Junior stood up from the floor, brushing off the dust from his clothes. He moved quickly, switching into a fresh outfit as his eyes glanced at his reflection in the mirror. Adjusting the collar, he muttered, "Now, all I need to do is focus on stopping the destruction of this city. I have no information about what happened or how it was destroyed, but the only thing I know is that it was caused by a monster invasion. But thinking about it won't solve anything. I need to go outside the city to investigate." His voice was steady, but his gaze sharpened with determination. Without wasting another moment, he rushed toward the door, flinging it open with purpose.
"Where are you going, Master?" came Helen's voice, calm yet firm, as she stood just outside his room.
Junior froze, caught off guard. "Hmmm," he began, hesitating as though caught sneaking out of the kitchen for candy. "I wanted to go outside the mansion... to the city," he finally admitted, fidgeting under Helen's unwavering gaze.
Helen's cold stare seemed to pierce through him, scanning his every move. For a moment, silence stretched between them, and Junior shifted uncomfortably.
After what felt like an eternity, Helen spoke. "Okay, but I and two other knights will escort you out of the castle to the city," she declared, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"Thanks, Helen," Junior replied, a genuine smile breaking across his face, his tone lighter than before.
Helen blinked in surprise, momentarily caught off guard by his cheerful demeanor. In a low voice, she murmured to herself, "So he *can* smile like this." A faint smile tugged at her lips as she turned away.
"Alright, let's go. Follow me," Helen commanded, leading the way with a confident stride. Junior followed behind her as they made their way through the grand corridors of the castle.
---
Reaching the castle gate, the morning sun bathed the area in golden light. Four knights stood at their posts, their polished armor gleaming as they maintained their vigilant watch. Helen approached them with a steady step.
"Good morning," she greeted, her voice carrying authority.
"Good morning," the knights replied in unison, bowing their heads slightly.
"I apologize for interrupting your duties, but Prince Junior will need two knights to escort him to the city," Helen informed them, gesturing toward Junior, who stood just behind her.
The moment the knights turned their eyes to Junior, recognition dawned upon them. Their faces paled, and in an instant, all four dropped to their knees.
"Prince Junior…" they stammered, their voices trembling as they spoke in unison. "We deeply apologize, my prince. We failed to notice your presence. We deserve a punishment worse than death!"
Junior stepped forward, each of his measured steps echoing ominously on the stone ground. The knights visibly shook, fear etched into their faces. The rumors of Junior's tyranny weren't just confined to the castle; they had spread far and wide, gripping even seasoned knights with terror at the mere mention of his name.
Junior's gaze swept over them, his expression unreadable as he closed the distance, every step adding weight to the air around them.
As Junior came to a halt before the trembling knights, he glanced down at them with a calm but inscrutable expression. For a moment, silence hung in the air, broken only by the soft rustle of leaves in the morning breeze. The knights dared not lift their eyes to meet his, their fear palpable.
"Stand up. None of you did anything wrong that would warrant death," Junior said, his tone even but commanding, the weight of his authority clear in every word.
The knights hesitated, frozen in place as they exchanged nervous glances. They couldn't believe what they had just heard. The prince standing before them didn't match the terrifying image painted by countless rumors. The tales of his merciless nature, his harsh punishments, and his unrelenting demeanor didn't align with the calm and measured response they had just witnessed.
It took them a moment to process his words, their disbelief keeping them rooted to the ground. Slowly, they began to rise to their feet, their movements stiff and mechanical, as if even the act of standing risked incurring his wrath. Their eyes remained downcast, the fear lingering in their expressions despite the unexpected mercy shown by their prince.
Helen stepped forward, breaking the tension. "You two," she pointed to the pair on the left, "will accompany the prince to the city. Prepare yourselves immediately."
"Yes, ma'am!" the two knights barked in unison, their voices shaking slightly. They quickly adjusted their gear, trying to appear composed, though their unease lingered.
Junior turned to Helen. "Are we ready now?" he asked, his voice calm but with a trace of impatience.
"Yes, Master," Helen replied. "Let's proceed to the city gates."
Without another word, Helen resumed leading the way, Junior following closely behind her. The two selected knights flanked him, their stances rigid, while the other two resumed their posts at the castle gate.
---
The group walked through the winding paths leading from the castle, the surroundings transitioning from the grand stone architecture of the estate to the bustling outer courtyards. The early morning hum of activity grew louder as they neared the city. Merchants were setting up their stalls, their voices calling out to one another as they prepared for the day ahead. The scent of fresh bread wafted from a nearby bakery, mingling with the earthy smell of damp cobblestones from the previous night's rain.
Junior's eyes scanned the streets with quiet intensity. Despite his calm exterior, his mind was racing. The city bustled with life, its cobblestone roads alive with merchants setting up stalls and townsfolk going about their day. Everything seemed normal, yet Junior knew destruction loomed on the horizon. His jaw tightened as he thought of monsters overrunning these streets, leaving them in ruin. But this time, it wasn't just the city he wanted to protect—it was his cute little sister, the one person who had given him a renewed purpose.
Helen, walking just ahead, glanced back at him briefly. She noticed the faraway look in his eyes, the subtle tension in his stance. "The city seems peaceful, doesn't it?" she asked, her voice softer than usual, as if trying to reassure him.
"For now," Junior replied, his tone distant, his gaze still fixed on the road ahead.
Helen frowned and slowed her pace, moving closer to him. "What do you mean by 'for now'?" she questioned, her tone laced with curiosity and concern.
Junior hesitated, glancing at her before forcing a chuckle. "No, no, it's nothing really," he said, laughing it off awkwardly, hoping to deflect her attention.
Helen's sharp eyes narrowed slightly as she studied him. She could sense he was hiding something, and the way he avoided her gaze only confirmed her suspicion. Just as she was about to press him further, one of the knights broke the tension.
"We're approaching the city gates," the knight announced, his voice cutting through the air.
Helen turned her attention to the knight, nodding in acknowledgment. "Thank you," she said, her tone firm. Glancing at Junior one last time, she decided to postpone her questions for now.
____
Junior and the others had finally reached the city gates, where a pair of guards stood at attention. The towering iron gate loomed ahead, its thick metal bars reflecting the sunlight. The guards saluted sharply as Helen and Junior approached, their expressions a mixture of respect and apprehension.
"Good morning, Lady Helen, Prince Junior," one of the guards greeted, his voice steady but carrying a faint edge of nervousness when his eyes met Junior's.
"Good morning," Helen replied curtly. "We'll be passing through. Open the gates."
"Yes, ma'am," the guard responded quickly, signaling to the others. The massive gate groaned as it began to swing open, revealing the expanse of land beyond.