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A Tale of Two Daggers
Chapter 6: A Hunting Trip

Chapter 6: A Hunting Trip

It was true. The knocker on the door was Prince Louis.

Diana's heart bumped happily and nervously at the same time. However, she was very careful not to show that. Childish egregious wanton displays of affection were prohibited to be shown at the palace as it was a sign of a lack of professionalism.

She quickly checked her clothes, closing any buttons. She was meeting a prince, which meant she needed to keep herself tidy.

The door opened with a squeak. Revealing the boy Louis in the same outfit he had at the party.

"Good evening" He bowed with a smile.

"G-Good evening, sir" She smiled back.

"Diana, right?" He exclaimed innocently.

He probably knew my name from Lady Anna. She thought. "Correct, it is an honour to meet you in person, My...I mean...your Highness". She didn't begin the conversation yet, and her tongue was not behaving correctly.

He smiled. "The honour is mine, Diana"

Diana's red cheeks were too flourishing to hide it. She had some moments where her lips couldn't shift from smiling mode. She was so consumed by the handsome face of the boy to the instinct that she forgot to ask him why he was at her doorstep in the first place.

"SOo, back at the party..." he scratched his head as if it would help lessen the cringe. "I...I didn't particularly have a chance to thank you back at the party. You know for saving my sorry pitful life" He chuckled.

"I-It was my duty, sir. I didn't do anything moreover it" she smiled. Proud that her action was recognized. But part of her is pissed that she had to address a boy close to her age by the name "sir" and "your majesty". It just felt off. No matter. He was a member of the royal family and that means the nickname comes first. Addressing him directly could lead to non-desired consequences from the royal palace.

She snapped away when he began talking again."Of course, you did! You gave me a second chance to live. You need to be awarded!"

Diana's smile faded a bit "A-Awarded?"

"Yes! How about this? I know that the king doesn't allow any of the girls to leave the palace. So how about he make an exception for you? Would you accept my company on one of my hunt trips?"

Her smile faded completely. Replaced with a total surprise.

A trip with the prince himself!?

A way from the king and the palace!? Something different than noticing the same classical palace every time? And for once doing an action that she really wanted not ordered to obey?

Not even in her hallucination could she imagine that!

She could use such an offer, to see the outside world again. To feel free even for small moments. It would be like a taste of heaven in a life of hellish imprisonment.

However...she couldn't say yes.

Such a daydream had a drawback. She forgot she was just a maid, even if she served the queen. She still needed direct permission from the king himself. The same king that ordered her hanging if not for the unexpected intervention of Anna a year ago.

She hesitated, her mind insisted on accepting the offer. She earned it fairly. She wanted to feel appreciated again. Also, she could use some breathing from her hard job.

On top of that, she would love to spend some time with him. She hadn't met any boy her age for months. She would like a person who understands her quite right.

Someone like Louis...

Louis blinked, noticing her taking too long to respond.

"If you are worried about the king or my aunt (the queen), Leave them to me. I have my ways around them. but I still desire to hear your answer first before I convince them. Would you accept my offer?" said Louis as he raised his eyebrows.

Smiling. Fingers crossed behind his back for approval.

She stared for a while.

Him? Vouch for her? She wasn't sure if it was a good idea. Wain was not a person who could be manipulated in a velvet glove.

With that thought in mind, she put an end to the conflict inside her. She had an answer.

She nodded with flowering lips. Humbly giving a sign of an aye.

"Wonderful!" He shouted. The echo of his voice could have been heard across the long hall.

Diana chuckled playfully with full eyes. Both hands were on her mouth.

"The volume!" She whispered, with a smile.

"Oops, sorry" he whispered back with a sheepish smile, staring straight at her childish eyes and her alluring small cheeks.

"Looking forward to meeting you, my saviour" he bowed.

However this time, he didn't stop at bowing. He extended his hand, asking for an exotic request.

She had seen this action before in the palace. Some rich folks make it as a sign of prestige or so Anna told her.

She slowly granted him her hand, failing to stop the blushing at any rate as his lips grew closer and closer to her hand. While his own held hers in the air.

Fast but pretty. Louis's lips docked a kiss to her hand. It was swift. She barely felt it touching her soft hand. But she felt his mark on her heart.

She took her hand back to her chest, holding it with the other hand. With a craving smile of pleasure on her shy features.

"Well, Good night".He bit her farewell with another bow.

"G-Go-Good n-night" she stumbled into words. While she watched him leave.

With each one of them wished the other goodnight. The girl closed the door to burst into shy laughter. She never felt so much warmth talking to someone before. Her emotions were over the scale, with a promise of a good day on approach.

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On the next day. Everyone got up, going on their same-day routine but for Diana It was different, this day could be unique. A day that may not ever visit her again. A thing that made her feel joy and grief at the same time.

She carefully wore her clothes in front of the mirror, fixing any crinkles in her maid's dress.

Till it happened....again.

The necklace was emitting a powerful light all over again, just like the last night. Back then, after meeting with the prince. Diana returned to its mysterious amulet, to find that the light had already faded away.

However, something was visibly off this time.

The ruby shone in a pink aura of light that night. Yet Now, and at this instance. The ruby turned black, emitting a strange blackness in its core.

What is wrong with this necklace, is that sorcery? But my father knows nothing of such forbidden things...

She kept wondering. Her father told her it will keep her memories of him. But all it does now is arouse questions.

She shook it, to see what would happen.

Nothing.

She put her ears on it.

Silence.

She even tried to smell it.

Nothing special.

"Then where is that light coming from?". she whispered to herself.

Knock knock

The door of hers comes to life. She looked through her small window. It was mid day.

"Hey kid, you still there?" said a man behind the door.

Oh No, this voice...

She recognizes the person at her doorstep at once, that was the king.

"Y-Yes, sir" she yelled behind the door. "Half done dressing, your majesty" Diana added, without giving him access to her room.

"Okay, good thing that I caught up with you before you leave. When you are done, a soldier of mine will escort you to my palace. I wish to speak with you"

Her heart dropped, preventing her mouth from responding.

"HEY, did you get that?" He insisted on having an answer.

"Consider it done, s-sir" She forced the words off her electrified lips.

"Good, don't keep me waiting"

Ending with that line, she heard his footsteps moving away from the door. Leaving her to think why would Wain ask for her personally?!

Never once in that whole year that she spent in the palace had she even been requested by him. He didn't exactly like her face and neither she did. She was avoiding his gaze every time, not that she was afraid of him but she tried not to smoulder his... idiocy.

She felt her spine-tingling. The faded scar on her face always reminded her of the first impression of him, that she didn't quite forget.

Not having much choice, she hugged the glowing necklace as tight as she could to her chest. Closing her eyes. Praying. She would use some of her father's calming words now...

Eventually, she finished her dressing and opened the door to leave, seeing the royal guard leaning against the wall in his armored suit.

"Gorgeous as always, Diana" he greeted her with a smile.

"Thanks, Philip" she smiled back at him.

"Shall we?" He offered to lead the way.

He was always a good friend and one of the few royal guards who was- for a change- nice to Diana.

He escorted her through halls and past people. She felt some embarrassment as some eyes were spotting light on her. The whole palace was whispering about her as the favorite girl of the queen.

She knew that, but she tried to not think about it. A heroic maiden is still a maiden.

"So, Philip" she began. "Do you know what is the important thing that king wain wants me about?"

"Well, I am not actually authorized to disclose such things. But I will give you a hint". The 27-year-old man teased."Prince Louis is involved" he added.

Everything became slightly clear. Knowing at least what was happening, gave her some esteem.

I hope you know what you're doing good-looking prince

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

The walk to the throne room took a short time, but it felt like a century for Diana. The halls were infinite and the palace of Wain was huge. At any moment, Philip could open the door to the throne room. Knowing that she was getting closer to that ambiguous room, her heart kept racing miles. Until one big door was opened and her feet echoed inside the royal throne room, witnessing the king and his queen on their thrones and Louis standing on the left side of the Anna, while the path ahead is surrounded by 6 Royal guards parallel to each side on both sides of the red carpet.

Wain was leaning to Anna side. Talking and whispering.

"Here you are" the king called when he acknowledged Diana presence. While positioning himself to be more comfortable in his seat.

Diana confidently strode the necessary distance to behold the royal family in all their regal splendour. She bowed as a sign of respect, not for the king but for her lady. She can't disrespect her presence in this meeting.

The king began. "See, Prince Louis here told me about his request to let you come with him for a hunting trip. And frankly, I don't exactly hate the idea. What say you?" He supported his head with his fist, leaning his body slightly to his right.

Diana raised her face to meet the king's gaze. "I don't really see a reason for you to refuse"

"First, it's Your Highness, not you! Secondly, there is a reason. It's above your left eye" he gestured with his suppressing voice.

He didn't forgive the past.

Oh, so he is patronizing me now, trying to humiliate me more. This man is a lost cause

She stared at him with dull eyes. However, also noticed Anna's hand patting on his own. It felt like she was charming him to calm down.

"Anyhow, so is that a yes?" Wain asked.

She answered with a simple nod.

The king remained silent for a moment then he whispered something to the queen's ears.

The queen responded with a smile and a nod.

The king faced Diana again.

"You know when I first met you. I said to myself that you would never live under the dome of a palace. Not to mention serving my wife...Turned out that you- despite that sly mouth of yours- had one intimating feature.

Loyalty...

The only thing I lack with those dogs around me, even the pet has more of it than them"

Despite Wain's piqued words, Louis listened with a smile. Happy with what he was hearing, his eyes began to admire even more the girl who saved his skin.

"Sooooo?" Louis's patience ran out.

King Wain gasped, ready to shoot his decree.

"Return before sunset"

Wain gave a very faint smile. with Anna providing more clearer one.

"Go, you have our blessings" Anna added.

Did that man just praise me?!. She thought to herself. She stood there, blinking in disbelief. She was certain that he wasn't that appreciative person, or was he?

Louis stepped forward and then bowed with a joyful smile. "I knew I could count on your wisdom, my king"

"Just go, you hypocritical bastard" Wain chuckled.

"Come on!" Louis grabbed Diana's hand, in a hurry.

The pace of the event was overwhelming her with unexpected happiness.

The two got outside the palace's main door. She felt the cold smooth wind tickling her hair. She looked at her connected arm with Louis. The gratefulness of his small perfect lips, combined with his nobility smile.

She almost felt as if she was dreaming and it was a happy one.

Louis had already prepared traps, bows, and arrows before even firing all of his deadly convincing weapons on his family. All his equipment was ready. As if he was sure he would win the king over earlier. He even got the horse hoisted.

She was more than timid to wrap her arms around his body along the ride but soon she got used to the touching forthcoming.

The horse sprinted to action across a forest through a cleared road. It was located far east of the palace, outside the city. Out of his attractive figure, Diana couldn't focus on anything around her except him.

It was settled.

The girl had feeling for him, or maybe it was a mere approbation. It was complicated to describe. But it was so sweet to be felt. Such care. He was ready to face the king just to let her feel those treasuring moments gain. To feel her soul break free from this noble upper-crust prison.

He allowed her mind to jump back to a time when she was at Endora. When her father would take her on his "adventures". She would relate to such feelings back then.

She knew she couldn't resist those pure emotions for him. She felt a lot of 'safety' around his side. The word she lost its meaning when she jumped off that cart of hay.

Yet, after a while her brain finally was ambushed by the reality...

Girl, have you lost your sanity back at the throne room!? Snap out of it! You are a maid, and he is a member of the royal family. Even if the queen and king ignored the huge social position spacing between you and him, you don't know if he has the same feeling for you! (She scolded herself)

He pulled the rein a bit backwards forcing his fast horse to slow down to a walking speed. Giving some space for the animal's muscles to take repose.

"So..." he began. "Where are you from?"

She blinked. "S-south, a Town called Endora"

"Hmm, never heard of it. Could you describe it for me?"

"Yes sure, um...it's large. Mainly built on a strong self-built economy... Mediocre state of living. Basically, my home"

"And the people?" He asked with a simple smile.

"I-I don't want to touch that matter..." she said, the cracks of the past didn't fully coalesce.

The hooves of the horses stopped in their tracks. Louis stopped the horse.

She stared with uneasiness as he tilted his head back toward her.

"Please, dismiss my insolence questions. I can't control my enthusiasm occasionally. I am sorry. I beg forgiveness" he blinked.

Diana's surprise couldn't have become larger.

Wow, He...He is so gentle.

"You are...apologizing"

"Um...yes, I didn't mean to bring up the past"

"What? No. It's just that...I thought all..." she didn't dare to continue.

"You thought me a *****e just like Wain, ha?"

She raised her eyes, ashamed of what he just said.

He frowned. "I don't blame you. In fact, I would have worried otherwise. Wain is indeed a brutal person, I only befriended him to get on the little good side inside him. The fact is, I never liked him"

"But you are from the royal family!"

He shook his head. "Barely...I may have my aunt as a relative, but that gave me only a title. Not much speciality over common people tho"

"So, if you're not from the palace. Where were you born, your majesty?"

"A town southeast of the canterpool. Goes by the name Zenda"

She nodded.

She was enjoying every second. She felt herself at peace just talking to him.

They talked more on the way. Chuckling and laughing, they didn't notice it watching them over as they entered his space and growling in protest.

They disembarked at a familiar spot that is well known to the prince. They walked some meters before Louis signaled to lay low.

"Look, an elk. 15 meters far" his finger pointed at the grass-eating animal.

"Think you can get it?" Louis said challenging

"Wait, me?! I can't! I mean I don't know how to use a bow" Diana tried to flush herself out, excusing herself.

"I will help," Louis said with a wink

"May I?" he extended his hand again.

She blinked. That signature kiss on the back of her hand was so romantic. She was eager for more.

"Ok, here we go". He guided her hand around the bow's wood as Louis began teaching her how to take the appropriate body position to aim with the and some other tips to begin the hunt with him.

It was awkward teaching for any girl as the prince occasionally touched Diana several times to help alter her posture and aim but she never handed a single complaint.

The pair of eyes kept watching the two keenly, closing in and waiting for the right moment to strike...

"Now like I said. Breathe normally, aim for the head, close one eye and...wait, why is your chest glowing?". The boy retreated a bit during his exclamation.

Diana blushed while looking at her body.

The necklace came alive again.

She got it out of her dress. It was pulsing with red glowing light. But why red? Why not black like the last time?

"Wow, your necklace is glowing!" Louis was fascinated with the strange ruby.

"How do you do that?!" He smiled with inquisitive energy.

"I don-"

The pair of eyes were watching the unknown light in silence. Its owner was completely still on his four paws. But not completely camouflaged. The same telescopic eyes were reflective to the light of the necklace and Diana compromised them...

"WOOOLF!"

She shouted in panic.

Louis never had the chance to react to Diana's panic.

When a huge brown wolf jumped with a groan from behind the boy, crushing him to the ground and shoving his hungry fangs into Louis's right shoulder.

The young prince screamed from the blood that came from his shoulder. He desperately tried to hit the wolf with the other healthy hand. Yet, Facing the skilled product of the wildlife, without a weapon and taken by surprise. He had absolutely no chance.

The wolf shook Louis aggressively in an attempt to take his arm with it. During his attack, the wolf experienced a spiking pain right to the middle of his paw. The arrow that Diana fired was supposed to reach the wolf's head not his leg. The wolf screamed in pain and Louis' shoulder in a horrible condition with blood pouring from him like an opened faucet. While sniffing the strange object that punctured his flesh.

The animal lifted his head with piercing yellow eyes, growled in hatred. Showing his teeth as a show of his superiority upon the terrified human ahead. He faced his attacker with his sharp sense of smell. Almost tasting the fright of the trembling girl. She was his new target. And guilty as it seemed. He clutched his bloody tusk that was filled with saliva.

The beast took his stance. As the girl hurried in search for the beginner's luck that fired the first arrow. Unlucky as she was. She had no time to reload the bow and shoot again.

The wolf lung at her too. Knocking her on her back. This time it wanted the neck. Diana managed to hold his angry head between her hands in a way to prevent its teeth from reaching her throat. But it was like handling a pot filled with boiling water so close to her head. As the wolf's fury escalated with his monstrous charge and its instinct to kill the girl, Diana began to lose her power and the wolf's fangs were closing the distance.

Suddenly Louis lunged at the wolf back with what seemed like a small dagger.

He charged with a spearing cry, stabbing the wolf's back relentlessly multiple fatal times causing it to moan with aching pain but the wolf was too strong to fall.

It turned back on its main target, sinking his mouth in his body again. It was targeting the same arm with the same brutality. Unknowingly, it left space and time for Diana to act.

Only to witness Louis's heartbreaking shouts once more. The beast bashed his dagger away. He was about to lose his life.

Till Diana remembered her own dagger! , she hid it since day one. She knew that a day like this would soon come. A day in which she must raise her blade in the face of aggression, to return to her young self who mastered the use of the blade a long time ago under the supervision of her father.

Louis who was powerless and bleeding, was swinging in pain with no ability to fight anymore. Surrendered to his fate as a meal to the wolf. The limping beast threw him back in anguish, for his body to land at the bottom of a tree.

It approached again to deliver the death bite to the bleeding boy with mouth-dropping water mixed with his blood. The taste of the blood in its mouth made it hungry for more.

He was determined to end his suffering once and for all.

The wolf charged with speed towards Louis to claim his tasty helpless prize.

but surprisingly, it never reached the boy.

The girl knocked the wolf during its charge on Louis which made the wolf fall on its right side with Diana above it. That done, Diana charged herself with all the power and rage she had. Using most of her physical ability that she thought she never possessed... All of her emotions from that day behind the house. Using all her survival instincts to survive this test of nature.

She stabbed deep into the wolf's neck, cutting whatever important vessels were in the way of her blade. That stab led to more moaning of the wolf. A sound that begged mercy when death was on the approach.

Its wild instinct pushed it to struggle for its life as it shrieked in agony. Vigorously trying to shake off the girl who threw her entire weight in a desperate move to stop the bloody beast.

The wolf moaned even more and the warm blood burst on Diana's fixed hand. Till it gradually stopped moving as its eyes stopped twitching for the final time in its life, declaring the end of the bloodstained battle.

She breathed hard with the wild dog carcass under her knees. His blood covered most of her hands. Her organized hair was a total mess. Her nerves were no longer in check. She stared with wide frightened eyes for some moments.

The colour red was all over her limbs and dirt was over her clothes.

Speaking of blood...

Louis!

She woke up from her trauma and rushed to the moaning boy. He was flat, barely keeping himself awake.

"Oh god, oh god. Wh-what should I do?!" She panicked.

"T...Th...The...ho...horse...g...get the h-horse!" He pushed the word of his injured body.

"Got it!"

She ran with full speed to the hoisted brown horse of Louis and brought him back.

"Ok, let's get you up...Louis...PRINCE LOUIS!"

She stared with watered eyes at the passed-out prince.

The thoughts began storming her exhausted mind. The possible consequences that might face her back at the palace. The number of tremendous accusations she will have to answer to. No one will believe that his death wasn't her fault. The blood on her clothes will be used as proof of her imagined crime. She could face treachery charges and this time the queen will order the execution herself.

On the other hand...

She got a horse and there were no guards anywhere. It was the best chance to escape!

She touched his cheeks, the tempreture of his body was escaping. If she ran away now, he surely won't make it on his own.

NO! I can't leave him to die here, not after he gifted me those few but priceless moments of freedom. How can I deny his kindness with such selfish monstrosity?!

She wrapped her arms around him and picked his heavy male body, with her tenacious female one. Landing him on horseback. But before she got on the horse herself, her gaze caught his bloodstained dagger away. She went and fetched it quickly, putting it back within Louis's belt.

She jumped over the horse and kicked hard. The animal screamed and sprinted forward. Good thing her father taught her how to handle one when she was 12.

She began to cry. "Come on, Louis! Don't you dare die on me now. Not after you gave me this pleasant dream. Don't turn it into a nightmare...

"Just wake up!"

She rushed through the forest, not knowing which way out of it. She wasn't paying any attention to the road when she entered the area. But she was travelling as fast as she could. She thought of Louis, if he died, nothing else would matter afterwards and she could wave goodbye to both her freedom and her head.

"The forest is getting less thickening!" She gasped.

Finally, she broke out of the woods straight towards the city gates.

Dashing through the streets, she noticed something weird.

No one recognized the prince! She expected the city to be turned upside down trying to save the boy. Instead, the only good people who helped were those who instructed her on the way to the Palace. If not for that, she was completely on her own.

Her tearing eyes were blocking her view occasionally. She lost her way more than once. The canterpool was huge and she was petite compared to the gigantic capital.

"Come on. Just a little longer, my prince". She said as the horse screamed forward.

The horse was now completely exhausted from running without a single stop. The poor animal was still confused and could not understand why its rider had been so harsh on him, relentlessly kicking and sobbing.

After what seemed like hours. She finally spotted the massive outer royal gate of the palace at the end of the street.

Soldiers POV:

"Hey psst! Isn't that the maid of the queen? The one that went with the prince?

He leaned more closer to the edge of the wall to check where his comrade pointed, narrowing his gaze to look closer at the speeding horse. "Ah, yes. Hold on, I thought she was to come by sunset? And why is she the one leading the- Oh lord!". They stared in horror, as they both bolted with the same conclusion.

"OPEN THE GATES!!" He shouted. The soldiers told each other of the news and more than 10 soldiers ran to the gate. to open it as soon as possible, The plagued announcement signaled an emergency alarm that soon reached the Royal Thrones, leading the highest two figures in the palace to start running towards the front yard.

"We...made it, my...dear". She can barely breathe in the middle of her panicking, as the horse dashed forward between the doors of the gate and his hooves retracting off the paved terrain that led straight towards the palace of Wain.

Her eyes began to shut slowly. As her body surrendered, falling off the horseback. The last fragment of her conscious departed as her eyes took capture the final capture of seeing Wain and queen Anna running towards her.

And everything went dark.