Kingdom: Another World

Chapter 24: Dilemma

"Yelena!" I heard Rio yell.

The next thing I know, my body flew after a force hit me. "Ugh!" I cried when my back hit hard to the trunk of the tree. I coughed up blood.

"HOW DARE YOU MAKE A MESS OF MY LAIR!!!" Rio yelled, her aura glowing deep red. She looked at me, her eyes full of hatred. "You dare hit your friend – ?" she asked.

I scoffed. "Heh. She's not my friend." I said.

"What?" Rio said, puzzled, then looked at Vice who's trembling as she cried.

I threw my jacket to her. I looked at her coldly. "Enjoy your friendship with Rio." I told her, my voice as cold as ice. "Have fun." I said and left.

Rio's POV

"Hey." I called her, but she didn't answer. She's still shaking with fear. I thought. If I had just stepped in a little too late, Yelena would have – I closed my eyes and shook away the thoughts. "Here." I said and helped her up. "Ah." I muttered when I noticed Yelena's jacket. "This is – " I said and my face went red in anger.

I was about to throw it away when Vice pulled from me.

My eyes went wide. "Vice! You - !" I said, then tried to pull it back but she hugged it. "Vice..." I called, looking at her full of pity. "You're..." I said, tears fell from our eyes. I hugged her. "I'm sorry. If I realized it sooner – " I sighed and remembered how she got here.

Flashback

I heard a knock. "Hmm? Who could that be?" I muttered as I looked back. "Yelena? Or – " I said and opened the door of my barrier. "Vice – " I exclaimed when I saw her outside. "Why ... it's late... Vice!" I cried, shocked when she suddenly collapsed on the ground. I helped her up. "Vice, what happe – " I looked at the glowing thing in his neck. "This is – " I said and tried to touch it but I got zapped. "I knew it. This was made by a witch." I said and looked at Vice. "What the hell happened?" I muttered.

I looked at Vice's face. She's sweating so much. I thought.

...

"Thanks." She said when I gave her honey juice.

"What the hell happened?" I asked then flew beside her.

She laid down on the couch. "Yelena said... I'm her friend." she said.

"Huh?" I said, surprised. "But aren't you his friend - ?" I stopped when I saw her face was serious. "You..." I said. "You don't want to be her friend?" I asked.

She didn't answer.

My forehead knotted. "Hey. I treated you as my friend because you're a friend of Yelena. And now you're telling me you don't want to be her friend?" I said. "Why? She's a princess. She's good-looking. She's kind. She's friendly – " I said as I listed all the good qualities of Yelena.

"She's a liar. She's an idiot. She's stupid. She's a con artist." Vice said.

"There's that, too, though I don't know what the last one means – " I said, then looked at her. "You don't mean that, right? It's not the reason why you don't want to be her friend?" I said. "Why?" I asked again, but she didn't answer. I sighed, then looked at the necklace. "Where did you get that?" I asked, changing the subject.

"This?" she said, showing me the necklace. "From my aunt. She said this is a lucky charm. Why?" she asked.

Her aunt? I thought. But it's from a witch. So her aunt is a witch? I stared at her. And she's not aware of it. I sighed. "It's glowing earlier." I said.

"Oh." She muttered. "My aunt told me my life is in danger if this would glow." She explained, then smiled sadly.

"That's why you collapsed earlier?" I said. "How come? What happened?" I asked.

"That – " she said, then sighed. "I just realized something important." She answered.

I stared at her. She doesn't want to talk about it, either. I thought. "Okay." I said. "Where do you stay? I'll show you the exit of this forest – " I said.

"That, uhm..." she said. I looked at her. "Can I stay here for the meantime?" she asked.

"Ha?!" I said, surprised. "Why? Are you hiding from someone? Debt - ?" I stopped. She looked sad. "So you're really hiding. And from someone." I said. She didn't answer. I sighed. "I don't get it, but fine. you can stay here." I told her. "Just help me in my chores."

She nodded and smiled. "Thanks." He said.

I sighed. This could be really because of Yelena. I thought. What an idiotic pair.

Flashback end

"Vice..." I said, then sighed. She's now sleeping on the couch. "Just what the hell happened between the two of you? I haven't seen Yelena that angry – " I sighed. I covered Vice with a blanket. "Rest well." I said and put my hand on her head. "Have a sweet dream, even if it's just this time..." I said and closed my eyes.

Morning, in the castle.

Emil's POV

"So you're really reconsidering marrying my daughter?" the West King, Yako, said. They're having a meeting.

Princess Yelena nodded. "Yes, sir." She answered.

The East King rolled his eyes. "I really don't approve of collaborating with the West – " he said.

"Dear!" the Queen said and hit the East King's arm.

The West King sighed. "I am deeply grateful for this, Princess Yelena." He said.

Princes Yelena just nodded.

She's marrying her childhood friend, Prince Vincent, yet she doesn't look happy about it. I thought. What the heck is going on? Isn't Prince Vincent her first love - ?

The princess looked at our way. "Oril, Emil." She called.

"Yes, Your Highness?" we answered.

"Please escort the West King outside the kingdom." She said.

"Yes, Your Highness!" we answered.

"Mickey." I called when I walked beside him – a royal knight of the West Kingdom.

The three of us are walking behind the West King. He didn't answer.

I sighed, then forced a smile. "Looks like the prince will be back – " I said, trying to lift the mood.

"Don't talk as if you don't know it's impossible." He said. I looked at him. "There's no way the princess will defeat the evil king and save our prince – "

I stopped walking. "I know you hate me, but don't you dare badmouth our princess." I said, controlling my anger. "You forgot you're still inside the East Kingdom, and you're insulting the princess." I told him.

He just looked at me, then followed his king.

I sighed. "What was that?" Oril asked.

I shook my head. "Nothing. Just a pain from my past." I said.