The Lion and the Royal Princess - Chapter 3

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At first, she thought they might be the ones sent by her father to greet her. However, this did not appear to be the case judging by the demeanor of the knights. They were just a dark and unimpressive army. 

Who could this man be? Is he neither an enemy nor an ally, but just an uninvited guest?

At that moment, Adelaine suddenly realized something. Just by a glimpse at his chin and mouth visible under the waterproof coat, she could identify him. It was a strange occurrence. It was just a passing image in a newspaper but it stuck in her mind in an instant.

“You…”

The man’s true identity was the Lion King and the rest were his knights. He was the main character of the article she had just read in the Marma’s noble newspaper a while ago.

“I’m asking if you’re Adelaine Vita.”

He asked again.

However, Adelaine did not answer his question and he also did not inquire further. They did not call each other by any name, as if they had promised. It was an unspoken agreement that seemed to suggest they would not interrogate the other person now that they knew each other’s identities.

The Lion King did not take his eyes off Adelaine; neither did she. When his knights surrounded the carriage, and the massive sword hidden under his waterproof coat was revealed, they still continued to stare at each other.

The clanking sound resonated in the rain. Richard was flustered and asked in surprise.

“What’s happening?”

“It’s an attack.”

They were assassins.

“This way!”

“They’re coming! Watch the treetops!”

“Argghhhhh!”

The lady-in-waiting was frightened and fell on her stomach. Adelaine turned her head and slowly closed the window.

Before closing the door, she saw the Lion King’s massive figure dispersing like fog.

The battle was not long. In fact, it could hardly be called a battle. There were just a few screams, the sound of swords clashing, and then it was over.

Adelaine had been attached several times during the long journey from Nova to Marma, but she had never seen such a short and vain fight. Even the lady-in-waiting, who was lying down and shaking, raised her head in wonder.

“Princess… Why is it so quiet?”

“How am I supposed to know?”

Either they’re all dead or all alive.

Adelaine tilted her head to one side and touched her forehead which was growing hotter by the moment. As time passed, her whole body became feverish. Her vision blurred and dizziness set in.

Just in time, a rumbling sound came from outside. The lady-in-waiting clasped her hands together and trembled.

“I’ll open the door.”

Richard could be heard talking outside the carriage. Adelaine managed to move her blurry vision.

As the door opened. Richard was seen giving way to the Lion King. hot sweat flowed into her eyes so she closed her eyes tightly and opened them again.

The Lion King’s eyes were on Adelaine again this time. However, even that moment did not last long. Her body has reached its limit.

As he noticed her condition, the Lion King’s face distorted. Simultaneously, her vision flashed black.

“Adelaine!”

The Lion King let out a heavy shout.

This brat, who allows you to call me by my name like that?

She was thinking like that even as she slipped into unconsciousness.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

The carriage from Nova was broken even before crossing the border. The assassins were persistent and Adelaine had to change the carriage seven times. Amidst this, an arrow they show pierced her shoulder.

They could not rest or stop. Due to the excessive movement, the wounds continued to burst and open repeatedly. She could not fall asleep due to tension so she had to endure all the pain soberly.

Still, it was bearable. She could bear the pain as much as she wanted.

Because she was tenacious.

“I’d rather you cry. Cry out loud! Scream and throw things if you have to!”

Those were the words spoken to Adelaine by the king of the enemy nation, Nova.

It was when she got addicted to the liquor she drank every day without knowing it was poison. She just laughed even in terrible pain. She simply laughed like a mad woman until she fell asleep. when he scolded her and forced her to take sleeping pills.

It was the time when her life came and went every night. The time when she cursed herself for being alive on his bed every time she opened her eyes.

Yet, she did not die.

Her life was not something to crumble at a single arrow.

“Princess! Ah… Princess, are you awake? It’s truly a relief.”

When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the face of the lady-in-waiting full of tears. Adelaine blinked her stiff eyes twice. Then, she immediately checked whose bed she was lying on.

“We rented a nearby farmhouse. This is the nearest place… And… over there.”

The hesitant face of the lady-in-waiting seemed familiar. An expression mixed with fear and excitement. Adelaine instinctively knew that the Lion King was present.

“Adelaine.”

An extremely low voice resonated from the bedside. It was the voice of a man that warmed the eardrums even in the wet rain. Her mind which was floating in the air quickly found its place.

“Who allows you to call me by my name like that?”

 A badly cracked voice popped out. After a moment of silence, the Lion King walked up to her.

He was finally in her sight. Adelaine lay down and breathed a long sigh. Indeed, he was a man handsome enough to provoke anger despite the intense pain.

Before losing consciousness, she had made eye contact with him through the open door of the carriage. At first, she thought she was being delusional due to the pain. His face was that unrealistic.

Without the waterproof coat, he revealed a presence that was 100 times superior to that when he wore the waterproof coat. With a tall stature that seemed to touch the threshold, straight shoulders, sand-colored skin, and hair that shined like a lion napping under the desert sun.

 What was crucial was the eyes of the Lion King.

Adelaine had never encountered such pure wild greenery before. The primordial jungle that no one was allowed to enter was in his eyes. 

It was primitive greenery. It was the birth of a swirling forest.

He was a man with nothing unattractive.

He was also a man who had never been tainted.

An existence who could never be close to her.

“We agreed not to reveal our names or inquire about each other’s identity. Wasn’t that the deal?”

It was an agreement reached in silence without much discussion. When Adelaine murmured weakly, he replied heavily. 

“That’s right.”

Thunder roared outside.

“The assassins?”

“They’re all dead.”

The Lion King spoke as if talking about an obvious fact with a dry, indifferent voice.

The capital was just around the corner. This might have been the last attack so it would have been incomparable to the previous attack. But of all people, they had to deal with this man. Adelaine was once again amazed by the mythical strength of the Lion King, which was passed down as a legend in Nova and Marma.  

“What about the other knights?”

She asked again. There was no way that Richard had died. She was asking whether the rest of the knights were alive or not.

The Lion King answered lightly again this time.

“They’re all alive.”

That’s a bit of a shame.

Her lips twisted involuntarily. It would have been better if they had died along with the assassins. Claiming to be her guards, they were only there to keep a close watch on her.

“Where are we? How far is it…”

“Listen to me first.”

The Lion King interrupted Adelaine’s weak voice and suddenly extended his hand. His large and long fingers pointed to the bandages wrapping around her shoulders.

“We have to treat that.”

“I know.”

“Right now.”

What a stupid thing to say.

She barely held back the words that were about to come out. Though she did not know where this place was, she was aware that heading towards the capital would be a better choice than finding a heavy-mouthed and competent doctor.

But the Lion King did not seem to think so.

“The wound could have festered and you could have fallen into a coma. You have to take out the arrowhead stuck inside.”

She also knew about that. When Adelaine made eye contact as if to say more, he opened his mouth again.

“If it’s a simple treatment, I can handle it.”

Was this the purpose of this encounter?

A small and sharp arrowhead was embedded in her right shoulder. When she was struck by the arrow, she struggled in pain and screamed for anyone to get it out. But the lady-in-waiting stepped back with a pale face and Richard said he did not dare touch a princess’ body. The rest of the knights seemed to wish for Adelaine’s death.

However, this man was reaching out to her, with an attitude that preferred to quickly resolve troublesome matters.

“Have you ever done this before?”

Adelaine asked. The Lion King frowned and said.

“What?”

“Anyone standing on the battlefield should know at least simple first aid, right? I also know that. But you’re a king. Does a king also learn this kind of thing?”

“I’m the lion of Baltica.”

“And I’m the princess of Marma?”

When she returned his words as they were, the wrinkles deepened on his forehead. Despite the pain, Adelaine could not hide her laughter.

“My knights said no one among them knew how to do first aid. Come to think of it, what a bunch of fools.”

“Stop talking. You’re surprisingly talkative.”

The Lion King understood her laughter as a sign of acceptance and gestured to the lady-in-waiting. While the two were talking, the lady-in-waiting, who had been standing awkwardly in the corner, rushed over like a dog meeting its owner.

“Explain the situation to my men and get disinfectant and painkillers. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Pardon? T, th, the king himself…”

“Isn’t she the only princess in your country? Should I ask my men to treat her?”

“No! I’ll be back!”

How nice would it be if my orders were also followed so swiftly like that?

Adelaine sighed as she watched the lady-in-waiting quickly retreat.

“It’s going to hurt.”

Before she knew it, the Lion King was already right in front of her. He picked up Adelaine and lifted her. As her body was raised and seated, the world spun around.

Her vision was already blurry because of the fever but now her whole body ached every time she took a breath. As she took a short breath of hot air, the Lion King said to her.

“You need to take off your clothes.”

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