Chapter 2: Return Home

I finally made it home thanks to the man.

"Well princess, I'll leave you here then." He said and turned around.

"W-wait….I haven't had a chance to thank you properly!" I said.

"Hmph, do you think I care?" He scoffed. I clenched my fist and took a deep breath.

"You didn't have to help me, yet you did. I want to thank you for that." I bowed. Suddenly, I heard many footsteps running towards me from behind. The man and I both turned around to see who it might be.

"NEL!" The emperor, my father gasped.

"Lady Nel!" Tynave shouted. Other soldiers and servants were present to see me.

"Father….Tynave…it's alright…I'm okay. This man helped me." I said. My father's face softened when he looked at the red-eyed man.

"I want to thank you properly good sir." The king bowed. The young man looked uneasy and he began to shift his feet, as if preparing to run.

"We must give you hospitality for helping our dear princess." My father smiled and took him by the arm.

"W-Wait, I have things to do!" He objected, but no one seemed to be listening. At the sight I began to laugh.

"Lady Nel, don't run off again. You gave us nearly a heart attack." Tynave frowned. I patted her back gently and shook my head.

"I'm sorry….I won't do it again. However…never mind." I said and headed towards my room.

Quickly I changed into my battle garments to train.

"Father….Is my fate to be married off?" I asked myself. I retrieved my precious daggers that were kept hidden in a box and sheathed them both in sheaths on my back. I headed towards the training room. Meanwhile, the man that helped me was facing luxury.

"I don't want any of this! Just let me go my way!" He barked. The servants simply giggled and continued to brush his long hair. (They unraveled the hair that was bound by the tight ribbons.) At the training room I slashed the dummies apart with finesse and speed.

"Lady Nel, a woman shouldn't play with daggers." A familiar voice spoke. I turned around to see Aide, the one with long, black hair that was tied in a loose ponytail.

"Leave me be you wretch!" I barked at him.

"You know that you will be married to me so why don't you just accept that?" He asked, hurt.

"I despise you so leave!" I snapped at him. I hated everything about him, his devious, yet beautiful looks, that lecherous smile, that long hair, the cat-like eyes, the cocky attitude, everything!

"….In time; my wife-to-be, in time you will grow to love me." He smiled cockily. In anger, I threw my dagger at him, missing his face by inches, which cut into the wall behind him deeply. Aide became slightly angry. He went towards the dagger and tried to pull it out, but it was too deep so he walked out of the room.

"Hmph….I won't submit." I scoffed and walked out of the room. Suddenly, I bumped into someone.

"Ah, I'm sorry." I apologized and nearly gasped to find out who I bumped into. "Is your mind somewhere…Nel?" A woman with long, braided silver hair greeted.

"Clair! Oh, it's so good to see you again!" I exclaimed. Clair is a childhood friend of mind and a great strategist in battle. She controls the defense team of Aquaria. Clair laughed heartily and patted me on the back.

"It looks like you've been training well! I wished you were with me on the battlefield! Come, let us talk!" Clair smiled and led me to the garden.

I told her of the recent events, including the event with the young man.

"Oh….so that's why the kingdom is a little bit lively now. I think I've seen that man…" Clair mumbled.

"Is he the one with the black and blond hair?" She asked. I nodded and instantaneously she began to giggle.

"What's so funny?" I asked, bewildered.

"Oh….nothing….He just doesn't seem to be the type to rescue lost, beautiful women, that's all." She laughed.

"What are you getting at? Don't get any ideas Clair." I said, while staring at her suspiciously. She continued to giggle and I became slightly angry.

"Oh come on Nel, I was joking! What happened to our bond?" She chuckled. I suddenly felt guilty. She's right, what happened to our bond? She's always away on a mission.

"Hmm….a soldier….I think it's an announcement Nel." Clair said with a frown. The soldier confronted us and bowed down low.

"Lady Nel, please come to the dining hall." The soldier said.

"….Go on Nel, I suppose your father is going to make a grand speech and thank the gentleman who saved you." Clair sighed.

"Clair, you're coming with me." I told her and took her by the arm.

"Yes, you may bring Lady Clair as well." The soldier said and escorted us to the dining hall after I changed into proper garments.

A long table was placed in the middle of the beautiful hall and delicious delicacies were placed on it. Candles painted the hall with a light glow and everyone's face was full of cheeriness.

"Never have I seen the people look so…happy." Clair smiled.

"It looks like they are willing to forget about the war…even for a short while." I smiled as well. We sat near my father and the man that helped me sat next to him. Come to think of it, I haven't asked his name yet.

"Let us give a toast to the young man! The brave and caring youth who sacrificed his time to bring our princess back to safety!" Father roared above the chattering. Every clapped politely and my father made the young man stand up and take a bow. His face was flushed and he looked tired. When he caught a glimpse of me, he turned away.

"…..He's angry at me." I observed.

"….Now that I look at it, he really is a handsome guy." Clair giggled, ignoring me. I clapped my face in frustration.

"I'm tired……" I grumbled and excused myself. Clair was too busy having fun to realize my sudden disappearance.

I walked around in the dark of the training room, gathering my thoughts and calming myself down.

"…They are wasting their time. They should be fighting a war." I spoke to myself. I slipped onto my battle equipment and began focusing my energy.

"Should you really train in the dark? What if someone attacks you suddenly?" Someone sneered at me. I turned abruptly around and met face-to-face with the multi-colored hair man.

"Hmm, why are you here?" I asked him.

"I escaped from that maggot of a king of course. It was your fault that I was there in the first place." He scowled. I felt like punching him, one for making fun of my father and two for saying that it is my fault.

"You look angry, come on and show me what you've got. From the looks of those poorly designed battle garments, you know some moves." He mocked me.

"Enough…that's the last straw you'll pull today!" I shouted and charged at him, but he gracefully flipped to the side and wrapped his arms around me, thus trapping me.

"Let me go you bastard!" I shrieked. "I must admit, if you hit me, you would have left a mark, but you're too slow." He smirked mischievously. I struggled against his strong grip, but ended up hurting myself because of his metallic arm. Finally I gave up and he let me go.

"…What's your name?" I asked coldly.

"….Albel…Albel Nox." He said. Albel….

"Are you really a mercenary?" I asked him.

"You don't trust me?" He chuckled evilly.

"…..No…..The truth is I don't." I admitted.

"I've loyalty to no one girl. You don't have to trust me." He said and walked out. I couldn't help but follow him.


Albel and Nel have now met. Does Nel have feelings for the cold mercenary? Chapter 3: The Mercenary