As we head to the mountains, we only hear nature's sound. Birds chirping, occasional animals cross our paths, and sometimes, we encounter travellers. It has been like this for three whole days while marching.
And there's no bandits. I asked Robert why there are no bandits in the area and he told me they were wiped out a long time ago when the Dragon General was still leading. He went through each town and killed the bandits to the last man.
Imagining that again makes me shiver. But again, without them, this has become an incredibly boring journey.
"I'm bored Captain, when are we going to arrive?" I ask in an attempt to rid myself of boredom.
"Almost there sir but..." his sentence trails off and I get curious.
"But?"
He takes out the map and trots his horse next to me. "Which town do you think we should go through?"
"We're here," he says pointing in a place marked 'The Southern Plains', "these two paths head to the mountains. But each of them has a town," his finger pointing to the two towns, Kalos in the northeast, and Vellia in the northwest.
"Kalos is part of our territory but it's farther from us. While Vellia is independent now but is bigger than Kalos and closer to our position. Frankly I'm having doubts to whether Kalos will have all our needed supplies but I'm having reservations about entering Vellia. But you're the leader, so I shall defer to your decision."
I understand Robert's predicament. Although Vellia is closer and has a wider range of supplies we can buy, it's independent from us. And many of Lumiere's remaining territories are wary of the other independent towns and cities as they view them as traitors for leaving the kingdom. But my family understood. Lumiere was slowly collapsing, and in order to preserve their towns, they had to have independent ruling. The question is however, whether they'll turn their blades on us when they feel they've become more powerful.
As I think on the path, I hear some soldiers talking. "I heard Princess Sierra is in Vellia right now."
"You mean the princess of Cistan?" another asks.
"Yeah, that's the one. I heard she's visiting the towns and cities here in the south," the first one replies.
"Boy what I'd give to see her. They say she's the most beautiful woman in the continent."
"Yeah, and she's even highly intelligent. I heard she's not only great in administration, but also in tactics. And know this, she's only thirteen! I mean, what kind of monster does Cistan have as a ruler?"
The other soldier nods in agreement
"Cistan's really lucky to have someone like her. Beauty and brains, that's true royalty right there."
I'm still mulling over what the men said when Robert snaps me out of it. "Sir, which path should we choose?"
I quickly clear my throat and stand a little straighter. "We'll go to Vellia, it's closer."
Although I say that, in reality I just want to see the princess. But I keep that to myself. I am a boy after all and perhaps she's a great candidate for marriage. I think as I have a smile plastered on my face.
Captain Robert gives me a suspicious look, seemingly not convinced with my reason. "Is that the only reason?"
"O-of course Captain, what else is there?" I respond with a nervous tone that I hope he doesn't notice.
He continues to stare at me with suspicion. "How about trying to see the princess?"
I give a nervous chuckle. "N-no... I was just thinking it would be more convenient."
He still eyes me suspiciously before giving a sigh. "Alright then, since it's your order, let's go."
I give him a bright smile. "Splendid Captain," I then turn to the men behind us. "Come on men off to Vellia!" I shout as we continue moving.
Two days later...
As we arrive at Vellia, I'm shocked to see how big the town is. No, it wasn't a town, it looks more like a city. Large buildings, two layers walls separating the two portions of the city, bustling streets, and patrolling guards. People are really buying the special jewels the Vellians get from their gem mine that contains gems that can't be found on any other part of the continent except here. Thanks to that, they're extremely rich. Although not as big as our city of Lunoire, this city has the economic power to almost match it.
"Woah..." is all I manage to say as I admire the place. I remember my father say that Vellia was one of the shining cities of our Old Kingdom of Lumiere when it was still powerful. It really is a shame that we lost such a valuable city. If we're able to control this right now, recovery as well as restoration of our kingdom would've been much easier.
Robert soon approaches me along with the several of the men after finding a place for the horses. "The rest will watch the horses sir, we'll be the ones buying the supplies.
I nod at him. "Very good Captain. Now, where is she..." I say as I scan the area looking for the princess.
"Who is she sir?" Robert asks in curiosity.
"Oh! Uh, no one," I blurt out. I didn't think it was loud enough to be heard.
"Okay..." he responds with a confused look but is willing to drop the subject. He heads back with the men so they can check on our remaining supplies while paying the owner of the stable who was more than willing to take in our horses for the time being.
Well, seeing as I can't find her yet, I guess I'll help the men buy the supplies.
But as I take a step forward, a carriage nearly runs me over, missing me by a few inches. I froze at that moment as I felt like my jorney would've ended before I could find the princess, maybe even marry someone in the future, perhaps have some kids. Okay, too much dreaming.
Robert and the other men saw what happened and run to my position.
I then snap out of my fantasies as I yell at the carriage while giving a death glare to the driver. "Hey watch it, you nearly killed me you idiot!"
The driver shoots me an annoyed look. "You should have-"
"Save it Reginald. It was our fault," the driver is suddenly interrupted by a stern voice.
"Yes, milady," the driver responds, bowing his head in front of the carriage's door. As Robert and the men arrive and check on me, another group of horsemen arrive.
The leader of the horsemen trots towards us. "Is everyone alright?"
"Yes Captain, everyone is okay," the voice inside the carriage declares calmly.
As I look at the horsemen, they are well-armed, and look like elite soldiers. They wear silver armor and helmets with silver shields as well as silver-tipped spears behind their backs and what looks to be reinforced steel swords at their sides . What grabs my attention most of all is the sigil. It has the gold crown on top of a silver horse.
I realize that symbol. It represents the Kingdom of Cistan!
Upon realization, the carriage door suddenly opens. And I look at the figure coming out.
"Princess," The horsemen's captain states and bows.
"P-princess?" I repeat in disbelief as I watch her come out. It was her. Princess Sierra.
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