The Queen's Crown

Chapter 3

"Ally" he said again in a sigh. As if relieved that it was me.

I looked around and saw the royal guard's armor. The eagle symbol on their flag sparked a memory I had tried to forget. I looked at him again. Rage welled up and I'm pretty sure it was clearly shown in my emerald eyes. I was just running away from him. I didn't expect to meet him.

"Who do you think you're staring at?" a bearded skinny man yelled.

I did not tear away my eyes from him, but I knew better than to anger the army behind him. I forced my knees on the ground, and did my best to give a bow. "Thank you for saving me, your highness. " I bit my tongue. Somehow, they felt like burning as I said the words 'thank you'.

"Sir Jack, you don't need to push people to bow." He said. "Get up."

His voice still had that icy tone he used when ordering people around.

"Get her some clothes. We'll be camping for the night." He announced, and came down from his horse.

"I shot a rider from this direction, is he one of these guys?"

"Yes." I answered, still looking down.

There was a moment of silence between us. What will he tell me next? I haven't seen him ever since I ran away from his manor. I never even heard news about him except for his victorious battle against Liang Empire.

"Wait for someone to help you around." He said.

"You're---," he ignored me and called for a girl in a uniform I recognized as a maid's.

"But.. Prince Grey we can't let a stranger....." The man named Jack followed him with a weary face, glancing at me as if I was a lowborn girl.

The second prince came closer to me. He was taller now. But not pale skinned anymore. The sun in dessert border must have tanned him.

His had an imposing aura different from the child I remembered. Now that I think about it, his power now did not come from his title as the second prince. It was his name as the young general of East Nygil. I expected him to have his usual cold eyes, but there was something foreign that I could not seem to fathom.

"She's not a stranger. She's..." Grey glued his eyes at me, his eyes creasing with every second that passed. What was he going to say? That I'm no stranger because I was once a hostage in his manor? That I was the fallen princess of Saxeus, the prize of his father?

I looked back at him.

When I was forced to be his sparring partner, I spat at him. I did everything to hurt him, even if it meant getting a beating from his brother. I refused to be belittled.

There were still bits of dignity I struggled to defend in his house. And I won't end that dignity now. I still stared at him, hoping he gets the message that I don't want my identity to be revealed

After a long look, he said "She's Lady Ran's adopted sister."

My eyes went round. I don't know if I was going to be scared or relieved.

He knew. They knew where I was this whole time. They knew the identity I had taken in their own land. I felt like a fool. I was hiding under their noses all these time.

Skinny Jack glared at me, and followed the prince away. I was left there wondering why they didn't take me back if they knew where I was.

After a while, everyone was busy setting up tents and starting fires. I didn't help, because Khan is probably on his way back here. And when he gets here, miles away from Grey is enough for me. I could still run away from him.