Anciently Forbidden

Chapter 20: Do you remember?

Long self-realization struck Vince that made him forget the presence of the naughty princess in front of him for a while.

"Brave warrior, eat this, the most delicious part of the roasted wild boar." The young princess handed Vince a piece of roasted meat.

"Thank you." Vince, who was lost in his thoughts, took the roasted meat and thanked the princess politely, with a sincere smile. Without thinking much of the possible consequences, he focused on his food again and was estimating the possible pros and cons of his feelings.

The mentally struggling Vince wasn't aware of the princess' silly laugh after receiving his smile. She sat straight and proudly looked at her brother with a naughty and confident smile. Prince Lontoc chuckled and shook his head to his sister's silliness. Prince Aiji who saw this was quiet. Too quiet!

The old man was quiet too but his eyes were restless.

After dinner, the warriors went back to their positions. Prince Lontoc led Vince and the still perfectly quiet Prince Aiji to their hut.

"Our huts are quite distant from each other to confuse our attackers. We have twelve huts built around here to house our soldiers. Two were built for our family and one for our guests."

"Your tribe is quite accommodating." Vince praised the host prince while Prince Aiji was quietly listening.

The prince's unusual silence worried Vince. He was eager to talk to Prince Aiji, but the hospitable host, Prince Lontoc was still there. Vince was planning to confess the feelings that troubled his heart and mind.

"Will the prince accept my feelings?"

Vince was nervous. The time he spent with Prince Aiji was less than a month. Though the prince was good to him, he was not confident. What if the prince condemned this kind of love?

"We are here."

They stopped in front of a finely-built but. Prince Lontoc invited them in.

A stone hearth filled with dry woods was lit that illuminated the entire hut. Vince's eyes wandered inside. The wall and the floor were built with well-cut woods. It was pleasant to the eyes. There was a red cloth divider that separates the bedroom. There were also mats and cotton sheets that were neatly placed in the corner.

"Friends, please take a good rest. I will take my leave now."

"Good prince, thank you for your kindness." Vince expressed his gratitude while Prince Aiji nodded to Prince Lontoc.

"No, you don't have to. You are my sister's savior, so you are very welcome here. The two of you have a good rest."

Prince Lontoc turned to leave but stopped at the door.

"By the way, I sent a warrior to the tribe to pick some wine. I will send him here if he comes back."

Vince thanked Prince Lontoc again. He was too eager to be alone with Prince Aiji to settle things, so he immediately shut the wooden door and leaned on it while gathering his courage.

Prince Aiji was leaning at the window, looking at the glowing fireflies that surrounded a tree. The sight was very enchanting.

"Prince Aiji, can we talk?"

Vince waited for a few seconds, no one heard him.

"Please don't get mad at me."

Vince was pleading, but there was only a long silence.