Love Shimmers

Chapter 3

For the next ten days, we travelled together to Kingdom of Ecrutia. Though there were still some soldiers disagreed with travelling together, they didn’t say anything. The next day, we decided to rest in an inn in a nearby city called Garland. We reserved the whole inn for 2 days and I got a room for myself which was located between Scarlett’s and Eric’s room.

After we prepared everything, I decided to go for a walk with Scarlett around the market as the people in Garland said that soon, there would be a festival taking place. I dismissed all the soldiers who were pretending as normal peasant and told them to have fun. For my safety, Rowan decided to accompany me. Unexpectedly, Eric also said that he wanted to go with me and Scarlett.

We took around 15 minutes in order to reach the market as there was some distance between the inn we were staying and the market. The marketplace was so crowded. All the citizens bought a mask for the festival. When I saw that, I also decided that we should join the fun and bought some mask for Scarlett, Eric and myself. We bought some festival snacks along the way to the centre of the market. Soon, the festival started. People started to light the lanterns they bought. I didn’t know about that so I didn’t buy any lantern. Just when I approach the stall full of lanterns, Eric appeared in front of me and gave me one lantern he bought.

Though I was surprised, I accepted it happily and both of us light of lanterns and let it go. The sky was really beautiful as all the lanterns rose and filled the sky with yellow lights. Suddenly, I was dragged out from the festival by a stranger. “Who are you? Stop dragging me.” I said but the only answer was the sound of our footsteps. Then, he stopped and used a rope to tie my hands. I sense danger and I was very afraid. Even though I learned some martial arts such as fencing while I was in my castle, I didn’t have any weapons. Out of choice, I shouted as hard as I could. To my surprise, I found Eric standing in front of me with a sword stained with blood and that man who tried to kidnap me lying on the floor full of grass with a deep wound and blood around him.

Before I could thank him, he said, “This place is dangerous. Let’s go out from here before there is any more trouble! I have found Scarlett and Rowan and they are running to get help.” He directly held my hand, pulled me and ran through the mountain of people. After we reached the tent, I found that he was wounded. Hurriedly, I took the medical box beside my bed and treated him. While I was treating him, he asked, “Seriously, who are you? This is the first time I ever saved someone without thinking of my own safety first.” I just gave him a shrug and said, “I am someone who you think I am, a merchant’s daughter from Ecrutia.” Disbelief was written in his face but he just kept quiet which made me feel really relieved.

After I finished covering his wounds, he went back to his room. I kept on thinking of what he meant when he said that. Those words kept on repeating on my mind. All the thinking made me tired and I slept soundly, closing my confusing day.

The next day, I found myself waking up full of sweat and I felt my body really exhausted. Last night, I had a nightmare of Scarlett and Rowan’s betrayal and deaths of a lot of soldiers who protected me. I was startled as someone was knocking on the door and that someone was Eric. By the time he entered, I was trembling so much that he directly held my hands and asked me what happened. I hesitated for quite long time and when he wanted to say something, I cut him off and told him everything about my dream. I felt really strange as this is the first time I trusted someone I barely known for a month.

As he heard my explanation about my dream, his expression slowly changed. Suddenly, I felt really cold and afraid by being beside him. The room fell into silence. At last, he said, “We must act before they do. There are two choices in front of you. One is to let them leave you or you leave them. I know it is hard for you as I realize that you treat Scarlett as true friend but her feeling for you is not real. I know you don’t believe me but try to recall the day where you were dragged by a stranger. That day, when I saw his knife, I suspected that he wanted to kill you. Now, you dreamed about their betrayal I am positive that your dream and that incident are connected.” I tried to think about what he said but when he tried to comfort me, I accidently shoved him and I felt tears falling from my eyes when I said, “Let go of me! Why should I believe you and do something bad to Scarlett and Rowan? Tell me why I should believe you who I have barely known, over them who served me all these years.”

           I could see that he was hurt by my statement. Regardless, he just said, “I did all these to protect you because I… I love you.” That word “love” struck my heart and before I open my mouth to say sorry and to take back my words, I was too late as he left already.

 Note: comment please and tell me if you like the story or if it is boring. Thank you for reading. :)