The Queen's Crown

Chapter 4

Something happened. Come back. -Ran

I've only been gone in ten hours. what could have happened at the school that she had to use a black not?

I unconsciously bit my nails, walking back and forth in front of Grey's tent. Whatever expression he had while watching me, I didn't care.

"You're sweating a lot. Are you panicking?" Grey's voice broke the concentration that I struggled to have.

"Shut up."

"You know, it won't hurt to ask me." He gave a half-smile. He's obviously pleased with my predicament again. I didn't want to satisfy him, but I knew he was the only one who could give me an answer right now.

"What happened there?"

His eyes went round, as if surprised that I really did ask him. "Jadren just gave a visit." He answered.

I turned white. My heart pounded hard in my chest as if war drums were playing. No. he can't harm her. He can't kill her.

"It was just a vi---,"

"Just give me a horse. Grey." I clenched my fists. Resentment and worry was surging in me.

"Are you sure you want to--,"

"Grey!" I shouted. I didn't care about the guards anymore, or Jack rushing towards us with angry face.

"You're still impatient as before." he said. He gestured for an armored soldier to come. "Give her the things I told you to prepare. Make sure your horses are fast enough."

The soldier nodded, and brought a horse- a war horse- to me. He was a desert horse, the same breed as Khan.

I'm sure he's fast.

"He's one of my favorite horses. Keep him safe. There's enough food and water there. Mayson will go with you."

"I don't need a guard." I mounted the black stallion.

"He's to send a message to your sister. Not your guard."

I whirled to see him fixing the flask on the horse. I blinked in confusion.

It was weird. Everything he had been doing since I met him seems so foreign to me. His smile, and now I'm watching him tie the knot carefully.

When he was done, he looked at me. And our eyes met again.

This time, none of us gave each other a glare or a suspicious look.

We just stared.

"Be careful." He said in a soft low voice.

 I didn't know what happened to him these past five years that we didn't meet. I didn't know what changed him, or what softened the once icy eyes that could penetrate anyone. But one thing's for sure, I didn't change my view on him. the memories still hunt me in my sleep.

I glanced away, and turned my back on him. I couldn't stomach sweet words coming from a deceiver.

I gripped the horse with my legs and pushed my hips forward. "Go!" I shouted.

In no less than a minute, I was on the road again.

**

The strong wind went against me. It was still in the first week of September, but it was already freezing cold. I expect no less from the Cold province of Hustun.

"--lly! Lady Ally!" I pulled the reins, and we stopped. I looked at the messenger of Grey.

"We've been riding for hours; the horses can't take it anymore." He said.

Our rides were indeed tired. I felt bad. Because of many things, I neglected the horses that I've ridden. Roy would scold me for being an irresponsible owner if he was here. But this wasn't my horse anyway.

"Mayson, is it?" I asked, he nodded. "Let's rest for a while. I'm also hungry."

Minutes passed, I was already sitting with Mayson around a small fire. A bird meat was sizzling on top of it.

The fire lighted his face. I couldn't help but study him. After all, we were trained to always observe things. Though my observation skill is nothing close to Joan, I still have little in me.

He looked older than me, maybe in his early thirties. When he removed his armor a while ago, I saw a wedding ring hanging on his neck. His light blue eyes and dark brown hair told me he was a pure Nygil citizen. He looked like a man that had a troop of his own. A wound scar on his arms kind of proved it.

"There are younger men that could have been a messenger. From your scars and build, you look experienced to do a menial task." I spoke.

A small curve formed on his face, "Exactly why I needed to do it. And no matter what, it's his orders."

"Oh? Don't you feel beaten? To be ordered by a young prince, I mean. He's only 19."

I wanted to get him to say something. If he didn't like the prince, I could get intel from him. And maybe I could have a time where I'd be the one giving him a mocking smile.

But my expectations failed me. He only chuckled and looked at me.

"You hate him that much that you also want others to hate him?"

I looked away, ashamed of what I was planning.

"He seemed to really care about you." He spoke low. But that low voice incited a fire in my heart.

I scoffed. That was really funny.

If he really cared about me, why did he lie to me saying that my family is safe in Saxeus? That the Last Border War stopped ever since I entered the East Nygil Palace?

I did not mind the torture of his brother and the insults of his father. I suffered all kinds of shame and humiliation in his land because he told me my family was safe, they will be.. as long as I stay there.

He promised me.

No matter how cold he was to me, I believed him. I believed him when he assured me.

But the truth came to me. The truth that the royal family of Saxeus was annihilated. All thanks to the information the young prince Grey had given them.

Whenever his brother would beat me, Grey would always offer me a drink. And I would sleep for as long as it takes to regain my strength again. He was the one who volunteered to keep me under his house. When he said he would beat me to death, he never did. Though he could have ordered me to be killed. He didn't.

I thought there was still kindness in that cruel family, but I didn't know he was the worst of them.

When I entered Knights Academy, I knew what drink he had given me.

It was a truth serum. And all information he used against my father....

It all came from me.

"You said a while ago that an inexperienced man is enough to do this messenger job," he continued speaking, oblivious of the resentment reflecting in my eyes, "It's because my main job is to protect you. He even---,"

I stood.

I pulled my daggers and reached for the cooked meat. He seemed surprised by my sudden act, but I didn't care.

"Enough with the talk. We still have a long way to go."

He must have noticed the displeasure in my tone. He snapped his mouth shut and we ate in silence.

Only the crickets and the wheezing of the cold air were heard. Until we reached the school at dawn, he never spoke a word about the second prince again.