14. Faint

Three years passed, and Xavion continued his clandestine acts, even sending letters to Claude to ensure he didn't feel lonely while alone. However, they didn't meet again during this time.

Claude sat inside the lodge that he built by himself, reading a letter from Xavion, feeling restless as he glanced at the calendar. His 17th birthday was approaching, and the specter of death loomed closer.

Kane, I hope you won't do anything like in the original storyline; don't kill me.

****

Times flew by, and Claude was already 17 years old. According to the novel that Claude wrote before he transmigrated to this world, Claude might eventually die at the hands of Kane, although the storyline has changed a lot, he will still be cautious around the young man named Kane.

Claude prepared everything for any possibility and outsmarted the plot itself.

Knock knock.

His wooden lodge was knocked on when he was making a puppet to be kept in a safe place so that if he was cornered, he could switch places with the puppet. He was also making small puppets to sell later.

"Xavion?" Claude opened the door, and once again, there was food sent by Xavion on the porch, but the second prince was nowhere to be seen.

The young man touched his chest, feeling a tightness in his heart. He felt dejected and lonely.

He wanted someone to accompany him and be with him like Eren did who always stood by him, even though he now hated Eren for mercilessly murdered him.

Claude looked at the food, he stored it, not eating it. Instead, Claude ran out carrying a puppet on his back.

"Xavion!!" Claude shouted as he ran. He was sure Xavion was still there.

"Do you not want to meet me?!" Claude shouted again, tears began to bead on hislower eyelids.

"Xavion! Where are you?!" Claude turned his head in every direction. At this moment, he realized that he didn't want to be alone in this forest. He wants Xavion by his side, always.

However, Xavion didn't answer him, even though he was very close to Claude . He deliberately used his Stealth Spell to conceal himself.

Xavion felt it was not yet the time for them to meet. Not before he could prove himself that he was capable enough to protect Claude .

Due to the difference in their social status, Xavion, as the second prince, was aware that many aristocratic nobles would interfere with their relationships. Moreover, his political standings would be in grave danger if the noble's society knew that he harbored a feeling for the son of a Duke.

Hence, Xavion felt it was the best for Claude for the time being, and thus, he left without a trace as if he was never there.

Claude , meanwhile, kept running deeper into the forest until he noticed there was a group of three fully-geared men. He opted to hide and snooped on their chatter.

"Leader, are we close yet?" Said the man who wore a slightly fancier body armor, it was clear for Claude that this man was an officer that did not get used woth outdoor activity.

The bulky, gruff looking man on the front sniffed the air before he speak.

"We are close."

"Boss," Said the man on the left, he half whispered when he said this, "Are you sure this blonde girl is that rumored healer that could heal Prince Kane's sickness?"

"I don't know and I don't care. We are here just to do the job to bring to the palace. Now peel your eyes wide open or I will gauge them out of your skull."

"Y-yes, bos!"

"Wait, are they looking for me?" Claude asked himself. His heart ached when he heard that Kane wasn't doing well.

'Kane is sick? What happened to him? Should I reveal myself and be his savior?' Claude asked himself.

'I think this is my chance to make Kane kind to me and feel indebted so he might not kill me later.' A brilliant idea suddenly came to Claude 's mind. He would be Kane's best savior.

'Besides, in the original storyline, Kane killed me because I chose and supported Xavier. As long as I stay away from Xavier and approach Kane, it seems like it will close the storyline of my murder case, even though Kane's reasons aren't just that, Kane killed me because my blood is valuable but at least the sense of gratitude will make Kane think twice about killing me.'

'But is my idea right?' he asked himself again, Claude nodded to himself.

'Should I reveal myself?' Claude thought hard. Hopefully, he wouldn't regret his choice. He immediately came out of his hiding place while praying that he wouldn't regret his actions.

"I hope I won't regret my choice," said Claude confidently. He then revealed himself.

One of the guards who saw it immediately informed his companions.

"Hey look, I found the one they're looking for," said the guard.

He showed Claude to them, and the three guards were astonished to see Claude 's appearance.

His curly hair was long, reaching his buttocks, and Claude 's pale face was covered in red spots. The shirt Claude was wearing was a short-sleeved shirt, deliberately tied at the waist to show his stomach, and he wore long pants.

"Is he a boy?" asked one of the guards.

'Why are they looking at me like that? Is it because of my hair? I haven't cut my hair since living in the woods.' Claude felt uncomfortable.

"His blonde hair is right, but why he looked like a scrunny boy?" said the leader.

"Is he the healer?" he asked.

One of the guard nudged their boss with an elbow.

"If he's a strong healer, I heard he wouldn't be able to heal himself, I think this is the right person," explained the guard who pinched him.

The other guard still didn't believe it, he then forcibly grabbed Claude 's hand and immediately slashed it with the tip of his sword.

"Damn, what are you doing!" Claude grimaced. They're crazy.