Chapter13
Princess stabbed at the creature's tail with her small knife, barely managing to keep herself alive in the violent water.
Princess: John!! My sword!!
John trembled at the shore, completely frozen. The memories of his past trauma flooded his mind, paralyzing him.
Princess: John!!
Water splashed violently around her. Her face was determined, yet exhaustion was clear in her eyes. Every second felt like an eternity.
John wanted to move. He wanted to save her.
But his mind kept replaying those painful scenes from the past. His chest felt heavy, and his vision slowly began to blur.
John: P-Princess… I… I… wait… I'm coming…
His hands shook as he finally pulled out his sword, forcing himself to gather enough courage to dive into the water.
The Princess noticed the sudden change in him.
Princess (thinking): What happened to him? I have to do this myself.
The monster lunged toward her again. Even though she was already injured, the Princess tightened her grip around the small knife.
She swam forward and slashed at the creature's side.
The monster roared beneath the water, its tail whipping violently. The impact sent the Princess crashing into the water's surface.
She gasped in pain. Blood slowly spread through the water from her wound.
Still, she didn't stop.
The monster lunged again. This time, the Princess dodged and drove her knife deep into the creature's arm.
The beast let out a furious scream.
But before she could move away, the monster suddenly wrapped its massive tail around her leg.
Her body was dragged deeper into the dark water.
The Princess struggled desperately, trying to cut the tail with her knife, but her strength was fading.
Her lungs burned.
The world around her slowly began to fade.
Her knife slipped slightly from her weak fingers.
Slowly… she closed her eyes.
Princess (thinking): Is this… the end…?
Suddenly—
A memory flashed in her mind.
She saw herself as a child again.
Little Princess was running through the palace gardens, laughing happily with another child. The sunlight shone brightly, and the air was filled with joy.
But suddenly—
Her foot slipped.
She fell straight into a small royal pond.
The cold water surrounded her immediately.
Little Princess panicked, thrashing her arms desperately as she tried to swim upward. But she was too small.
Her voice couldn't escape the water.
Her movements grew weaker.
The light above her slowly blurred.
She closed her tiny eyes.
Kid Princess: Is it the end…? Am I going to die now…?
Suddenly—
Someone jumped into the water.
A strong pair of arms grabbed her and pulled her up.
Moments later, the child lay safely in the man's arms.
Water dripped from her hair as she slowly opened her eyes.
Man: Princess!!
His voice trembled with fear.
The moment she looked at him, he immediately hugged her tightly.
Man: Oh, Princess… my dear child!!
The little Princess began crying loudly.
Princess: Papa!! I thought I was going to die!
He gently wiped the tears from her cheeks.
Papa: Not while Papa is here.
She sniffed, still trembling.
Princess: I was so scared…
Her father smiled softly and placed a hand on her head.
Papa: Don't cry. You are the future of our kingdom. Tears do not suit a princess.
He looked at her warmly.
Papa: And remember… as long as Papa is with you, nothing will ever happen to you.
The little Princess looked up at him.
Princess: Really?
Back in the present—
The Princess floated beneath the water, her eyes still closed.
Princess (thinking): Papa… you're not with me now… what will happen to me…?
Suddenly—
The monster let out a loud, painful scream.
The Princess's eyes opened in shock.
Through the blurry water, she saw someone fighting the monster.
John.
His sword moved fiercely through the water as he attacked the creature again and again.
The monster lunged at him, but John dodged and slashed its side.
Dark blood filled the water.
The creature roared and tried to strike him with its tail.
But this time, John grabbed the tail and cut through it with one powerful strike.
The monster screamed violently.
John didn't hesitate.
With one final blow, he drove his sword straight into the creature's head.
The beast trembled… then slowly went still.
John immediately turned and grabbed the Princess, pulling her out of the water.
Princess clutched her knife tightly, trembling as she gasped for air.
John held her close, his face streaked with water and blood.
But relief shone clearly in his eyes.
Princess (thinking): John…
Her eyes widened as she stared at him, almost mesmerized.
For a moment, the world around them seemed to disappear.
John's chest rose and fell heavily as he tried to catch his breath.
John: Are you… okay?
Princess: I… I'm fine.
John: I'm sorry… I was just—
Before he could finish, she gently placed a hand on his arm.
Princess: It's okay… it's okay. Calm down.
Suddenly—
A voice echoed across the battlefield.
Guinevere: Princess!!
Both of them snapped back to reality.
Guinevere quickly approached with several soldiers behind her. She froze when she saw the Princess and John standing so close together in the water.
Her eyes widened.
Guinevere: What is happening here?
The Princess quickly stepped out of the water.
Princess: Prepare the carriage. I'm too tired.
She paused.
Princess: And arrange a meeting later. I want a full report on the battlefield.
Guinevere was still shocked by what she had just witnessed.
Marco suddenly appeared behind her.
Marco: Finally! Princess, you're okay!
Princess: I'm tired.
Marco's eyes shifted toward John, noticing both of them were soaked and exhausted.
Marco: Wait… what exactly happened here?
From behind them, Tomasi approached on horseback.
Tomasi: Seems like… a lot has happened.
The Princess looked at him, then turned toward Marco.
Her expression immediately hardened.
Princess: I believe I ordered you to take them to a safe shelter.
She pointed at Tomasi.
Princess: Why is he still here?
Guinevere shrugged casually.
Guinevere: Well… he insisted on staying. Said he could fight too. I didn't think it was a big deal.
The Princess stared at her in disbelief.
Princess: What?
She sighed tiredly.
Princess: Both of you will give me a full battlefield report later.
Guinevere: Okay, okay, relax. I thought you might have lost an arm or a leg or something. But hey, you look fine.
Marco pointed toward the road.
Marco: Princess, your carriage is ready.
Then he glanced at John, who was still standing in the water.
Marco: Oi! We're leaving! How long are you planning to stay in the water?
The next morning
The Princess sat on her bed inside the command tent.
Amas carefully wrapped bandages around her injured arm.
Guinevere and Marco stood in front of her as they discussed the battlefield situation.
Marco: Some soldiers were badly injured, so I sent them back to the kingdom. But most of the men are fine.
He folded his arms.
Marco: Everything else is under control.
The Princess nodded quietly.
Marco: Oh, and the King sent you a letter.
Guinevere immediately became curious.
Guinevere: Oh? What does it say?
Marco handed the letter to the Princess.
She opened it and began reading silently.
Suddenly—
Her eyes widened in shock.
Outside the tent, several soldiers were talking among themselves.
Soldier 1: Hey… did you hear? I think we might get a break soon.
Soldier 2: A break?
Soldier 1: Yeah. The next kingdom we're passing through… isn't that the Princess's future husband's kingdom?
Soldier 3: Haha! Really? Then maybe we'll finally get some rest there.
Soldier 2: But what about Manasa's stoned body? Aren't we still searching for it?
Soldier 1: I don't know… but if the Princess stops there to get married, it will waste a lot of time. We're not here for that.
Soldier 3: Yeah… I'm actually worried about what might happen.
Another soldier shook his head.
Soldier 4: Shut up. We should trust our Princess. She's our hope. She'll do what's right.
He shrugged slightly.
Soldier 4: But if we get a break… I won't complain.
Not far away, John stood quietly behind a stack of crates.
He had heard everything.
His heart skipped.
She's… going to get married…?
His chest tightened painfully.
For a moment, it felt like the ground beneath his feet had disappeared.
...CHAPTER 13ENDS...