The Enchantress

27.

Prince Chaeyoung.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you." Leo said as he walked with us out of the castle.

"Yes. Keep in mind you are a Prince therefore you're too valuable to carry around everywhere."

We reached the castle gates. He offered his hand.

"Sometimes I just wish I was born a commoner... Well, Just send word and we'll ride and fight with you."

"You'll soon have your time. We never know it might be soon." I said before mounting my horse and ride towards our troops.

Momo, who's looking grim, rode forward to meet me.

"Don't you dare leave me out. I almost died from worrying."

I chuckled. "The Prince was just cautious. You know me, I'll make sure nothing will happen."

"Good thing nothing happened. But don't do that again. There's a reason why me and these soldiers are here." He gestured towards the troops in front of us. "Wait... Prince? I didn't see a prince at the ambush."

"You did, he's dressed like a soldier too, Leo."

"Oh. Just like you then. Is dressing up a soldier a thing amongst Princes? Seriously does girls dig soldiers more than a prince?"

"Not all men think about girls all the time like you Momo. He hate his father, his fierce mother act more like the king and he's eager to fight, he even want to come with us."

The general approached us. "All ready, my Lord."

"Good. Let's ride." It was early in the evening so I decided to push our way towards the last Kingdom, Cait. It would be a long journey so this is a good start so we could reach there by nightfall.

A few hours later we stopped and had our tents prepared. I walked around for a while. A few minutes of walking I found the river.

I went to the edge and sat by a rock. I watched how the peaceful river flows. My mind flashed my last memory of a river a few years back. It's where I was found by Princess Mina, who's called Lady Sharon by then. Her face now clear in my mind's eye. I found her and yet I can't have her... yet...

As soon as I finished this mission, I'll visit her. I need to spend some time with her for I fear darkness are getting closer. I don't fear death, yet what I fear is not seeing her again. I've vowed to fight for my kingdom and all of Kyria and now I have a deeper purpose, cause I'll be fighting for her.

I heard a sound behind me so I immediately drew my sword and turned to swing it. I then heard a clash of metal as my sword hit another.

"My Lord..." Rowan said looking shocked, his sword not fully drawn seeing the tip of it is still in it's scabbard.

I stared at him for a while thinking if he's here to finish me. But then he didn't attack so I withdrew my sword and went at ease.

"I apologize, my Lord. I'm not sneaking up on you." He said as he put away his sword.

I took a deep breath to calm myself. "What do you need, Rowan." I sat back at the rock.

I felt him sit on another rock facing me but I kept my position facing the river.

"I... I had been meaning to talk to you since... since after we left the Kingdom of Once." He seemed nervous as he took a deep breath before he continued. "My Lord... I...  I am from the Kingdom of Once. We were told that a prince from the Kingdom of Twice are invading kingdoms one by one and have been growing in arms. So our King chose me to spy on your kingdom. Joining you in your mission was never part of my mission. Yet it happened for a reason. We were wrong to believe on what the others said about you."

He stopped talking, I can feel his stare.

"Was your mission to kill me or the King?"

"My mission is to spy on your kingdom, my Lord."

"And why say this now instead of when we're in your kingdom?"

"I... I have no communication from my kingdom since I joined you. So I don't know what to do yet. I received a confirmation of termination of my mission just right before we left there. That's why I'm here. I'm not an enemy, my Lord, we were never been. I would fight beside you for my kingdom and for Kyria."

He then stood, went in front of me and kneeled. "In behalf of my King, I apologize."

"Stand up soldier, you need not kneel before me. I have known for a long time, even before we left my kingdom. That's why you're here, I want my enemy near."

He looked at me as if he can't believe. His eyes were wide and was unable to speak.

"A newly stationed soldier with your speed isn't convincing. You know we have spies as well, right? I thought someone would reveal it when we're at your kingdom, but no one did."

He couldn't look at me in the eye instead he stared at his hands while still kneeling there.

"Aye, my Lord. For we don't know how you'll react. They were afraid you'll strike me as soon as you know. But it turns out I was the one who's surprised."

"I wasn't mad... but disappointed, for your skills are exceptional. Your talent are beyond my boys yet you lack experience."

"I agree, my Lord. My time in this mission was well spent, for I learned a lot under your wing. I also wish to stay but..." He stopped looking at me then looked back at his hands. "But after the mission, I wish to go back to my kingdom."

I couldn't blame him. He would want to go back to his home, to her. I suddenly felt a pang in my heart. The truth of him being Mina's lover hit me hard. I could make him stay, yet I won't. I never force anyone for my personal gain.

"I wouldn't ask anyone out of their will to stay. Everyone have a choice."

"I agree. I've learned about that while staying with the boys. I hope you will still have me when I come back, my Lord."

"We could use someone like you specially in the real battle."

He smiled, stood and bowed.

"Thank you, my Lord. It'll be truly an honor fighting with you. I'll go now and leave you be." He said and bowed again before leaving.

He left me thinking more. So he wants to return home, why wouldn't he?

My heart sank thinking he'll be reunited with Mina. The thought of him hugging her, kissing her is unbearable. I took a rock and threw it towards the river, venting out my frustration.

I have never been jealous in my entire life, until now. I don't even have the right to be for she's someone else's lover. But now that I found her after 3 years of pain staking search, I can't give her up now.