers into a fist.
"You alright?" Invel asked, she nodded and there was silence.
"Why... are you here?" The princess broke the silence, faltering as she spoke.
"You know, I'd love to ask you the exact same question," Invel said, pausing briefly. "It's past dinner time, and you're out here, in a place where even S-rankers would rather avoid."
"Well, that's because..." She tried to speak but couldn't find the appropriate words. She dropped her gaze downwards and Invel sighed in response.
"I get that always having to act under supervision could be annoying at times but there's all kinds of dangers out there, how hard could it be for you to understand?"
Frustration welled up inside Inara's body. She stood taut, fingers tightly clenched and trembling on either side of her body. But suddenly, she snapped, reaching her limit.
"Are we really doing this right now?" She asked, slightly raising her voice. "You disappear all the time without a word. But it's suddenly a problem when I do it?"
"It's just not the same, Ina. You're still a child, and most importantly, not strong enough to protect yourself." He argued.
But despite his point, she stuck to her guns and refused to back down.
"Oh, please, let's not pretend like you were any different when you were my age..."
"And I learned my lesson the hard way." Invel interrupted in a tone that was solemn enough to convey the weight of his experiences.
"If I kept a record of every time I got harassed, attacked, or kidnapped, I'd have a whole library of books by now" The prince furthered. And when she rolled her eyes, unconvinced; he stepped closer, locking his gaze onto hers.
"Every single time I got through one of those situations, I left a bunch of enemies in my trail. Enemies who might go after you just to get back at me" He took another pause.
"I know it may feel restrictive, but my intention is to protect you based on my own experiences. So I'd really prefer if you didn't go out alone, especially at night" His words ushered in a brief silence.
"I... I can handle myself" Inara retorted, but her bravado wavered as Invel placed one hand on her shoulder, lowering himself to her height.
"Ina, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything ever happened to you. So please promise me you'll do as I say, at least until you become an A-ranker" Invel softened, with his expression carrying a mix of worry and wisdom.
Inara shut her eyes, prompting a moment of reflection. When she realized she was being needlessly stubborn, her shoulders drooped.
"Fine, I'm sorry," she conceded, easing the tension.
Invel reached out his hand and patted her head gently.
"It's alright" He said, flashing a faint smile.
Next, he turned, shifting his attention over to the third party.
"Now, isn't this a curious sight?" The prince's voice was almost visible as he took a step towards the teenage boy's direction.
Keres was grappling with a cocktail of fear, awe and the numbing pain coursing through his spine. But the sound of Invel's voice immediately gripped his attention.
"Who've we got here?" Another inquiry resounded as Invel's gaze locked onto the teenage boy.
An overwhelming pressure suffocated Keres, silencing his attempts to respond.
"You're the silent type? I guess it can't be helped." Invel said, sliding his hands into his pockets. He advanced forward, his boots crunching against the snow.
Keres tried to raise himself but his limbs refused to comply. His heart raced in fear but luckily, Inara's voice rescued him from drowning further into his apprehension.
"Lord Invel, he's my..." She gently grabbed Invel's arm from behind. "Friend. "
Her tone was unconvincing but Invel's expression softened.
"Ina..." He paused briefly.
"Even if you say that, there are countless things I find impossible to overlook" He said, wearing a faint smile and Inara's pupils dilated when their gazes met.
"These weapons, for instance, are a bit hard to simply turn a blind eye to, wouldn't you agree?" He gestured his head at the bunch of swords on the floor, guiding her gaze towards them.
"It doesn't mean anything, he's really not trying to cause any trouble." She retorted and Invel sighed in response.
"Okay, let's say I look past the swords, there's also that bag containing illegal medicine. Are you saying I should overlook that as well?" He asked and the princess stayed quiet. Next, his words continued.
"And setting everything else aside, Ina... you know me very well. What's the one thing I could never possibly ignore?"
He asked and her eyes instinctively followed the direction of his gaze. When she noticed the bloodstains on the sleeve of her blouse, she subconsciously loosened her grip on his arm.
Invel continued forward.
"A man's every action casts a burden his soul must carry. His deeds echo within, demanding that he bears the weight of his resonance. Don't you find this interesting as well?" He asked and Keres shuddered, breaking into a cold sweat.
"I can see the shadows on your soul and the resonance is so heavy that it demands you pay a substantial price to balance the scale"
"But today, you've gone beyond redemption. Your pitiful life will never be sufficient enough to atone for the sin you've just committed" He took another pause as he arrived a few meters in front of the teenage boy.
An overpowering sense of inferiority gripped Keres as he gazed at Invel's silhouette, erect against the moonlit backdrop. His breath began hitching as the prince's words continued.
"So, tell me—" Invel halted as he closed the distance with predatory grace. Suddenly, he seized Keres by the neck, lifting him off the ground as if he were weightless.
"What do you suppose I do with you?" An inquiry assaulted Keres' ears as Invel aggressively pinned him against the tree.
The teenager choked, struggling to loosen the iron-like fingers that clawed at his neck. In the end, his desperate attempts were futile against Invel's unyielding strength.
The prince's grip tightened and the world around Keres seemed to dim, the immense pressure constricting his esophagus and consciousness.
"Lord Invel, please stop—" Inara's pleading voice suddenly rang out.
"I appreciate you looking out for me but seriously, he didn't mean to hurt me. It only happened 'cause he got scared'' She furthered and Invel sighed, turning his head to her direction.
"Listen, Ina—"
"Unintended, and justifiable offenses happen all the time. It doesn't matter if the culprit was consumed by emotions, clouded judgment, or unavoidable circumstances; the consequences are always absolute." He came to a brief pause.
"A man, driven to steal food to feed a sick child, has to face the punishment. It's not just about the act. There's a thin line separating a one time slip-up from a repeat offense. If left without consequences, he is likely to do it again. And then, the environment becomes a breeding ground for lawlessness. Do you understand what I'm hinting at?"
"I get it, but this situation's different—" Inara calmly responded to the prince's explanation.
"Keres never meant to harm me. So it's not gonna happen again. I'm sure of that!" She furthered placing one hand against the left side of her chest.
"I understand you're sticking up for a 'friend,' but it's important to note that this kid has a history of offenses. No good will come out of letting him off without a punishment" Invel said.
"If this is about Xaviour, I'll make sure he quits. So please, just let him go." She said and Invel paused to think for a moment.
"Alright, I'll consider it. But first, he needs to show he's remorseful enough to never harm an innocent soul ever again." He spoke, tightening his grip which had momentarily slackened.
Keres' eyes widened like saucers, startled by the unexpected spike in intensity. He desperately tried to break free but all that met his struggle was Invel's unwavering ruthlessness.
Sadness darkened Inara's face. Her voice emerged, becoming Keres' sole beacon of hope.
"But... but..." She hesitated, closing her eyes.
"I don't want him to get hurt any more than this" She said in a faint voice. Her shoulders slumped, nearly driven to tears.
Invel raised his eyebrows with a guilt-ridden look on his face as she carried on with her words.
"Even though it's not what I really want, I started attending the pre-academy, just because you told me to..." She drew a breath, and Invel released a sigh before speaking up.
"Ina, we're past this already. You know that despite my current status, the fact that I didn't acquire my license through the right procedures still subjects me to criticism."
"The bitter truth is, things would be even more challenging for a girl going down the same path. This is why it's crucial for you to attend and graduate from the academy."
"But... you know that I really don't want to." Inara countered, her eyes teary.
"I've always followed all your rules without question. You won't let me use my Gavel, I can't step out without a bodyguard, I'm stuck with your idea of 'healthy' food..." She paused, revealing a bitter smile.
"No phones or social media for me until I'm sixteen, certain movies and books are off-limits, and I have to train in close range combat and swordsmanship at least four times a week— all because you say so."
"You know, it's really tough when so many things I want are off the table. Yet, I go along with everything you say without a fuss simply 'cause I'm afraid of burdening you any further." She halted once again and Invel listened closely.
"But, right now, between the both of us... all I'm asking for is this one favor, only as a little trade-off for everything else."
"So could you please look the other way just this one time?" She asked, and Invel briefly shut his eyes. Upon a moment of consideration, he released a lengthy sigh.
"Alright" He said, letting go. Keres plummeted to the ground with a resounding crash.
The teenage boy coughed dryly, caressing the reddened areas of his neck.
"Consider yourself lucky, vermin" Invel spoke before turning to Inara, who was now wiping the corners of her eyes.
"I've only always wanted what's best for you, but I guess none of it matters if you're unhappy—" He said, taking a suspenseful pause.
"Let's work towards fixing that when we get home." He added, his lips curving into a radiant smile.
Inara nodded, relief brightening her complexion. As Invel walked past her, a soft breath escaped her lips, dissipating in the air.
"C'mon, let's go home" The prince said and Inara responded with a hesitant nod.
Looking back at Keres, she felt a tug at her heart. She wanted to go over, and apologize but how was she supposed to face him after everything that just happened?
Her gaze flickered with a blend of guilt and indecision. Nevertheless, she didn't want to keep Invel waiting.
They both walked away. But as she glanced back again and spotted Keres on the cold floor, sadness crept into her expression. It reminded her of the satisfying resolution she had failed to achieve.
—