Chapter 134 - The Ring Of Promise
The skies were gloomy, and the air smelled like there was an impending death. It was the morning after the king sentenced the captured Fae death for espionage.
But Prince Leopold was not aware of his father's actions. He didn't know anything about the execution was about to take place. The prince was eating his breakfast, enjoying the company of his mother and father.
"What happened to the prisoner, father?" Leopold asked.
The king quirked his brow, knowing that his son had completely fallen head over heals for the Fae.
"This is no place to talk with such topics, my child," the king replied, dismissing the topic and leaving the room.
Leopold's mother, Queen Heart, held his hand and rubbed it comfortably, "Don't worry, my child. Your father will do the best he can so we can ensure the safety of the girl."
"I don't think he's willing, mother," Leopold sighed in defeat. He left the room and secretly got to the dungeons. He offered the guards 50 gold coins each for him to enter. They were new but he didn't mind it. Maybe the old ones were off duty.
"Milady," Leopold called out after he got in front of the girl's cell. "I even forgot to ask your name, what is your name Milady?"
"Famine," the girl replied. "If I say my name was Famine, would you still talk to me?"
"Why wouldn't I? Should I judge a character based on the name that was given to them before they could even say their first words?" Leopold retorted, smirking as he saw the girl part her lips in surprise. "But seriously, what is your name?"
"Estelle Woods. My name is Estelle Woods," Estelle replied. She slowly walked in front of the iron bars, holding them gently. "The king said I was going to be executed today. And I probably think he will kill me. His eyes speak nothing but anger."
"E-Executed?" Leopold gasped. "My father would never–"
The metal doors opened and the king walked inside. The queen tried pulling him away but he pushed her aside, his eyes were wide and his nose was flaring in anger.
"You little…" the king trailed of and slapped his hand across his son's face, the sound of the contact echoed the room by how hard it was. "What is your motive upon visiting this b*tch."
"She's a lady, father," Leopold spoke. "She's a young lady that was lost and captured. Away from her home, tired, hungry, thirsty, and now she's being executed for the crimes she didn't commit."
"She's a spy!" the king argued. "Do you know how many spies the other kingdom sends its neighboring kingdoms every year? These Fairy f*ckers will seduce royalty and will kill them, or control them."
"Where's your proof then?" Leopold challenged. "If you have nothing then…"
The prince took his ring off, shocking everyone in the room. He walked to Estelle and offered it to her, his eyes gazing at the girl's and not leaving them.
"Milady, would you kindly receive the Ring of Promise and marry me?" the king proposed and made the gasps fill the room.
The Ring of Promise was a royal symbol that was passed on from kings to princes. It was a symbol for the prince to give the person they wish to marry to. Once the person has received the ring, they are considered as a royalty and is free from persecution until the Crown Prince revoke the ring.
The girl did not want to do anything with Leopold. But when the prince felt his father was walking towards them, he took Estelle's hand and placed the ring on her finger, sealing the proposal.
"Now, even you cannot do anything about this. I have given her the ring and you cannot do anything anymore," Leopold smirked.
And so, their wedding took place. It wasn't long after when Leopold became king, replacing his father who died of illness. He ruled the kingdom and aimed to provide better treatment to everyone in the kingdom, even those who dwell the forests.
He lived happily with his wife, enjoying their rule together. Little did he know, there was already a decade old anger coming after them.
When the previous king could not accept that his son was going to be married to a Fae, he tracked her home and burned the forest to the ground. More than half of the entire forest's population was wiped out because of the fires, the ones who survived were left homeless.
The survivors formed a group and moved to a smaller forest, plotting their revenge against the kingdom and the traitor who let it happen. In their minds, if Estelle didn't get caught, their home wouldn't be found and destroyed, and their loved ones wouldn't lose their lives.
And so their plan started after their leader posed as a magic stabilizer for the young prince. She befriended the kind queen, offering her drinks that no one knew contains small amount of curses.
It wasn't long before their plan had started to bear fruit. The queen became ill and the prince became distant to the throne, not wanting to take part in any of the politics that was happening.
Madam Hoot was only waiting for the king to meet his demise from the curses she put on him. And it will commence after the prince was executed, ensuring no heir would take the king's throne for a while.
–
"So, you're the one that killed her?" Lance asked with a whisper-like voice. "I thought of you as a mother once the queen had died."
"Big mistake," Madam Hoot said. "It's your lack of perception that has killed you, Lance."
"But I'm not dead yet," Lance smirked. This made Madam Hoot quirk her brow and shook her head.
"Not yet." With that, the woman left the dungeons, leaving the group to themselves.
They were filled with utter silence for the first few minutes. No one dared to speak anything, afraid to say something wrong.
"This is bullsh*t," Lance finally said and chukled. "She's bottling all that anger inside her like she was saving up for her favorite toy as if she was a child."
"Lance, I'm–" Elliot stopped himself. "I don't know what to say."
"But I do," Ed grinned. Just as he said that, they heard the guards outside spoke.
It was followed by a series of heavy punches and kicks, the guards' armor clanked at the series of attack. The metal door groaned as it was opened by a girl with a slim and petite figure.
"Good thing I know how to parkour," Florencia said.
"What are you doing here?" Elliot tried to stand but he was held down by the chains.
"I live next door," Florencia smirked. "And Ed called me saying that something was suspicious. Actually, I was at the end of the hallway when the guards came barging inside the room. Little me almost got caught seeking around at night."
"What are you doing here?" Elliot asked. "If Madam Hoot sees you, she'll take your family down with her."
"Don't worry," Florencia smirked. "My family's garbage, so it wouldn't really hurt the kingdom much."
The girl proceeded to take the keys she stole from the guards and opened the cell.
"What about you then?" Elliot argued. "Once they find out that you're an accessory to this, they will execute you along with us."
"I'm an Adventurer," Florencia looked at Elliot. "That is my calling. Before I am nobility, I get paid."
"P-Paid? Florencia, what are you talking–"
"300 gold coins," Ed cut Elliot off. "Just as promised, yeah?"
"Elliot kept bothering me so I need to add 50 gold coins," Florencia said, pouting. "I hate being asked with these things."
"Just get us out of here," Ed sighed.
Florencia nodded and brandished her weapons, cutting the ropes open in one swift slash. She walked outside and brought them their weapons.
"Can't believe they would leave those inside the room," Florencia said. "Make good use of them. I'll go guard outside."
The boys untied the rope and passed their weapons to each other. They were going to use their swords to break off the chains but Florencia came and stopped them.
"Don't do that," she said. "Take it off… you know what, no."
With the keys in her hands, she unlocked all the shackles and got out once again. They heard a dragging sound coming and it was her, dragging unconscious guards inside the cell.
"They'd hunt you the moment they see an empty cell," Florencia said. "And the rotation of the guards are fast, so it be long before the replacement guards would come here and find all of you gone. They will come to find you before you could even escape."
Lance was the last one who had his foot unchained. He opened the locks and looked at the girl, smirking.
"Now who says we're gonna escape?" Lance quirked his brow up. "Because I'm pretty sure it's not going to be me."
"Prince Lance, let me remind you that as of the moment, you are criminals," Florencia said. "Why in the Five Virtues would you not escape? This is your chance to be free."
"The Forest Folks are going to hunt the Royal Family and eradicate us from this kingdom," Lance took his sword and scabbard, placing them in his belt. "If they're coming as a surprise, what if we surprise them first?"