7 years ago, rumors circulated the Vechnost Empire that a monstrous red eyed beast lives inside the mountain beside the Palace of the crown prince. Some say that a Knight who’s surveying the land of the mountain suddenly died without a cause, until the people decided to call it The Cursed Mountain. A single step from that mountain will bring you a horrible death. The mountain had strict protection from the Imperial Family to avoid casualties and rumors that could tarnish the reputation of the Empire. But, how did Princess Solliana’s carriage end up at the deepest part of the said mountain?
“Ugh, it’s so noisy. I want to kill someone” the young man said with a displeased tone while trying to calm himself. Having the ability to hear all the noise in every corner of the Empire irked his head that was currently throbbing in pain.
“Until when should I endure this useless ability?” He said and swung his sword repeatedly. “That Master of mine told me to keep practicing magic but instead of removing this ability, it keeps on getting stronger!” He struck the big oak tree because of his annoyance.
When will this chaos in my head calm down? He sincerely asked with a hoarse voice, stared at the clouds with his pale red eyes that had already lost its glow, and sat on the big oak tree near his home.
Until … “GAAAAAAH! Lucille you didn’t wake me up!” he suddenly heard a scream of a young lady. It was so loud that all the noise in the Empire that he was hearing vanished in an instant. “Lucille! Countess Yradesa is my teacher today! She’ll probably scold me again for being late!!!” the lady cried that amused the young man. The noises are gone. Though she’s too loud, it’s better to hear her voice than hearing all the nonsense in the Empire! He immediately searched where this young lady’s voice came from. Following the vibrations of the wind, he saw the beautiful Princess running through the halls of the Palace. Even though the Princess looked disgraceful and disheveled, he was entertained and his interest towards the Princess slowly rose, making him invest his attention to the place that he longed to forget.
The young man who once ousted the whole world because of its endless noise, was now thankful because of his ability to hear the beautiful voice of the Princess. Every day, he was delighted to hear her endless joyful chattering that made his world grow bigger and wonderful. The world that he saw with a dim color, is starting to glow in different bright colors. Why did you just arrive now? I can never thank you enough for giving me this peace I wished for my entire life. He who never experienced serenity, was overwhelmed in delight.
Months have passed, and he finally discovered the Princess’ identity. The Princess who’s destined to be wed to the Crown Prince of the Empire. He felt a mysterious tinge inside his heart, not knowing what it meant, he let it consume him and continued to watch over the Princess. Until one day …
“Did you hear a man’s voice?” For the first time in his life, someone heard him in the deepest cursed mountain. He was amazed beyond belief that the Princess who he wished to meet one day, heard his silent chattering with his mind. Can I be greedy just this once? He was so delighted to finally talk to the Princess, he wanted it to be endless, but to his dismay, the joyful event didn’t last long for the Princess was too far to the mountain that it could not reach his ability. Thus, the endless noises in the Empire began to storm in his head once again.
“It was greedy of me to wish to speak with you once more, but until the day you return, I hope you stay safe and care less in this world, Princess.” He spoke while enduring the chaos of the ruthless world they live in.
“Who are you talking to?” The young man was startled when someone interrupted his discourse. “Master!” he fell from the oak tree where he was sitting peacefully.
“Hey, I told you not to call me Master. I am your friend, you fool.” His friend said and brushed his hair. “I need to go home for a while, make sure not to get caught by those assassins. I don’t want to see you without life when I come back, understood?” he continued, the young man nodded in return. “You trained me so hard that I can even defeat you. You’re one to judge.” He chuckled when his friend looked at him uninterestedly. “Fine, you’re an exceptional swordsman, tch.” His friend replied with a weary tone before he vanished through the wind.
“Another day to be on guard. I am all alone again in this dark mountain, I need to prepare myself.” The young man said and he began to march, entering his Palace.
Days have passed, the endless noise that crept inside his mind vanishes once again. “Lucille I want a dessert” He smiled after he heard the Princess’ voice once more, making it more like a drug that soothes his mind.
It’s only been days since I heard from you, but those agonizing days vanished once your beautiful soft voice occupied my head again. He was so delighted hearing her voice but it suddenly got distorted when he felt a sense of danger surrounding the Princess.
The young man immediately commanded the wind to see what was going on, and there, he saw three men wearing black cloaks hijacking the carriage where the Princess was riding. He immediately runs outside the Castle to get a clearer vision of what’s happening. The carriage started to travel at a high speed, seeing the Princess’ dreaded face. How dare those impudent fools try to kidnap the Princess? You will pay for this. His face darkened by the thought that those people were trying to harm the Princess. Then, he strides at a fast pace and jumps into the tallest tree where he can control the wind from the west to his mountain. Those fools trying to sell the Princess to the slave market! The young man’s crimson red eyes flickered in anger.
The wind grew stronger and stronger that made the carriage turn around from its original destination and flew to the cursed mountain in a blink of an eye. The young man controlled each segment of the carriage, and made the horses follow his command.
“How pathetic” he said to the black mage while standing on top of the moving carriage. The black mage felt insulted, resulting in him reacting ferociously. The young man who tried to hide his uncommon red eyes, revealed it to the black mages who kept insulting him and prepared to kill them all.
“I’ll give you what you deserve” He was so furious he angered him by showing him what they planned to do with the Princess. He smirked and his eyes glimmered in the dark and there, using his mighty sword he cleanly slit the throats of the three mages without staining the carriage with their filthy blood. “ARRRCCCKKKK----” the young man did not let those mages be heard by the Princess who’s been quiet ever since they entered the mountain. He immaculately threw the lifeless bodies of the black mages and opened the carriage door who’s about to rumble in pieces.
There, he saw a beautiful young lady with shining long curly white hair flowing through the Princess’ shoulders.
“Princess” He urgently reached out and caressed her hair. “Please don’t compare me with those fools” he chuckled when he heard the thoughts of the Princess who’s slowly losing her consciousness. He delicately grabbed the Princess waist and carried her like he’s holding a fragile glass that can break from any wrong movement.
The carriage fell into a cliff right after he took the Princess out of the carriage. The young man took shelter onto the nearest tree and sat on one of each branch, making the Princess sit on his lap.
“Don’t worry Princess, I won’t let you die” he softly said while brushing the hair strands that’s blocking her face from him.
I never saw something so pretty before. He unconsciously thought. Unknowingly, his heart was beating like thunder roaring in a storm. Loud enough to abolish all the nonsense noise in his surroundings. What is this? Is this some kind of healing ability? Or some kind of repose? She probably got a magical ability like what happened days ago when she accidentally heard me. She’s a very interesting human” He smiled and pinched her cheeks. I will take her to my Palace, for her to get some proper and comfortable rest. He jumped from the trees and attentively held the Princess to avoid the leaves to get on her hair.
When they arrived, he tidied the only bed inside the Palace and laid her down onto the warm bed. Shit. I don’t have any wood for the fireplace! I never expected to have a visitor in this mountain, let alone a lady soundly sleeping on the bed. He looked around at his Palace and noticed that no signs of a single wood to be used. He was so used to the weather in the mountain because of too much training, making his body numb from the cold, thus, he never uses the fireplace in his Palace. I should get some wood, the Princess’ body cannot withstand this cold weather. He stared at the Princess for a moment and immediately left the Palace, leaving a protection seal on the door. He gathered all the wood that his eyes laid upon, and eventually hoard a pile of wood.
The young man returned to the Palace with a pile of wood on his shoulder. He lit up the fireplace straight away when he arrived, and tried to prepare some food for them to eat. I hope the Princess is not a picky eater. He laughed while grating the block of cheese and placing it on top of a bread loaf.
*
Meanwhile, in the Ambrose Dukedom.
“Father!” Rogue called and the Grand Duke immediately looked at his side. “What’s the matter, Rogue? I just told you to return to your mission” Grand Duke frowned his eyebrows at the sight of his eldest son.
“I feel something strange, Solliana’s energy disappeared!” Rogue anxiously said. “What do you mean!?” Grand Duke Alexei was alarmed by what his son reported.
“Father, you know I have the same ability as Mother. I can sense the energy light of each of us. But right now, I can’t sense Solliana’s light, which is supposed to be stronger than any of us! Unless there’s some protective seal surrounding her.” Rogue continued that made the Grand Duke felt an uneasy feeling inside his heart.
“Send a message to Marquess Aziel, we must know if Solliana safely arrived at the Imperial Palace!” the Grand Duke commanded, “Right away, Father!” and Rogue obeyed immediately.
I hope you’re alright, our Princess.
*
“It’s been hours since the Princess had disappeared and yet no one even saw a single strand of her hair!” Emperor Louis' rage can be heard in the halls of his Palace for his roar was so loud because of his anger.
“Your Majesty, we need to inform the Grand Duke about this incident” , Marquess Aziel said worriedly. The Emperor glared at him and slammed his desk.
“And what!? Anger the Grand Duke because the Imperial Palace Knights left the Princess unprotected!? Your irresponsible knights were the one to blame here! They were the ones who’s supposed to be guarding the Princess once she arrived at the Capital but I was informed that no one escorted the carriage!! How reckless!!” The Emperor’s temperament gradually worsening as the time keeps ticking.
“It was a grave mistake, your Majesty. I will accept any punishment you will bestow me after we find the Princess.” Marquess Aziel bowed and tightened the grip from his sword.
“You better find the Princess before words get out to the Grand Duke! Now go!!” Emperor Louis roared and Marquess Aziel immediately left the Emperor’s office.
“Lieutenant Andrew, command the north squadron and search the western domain. Be sure to survey the west mountain.” Marquess Aziel instructed to his lieutenant, but the other seems reluctant from what he heard.
“Sir, I know this is an impudent remark but, the west mountain was famous from its notorious slave trading to the other Empire! Do you perhaps think that the Princess was there to be sell?” the lieutenant whispered and Marquess Aziel’s face grimed by the thought of the Princess inside the slave trading prison.
“We must search properly, don’t leave any domains without inspecting it.” Marquess Aziel said with a distressed tone.
“Understood, Sir!” Lieutenant Andrew saluted and turned away, signalling the Knights to come with him.
A light suddenly passed through Marquess Aziel's face. So much for hiding this incident, your Majesty. Don’t underestimate the power of the Ambrose Family. The light circled around him and gleamed brightly that blinded him for a moment.
“Care to explain, Marquess Aziel!?” the voice of the raging Grand Duke from the other side of the gleaming light.
*
“Rose, did you see that red light coming from the cursed mountain?” Nicholas asked full of curiosity after seeing a red light that gleamed for a moment.
“Your highness, there’s no red light in that mountain even a while ago. Maybe you’re tired, you must get some rest for now and surely, the Princess will arrive here in the Palace safe and sound.” The Prince’ maid said who failed to see, reassuring the Prince that everything will be alright if he sleeps.
“No, you can leave, Rose. I want to be alone for a moment, I can rest while staying inside my chamber so leave me for the time being.” The Prince commanded and the maid complied right away.
It really is strange. What was that red light gleamed so bright, it was so brief I cannot even know if it’s real or not. The Prince stared at the cursed mountain that looked lifeless from his view.
Should I prove to Father that I can enter that cursed mountain without encountering a monstrous beast? He walked through the veranda and jumped from his room to the ground, unscathed. As the future Emperor, I should prove myself. Not to you Father, but to the Empire. As the crown prince, I have my own duty and responsibility that I must do.
I am going to search for the Princess.
*
Hmmm … She buried her face in the smooth and soft blanket that wraps around her. Did Lucille oversleep again? I must get up before I get scolded again … but I am too tired. She kept wriggling her body inside the warm blanket. Fire? It’s already spring so why are we using fire? Did I sleep for too long? Hearing the rumbles of wood that was burning from the fire, she cannot help but think that it’s almost winter. She removed the blanket from blocking her view and slowly opened her eyes.
She saw an unfamiliar place surrounding her. This is not my room! Realizing what happened earlier, she immediately got up and made her head throb in pain.
“Princess, you mustn’t get up like that.” A strange man suddenly appeared to her side. She was startled when she saw a beautiful raven black hair with glimmering ruby eyes with a worried look, a strange appearance of the man she met for the first time. But, more importantly;
Why is this handsome young man in front of me!?
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