I block and parried the incoming attack of sir Terrence, then I backed away and brought my own sword down. Now, Terrence was the one blocking my attack. Kellar charged at him and swung his foot to attempt to trip him.
Unfortunately, Terrence jumped and moved away that Kellar tripped me instead. I fell down and came crashing into him.
“Ow…” I groaned as I got up.
“Princess, I am sorry!” Kellar began to apologize. And once he does, it is a never-ending cycling.
“It’s fine. Get up.” I told him as I pulled him to his feet. “You know, maybe we should have planned this ahead and worked together to take him down.” I said while pointing at Terrence.
Today was a two-on-one practice with the vampire knight. The both of us will have to work together to take him down. But inside of planning, Kellar and I just went ahead and attacked him blindly.
“It’s a good idea.” Terrence nodded as he walked towards us while sheathing his sword. “Planning is good, but when you are in an actual battle, you often have to go by your instincts because planning in the middle of a battle will get you killed. If not, you may lose a limb or two.” Terrence smiled at both of us. “But I have to admit that you both have greatly improved as an individual fighter. Its just that you need to work on your teamwork a bit. I guess that is enough for today. Class dismissed.”
I let out a sigh and coiled the whip around my wrist. Kellar did the same as he went down and picked up Javi on the ground. Terrence saw Javi and started stretching his chin. “She’s a cute one.” He says. When he looked up he smiled. “Look, Princess. Your cubs are here as well. And they brought someone with them.”
When I looked back, I saw that it was Ace carrying Custard and Viex with him. It wasn’t the first time that I saw him with Viex, but it was definitely the first the I ever saw him with Custard. And that was without my little wolf shaking in fear. Now, Custard was sleeping comfortably in his arms.
As Ace headed towards us, he began to smile, but I could see the slight twitch in his eyes making the scar a bit visible in the light. Since Terrence doesn’t know that he has his memories back, he still has to put up an act as Prince instead of PRINCE.
“Good morning, sir Terrence.” He greeted the knight with a bright smile.
I had to turn around and face a tree just so they wouldn’t see me laughing. It has been days already and yet I still can’t help but find this all funny, especially when he was being forced to be nice.
“Hello, Prince Ace. Are you here to pick up the princess?”
“Yes.” Even his voice was happy and chirpy. He sounded so innocent. I have to admit that he was getting better at this than I thought. “She promised me that she and I would have a walk in the garden today. I would like to practice some magic as well.”
Terrence chuckled. “That’s great. But do be careful. People might suspect that you two are becoming a couple now.”
“SO WHAT?!?” He yelled at him.
My eyes widened in surprise at what Ace just said. But when I turned around, Ace was smiling innocently while Terrence seemed shocked at what he just saw and heard.
“W-wow, sir Terrence. How did you do that? You managed to trigger some of the old Ace back.” I said as I hurriedly ran to Ace’s side.
“I’m sorry.” Ace deadpanned. “I did not know what came over me.” His voice was getting emotionless by the minute that I elbowed him. He was getting out of character!
Kellar and I exchanged a glance. It was pretty obvious that Ace was getting drained at pretending by the minute. And if he doesn’t do something soon, he might start throwing a fit.
“W-We should go. Stella and Chace should be done with their training soon.” Kellar says while looking at me. He was giving me a way out.
“Y-yeah! Kellar, why don’t we come with you? I want to see my sister as well. Bye, Sir Terrence!” I gestured for Kellar to start walking while I went and grabbed Custard from Ace. “Come on, Ace.”
Ace took my hand and gave me a frown before we followed Kellar. Once we were out of earshot from a vampire’s hearing, Ace spoke. “You should have used your whip instead of your sword. You could have stopped Terrence from moving.”
“You were watching?” I let out a groan as I could only imagine how pathetic I was. “How long were you standing there? And why aren’t you in the library?”
“I was supposed to, but then I decided to go out and find you.” Ace was frowning as he said this, which then makes me wonder if something was wrong. But before I could ask, he immediately changed the topic. “I’ll tell you later as soon as we find the busy King. Are you really sure that you’re really coming to Tereau?”
“I am.” I confirmed. “What kind of Princess would I be if I do not join and represent my kind?”
“A live one.”
“Ace, I don’t need your sarcasm right now. Besides, how about you? You surely can’t follow the rest of us, not in your ‘current situation’.” I was hinting at the fact that he was still playing the role of the prince with amnesia.
He gave me a sideglance. “Who says I am not going? If I won’t who then who would protect you?”
“Viex and Custard?”
“Whatever. I can and will follow you in the shadows.”
“I know that you’re a pro and all, but have you even practiced your fighting skills lately?”
“Every night in the stables. When most of the people are asleep. I never slack of from duty.” Ace says as he petted Viex. Then, when he looked up, he had a puzzled look on his face.
I followed to where he was looking and saw Princess Camille talking to my sister. By the looks of it, Stella looked upset while Camille laughed. Just then Stella opened her mouth and said something to Camille that upset her. Now, Stella stuck her tongue out to Camille.
Camille stepped back and I saw flames flickering from her fingers. Kellar and I immediately ran for my sister’s aid. My hands were already grabbing my whip as I pictured myself cutting her hands off.
Royalty or not, I just can’t forgive anyone who harms my sister.
Then the flame from Camille’s hand died down instantly when iced encapsulated her hand. From the looks on Stella’s face, it wasn’t her doing.
“Camille! What the hell are you doing here?” Chace stepped forward and pulled my sister behind him.
Kellar and I were at Stella’s side immediately. “Are you okay?” Kellar asked her.
Stella snickered. “Nothing that I couldn’t handle.” She told him.
“Chace? Move aside!” Camille screamed at her sibling. “You should be helping me to ask her to come to our realm. But instead, you’re here with this brat!” She glared at my sister.
Now, it was my turn to step up as I marched my way in front of her. “Watch where you’re looking, Camille. Or have you forgotten the last time that you upset my little friend here?”
Custard jumped down from my arms and started glaring at her. ‘You evil person! Go away!’ He snarled.
Camille is scared of Viex, but it was Custard whom she was terrified with the most. She let out a scream when she saw him. “G-Go away! Get lost!”
“Now now.” Ace came forward with Viex perching on his shoulder. He was smiling innocently as he grabbed Custard. He was playing his part again as the amnesia boy. “Why would you be scared of such a harmless wolf? Nothing to be afraid of. See?” He carried Custard closer to her face, which made her scream more when Custard tried to grab her with his paws.
“I was wondering what all the commotion was about. Who let you in, Camille?” It was Nate, who somehow dashed in here and stood beside Ace. He frowned at the sight of the fairy princess. “I have thrown you out countless times already. Why are you still here?”
“Nate! It’s not what you think. They’re the ones who started it first. Can’t you see the elf prince is holding the little wolf with him?”
I swear, Ace really has the blood of a demon inside of him as he pretended to look innocent. “I’m sorry, but all I am doing is holding a wolf. King Nate, I think it would be better if you show her Custard’s charming side instead?” Ace was sending a hidden message to Nate and the both of them smirked menacingly.
“Why, of course. Let me take Custard from your hands.” As Nate carried Custard, he was now looking at Camille with a brilliant smile on his face. “Would you look at this cute little puppy?”
“Get it away!” Camille screamed as Nate started to stalk her while carrying Custard. When Camille realized that Nate wasn’t going to stop, she began to gather up her skirt and began to run away.
All of us laughed as soon as she was gone. Even Chace, who’s her younger brother, joined us.
“I’m sorry about my sister.” Chase says to all of us. “It’s...it’s true that my money wants to have Stella live with us. That is why she allowed me to stay here in the first place. To be able to convince her.”
“AH-HA!” I yelled and placed my hands on my hips. “I knew you were suspicious.”
“Amy!” Stella chided me before looking back at Chace. “But why didn’t you? I mean, try to convince me that is.”
The way that Chace was looking at Stella was making me shake in anger that Ace was fanning me with his hand.
“You were kind to me and help me with my magic. I don’t think that it would be fair for me to take you away from your family. Besides, you look happy here.” Chase smiled at her affectionately.
If I have a paper with me, I would rip it to shreds, eat it, and spit. I don’t know why I thought of that.
Stella smiled at him. “Well, thank you for understanding. I think our lesson is over for today. I should go and help my uncle now. Kellar, you wanna come?”
“Sure.” Kellar nodded before he and Stella walked side by side to the greenhouse.
I have been with Kellar for quite some time now and I figured out that the kid is dense as hell. Which is why I don’t worry about him just yet. Right now, I am more concerned about the Fairy prince in front of me. He was looking at Stella and Keller’s retreating back with a sad look in his eyes.
I decided to walk towards him and crossed my arms. “Hey. That look. I do not like it.” I told him.
“What look?” Chase asked.
“You look like you’re jealous of them. You don’t have a crush on my sister now, do you?” My question was meant to intimidate him. That was why I almost had a heart attack when it backfired at me.
“I think I do, princess. I apologize if this somehow offends you.” He bowed to me.
I gasped and stumbled back. Ace caught me and started dragging me away from Chace.
“I think the princess is tired. We’ll be on our way out first.” Nate told him before he helped Ace to drag me away from the fairy prince especially when I started screaming about killing the little bastard myself.
Once we were in the clearing, the both of them sat me down on a bench. “Calm down, already.” Ace says. “If it comes to that then don’t worry. I will place his body in a drum and throw it somewhere far.”
I blinked at him. “Ace? I appreciate your support but there is no need for you to go that far.”
“Speaking of support, may I know why you called me out here? Shipments of the weapons and armors have just arrived. I have to deal with them before the week ends.” Nate ran a hand through his hair. “Not to mention that bratty fairy Princess Camille kept on following me.”
‘I can accompany you and scare her away!’ Custard, who was still in Nate’s arms looked up at him and wagged his tail.
“Custard is offering to be your guard. But only after we train.” I said while looking at my little wolf.
Nate laughed and carried Custard in a position that he was looking right at him. “I would love that. Thanks, little guy. Greatly appreciated.”
Meanwhile, Ace was standing with his arms crossed over his chest and cleared his throat to catch our attention. “I don’t want to add another problem to your plate, Nathaniel, but we have another one at hand.”
Nate was looking at me to see if I know what it was all about. But I just shook my head and asked Ace instead. “What is it?”
“Remember the plant that I took from King Luke’s research?”
“What about it?” Nate asked.
“It died.” He said solemnly.
“Can’t...can’t you just go and ask some other plants in the greenhouse?” I wondered.
“Tried going there today, but all of them have wilted. King Luke says that maybe it was due to the chemicals in the air that was poisonous to the plants. They were already dying in the first place, but it was just Stella’s magic that was prolonging their lives.”
“Great.” Nate muttered. “How the hell are we supposed to plan, knowing that the traitor is still out there?”
“I don’t know, King Nathaniel.” Ace says while closing his eyes due to stress. “But I’ll figure something out.”