In the darkness of the night, we parted once more, leaving me alone with Prince Arthur of the second kingdom. Our goal was to return to the wizarding line and convince my grandfather to join our battle. If I failed in that, I could at least ask him to train me in the art of magic. The Tournament was still a long way off and I could spend more time with my grandfather.

So when I was given this task I didn't object. It was also a chance for me to learn more about my ancestors. My mother had told me some things, but there was still a lot I didn't know. Since we were out for the night, getting back to the forest was going to be a big challenge. The Prince and I decided to continue our journey in the morning and find shelter until then.

I think Ryuu had given the prince to me because he thought we got along well, otherwise why else? While I was lost in my thoughts, the Prince called out to me from in front of me.

"Lezlie, there's a cave over there," he said. "If we build a fire there, we can spend the night."

There was nothing else we could do under the circumstances, but what the prince said made sense. It was a good place for the moment and I didn't want to stay in the cold any longer, so I agreed with him.

"Okay, let's go there," I said.

We made our way to the cave and found that it was not as big as we thought. But it was dry enough to make a fire and there was enough space for us to rest. Luckily we found some wood nearby and managed to light it. We settled in the cave for the night.

Now we had a fire in the middle of the cave and rocks around us. All we had to do was wait for the morning. But then the prince started to take off his clothes. At first, I didn't realize what was happening.

"What are you doing, you pervert?" I asked.

The prince answered me calmly, keeping his demeanor intact. "I just need to look at something," he said.

When he took off his vest, I saw the wounds on his back. They weren't severe, but they would be painful and festering by morning. The prince put his hand to the wound and smeared blood all over his hand.

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He was doing something on his own, but I couldn't bear to watch him like this. So I approached him and said, "Turn your back. I'll pour a potion on your wound."

"No need," he said. "Seriously, I got this."

But I insisted. "I told you to turn around," I said firmly.

After my words, the prince realized he was helpless. He had no choice but to do as I said. He turned his back to me and waited for me to do what I was going to do. I took a cream out of my bag and began to apply it to his back. As I worked, the prince continued to talk to me.

"Listen," he said. "I'm sorry about what happened today. I lost a lot of friends and I didn't want you to go through that. If I went too far..."

"It's okay," I said. "You were right, too. Hiroshi usually hates elite soldiers, but for some reason, he trusted this one."

"Will he come back?" the prince asked.

"We fight once in a while," I said, "but that won't keep us apart. I'm sure he will be there for the tournament."

"I see," said the prince.

"For a prince," I said, "how did you get wounded in such an easy battle? And you're going to the tournament?"

"They say the more you get hurt, the more you learn," said the prince. "And who knows, maybe next time I'll get help from you."

"You are quite good on your own," I said with a smile.

When I finished applying the cream, I pulled my hand away. The prince turned his head toward me and spoke in a slow tone, letting my eyes meet his.

"Thank you, Lezlie," he said.

Our eyes were so close. It was as if his eyes were shining as if he was mesmerized. I tore my eyes away from his and said, "We should go to sleep."

"Yes, you're right," said the prince. "After all, we have a long journey tomorrow."

I lay down in one corner of the cave and the prince in the other. We ended the night there, each lost in our own thoughts. When I opened my eyes again in the morning light, the cave was illuminated by the sun shining down from above. I rubbed my eyes and stood up, grabbing my bag.

Slowly, I made my way out of the cave. The prince was already waiting for me outside. He had started a small fire and was cooking something over it.

"Good morning," he said with a smile. "I hope you slept well."

"I did," I said. "Thank you."

We ate a quick breakfast and then set out on our journey once more. The sun was shining down on us and the birds were singing. It was a beautiful day and we were filled with hope and determination.

As we walked, we talked about our plans and our hopes for the future. We were united in our goal to convince my grandfather to join our war. And we were determined to succeed.

However, we were uncertain about the challenges that lay ahead and knew that we had to tread carefully and make calculated decisions. The next two weeks were crucial for us and every moment was precious. We were determined to make the most of this time and use it to our advantage.

This kingdom was also much bigger and more diverse than the other kingdoms we had visited, which would be just as fun and challenging for us.