Fake Princess
CCCXLV Chapter
"You guys really did it," Lux's voice whispered in my ear, "I had to do it. Because participating in the war stakes life, forcing someone to follow him would make it difficult for me to lead the army myself. Therefore," I said to a halt, my head bowed back to the brown robe that covered Cia's head.
"You want those who volunteered to fight" Lux whispered back slowly, "you're right. Because if they want to do it themselves, their strength will double than before without them knowing, and that will be a very good advantage for us," I whispered to him softly.
"Lux," I said slowly, "no need to remind me. I know what to do. Trust me," he said back to me.
The horses we rode went hand in hand through the forest, the sound of iron from the armor the Knights wore accompanied our journey. Arata led us into a cave in the corner of the forest, "be careful. Inside is very slippery, it will be dangerous if you slip there," said Arata turned his head before directing his horse into the mouth of the cave.
"Sachi, don't ride your horse too far away from me," Izumi said, "I understand, nii-chan," I replied as I nodded my head at her.
I turned my gaze toward the mouth of the cave, I gave my horse a slow walk into the cave. Strangely, the cave has been filled with burning torches attached to the stone walls along the cave.
Arata stopped the horse he was riding on, the four big men I had seen before with him were standing before us with five horses standing beside them.
"Sister, we have illuminated the cave at your command" said one of the men, "good, you are indeed very reliable" Arata replied as he moved his horse back towards us.
"The end of this cave ends in an unused mine not too far from the Capital of the Tao Kingdom. So if we go through it, the other cities around the capital will not know where we are" Arata said, addressing us in turn.
"Sister, are those you're saying we should help?"
"Shut your mouth!" Arata cut off the words of one of the men, "you must respect both the men who were there, and also the women who were there," arata continued by pointing his right palm towards me.
"We understand sis," answered a man, one hand moving to hit the head of the man who spoke earlier.
"Are you able to ride alone?" Arata said with a slight move of his head turned his head towards Aeneas who was sitting behind him.
"I've improved, I'll ride alone" said Aeneas, "are you sure of Eneas?" I asked back as my horse stopped beside them.
"I'm fine nee-chan. I've been resting too long, so now ... I'm really fine," he said, Aeneas slightly moved his horse nodding towards me.
"Don't push myself too much" I said back to her, "of course, I won't" she smiled at me.
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Long time we rode horses down the cave, the sound of iron rubbing followed by the sound of footsteps horse more clearly heard in the cave. "Hime-sama," my head turned towards Arata who had moved his horse beside me.
"But I look ordinary?" I asked to cut her words, Arata nodded his head in reply to my words.
"I've fought several wars, I've also been dying many times during the journey. Therefore, it could be said that I have gotten a little used to it. Since I didn't want to die so easily, then I had to crush anyone who intended to block my will," I said, my head bowed back avoiding his gaze.
"The daughter I raised, has a good heart. He might not even be able to kill an ant. But he always forced himself. He grew strong to protect those he wanted to protect, so it was fitting that I supported everything he wanted to achieve. The words that Tsubaru spoke, as we all gathered at the Palace during your death ceremony six years ago," said Arata, I glanced slightly at him who had also lowered his gaze.
"I have been waiting for these moments, all vice Captains ... Waiting to fight under direct orders from you Hime-sama. Just like me, we all consider Sora like our home. Although, we are from a different region, but the name Arata that I have now ... Given directly by His Majesty, I came back to life as Arata because of His Majesty."
"So, if His Majesty forbids us to follow him into the fire even once, we will still follow him. Because for the ten Vice-Captains, Your Majesty..."
"It's like your own father, am I right?" I said cutting off his words, "that's right. He was like my own father" he said, still bowed, looking a small smile at the end of his lips.
"Sister, we're almost there," the voice of the man who sounded slightly averted my gaze, "really? Then prepare yourself ... The kingdom of Tao, is before our eyes now" said Arata, the horse he was riding forward past me.
Gimme my horse to walk slowly after them, the slightly slippery condition of the cave several times almost made me topple over from the horse. My head moved slightly back, the look of tired face was faintly visible by the lack of light in the cave.
The cold, moist air that enveloped the body while inside the cave turned warm as my horse stepped out of it. My head turned around staring at the rock cliffs that surrounded us.
"Through here," said Arata moving his horse to walk closer to the hole that was squeezed by a rock cliff.
"What are you guys doing?" I asked the four men riding their horses around me.
"Sister, ask us to take care of Miss" said one of the men, "How long have you been following her?" I asked without looking at them.
"It's been a long time, he's a good man Miss. You won't regret choosing him" said the man's voice back.
"Let's see, I think he deserves a better woman than me" I smiled at the man.
"Shen, I'll kill you if you open your mouth more than this!" Arata raised his voice, he moved his head turned towards me.
"Sorry for the carelessness I did, Brother," the man answered Arata's words with a slight bow of his body from his horse.
"Stop all of you! Prepare yourselves! Right in front of our eyes!" Haruki's shout turned my eyes away, my eyes opened to the roof of the golden-covered Palace surrounded by a high stone fortress, far below the barren hill that we were looking at right now.