Cici Tsumis

Chapter 9

WARNING: FOLLOWING SCENE MENTIONS SA. SKIP TO NEXT BREAK LINE IF DO NOT WANT TO READ.

I awoke to a certain pain. My mind was foggy.

I was planning to leave today since that wretched king had somehow found me within two days ago.

I was getting supplies from the market. He had disguised himself as a rich merchant. He kept asking questions about me. Where had I lived? Why I haven’t been to the castle? Why could no one recall me working at the castle?

I gave vague answers. I lived near the shore. I quit my job after a day. I didn’t think working as a maid suited me.

He wanted to meet again soon. I nodded and told him I would be in town for a week. A lie, of course.

I sat up. The first thing I realized was that my clothes were ruffled a bit and there was a certain wetness on the bed. I lifted the bed covers. Red.

I was confused. It wasn’t time for my time of the month yet. I turned to the bedside table. There were flowers that weren’t there before. Red roses. A note attached to the bouquet caught my eye.

I slowly got up from the bed and winced. It has never hurt like this before…

I idly reached for the note. I opened it and let it drop abruptly. The words, Love, Your Prince charming, mocking me.

I started trembling as the horrible realization dawned on me. I started to hyperventilate. My eyes were watery but there was no way I would shed tears for that fiend.

I fell back to the bed and grabbed the pillowcase to screamed into it. That monster! I hope he dies a wretched death! May God have no mercy for that bastard!

---

The elderly maiden whom I stayed with was apologetic and guilty looking the rest of the day until I left. She knew certain herbs since she owned an herb shop.

I knew how I came to be unconscious.

Surprisingly, I didn’t hold any grudge against her. I told her that I was headed north when I was going west then south. I told her that in case that vulgar man came to bother her some more.

---

A week and I was still in pain. However, there was no way I would settle in a town. I could not trust anyone on this island.

There was a better chance for him to find me in a town than in the wilderness.

Fortunately, I knew how to live in the woods. Courtesy of Sir Nathan Cross’ training regime.

---

I marked another tally on the wall of the cave. It was a decent cave that I found, but I knew that I couldn’t stay there forever.

It was almost three months, noted by the tallies on the wall of the cave.

I should briefly visit a village to see if that scoundrel had given up on searching for me.

Last month, I thought that I could finally go home but I overheard the men at the port saying to keep an eye out for a woman with blue eyes and rose gold hair.

I grabbed my bag and carefully peered out of the cave.

I tend to visit a village once or twice only. It wasn’t worth the risk. I covered my hair with my hood and began my walk to the village.

---

Unfortunately, he had not given up…which meant that I’m still stuck here on this forsaken island.

I walked away from the village, dwelling in my thoughts.

I cannot leave yet. I have no choice but to stay hidden in my cozy cave for another month or so… I thought as I hugged my thin frame.

“Haha! And you know what he said? He said that-” Great…drunken knights at midday? What lazy dishonorable men…an insult to all great knights.

I pull my hood to hide my face and walk at the edge of the road. Hopefully they are stuck in their stupor to notice my presence.

“Ah. What do we have here? Is there anything we can do for you miss? “

I know I brought this upon myself. I thought it would be alright to go to the village for some essential supplies and trade certain items like handmade bows and arrows. They weren’t great quality made like Katherine’s, but they were decent enough.

The knights sneered at me and were about four feet away…. how they figured I am a woman…I guess they aren’t that drunk. And I am not sure if that is a good thing or bad thing…. yet…

I backed away slowly.

“Gentlemen. What business do you have with this fair maiden?” A different voice called from behind me.

“Captain Aleron!” The soldiers gasped.

He had dark raven locks and green, emerald eyes. For a moment, I thought he was a Rogue. An enemy from my island. But that made no sense. The soldiers called him Captain. If any Rogues came to this island, they would be thieves or bandits or villagers. They would most definitely not be knights. I’ve never been attracted to a male before. And I wasn’t an ounce attracted to this man at all when I first met him. He was not hideous at all. His features were a bit rugged and were marked by a single scar. I wouldn’t be surprised if I found out that women constantly swoon at the sight of him. Bronze tanned skin. Dark messy locks. Emerald, green eyes. Straight nose. Thin plump lips. A scar on his right cheek. Broad shoulders. He was a knight all right. The ideal knight that all knights should take as their role model.

He stepped in front of me. He reprimanded them for bothering a fair maiden and for drinking in their knight attire. He sent them back to the palace where he said he would deal with them later. I thought he would apologize and let me leave.

Why didn’t I leave while he dealt with the uncompetitive knights?

Well…I did…He just caught up with me….

He wanted to chaperone me home. “Fair maiden! I apologize for the bad conduct of those knights. Please allow me to accompany to your destination.”

I insisted that I was fine, and he insisted on seeing me home…. I pulled the hood, hiding my face. “It’s alright. I’m just heading home.”

“I still feel I should see you get home safely. For my own piece of mind. I would not want you to encounter any more ruffians.”

He was a persistent knight although he was not in his knight attire. He had a white long-sleeved shirt with only three buttons opened on the collar of her neck and black trousers. His burgundy, brown boots had a distinct design. Very beautiful doves. Captain Aleron… was what those knights called him.

We were in sight of a nearby village, and I told him thanks and that he should be going now. But he stubbornly insisted on dropping me off on the front door of my home.

I told him that I couldn’t let a stranger know where I lived because how can I trust their true intentions.

His eyes widened then softened to understanding.

He bowed before me, taking me aback. “Forgive me, fair maiden. I was taught to treat every woman I met as if they were my own mother or sister. With respect, care, and consideration. But it would seem that my honorable actions seem suspicious to you.”

He stood and stared straight into my eyes, “Therefore please let me drop you off at the entry of the village so that my conscience may be at ease.”

His determined eyes held nothing back. I felt like I could trust this knight even with my life maybe…

I put a stray hair lock behind my ear. Pulling back my hood in the process.

“A blonde woman with blue eyes? Do you think that it’s her?”

I pulled my hood forward. My heart started beating fast in my eardrums. A dark cloud came before me at all sides. I’m trapped. Was this his intention? Did this knight lead me to a trap? Of course, I’m an idiot! He is a knight working for the King. And he is in casual clothes! This must be his secret mission.

I clenched my cloak, and I started trembling in anger at my naivety. How ignorant could I be! Could my loss truly have dulled the senses that were taught and beaten to me in my training as a knight! How could Bianca Regin commit such a mistake!

“Do you men have any business with my wife?”

What?

I looked up. He stared at me in wonder and in askance before he put his arm lightly around my shoulders.

“If not, then we best be on our way home.”

“Oh, sorry sir! We must’ve been mistaken! Go ahead! Go ahead!” The two men bowed before running off.

Huh…In all my years… I’ve never been held by a man. He was so close than his natural scent of the ocean breeze and fresh grass lingered around me. And just when it came, it left.

Bewildered, I turned to him.

“Forgive me for holding you without your permission… You seemed to fear those men…” He held his hands up as if I was a skittish horse.

My eyebrows furrowed. I was confused by his stance. “Are you not aware that the King is looking for a blonde woman with blue eyes?”

He tilted his head slightly towards me as he put his hands down. His eyebrow lifted. “And what does that have to do with me?”

Taken aback, I was unsure of what to say.

I coughed, “Well, isn’t it your duty as his knight?”

He sighed. “I have better things to do than to go on a wild goose chase to find a harmless woman. And even if I found her, I wouldn’t take her to the king.”

“oh…why?” I clenched my cloak a bit nervously.

“Because my first duty is to my country and then royalty.”

“What if the king threatens you?” I whispered.

He scoffed. “It’s not the first time I have defied him.”

I gasped. “And how are you still alive?”

He smirked like a mischievous boy, which had me taken aback. It was what made me realize that all this time his serious polite face was a mask…

“He wouldn’t dare. I’m a distant cousin of the Queen and… let’s just say I have enough evidence to dethrone him than he does to hang me…” The glint in his eyes made me shiver.

“Now fair maiden.” He leaned over me. The tone shifted. His smile disappeared.

The easy-going atmosphere went away, and an overwhelming one took place. His next question caught my tongue. I found myself vulnerable with no way of escape as he caged me between his arms. A tree pushing against my back.

“Would you like to tell me why that king has a stubborn interest in you? And why I was asked while I’m off duty by the queen to come find you?”