39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIsSfJm3Vi
Going back, Joe convinced Gale to go with them back to Shae's house. Well, her house too. Joe achieved what he wanted, but it wasn't that all. Gale wanted to go too.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKspprnxgv
Inside the carriage, Sloan took notice of the atmosphere. It blooms.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCixLMFbATL
My family...we're complete?
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoBQzNcleS
She felt overwhelmed. She knew everyone of them felt that too. And Sloan wanted to cry, but she would ruin the atmosphere between them.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHD4ohTBo4
Her parents were laughing and talking to each other, sitting opposite of her and Joe, that they seemed to not notice both of their children.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQYtc7ScYc
Sloan could only smiled and sighed.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1MdJQcAn5
When was the last time I felt we were like a family? Probably, she guessed, months after she almost died by the child of his father's enemy.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgAdsVpTIC
"M'lady?"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWfKEPfbmQ
Sloan turn to gaze at Joe beside her.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7FW33CgT3
"Yes, do you need anything? Are you sleepy, Joe? You can rest in my arms. You can still sleep in my arms, I can carry you,"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUittz7U549
Jow shake his head. Staring at her and forming tears in his eyes. Sloan panicked.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjshp6KncZT
"What? Why are you crying, Joe???"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYHv5kKLSZ
Both Gale and Shae stopped when they heard Sloan opposite to them. That's when they saw Joe crying too and started to asked panickingly.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRY2viLBR20
Joe could only put his head on Sloan's arms and covered his face.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VsQTiOuC6
"You're going to leave tomorrow, m'lady?"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0npHaaEunV
Ah, he heard that a while ago. That's why he was silent.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2WicgWMtb
Sloan turned to look at her parents. That's when Shae explained the situation by the words that Joe will understand. After crying for about half an hour and not accepting the fact that Sloan was going to leave, he fell asleep on the way home.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmR3qExUvOS
Exiting the carriage, all the knights and maids at Shae's place was in big shocked after seeing them complete and the fact that Joe was like a baby being carried by their Captain.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1KZeHCiOZ
It was a chaos to Shae after that. The knights he trained kept asking if Lady Gale was now not going to left anymore. But they only kept their expectations high themselves.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzlk2U1zLB
Soon after, the day of Sloan's departure arrived. Prince Sage came to pick her up, and have come to be updated to the news that the Captain of the Blue Knights, Shae, adopted a kid. And as he bet on himself, that was the enslaved child that Sloan saved from slavery at a young age.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkxyF9PsaB
And the child was crying while trying to reach Sloan who was going to step in the carriage.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubPo8Crv4b
Sloan can't just accept his arms and bring him with her to the palace. So she bid goodbye to her parents and Joe, carrying a reddened face.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeD5FPuhBMA
The timing was really bad. She wished she'll be like a sister more to him.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Gm3L5hAjz
Prince Sage just stared at her, who couldn't believe what she has done.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwP3aPeeLAH
"Your decision changed? About...Joe?" He heard his name a while ago.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUJIJdvSp4
Sloan nod. "Father agreed."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN8FlO41kb
He asked once more. "I see...then...about Lady Gale and Sir Shae? Are they..."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHd2tkxWyWK
"No, your highness. I doubt it." Sloan turned outside the window. "It's just because of Joe. Mother took a liking to him as Joe convinced her to come with us and stayed. Mother will leave, I just don't know when. But I felt she wanted to take care of Joe. Now that we're getting married...you know?"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoV1w5UPou
Prince Sage's eyes fell on the floor as he understand their situation.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLZY4XYWzR
"I wouldn't ask anymore."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQrdUMBIrQ
Sloan nod.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2auzNxOJ3
The palace were rejoicing when Sloan came. The knights and maids and even the part of nobilities were in the throne hall standing and waited for their arriv. But she hated the crowd and turned her head to Prince Sage, hoping to be save.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1F5JS0W6Pd
"Oh, she's not feeling well, your majesty, I'll take Sloan to her room."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgI0c86d1jX
"Wha---not feeling well? Should we call the physician---" The queen said, concerned.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6STe1oheEf
"No need," Prince Sage nod.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KKm5oUNBR
Sage silently offered his hand as she took it and they left the throne hall after greeting the king and the queen.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMt0mzF5K7
"Don't worry, we don't need to greet the nobilities one by one. They already know who are you, and I'm certain that you know them. You wouldn't owe them explanations." Sage explained, concerned.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7QIpQQ1lw
Sloan sat by the window, staring at him sitting on the side of the bed of her new room.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQjtmvBi1C
"Your highness, I took notice of Miss Knightley, she seemed of wanting to talk to you."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6SjlkijYw
Hearing that name, Sage couldn't give a word.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXUJwMkQlB
Miss Knightley Morson, daughter of a Baron, and the one who has like him ever since. She takes everything for granted, spread words that destroyed people's lives in a young age. And her father did nothing cause he loves his daughter so much. A wicked one.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UHkHGkhDv
Only some people know what she really is like, hiding his true colors. And the prince was one of it.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFuBdUeTRm
"I don't want to talk to anyone outside." He spoke.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNFPqMKx8I
"I see. You want to stay here for a minute then?"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4zhBU655U
"I have something to talk to you, that's why."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIya96czB70
"...Alright. What is it?"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6tnPYVscE
Sage walked towards her. "I need your help on something,"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zj9zTlQpO
"Something? Help? Your highness, that's new. I thought you can do everything by yourself. You presented to all of us that you're too independent."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Hj73RxT7o
"..." Sloan made it look like she's mocking him. But it only made Sage rolled his eyes on her.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEdRsJNTNI
He sat beside her by the window.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtikQvaibLY
"Stop it."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwKe8D2vd8
"So what was it?"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCyA4M4MEF
"You need to accompany me in Cephas Kingdom for the next two days."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmH2Ky2IXN
Slowly, Sloan's face twitched hearing it.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5koIiKkGsL
Cephas Kingdom, with a population of almost thirty five million people. It's a small kingdom that was governed by a greedy king and a whiney queen. Overall, Cephas Kingdom was a chaos. It seemed like the only sane person governing there is a prime minister who managed the kingdom's funds, luckily. If it wasn't for the prime minister who was by the king's side for over thirty years, Cephas Kingdom will be eliminated by the map years ago.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPGXGOetyH
"Cephas Kingdom? Then?"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpfbN0vxt2
Sage nodded and crossed his arms. "I received an invitation yesterday by the princess, Princess Sienna."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSh7ohBTnx
The king and queen's second child and only daughter.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cG7KPiO0V
Sloan heard rumors about her, a widely known princess who bores an intelligence by weaving dresses and a princess who took after her mother. She thought it marvelous, though she never really seen her face and made dresses from fabrics.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpR2B6g7uO
"Invitation? By her highness? Why would her highness send a letter for you?" Sloan asked in astonishment. It was a rare occasion for the princess of another kingdom to send a letter to the prince of this kingdom. It could only be either of two reasons. One, the princess has a fondness of the prince. Second, she has a proposal for something about both of the kingdom.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbnITx976G
Instead of answering, Sage took a small paper from his pocket and hand it to Sloan.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxwXn0At5U
There, Sloan read the letter.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡid6PQqsdIn
Reading the letter, Sloan's face paled. Either of the two reasons weren't accurate enough.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCzhvlgIsx
His Royal Highness, Prince Sage Castleton of the Dali's Kingdom
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fosrY4mQm
Dearest Royal Highness,
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwytSgUtUwt
This letter was an invitation I made, your highness. I had heard of your matrimony just yesterday from Duke Atticus from Redmere Duchy. I'm certain that it now spreads all over the continents and different kingdoms, your highness.I was in state of discontent to have heard that you were match with a lowly daughter of a knight. I don't know what is with the queen and his majesty's minds to let them give your hand to such lowly woman. I thought that no one would deserve you, except the ones those you were even in your title, or who has the high privilege you have. Last night, I could not sleep with those thoughts and drawn in my mind that you were grieving for the reason that you can't do anything by the decision. With that thoughts, I will gladly listen to your judgements and concern according to your approaching matrimony that would soon occur. Your highness, I will be here to give you a soothe for everything you're going through. You're free to set foot on Cephas Kingdom one of these days.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfix2V3a40
Deeply concerned, Sincerely,
Princess Sienna, Cephas Kingdom
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyk2CiE4TCa
Sloan's eyes fell on the floor, processing what she had read. When she processed it, her eyes narrowed and gave the letter back.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEaQqoUGCl
"Your highness, everyone who could have read this will seen through her highness's intentions, don't you think?"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXXHCYXvQI
Prince Sage shrugged, and boldy replied, "I'm not the kind of she formed in her mind. She thought of me lowly."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVWJ3vYJKf
"Your highness, I'm the one she thought of lowly. And I've been meaning to ask everyone of what's wrong with me being my father's daughter," Sloan said with a snort.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzgRrnK30V
Sage went silent, crampled Princess Sienna's letter and faded through his blue flame in his hand. Sloan was amazed seeing him used his powers and became less gloomy for a second. He went crossing his arms again.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoYCqhebTn
"And I think her highness's giving you a choice."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxu2wpNVhM
"What choice?" He asked.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeY8JFL3InY
"If her highness was to comfort you because of our matrimony, she'll offer her hand to you thinking that her highness's is the only choice you would have to get away from me and we're certain of it..." Prince Sage listened attentively, "Say that both the king or the queen of kingdoms would agree and there would be a celebration for both of your kingdoms when the name of your soon wife would be change to her highness's name, many privileges will come along. Both kingdoms will prosper. You will not have a hard time to govern the kingdom...while you don't have a choice of being with me and it's not worth it."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9UVCrTXu6
There was a silence for a moment. They just stared at each other.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJucg9mgrEt
"Your highness, what do you think of this matter?"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiPQiWvgWs
"No sense."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDByBFoZsX
"You'll throw away my conclusions?"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkDym7VqUg
"Absolutely."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbQTQjDuIs
"That's reasonable, though."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSLSs9yLlB
"You're being senseless. Everything is decided."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMdx0JtzpS
"I'm just forming thoughts in my head."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDFdWw3YeW
Sage sighed. "So you'll accompany me?"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTHKVB40g9
"Certainly, you asked for help. But what will I do for you?"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1V8HQst2XH
"We just need to convinced the Princess that what she thought of was wrong."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWaj1AWl1a
"That?" Sloan was confused.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxD8MvCQ6Cj
"That I have no judgements and concern about this matrimony or about you. She thought everything imprecisely. I don't like dealing with everyone about this matter. I ignored everyone judgely speaking about this matrimony, but the one who sends the letter was a princess with an invitation," Sage took a deep sigh. "Mostly, I don't have a choice. I need to speak with her, we need,"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCSucrhpym
Sloan thought, maybe the prince was tired going circles. But she was only a victim of this matrimony too. The prince suffers more due to the horrible judgements. She's a lowly, who would in their right mind will match her to the prince?
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQNDuagyCs
And when she thought of it, she paled again, Only the king.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ElhAMVZ03
She was doubting why the king takes her as the prince's other half. Why her?
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTjKnguuq1
That questions still bothers her. And one of the questions she's hoping to be answered one of these days.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3a0rgklGnh
Sloan nodded, look up to the ceiling and said, "And I needed to talk to her about me being my father's daughter. Her opinions of me was bore from dissatisfactory. If father would have read it, he'll be in rage." She snorted.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlMrzkKrvP
Sage smirked. "Well you should not grieve, I already burned the paper."
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqm6Z0oOr1
"Then I guess I'll send my gratitude to you, your highness,"
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4xu18PVjZ
Sage stared at her for a moment and looked away.
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mvyYanmF8
He suddenly thought, he can't see himself with anyone but her. The first time he informed Sloan that it's impossible for them to became infatuated with each other, she understands. Mostly because they thought the same way of not involving themselves in affectionate devotion to anyone. But what if in the future, one of them couldn't fathom one another's rationality anymore? What would it be like?
ns18.221.54.244da2
