Chapter 11: Chapter 11 - Kidnapped Princess ( Part 1 )
Three days the celebrations lasted.
Every corner of the Royal Capital was flooded with music, dancing, and joyous laughter.
The streets were decorated with colorful banners, while the merchants were selling sweets and handmade souvenirs to tourists from all over the continent.
Jennie mostly watched the whole process of celebration in silence.
One thousand years ago...
She stood at the center of thousands of royal ceremonies.
Each smile directed to her carried expectations.
Each conversation had political reasons behind it.
But...
Right now...
She just stood here as just a little noble girl.
It was... refreshing.
---
Unfortunately...
Not even that...
Someone wouldn’t allow her to enjoy the tranquility.
"Jennie!"
Jennie slowly turned around.
Princess Lilia approached her like a conqueror-general.
"You’ve been avoiding me!"
Jennie blinked.
"I have?"
"Yes!"
"I’ve looked everywhere!"
Jennie tilted her head.
"I was eating cake."
"..."
Lilia’s shoulders slumped.
"...You were eating cake?"
"Yes."
"...Without me?"
Jennie nodded.
"It was delicious."
Princess Lilia looked genuinely heartbroken.
"You betrayed our friendship."
Jennie smiled faintly.
"We were friends?"
Lilia pouted.
"We are now!"
Jennie couldn’t stop giggling.
"She decided it on her own."
---
In the evening Princess Lilia came into the king’s study room.
King Aldric lifted his gaze from the mountain of papers covering his table.
"...Should I be worried?"
"No."
"I want permission."
"For what?"
"I want to leave the palace."
The king sighed.
"I guessed it right."
Lilia walked around the table and embraced his arm.
"Please!"
"I’ve been inside the palace for days."
"I want to see the kingdom."
"I want Jennie to come too."
King Aldric rubbed his forehead.
"Your mother will never allow us."
"I already asked Mother."
"...And?"
"She said to ask you."
"...How considerate of her."
Lilia smiled widely.
"And Brother Adrian can come!"
The door of the study opened.
An eight-year-old boy in light training clothes with a practice sword entered.
He had neat black hair and calm blue eyes.
Despite his age, he had a disciplined look.
This was Prince Adrian KingHeart.
"You summoned me, Father?"
King Aldric exchanged glances with his children.
Then he sighed once again.
"I’m outnumbered."
---
The next morning...
Arthur received an unexpected request.
"His Majesty wishes your family to accompany the royal children on a short journey beyond the capital."
Arthur blinked.
"My family?"
The royal knight nodded.
"Lord Arthur’s experience and reputation made His Majesty feel at ease."
Arthur accepted the request immediately.
"It will be an honor."
Lucas jumped with delight.
"We’re traveling with the prince and princess?"
Jennie simply looked at the blue sky.
"When royals say ’a short journey’..."
"Trouble usually follows."
---
Two days later...
Small group left the capital.
In the front ten Royal Knights rode.
Arthur accompanied the captain.
Behind them were two elegant carriages carrying the royal children and the Queens family.
The last carriage carried supplies.
Prince Adrian silently read a book.
Lucas constantly looked out of the window.
"I’ve never traveled with royalty before."
Adrian smiled politely.
"You don’t have to treat me different."
Lucas awkwardly laughed.
"Easy for you to say."
Opposite of them...
Princess Lilia sat near Jennie.
She spent the last hour talking non-stop.
"...And then I climbed on the palace roof!"
Jennie blinked.
"You climbed on the roof?"
"Yes!"
"The knights chased me almost all day."
"...Why?"
"I wanted to check if the birds really sleep on chimneys."
Jennie silently stared at her for several seconds.
"She reminds me of a young dragon."
Lilia smiled.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You were thinking about something vulgar."
"I wasn’t."
"You definitely were."
Jennie smiled innocently.
"I only admire Your Highness’s... limitless energy."
Lilia proudly crossed her arms.
"I know."
---
When the sun began to set...
The group entered a narrow forest road.
Ancient trees obstructed almost all fading light.
The atmosphere became strangely quiet.
Even the birds had stopped singing.
The expression on Arthur’s face changed.
He put his hand on his sword.
"Captain."
The Royal Knight beside him nodded.
"I feel it too."
Something was wrong.
High above...
Concealed among the tree branches...
Several cloaked people watched the whole process silently.
One of them pointed down.
"Target identified."
Another one nodded.
"The prince is in the second carriage."
The third one smirked under black mask bearing the sign of the crimson wolf.
"We attack now."
They belonged to the notorious bandit company called Crimson Wolf Brotherhood.
It was hired by the underground organization of assassins called Night Veil.
Their task was simple.
Kidnap Prince Adrian.
Demand an impossible ransom.
Create the chaos in the kingdom.
The leader raised his sword.
"Attack!"
BOOM!
The explosive magic exploded the road.
The horses scream.
The first carriage flipped over.
The arrows flew from both sides of the forest.
"AMBUSH!"
The Royal Knights instantly formed defensive formation.
Arthur drew his sword.
"Protect Their Highnesses!"
Lucas unsheathed his sword.
Jennie inwardly sighed.
"I knew it."
"The royal outings are always cursed."
The smoke filled the road.
The bandits rushed forward from every side.
In the chaos two masked bandits broke the carriage door open.
"There!"
"The royal children!"
Princess Lilia hit them with her small fists.
"Let me go!"
Jennie calmly watched the chaos.
The bandits took both girls and disappeared in the forest.
Several minutes later...
In the depths of the ruined building...
The bandits took off the hoods of their prisoners.
Their leader looked at the hostages.
Then...
His face froze.
"...Wait."
He looked again.
One little princess.
One little noble girl.
"...Where is the prince?"
Silence.
Another bandit scratched his head.
"I..."
"...I thought he was in that carriage."
The leader slapped him hard.
"You fool!"
"Our boss ordered us to kidnap the prince!"
Lilia looked angrily at them.
"You’ll all be executed!"
The leader groaned.
"Our mission is ruined."
Another bandit hesitated.
"We... could use the princess."
The leader stopped.
"...Go ahead."
"We demand the prince in exchange for the princess."
The camp became silent.
Several bandits nodded.
"It still could work."
Jennie finally spoke.
"If you’re going to negotiate..."
"You’ll need alive hostages."
All eyes turned to her.
She smiled.
"So perhaps..."
"You shouldn’t panic."
The leader looked at the calm little girl.
For some reason...
Her smile gave him the feeling of discomfort.
Far away, King Aldric received the terrifying news.
"The princess has been kidnapped."
His face lost all color.
Arthur instantly stepped forward.
"Your Majesty."
"Give me permission."
"I’ll bring Princess Lilia home."
King Aldric looked directly at the determined eyes of Arthur.
"...You have it."
Unnoticed by everyone else...
Jennie silently examined the camp.
She counted the exits.
Weapons.
Numbers.
Weak points.
Then she smiled.
"Now..."
"Let’s see how long this little game will last."
