Sunny day: a perfect day for field training. Averi Abrijah was doing his usual archery lesson when the son of the current Prime Minister, Cazim Cirakh, barged in.
“Ave! Ave!” Averi was forced to stop his training. He frowned at the young man.
“What's the problem?” He asked. Cazim calmed himself first before revealing the news he just got.
“Princess Shaidona will do a night hunt!”
Averi seemed to hear a bomb. He was stunned. To think that he, the number one admirer of the princess, was the last one to know her activities!?
“Why didn't I know about it?” This time, Averi has no plans to continue shooting. To hell with the training! The Princess is more important!
Princess Shaidona Shibalbad, the only Princess of Kirama Kingdom, was beautiful and charming that even the other kingdoms offers a marriage to her.
As the eldest son of General Abrijah, Averi not only vowed to protect the princess but also offered the princess a marriage. He is one of the admirers who, to this day is still waiting for the sweet ‘yes’ of the princess.
“It was the Crown Prince who planned it!” Cazim’s mention of the Crown Prince brought Averi back to reality.
He tsked. That Crown Prince!
“Let’s go! We need to protect the Princess!” He and Cazim rode their respective horses, and made their way towards the entrance of the forest.
This is a world with a magical setting. But even so, people are incapable of absorbing the magic energies that are around. Only a few awakened their innate ability to absorb the magic energies pero kahit ganoon, but even so, there are still few magic users due to the lack of manuals.
As this is a magical world, magic beasts, ferocious beasts and even legendary beasts exist, but you can barely find them in this continent. At most, normal beasts were commonly found here, in this forest.
But of course, a beast is a beast. They are still deadly if you are not careful.
“What’s the situation?”
Averi made Cazim investigate. Cazim immediately returned with the news.
“They are waiting for the Prince and Princess,” Cazim said the news. He rode his horse and can’t help but comment, “Gahh, what’s with the Crown Prince? Didn't he know that he was bringing the Princess to ruin?”
Averi did not comment on what his friend said. Although he too, wants to curse the Prince, it's not good to be heard by the majority.
Crown Prince Asharie Shibalbad, the Masked Prince of Kirama Kingdom. There are many speculations as to why he is wearing a mask. First, he had a beautiful face, that the person who sees his face will go crazy. Another one was he had a scarred face. It was so ugly to the point that he had to wear mask to cover it.
Averi believed the second rumor. The Prince is too ugly, he had to hide his ugliness for the sake of his beautiful twin sister.
There’s also the rumor that anyone who saw the prince’ face will never see the light again. Hah! So laughable. Just for a face?
“His Royal Highness, The Crown Prince and Her Royal Highness, The Princess, are here!”
Averi and Cazim got off on their respective horses and bowed to pay homage to the nobility. The majority did the same.
“Oh, please rise.”
It was as if a fragrant cloth enveloped Averi's heart when he heard Shaidona's voice. The Princess's voice is really beautiful.
He and Cazim made their way towards the Princess. He simply pushed aside the Princess's royal retainer and held out his hand.
“May I have the honor, My Princess?” Averi asked. A soft hand rested on his rough hand, accompanied by the Princess's compelling smile.
“Stop the drama, Averi. Just get me down,” Shaidona said. She was semi-blushing.
“I’m being a gentleman here, Princess. Don't you want to? Do you want Cazim to carry you?” Averi was being playful. He was pertaining to Cazim being the weakest in the three of them. He supports the Princess on horseback.
“Aiya~!”
Averi, Shaidona, Cazim and Yikonsal, the royal physician’s son, grew up together. With Averi being the strongest and with Cazim being the weakest. Shaiyi and Yikon had an average strength.
As the heirs of their respective fathers, they’re supposed to be with Prince Asharie, but who told that Prince to avoid them? Now, he is a Crown Prince with no follower, except for his retainer.
“You're still beautiful to this day, Shayi,” Cazim called the Princess by her nickname. Shaidona blushed again, and smiled that captured the hearts of men in the vicinity.
Averi looked at Prince Asharie, the Prince’ retainer was talking to the guards while Prince was seated on his horse. Maybe Asharie noticed that Averi was looking at him so he turned in the direction of the man.
They looked at each other. While the mask covers the face, it didn't cover the eyes. Asharie’s eyes were like a black hole that's absorbing him. Averi snapped back, and glared at the Prince. For no apparent reason, he didn't really like the Prince.
He didn’t notice that the Crown Prince’s eyes the slightly curved after that staring moment.
‘Averi Abrijah, The General’s son. Huh.’
