Zircon City

"Princess.." Hayden tries to wake her up. They still in the forest. All night long they had been running and they only stop to sleep at dawn. While Yuina is sleeping, he still keeps on guarding her. He only left her for a moment to find water for her.

Yuina felt her head dizzy and extremely cold. She has never been out from the castle for her 23 years old. She only once go to the town and on the same day, she has been kidnaped. Thus, that is the last her father let her out of the castle.

In her sleep, she keeps having a repeated dream where her father has been killed by the one who she thought loved her. He is someone so dear to her. Why did he do this? What of his purpose? He even not batting an eye when he said to his people to kill her. Where is the love that she felt coming from that man all this year?

"Princess.." Hayden calls her again. When there is no answer for the second time, he slowly touches her forehead.

'It's hot. She had a fever.' He then takes off his long trench coat and covers her body.

"Princess, drink this water first. I'll find something to reduce your fever." He to give her water with the edge of the leaves on her small mouth.

Slowly, Yuina opens her eyes and drink the water that Hayden give her. After resting for a few hours, Hayden says that they need to continue their journey otherwise the soldier from the castle will catch them up.

Not having a choice, Yuina continues to walk on her foot. She feels so dizzy and weak. When she starts to blacking out, suddenly she feels someone pull her body and carry her in his arm. She feels a bit comfortable when she feels a bit of warmth from her side of her body.

Hayden had to carry her because they really need to get out of this forest fast. It'll take at least two days to arrive at his city. Without much food supplies he can find here, he worried that princess Yuina will not get full nutrition. He also needs to attend to his wound.

He continues to walk until evening and stop when he finds a good spot for tonight rest. He left the princess in a cave while he went hunting a wild chicken or wild boar. They need to feed their stomach and had at least an energy to continue to walk tomorrow.

When he brings back the food, Yuina already awake. She curled up and staring at the ground blankly. He knows she must be still grieving for what Prince Hans doing yesterday. He also knows that princess Yuina loves that man. He can saw in her eyes. He let her have her moment while he prepares their dinner.

After he is done grilled the meat, he brings it to Yuina on the leaves. He sat down beside her.

"Princess, you have to eat. You've not eaten since yesterday." He said with a gentle tone.

"What's the point on living when all I had is gone, Hayden? I'm far away from my home. My father's dead. My servant all has been killed. I had no one." She starts to sobs.

"You still have me, do you? I'll protect you with my life, so hang in there. This grieving day will pass soon. Give me an order, if you want me to behead Prince Hans, I will do it. All you have to do is give me a command." He tries to coax her.

She shakes her head. "No..I can't kill him. How much I hate him, I can't kill him." She starts crying harder.

Sighing, he put his hand on her shoulder. Patting her softly. "There, there. Cry as much as you want. After that, you need to eat, okay? I'll help you to clean up and get a good night sleep after that. We will need to continue our journey tomorrow morning."

Yuina leans her head toward Hayden's chest. Like as he said, she cries like a baby. She knows she is lucky to have Hayden at her side. Even though she is no longer a princess, he still sided with her, protect her well. They have been a friend since they were a kid. Hayden is the one who always at her side even though she keep bullying him and makes him annoyed.

After a ton of tears she cried, she took the leaves on Hayden's hand.

"What is this?" She asks.

"Better if you did not know what is this. But, it tastes quite good since I'm a good cooker." He smiles seeing his grumpy cat took the leaves and start to eat it.

"It tasteless." She complains and pouted.

Hayden could only laugh at her complain. "Better than we did not eat anything."

"Hmm.. you're right." She sniffing a bit. Her nose is still watery from the crying.

"Hurry up eating. You need to get a bath." He said and pats on her hair.

"Okay." She nods her head. Hayden returns to the fireplace and eats his portion. Like what Yuina say, it's tasteless.

..

Zirconia castle.

Lord Albert has been informing all the aristocrat and all the general from each clan. They will hold a meeting in the next three days. The news about the King's death has been released to the whole kingdom.

They claimed the reason why the king is killed because General Hayden went on rampage regarding who Princess Yuina will be engaged to. He decides to kill King Edward and kidnapping Princess Yuina. His head has been put into large bounty price.

With that accusation, one will believe him. General Hayden is known to be very devoted to the Princess Yuina. He always at her side no matter where they go. The idea to get married to princess Yuina and have the holy crown is likely plausible to hear.

..

Yuina curled up her body in the waterfall not far from the cave. Her fever has subsided when she woke up before.

After eating, Hayden led her to the waterfall. He hides behind the bush while facing the other way for her to undress and clean herself in the waterfall.

Lucky now it's in summer, so the water is not too cold for her. While bathing, she looks at her wrist. The bracelet that Prince Hans give her still intact in her wrist. Her eyes wet with tears when she remembers it again.

She was afraid. She is alone in this world. She had no family left. He lost in her sadness again.

"Princess..is everything okay?" Hayden asks when he heard a slow sobbing sound from the waterfall. Even though the sound of water is quite loud, his ears are still sharp.

"Erm.." She immediately wipes her tears.

"You know..you had right to grieving on king's death. There's nothing wrong with it. I understand your feeling. But life needs to move on. There's a reason why we still alive. We need to find that reason and achieve our goal." He lowered his head staring at the ground. Seeing the girl that he loves is heartbroken is unbearable for him. He wants to always protect her and give what best for her. He hopes that she soon will forget the pain that had engraved in her heart.

Yuina is a bit move by his word. She knew what he said is true. She needs to find a reason why she still alive. She needs to set a new goal in her life. Standing up from the water, she said. "Hayden, I'm done." She walks to the side of the waterfall.

Hayden immediately stands up and turn around. When he saw her bare back skin, he turns around back and waits for a few minutes for her to change her clothes.

After reassured she already put on her clothes, he went to her and put another layer of cloak on her.

"You need to stay warm." His eyes were gentle. His voice is soft not align with his face at all. He always had a calm face when he facing her, stern when it comes to training his soldier and very fierce when he in combat mode.

"Thank you, Hayden." She said and lowered her gaze from his eyes.

Return back to the fireplace. Hayden put the sling bag on the ground and ask for Yuina to use it as a pillow.

Following his order, Yuina uses the sling bag as her pillow and hard ground as her mattress. She has never been in this state, but she never complains about where she had to sleep since yesterday. As long she can continue to live, there's no problem even if she had to lay on the thorny leaves. She closes her eyes with Hayden sit beside her, leaning on the tree.

Seeing Yuina had to lay on the hard ground make his heart in pain. He knows she never experiences this kind of treatment. But she's not complaining at all. She looks rather accept everything and surrender to her fate. Remembering the look on Prince Hans when he orders to kill them both makes his blood boil. He clenches his fist and swore inwardly.

'I will fucking kill you, one day.'

..

Two days have passed.

They finally reach the sky tribe or also known as Zircon City. The birthplace of Hayden Black.

They headed to the big wall gate at the top of the mountain. Lay under the mountain is a harmonious city with so many people wearing their traditional clothes. Yuina was a bit happy to see such a harmony city like this.

She can see their teamwork and friendly manner to each other. Their face is also full of smile.

"We almost there," Hayden said. He also a bit of relief to finally reach his hometown. The first place he needs to go is to his castle on the top of the mountain.

"Mm." Yuina walk beside her and still covering her face with the hood. She needs to hide her red hair. Everyone on Zirconia kingdom knows about her hair color because it was so unique. Not only her, but Prince Hans also has a unique hair color and she doesn't know why.