The Unseen Prince

I Escape from Reality Through You

Barbara POV

'Lord Barbatos excuse my language but.... shit shit shit...', Screamed my thoughts. I was on my way to go check up on the prince now that his training should have been over by then and I guess I was right since I didn't find him at the training grounds rather outside of my clinic, unconscious. I rushed him inside and immediately felt for a pulse. His majesty had a faint pulse but still had one nonetheless. My head was pounding with all of the thoughts of 'what if's..?' passing by as I ran over to my closet to retrieve my vision.

Now I sat at his bedside with his treatment finished anxiously awaiting a sign of recovery. I was welcomed by the kind sight of small cuts fizzling out into nothingness but a small light. Guess my vision still works after so long... sure it's tiring to use but in dire moments I will always burden the pain when making wounds disappear rather than the latter, the pain of a death due to unneeded selfishness. I sigh a breath of relief as I stand from my chair to go put this medallion away humming a small tune until I heard a heart-dropping tone from behind me.

"Wait!... D....Don't leave too...... Please.. Don't leave me.", croaked the broken soul. I turned to see a frightened Prince with tears welted up in his eyes staring back into mine. At that moment I felt my heart stop beating at the sorry sight before starting up again when clammy hands took hold of my shoulders. Shaking my head out of the trance I was quick to usher the weeping boy back into bed, whispering promises to stay by his side if he listens and that I would never leave him. I mean I had been caring for the prince for a few years now since I'm just shy of about two or so years from his age. It was a genuine surprise to see someone with such a calm and composed demeanor break down shaking in your arms, whether it was out of confusion or fear I honestly have no clue how he could be reduced to such state. The older boy slowly calmed down after lying in my arms for some time and once I looked down to check up on him I noticed his chest slowly rising then falling, finally at peace in his dreams. I didn't want to break my promise with him but it wasn't going to be easy when my clinic is often visited at all hours of the day. I reluctantly removed him from my grasp and covered him up with a blanket before exiting the room to tend to some more injured citizens. For a few hours, I made sure to check up on him until the fifth time where I was met with a poorly written note that read, "Thak U :)" 

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No one's POV btw 

Razor carelessly exited the kingdom, ignoring the questioning guard who was wondering how he kept getting back into the kingdom then leaving. The prince made his way down the dirt path with the intent of meeting that farmer again, after all, it'd only make sense to keep watch over the person who knew his identity. He gently knocked on the wooden door which opened to reveal a man holding some stick seemingly using it to stand but when Razor offered a hand to help the older man walk he simply refused and informed him that Bennett was working the fields today, advising him to not interrupt him. 

With a sad smile played on his lips, the boy nodded in compliance and thanked him for the information. Razor spun around on the heels of his feet to turn in the opposite direction but briefly paused to observe the nearby woods, only snapping back to reality when the door behind him closed shut. He ran off towards the woods something luring him in, yelling out his name and rendering him helpless to his cluttered thoughts. Just about to walk into the clearing of the forest he was stopped by a gentle hand placed on his shoulder followed by a concerned voice. "I don't think a prince such as yourself should enter the Waryha Woods all by yourself... You should always go adventuring with friends, no?"

Razor's eyes slowly met the concerned gaze who just happened to be Bennett. He didn't know why but the name of the forest sounded familiar or why his face suddenly felt numb, "Razor... No friends outside of castle- sorry... I apologize for the interruption of farming..er ..." Broken apologies or not Bennett was just glad to see the red-eyed prince after failing to assure himself he hadn't messed up last night. "Razor went home... Floor was okay though.... why did you move me?", asked the curious Prince. Bennett really had no answer to any of his questions or responses that always sounded questionable, he didn't want to be rude but it was genuinely difficult to understand the Prince at times during their few shared interactions. "Well, the floor is no place for someone of your standard... heh..... Never mind that- want to help me with the adventurers guild? My adventure team needs more members and the guild needs more people to stay open here.", Offered the simple farmer boy. The prince frowned at the realization that his friend does look at him for his title, a major turn off to their whole friendship but that was soon changed once he was given the offer to help. Finally having the chance to do something himself rather than a maid offering to do it was a breath of fresh air to the Prince. "I... Would like that."

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The pair went around the village, knocking on the doors and informing people about what the adventurers guild does and how they operate along with the promise of mora and other rewards for participating and completing tasks. Bennett was thankful for the company Razor provided and the occasional assistance in putting up some posters around the village, their efforts combined resulting in about five new members and potentially more with the help of the posters. After Bennett finished talking with the last person he explained to Razor how he helped and thanked him which surprisingly earned him a request from the prince. 

"Could Razor... Adventure with Bennett?", He curiously asked now that he's learned of what adventurers do thanks to their advertising. To his surprise, the prince was suddenly within the arms of the farmer. An awkward hug for sure but it was obviously important to one of them. Razor slowly hugged the other male back, slowly resting his head on his neck to capture his intoxicating scent of wild rosemary and hits of...charred wood. Bennett was surprised to feel the Prince gently breathing on his neck, immediately sending a shiver down his spine followed up by light blushing. "Hey.... I just wanted to thank you for wanting to- I don't have many friends either so I'm happy to have you as part of my team!... We don't have to hug for any longer though, people might start staring.", Bennett quietly told the prince which he was soon after met by the cool afternoon wind now that the prince had excused himself from their hug assuming Bennett no longer wanted to.

Razor walked ahead of the blushing farmer, content with continuing to head back down the path to the familiar home alone if needed. Bennett snapped out of It not long after and yelled curses to the boy for leaving him behind, rambling about friendship whereas Razor just softly chuckled at his exasperated complaints. It was comforting for both of them to ignore their social status and see themselves as just some friends who feel like they've known each other for ages..... an escape from their worries. 

This was nice and it stayed this way for a good few weeks, Razor even invited Bennett to be his guest at some formal celebration the castle would be having that night. They very quickly became close friends, tied to the hip the village folk would even say but how will their friendship fair after that night of partying. 

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You'll learn in the next chapter- I mean I could squish it in here since I've only typed around 1368 words this chapter... I know it's short but again I didn't have too much motivation tonight and I'm tired to the point where I'm shaking so I ain't spell checking- deal with it fuckers :) 

Love you))