The moment the sun rises, I immediately arrange my baggage as I fix myself in the mirror.
"Luciaaaaaaaaaan, don't leave me!" Marxyllon shouted as he ran into the room.
I throw a spare hooded cape to him. "Get ready already. Or else the duchess won't let you go again."
Holding the cape, I throw. Marxyllon ran towards his chamber. "Wait for me at the back!"
Will it really be alright? To bring this loudmouth with me.
"Don't you dare leave him here." The duke coldly said as he suddenly appeared behind me. Caused me to jolt in surprise.
"You just want to have alone time with the duchess."
He smirked as he stepped out of the room.
That damn geezer.
After preparing, I walked outside to meet Marxyllon behind the duke's mansion.
"Shall we?" He excitedly said to me
"Don't you dare do anything that can jeopardize our plan." I threatened him.
He smiles as he grabs and push me behind. "Alright, alright. Anyway, where are we going first?"
"The last time I saw Leciro- I mean the princess was in front of the guild."
"Oh, Herion Guild Capital, huh? She chose the best place to hide. Nobles who often ran away ended up in the guild."
"Right. Let's go." I ran. Marxyllon followed me behind.
After passing the gates and guard posts. We finally arrive in the capital guild
"This place is lively as ever!" Marxyllon happily glanced in the area
I grabbed his hood down, hidding his face more.
"Don't move too much, the wind is strong. If you reveal your face here, we'll only draw attention."
Marxyllon glanced at the people looking at us, "We're pretty much already drawing attention. Just because we're wearing this hood,."
I brushed off his remarks as I continued inside the guild.
"Excuse me," I called. Calling the attention of the guild receptionist.
"Good morning! Welcome to Herion Guild Capital. How can I assist you?"
"I'm-"
Marxyllon coughed.
Sighing, I continued. "I meant to say, WE, are looking for a person-" before I could finish my words, Marxyllon jumped and stopped me, grabbing me to the side.
"What are you doing?" I whispered
"The guild prioritized utmost secrecy. Even if you ask, they'll not tell you anything. Unless you're going to use your Imperial title?"
He does make sense, sometimes.
"Fine, you do it."
I stepped behind as Marxyllon handled the rest.
"Ahahaha- sorry, sorry, you see my friend here is a little bit eccentric, ha-ha. Actually, we are travelers! We came from a very remote village and were hoping to meet someone who could tell us about the Mesiah village."
The receptionist blinked. "Mesiah village? What for?"
"We heard the berries are tasty from Mesiah, so we want to ask someone who can help us learn more about berries, you know, because we are travelers, ha-ha."
That's so suspicious. Who the hell asks for berries?
"Is that so! Well, you're in luck. Someone from the Mesiah village came in yesterday."
I rushed to her. "Where is he?!"
Marxyllon stopped me from grabbing the receptionist. "Haha, sorry again, he's genetically eccentric. I apologize"
"I-it's alright! I understand," she coughed. "The person im talking about is Mr. Leciro, he said he originated from Mesiah village. Mr. Leciro at the moment is staying in one of our guild rooms."
"Can you call him for us?" Marxyllon asked.
"Uh, unfortunately, Mr. Leciro left earlier."
"He left? What time? Where did he go? What village?" I asked
"Calm down!" Marxyllon whispered as he pulled me behind.
"Oh, please do not worry. Mr. Leciro is staying in the guild for another 2 days, after all, he signed up for the guild examination. Maybe he left to go and experience the culture of the Heriondial capital, just like how you like the berries from the Mesiah Village." She happily explained to us
Matching her enthusiasm, Marxyllon clapped his hand. "I see! That's wonderful! Thank you for the information, we will come back again later!" He replied to her as he grabbed me outside
"Don't suddenly attack people," He whispered
"I didn't attack her," I replied as I walked away
"Wha- That's pretty much an attack, alright, maybe not much bu-, wait- where are you going?" He followed
"I'm going to find the princess."
"Shh! You do realize a lot of people are looking for her right now? you're pretty much broadcasting your words to everyone!" he shouts in my ear
Ugh
"Tell that to yourself!" As I covered my ears.
"Alright, my bad. Anyway, where should we start?"
"I don't know. Let's go our separate ways. I'll go look at the marketplace; you go to the blacksmiths." I ordered.
"Huh, but I want to check the marketplace!" he whines.
"You'll only buy food if you go there! We need to find Leciro!" I screamed
"Agh, alright, I get it. But you do realize I have zero idea of what she looks like in disguise, right?"
I scratched my head. "Just look for a petite guy with white hair reaching up to the shoulder and don't forget the Amethyst eyes," I whispered.
Marxyllon nods as he walks away in the opposite direction.
Meanwhile, I, on the other hand, start walking all over the marketplace, hoping to see the princess again. Unfortunately, even after checking inside famous restaurants, cafes, and other places, I wasn't able to see even a glimpse of her shadow.
"Where the hell is that person?" I muttered, sitting alone on the empty bench, pulling one leg up and hugging it tightly as I sank into thought.
"LUUUCCCCCYYYY," Marxyllon called out to me as he ran to where I'm sitting. He's holding a lot of food in his hand
"Dont call me that!"
"But if I call you by your name, people will see that the crown prince is shamelessly sitting in such a strange position," Marxyllon whined again as he corrected my bad habit of sitting with one leg pulled up on the chair.
"What do you mean weird!" I sat properly again. "And I told you to look for the princess, not to sightsee!"
"I did! But I didn't see her anywhere. Also, there's a bunch of explosions around the blacksmith's street. People walked away afraid of what was going on, so I followed the crowd back to the central capital," He reported.
"Shouldn't you check what that explosion was? You're the future lord of Heriondial, yet you'd rather sit and eat than ensure the safety of your subjects."
He pouts. "But the knights were there, and if they saw me, they would only announce my presence. And then that shady other faction will know I'm outside, and then agaiiiiiin, they'll realize that the duke is making a move," he complained
"Alright - alright. You really never run out of excuses."
"Thank you, I have my mother's genes," he proudly said as he ate his food.
It's already noon, but there is not even a single sign of the princess.
"Shall we go back to the guild? Maybe the explosion scares her back to her room. Maaaaaybe she thought the explosions came from her pursuers," Marxyllon suggested.
Better than nothing, I guess.
Going back to the guild, the receptionist greeted us as we entered.
"Ah, there you are!"
"Why is there any news of Mr. Leciro?" Marxyllon asked
"Is he back?"
The guild receptionist smiled. "Yes, he came back earlier. Apologies, I didn't have a chance to tell him that people were looking for him. As he was urgently asking for guild requests."
"Requests? Is he even allowed to do quests? He hasn't passed the exam, right?" I asked
"Oh yes, non-guild passer isn't allowed to take combatant quests, but normal herb gathering is alright."
"Herb gathering?"
"Yes, he took a request to gather herbs."
"What herbs?"
"It's Hernflo, it grows below cliffs around the Herion forest."
"The Forest?!" Marxyllon shouts, grabbing me on the shoulder. "Monsters have been gathering around the forests!"
"What!?"
Marxyllon grabbed me as we ran outside.
"We need to find her, immediately!"
"What do you mean, monsters gather around the forest? Isn't that pretty close to the capital?" I followed him
"I know. But ever since the mysterious collection of Haplon Kingdom, monsters migrate towards the forests, and multiple reports of wolf appearances have been sent to the duke."
"Damn it!"
I dashed leaving Marxyllon running behind me as I entered the forest straight to the cliffs.
"Shit- she's not here."
"Lucian, there are traces of harvesting around here. She might be near!" Marxyllon shouted from behind.
I ran and ran, my legs burning with each stride. All I could hear was the pounding rhythm of my heart, thundering in my chest as I gasp for air. The sound reverberated in the silence—until a sudden scream shattered it.
!!
I followed the sound as it became clearer and clearer.
In the distance, I saw the princess staggering, losing her balance before collapsing to the ground.
"LECIRO!" I shouted
When I reached her, I knelt beside her and checked her vitals.
"WHAT HAPPENED?!" Arriving behind me was Marxyllon, pulling his sword as he faced towards the dark liquid pond in front of us.
"It's alright—she just passed out, but she's breathing." I let out a sigh of relief as I carried her in my arms.
"Oh, thank the gods."
"We need to get out of here before the other wolf arrives."
"Right," Marxyllon agreed. "Follow me. I know a route we can use faster to go back to the mansion," Marxyllon adds as he goes in front.
Carrying the princess, I used half of my cape to hide her as we traveled back to the Heriondial castle.