The Guard's Sudden Appearance

As if burned by fire, Nefetia shot up with a sudden, sharp motion and lifted her eyebrows in surprise. “Why? Is there something you’re feeling?” Her sparkling eyes held a hint of expectation. But Arkin cut her off firmly. “It means do not touch me just because you feel uncomfortable.”

Arkin Seilir was well accustomed to hiding and concealing himself. After all, it was only natural after a lifetime of scrutiny as he had grown into the heir of Solinar. Even in this very moment, he was guarding the unfamiliar princess with his entire body. Thus, he ignored the pounding of his heart and the sweet fragrance that seemed to suffocate him. Surprised as though he might faint at the sudden turn of events, he acted as if nothing was amiss and watched her carefully. Yet, even the meticulous prince had a part he could not hide—the heat rising to flush his neck and the scarlet tips of his ears. In that brief instant, beneath Nefetia’s hands, he revealed the frantic beating of his pulse. And in the end, Nefetia read his change with remarkable swiftness.***

“Your Highness, Prince Arkin, are you there…? ” Magnus trembled with impatience as he pushed through the thicket. His straw-colored hair clung to his forehead with sweat. It had been a while since Prince Arkin had gone into the forest saying he needed a moment to rest. Now Magnus was on the path to fetch him while the ship’s cargo was being unloaded. “Your Highness? Are you alright?” His round, freckled face was full of worry. Pushing through the underbrush that blocked his view, he took step after step. “Hah.” A deep sigh escaped him. Even our kind prince had reached his limit. Honestly, looking at the recent situation… it was enough to make anyone question their sanity. Magnus’s complexion grew darker, and the hand clearing through the bushes became more urgent. It really had to be something serious! He turned over each incident that had occurred just before the competition in his mind and shook his head in frustration. If it had been him, he would have wanted to bite his tongue and die on the spot. Well, at least Prince Arkin was holding up surprisingly well…. “Your Highness!” He called out loudly, but there was no answer. This was a problem. Magnus wiped the sweat from his forehead and scanned the dense bushes. He was already worried that the heat and humidity might harm the prince’s health. The cold winter forest of Solinar was nothing like the climate here. The humid, suffocating air pressed down on his lungs, and sweat poured down like rain. Everything about the trees and plants was unfamiliar. Even with the broad leaves overhead, the dense canopy felt more stifling and eerie than the cozy embrace of Solinar, sending a chill down his spine. ‘Just how far has he gone?’ Magnus began to grow increasingly tense. The forest grew darker, and the trees all looked the same, making it hard to tell directions. Just as he thought he might have lost his way, fear struck him. His eyes caught on something familiar. ‘Ah, that stump!’ He finally located the fallen tree trunk he had passed moments ago and exhaled a sigh of relief. When he saw the long legs resting on the log hidden among the thick bushes, his heart had fully settled. “Your Highness, how are you feeling?” Magnus approached closer and raised his voice. “Enough.” The voice was somehow cold. Magnus’s instincts stood on end. He was the only attendant who could sense Arkin’s mood from the sound of his breathing alone. “Hey, Your Highness. I know you want to be alone because the situation has you feeling down. But still…” He raised his voice soothingly and slowly closed the distance between them. “Six months is nothing. Once you handle the competition well, everything will be resolved. It’s nothing unusual for the forest elders to stir up such rumors.” Magnus spoke gently, as if comforting the prince, and brushed aside the last branch blocking the path. “Surely, you will win the training competition and inherit the throne as if to prove it. Who would dare doubt our prince? They all deserve the punishment they receive….” While trying desperately to offer strength to the prince with his rambling, Magnus’s footsteps suddenly stopped. Am I dreaming? He rubbed his eyes several times and looked back at the spot where the prince had been sitting. What was going on? The scene unfolding before him was unbelievable. A woman he had never seen before stood beside the prince. What kind of clothes was that? Worried he might have misjudged, he rubbed his eyes and looked again, but it was clearly a woman…. Could she be a witch? The sharp glint in Magnus’s eyes rose sharply with sudden caution. “…Your Highness. I am here!” With the resolve to protect the prince, Magnus burst into the clearing with wide eyes and a loud voice. “Who is the person beside you?!” Despite the brave entrance, Arkin’s gaze was ice-cold. The prince gritted his teeth and glared at him, while the woman beside him had turned into a doe-eyed figure. “Ah….” Magnus’s heart dropped. The words he had thoughtlessly shouted moments ago were all state secrets of Solinar…. “Magnus, since the conversation with the Kepet princess has not finished, step aside.” “Yes? Yes….” Crushed by the prince’s icy order, Magnus retreated slowly. What now? I’m dead…. The dejected servant went around to the back of a large tree and sat on a thick stump. Thinking he had made a huge mistake, his shoulders slumped with injustice. Still, he could not quite understand the situation. He had never dreamed he would meet a princess from another country out here…. It appeared as if the person had grown from the ground, and how was he supposed to know how to react! Magnus glanced toward his master with a grumpy face. Which country’s princess was it again? What kind of outfit was that? Wasn’t the prince embarrassed? He was holding up remarkably well…. “Magnus, since the conversation with the Kepet princess has not finished….” Huh, wait a second. Magnus’s mind went completely blank, and he bit his lip. Just a moment. That “famous” Kepet Kingdom? The princess from that place…?***

As Magnus accompanied the prince on a long journey, he found himself distracted by one thing or another. He took the chance to visit Uncle Bertil. The royal chamberlain, who had once accompanied the late king to the Credo Island competition, might have some advice. “Uncle Bertil, have I forgotten anything? I’ve packed the offerings for the Credo Island temple perfectly and checked the ship’s condition thoroughly, but still, setting off on such a long journey makes my heart uneasy.” “It’s not like you’re doing anything other than escorting the prince. Don’t worry too much. As long as the offerings are well prepared, there’s nothing to fret over.” Bertil chuckled as he poured the evening meal aside and brought out the wine to encourage Magnus. “You’ve been working hard these days. Now’s the time to rest. While the prince is there, you’ll essentially get six months off. And with Arkin Seilir, he’ll surely bring back good results, so no need to worry.” He was speaking with the recent instability of Arkin’s succession in mind. Magnus’s expression darkened, and Bertil reassured him there was nothing to worry about, though he added one concern. “Don’t worry. Just….” Just? Magnus’s head snapped up as the golden wine in the lantern light caught his eye. “In my opinion, the thing you should be most cautious about there is the prince’s body.” “His body, you say?” Did he mean some threat to the prince’s safety? Credo Island was a sacred sanctuary, the safest place in the world union, after all! Magnus’s face turned deathly pale, and he gripped the glass tightly. Bertil waved his hand dismissively. “No, not that kind of danger… it’s about the prince’s lower half.” “What?” Magnus’s doe eyes froze. Lower half? In a way, it sounded even more dangerous than a threat to the prince’s life… “Listen, Magnus.” Bertil filled his own glass to the brim and lowered his voice. Magnus swallowed dryly and clutched the wooden cup with both hands. “Do you remember when I went to that island with Your Highness many years ago? It must have been decades. Even though it was long ago, it feels as vivid as yesterday.”