Chapter 16
The towering walls of Stonehaven gleamed in the morning sun, their spires stretching proudly into the sky. The party rode through the city gates, the cobblestone streets lined on both sides by citizens eager to see the Princess.
As they passed, people bowed deeply, whispers of awe spreading like wildfire. Children peeked from behind parents' legs, and merchants paused their work, heads turned in respect. Horses clopped in steady rhythm, announcing their procession through the heart of the city.
The Princess rode with measured grace, her eyes scanning the crowd, while the Prince remained beside her, guiding their path with calm authority. The streets seemed to breathe with anticipation, the city itself acknowledging the arrival of its royal guest.
Finally, they reached the palace gates. The crowd parted instinctively, a hush falling over the street as the grand entrance came to its close. The Princess straightened in her saddle, ready to enter the palace… when suddenly, a pair of frantic women pushed through the edges of the crowd.
women : "You devil worshippers! You killed our child! Give us our child back!" they screamed, voices raw with grief and fury.
The Princess blinked, stunned.
princess: What… is happening?
The Prince's expression darkened instantly. His voice rang out, calm but commanding.
prince:huh what is it! "Commander! Soldiers! Remove these troublemakers from the street. Take them to the prison at once."
The guards moved swiftly, parting the crowd and escorting the women away, restoring order.
The Princess exhaled softly, her heart still racing from the sudden disruption. The Prince inclined his head, and together they turned toward the palace gates. The grand entrance resumed its solemnity, the city now watching with renewed respect as the Princess prepared to step inside.
Outside, Guinevere and Marco remained with the soldiers.
Marco (raising his voice):
"All soldiers will remain here. Stay on standby until further instructions."
Disgruntled murmurs spread through the ranks.
Soldier 1 (whispering): "We're on a mission, not a sightseeing tour… what is even happening?"
Soldier 2: "Are we seriously supposed to just wait here?"
Guinevere's sharp gaze swept over them.
Guinevere (coldly): "Enough. Every word you utter must be for duty alone. Remain silent unless spoken to."
Immediately, the murmurs stopped.
The soldiers straightened.
John stepped closer to Marco.
John (quietly): "This feels… off. I don't understand why they're keeping everyone here."
Marco: "Politics. You'll learn soon enough. Best to stay alert and follow orders."
Just then, Esabell and Tomasi stepped out of a carriage.
Tomasi: "Hello, Commander Marco."
Marco: "Hello. But you should hurry—Chosen Angel Guinevere may already be waiting for you inside."
Tomasi: "Ah! I nearly forgot. Thank you for the reminder, Commander."
Marco: "Indeed."
Tomasi quickly left.
John's eyes then met Esabell's.
Esabell (smiling): "Hello, John… and hello, Commander Marco."
John: "Hello, Esabell. Where have you been? I didn't see you earlier."
Esabell: "Oh, I was under Commander Marco's orders."
Marco grinned proudly.
Marco: "Of course. Keeping everyone safe is my responsibility. Honestly, Esabell, with your head in the clouds you might have lost it without me watching over you."
Esabell: "Ah! Why are you always after my head, Commander?!"
Marco (laughing): "I'm just making sure you survive, dreamer."
Esabell (muttering): "I don't need saving… sometimes."
John leaned closer to Marco.
John: "Why does Guinevere want to meet Tomasi?"
Marco shrugged.
Marco: "Probably about the journey. He's the Chosen Angel. Only he knows where Monessa's body is."
He smirked.
Marco: "Why? Suddenly interested in holy matters?"
John: "No… just curious."
Marco glanced at Esabell.
Marco: "Careful, John. Ask too many questions and Esabell might start writing poetry about the whole journey."
Esabell: "Excuse me? I don't write about everything."
Marco: "Really? Because last time you almost wrote a speech about the sunset."
Esabell crossed her arms.
Esabell: "It was a beautiful sunset."
Marco burst out laughing.
Marco: "See? I told you!"
John couldn't help laughing too.
After a moment, Esabell turned to Marco.
Esabell: "Commander, I actually need John's help with something. May I take him with me?"
John blinked.
John: "Me? Why?"
Marco thought for a moment.
Marco: "It's inside the palace, isn't it? That should be fine. He is an ally, after all. You may take him."
Esabell's face lit up.
Esabell: "Really? Thank you so much, Commander!"
Marco folded his arms proudly.
Inside the Palace
The grand halls of the palace echoed with the soft murmur of introductions. Prince guided the Princess through the rooms, introducing her to nobles, ministers, and the kingdom's most influential figures. Each handshake, each bow, each courteous word felt heavy with expectation, and by the end of the formalities, the Princess's posture sagged slightly.
Finally, once the last of the introductions was complete, Guinevere stepped out from behind a column, a playful grin on her face.
Guinevere: "Oh, are you tired?"
Princess: letting out a quiet sigh "Yeah… this is exhausting."
Guinevere: "How about a little shot to take the edge off?"
Princess: raising an eyebrow "Are you kidding me? At this hour? No, it's not the time."
Guinevere chuckled softly, unbothered. "Fair enough. But… did you see those two women get arrested?"
Princess: nodding slightly, still tense "Yes. Right in front of me. I saw everything."
She paused, her thoughts flickering back to the earlier plan she had discussed with Marco.
Princess: "You know why that happened? The instructions I gave to Marco…"
Guinevere: tilting her head, curious "About what? You didn't tell me much about the plan."
Princess: smirking faintly, her eyes glinting with determination "Just wait and watch. There's more happening in Stonehaven than anyone realizes. It's not exactly Stonehaven… more like a Stone Hell these days. Let's see how it unfolds."
Guinevere's eyes sparkled with amusement and excitement .
guinevere : "Sounds like you've got something big brewing in your head."
The Princess let out a quiet laugh. Guinevere joined in, their shared laughter echoing softly in the hall, a brief respite from the tension of the day.
Palace Study Room
Inside a quiet study room of the palace, stacks of books covered the tables and floor.
John was carrying most of the heavy piles while Esabell organized them onto the shelves.
After some time, the work was finally finished.
John dropped the last stack onto the table and stretched his arms with a tired groan.
Both of them sat down on the floor, catching their breath.
John:"Well… that was a lot heavier than you made it sound."
Esabell laughed softly.
Esabell:"Thank you for the help."
John looked around at the shelves they had just organized.
John:"But seriously… why did you bring me here just for this? The palace probably has dozens of servants who could've done it faster."
Esabell smiled slightly.
Esabell:"Well… it was just an excuse."
John blinked.
John:"An excuse?"
He frowned, clearly confused.
John:"For what?"
Esabell tilted her head, watching him carefully.
Esabell:"I heard what you did… jumping into the river to save the Princess."
John immediately stiffened.
Esabell:"That was very romantic."
John nearly choked.
John:"Romantic?! I wasn't being romantic!"
He ran a hand through his hair awkwardly.
John:"She was drowning. Anyone would've done the same thing."
Esabell raised an eyebrow.
Esabell:"Not everyone jumps into a freezing river without thinking."
John avoided her eyes.
John:"Well… I didn't think."
He muttered the words before realizing what he had said.
Esabell smiled knowingly.
Esabell:"I also heard something else."
John immediately looked suspicious.
John:"…What?"
Esabell:"That the Princess might be getting married here."
John froze. His expression faltered for a brief moment before he quickly looked away.
John:"Oh."
The word came out quieter than he expected.
Esabell watched him carefully.
Esabell:"You know, John… sometimes people think they have plenty of time, so they stay silent."
She leaned back slightly against the shelf.
Esabell:"And sometimes they know time is short… but they still say nothing."
Her gaze softened.
Esabell:"But I think staying silent is the worst choice."
John rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
John:
"Well… I mean… it's not like—"
He stopped himself, clearly struggling to find words.
Esabell waved her hand lightly.
Esabell:"You don't need to explain. Everyone has noticed how much you care about the Princess."
John's face turned red immediately.
John:"W-What?! No— I mean— I just… she's my—"
He stopped again, frustrated with himself.
John:"I respect her, that's all."
Esabell crossed her arms, smiling mischievously.
Esabell:"Sure."
John groaned.
John:"Don't look at me like that."
He paused before asking quietly.
John:"Why are you helping me anyway?"
Esabell's smile softened.
Esabell:"To be honest… I like seeing you and the Princess together."
John blinked in surprise.
John:"Together…?"
Esabell:"I've always seen the Princess alone."
Her voice became gentler.
Esabell:"She carries everything by herself… responsibilities, expectations… everything."
She looked down at her hands.
Esabell:"But after you appeared… I started seeing a different side of her."
John frowned slightly.
John:"Different?"
Esabell nodded. She looked at him.
Esabell:"And she's calmer when you're around."
John looked genuinely surprised.
John:"She is?"
Esabell:"You really didn't notice?"
She tilted her head playfully.
Esabell:"Do you really think the Princess would practice sword fighting with someone so ordinary?"
John gave a small, embarrassed laugh.
John:"…When you say it like that, it sounds pretty strange."
After a moment, he asked quietly:
John:"But what do you gain from all this ?"
Esabell's expression softened deeply.
Esabell:"I just want her to be happy."
Her voice was sincere.
Esabell:"Not because she's a Princess… but because she's always been there for me."
She looked down, remembering.
Esabell:"When I was alone… she stayed with me. She took care of me like a sister."
Her voice trembled slightly.
Esabell:"She has such a kind heart… even if she hides it."
Esabell gently took John's hand.
Esabell:"Good luck, John. Don't lose your chance."
John hesitated. He stared at their hands for a moment before quietly speaking.
John:"…She's a Princess."
Esabell smiled softly.
Esabell:"But she's a human first."
John fell silent after that. For the first time, the thought truly settled in his mind.
next...
The Prince's Room
A soft knock echoed on the door.
doors opened
prince:"Welcome, Miss Commander."
Guinevere bowed politely.
guinevere:"Yes, Prince. Why did you summon me at this hour?"
Prince: stepping aside "Oh, nothing urgent. Just a few questions… for the sake of… good bonding."
Guinevere's brow arched, a wry smile playing on her lips.
guinevere:"Good bonding? I believe we already have a bond strong enough. I'm merely a commander, not… a confidante for idle chatter."
Prince( leaning casually, smirk teasing) :"Ah, but you are close to the Princess, aren't you? Surely you see things others do not."
Guinevere: straightening her posture, voice cool "Yes. But only as her commander. My duty is to her safety and strategy, not… to entertain your curiosity."
Prince: smiling faintly, voice soft but probing "Come now, we've all witnessed your… connection. It's impressive. Surely you can share something useful?"
Guinevere: smirk sharpening, tone firm "Impressive or not, my loyalty is not yours to exploit. I serve the Princess, not your schemes."
Prince( leaning closer, eyes narrowing): "You know, having a strong bond with the future king of Lumidale… this could be very beneficial—for both of us."
Guinevere( unflinching, voice cold) :"Beneficial to whom? Certainly not at the expense of her trust. I serve her, not you."
Prince: visibly bristling, voice rising slightly "So… you refuse to cooperate?"
Guinevere: meeting his gaze evenly "I refuse to be manipulated. Consider this lesson in boundaries."
Prince: scowling, hand tightening into a fist "Enough."
Guinevere(with a calm, cutting edge) :"Then perhaps you should reconsider your methods."
Prince: snapping, voice sharp "Get out."
guinevere :As your wish Prince.
Guinevere inclined once, her expression unreadable, and left the room with deliberate grace, leaving the Prince standing there, simmering with frustration.
next...
The Princess stepped into her chamber.
The doors closed softly behind her.
Princess :ahh this is so exhausted
The room was quiet, lit only by fading sunlight through the tall windows.
A knock sounded.
A soldier entered and bowed.
Soldier: "From the council, Your Highness."
He handed her a sealed letter.
She nodded and broke the seal after he left.
Her eyes scanned the page.
Slowly…
The color drained from her face.
For a long moment she stood there in silence, the letter trembling slightly in her hand.
Finally, she exhaled a quiet, bitter breath.
Princess (softly):
"So… tomorrow is my wedding after all."
The words lingered heavily in the silent room.
...CHAPTER 16ENDS...