Chapter 5: To travel with a Dragon
"It'll take us a while to get to Airyglyph. We have to pass by several towns." Albel's subordinate explained.
"Do we need to know that maggot?" Albel sighed; aggravated because this was about the third time the guard reported that same statement.
"I'm sorry sir, but it's my duty to report every hour." The guard apologized.
"Well then, it's also your duty to listen to your superiors, and I tell you to SHUT UP!" Albel snarled.
"Eeeep! Y-yes sir!" The clumsy man saluted and kept silent. I chuckled, despite how I was feeling now.
"Keh…I apologize that I picked this moron princess." Albel spat. To see Albel angry like this amused me. I laughed, temporarily forgetting that I was in pain.
"Ha-ha, I'm sorry…I shouldn't have laughed." I chuckled again and swept the hair out of my face.
"……Albel…why are you….looking at me like that?" I asked when I noticed him smiling.
"Tsk…amusing…you are trying to forget what your mission is….how pathetic." He smirked.
"…..I….yes….I want to forget." I admitted, catching Albel off-guard.
"Tell me…why did you give in so easily? You could have easily told your father to think of something else. Why did you submit to his will?" He asked me. That question hit me hard. Here I was…always fighting against my fate as a princess…always fighting my father's stupid decisions so why? Why did I give up? I…don't know…But…everyone looked at me…everyone in town and in the castle looked at me…almost saying that they are relying on me to end the war…their eyes said it all….It hurt me to know that being sold is the only way to stop the war…but for my country I am willing.
"Sir…it's getting dark. At this point, it'll be too dark to travel. We need to set up camp immediately." The guard said.
"…….Fine…..let's camp over there where that small spring is." Albel pointed out.
Albel started the fire with a simple spell and started mixing ingredients inside a pot. I laid out the sleeping material and the guard went somewhere we did not know.
"Well princess…it's just you and me since my useless subordinate decided to run away." Albel scoffed as he cooked a pot of soup. I blushed when I realized that we really are alone together. The fire reminded me how I first met Albel. Even though it was only a few days ago, it felt like it had been longer than that, as if it was destiny that we met.
"So Albel…where were you from?" I asked him.
"Why does that matter to you? I'll be gone from your life after this mission is over. Any information I give to you about myself will be useless." He grunted.
"What about it? It matters to me." I pouted. Albel chuckled, surprisingly.
"Let's just say that I wasn't born in such a luxurious place as yours."
"That doesn't say much about you."
"That's all you're getting." Albel concluded and tasted his soup.
"There's no need to know anything about me at all." He grunted again.
"The food is ready. Eat as much as you like." He said and handed me a bowl. I nodded a thank you and took a sip of the warm soup. Unfortunately, the soup had no satisfying taste.
"…You could have added more things in here." I complained and sipped some more.
"Well, instead of being a spoiled brat, why don't you cook for yourself then?" Albel snapped and finished his food, reaching the pot for seconds, but I stopped his hand.
"What is it now?" Albel growled.
"……….Umm…." Instead of saying anything, I decided to show him what she I going to do. With the spices and vegetables I took from the nearest bag, I stirred it in the pot. In 5 minutes, the soup was complete and I served myself and Albel.
"Go on." I urged the reluctant young man. He took a sip, but said nothing.
"How do you like it?" I asked with a smile on my face.
"Hmph…I've had better…" He muttered and continued to sip his soup, turning red in the process.
"Whatever." I giggled.
Before going to sleep, I decided to take a small bath in the spring. From its size, it looks like it can only fit one person. I undressed and sunk into the chilly spring.
"Hmm…" I sighed, satisfied. I wasn't worried about anyone peeping because the large trees covered the spring. You would have to climb over the tree to get to the spring. I closed my eyes and without realizing it, I whispered Albel's name.
"Mmm…why is it that he seems to always be in my head?" I groaned and splashed water onto my head. Suddenly, up in the trees something screeched loudly.
"Nguh…what was that!" I gasped and sunk deeper into the spring. The sounds became louder and my heart began to pound.
"Damn it…I'm completely vulnerable if a monster decides to attack…" I thought. Slowly, I reached for the nearest rock, but sensing that I took action, the creature swooped in to attack.
"Ah!" I gasped and ducked into the water once again, but that didn't seem to help because the monster dived into the water with me.
"Aaaaaahhh!"
Albel heard a scream and dropped his bowl to the ground.
"Nel!" He shouted and ran towards the spring with his sword in hand. I couldn't defend myself and suffered many scratches and slightly severe stabs from the enormous claws of the large bird monster. I huddled in the nearest tree, cornered.
"…To think I would die holding onto a towel wrapped around my body….what is this world coming to?" I chuckled slightly, clutching a sharp rock as my last resort. The large creature charged in with its sharpest claws heading towards my heart.
"This is it…" I thought.
"It's not over yet!" Albel shouted and jumped down from the tree, blocking the bird's claws with his sword.
"Albel!" I gasped, shocked. With half of his strength, Albel deflected the attack and sent the bird in the sky. Quickly Albel took me in his arms, trying to ignore that I was only covered by a small towel. I blushed furiously and my heart pounded harder than it had when the bird attacked me.
"It's not done with us yet. It's better if we get to an open area. This place is way too crowded." He explained and climbed over the tree.
"Are you hurt?" Albel asked while running.
"I…umm….I…" I couldn't speak because my face was burning up.
"Huh? What's wrong?" He asked and looked at me.
"Ah, don't look!" I yelped and did my best to cover my most private areas. Albel pretended that my modesty didn't matter, but I can tell that he was thinking dirty thoughts even though he claimed to not have that weakness.
"We have to bandage you up. You're hurt. If you lose anymore blood, you won't live," Albel said and cleared up his throat.
"I wonder how much time we have until that bird comes back," Albel thought and quickly took out some medical tape to tend to my wounds, trying his best to ignore what every man wants to see.
"Where are your clothes?" Albel asked.
"They were up the tree…" I blushed.
"….Here, take my shirt," Albel said and took off his black shirt to give to me.
"Stay here and wait for me."
"Albel…" I whispered. To think he would be so responsible…so manly. It made my heart pound and my face burn.
"I…can't be falling for him…it's too weird." I shook my head and got up. Luckily, Albel's shirt was long enough to conceal me. With my long, slender legs, I dashed passed the trees to follow Albel, but I didn't run far, because in the distance, he was walking towards me with my clothes in his arms.
"Albel…" I whispered and placed my hand on my chest.
"Tsk…that was a waste of time! I could have been sleeping had you not decided to take a bath with a monster!" He scoffed and tossed me my clothes. I couldn't help but laugh. Once again he was caught off-guard.
"Tsk…go to sleep." He ordered and walked passed me.
"Thank you…Albel." I smiled. He snaps like a dragon, but even a dragon has a heart.
Omigosh, how cute! Sorry, I can't help it. Even I jump up and down at my own writing. Sorry for the lack of updates. Gomen!