The Only Daughter Of Lancaster
Section Thirty-seven: Slowly

"We, is Alec home yet?" Eli took off his coat and gave it to Pita.

"Not yet sir. Mr. Alec sent a message that he would spend the night in the palace." Reply to Pita while hugging Eli's coat. "How's the placement?"

Eli turned his head, showing the V sign with his index and middle fingers. "I graduated as an education ministry staff."

Ribbon immediately clapped, pleased. "I'm so glad to hear that. Congratulations sir! Tonight I will make your favorite cake as a gift."

Eli smiled, showing a row of his teeth. "Thank you, Pita. Oh, any word from Amabel?"

Regretfully Pita shook her head. "There's no news yet."

Eli sighed, disappointed. He just nodded then stepped towards his room. Pita knew that her master did not want to be disturbed, so she chose to walk to the laundry. It's been seven years since the young lady didn't come home. Amabel must be an adult by now. He will be 16 when he returns. Pita hopes she gets a chance to make up her nonanya saar again. He misses his nona. Her hand touched a leaf-shaped necklace pendant, a gift from Amabel.

The ribbon shook as her tears almost dripped. He chose to wash Eli's coat to relieve his grief. The Lancaster family home was quieter after Amabel left. Since the day of his departure, the two Lancaster brothers have preferred to focus on learning. Mr. Eli though looks cheerful, is currently much more serious, and rarely comes out of the room. While Mr. Alec more often come with Duke Lancaster to be a successor. As long as Mr. Eli focused the school and Alec focused on studying as a successor, Ms. Lancaster visited orphanages or other charities more often. In the end the Lancasters would only gather at the end of the week.

Pita sighed, when she thought about the Lancaster family she missed her nona more. Pita please, Amabel is coming home soon.

Amabel looked around, the barracks were gone. Even the Prince's barracks were gone when they came out. "How did the barracks disappear?"

"It's a magic barracks, one of Ryu's inventions. The time can be adjusted to your needs." Answer Arion.

Both were in front of the troops and Amabel hid her face under the hat. Arion immediately gave instructions and from the side Amabel could see Arion's serious face. "We will pass through the hill of Tiagar for two days. I ask that you be careful. We'll just stop to rest and then continue on. Understood?"

"Yes!" Reply to the soldiers and each one returns to the ranks.

Arion walked over and Amabel followed behind. Both arrived in front of the black colored horse. I don't know why Amabel felt so familiar. "You're going to ride a horse with me. How's it?"

This is similar to their first meeting. Arion rubbed his horse's head, calming. "No problem, you're my fiancee. Or would you rather walk with a horse?" Amabel replied with a joke.

Arion smiled and picked up Amabel. The girl rounded her eyes, shocked by Arion's sudden treatment. "Can you please tell me before you do something?"

"Too long." Arion said while riding a horse. He whipped his horse and they started to leave the village.

Amabel's tilted position made her able to feel Arion's breath on her cheek. The girl immediately looked forward, trying to distance Arion's breath. The distance between the two is too close and this is not good for the wall he created. "How long are we gonna get to Plodnavor?"

"After passing through the hill Tiagar took three days to reach Plodnavor." Reply Arion, "can't you wait to meet your family?"

"Hm." That was Amabel's answer. He certainly missed his family, but returning to Plodnavor meant he had to become Amabel Rosemary Lancaster. A daughter of Duke Lancaster and fiancee of the Prince of the Five. "What about the Prince?"

Arion accidentally looks at Amabel's neck and then chooses to stare at the street. They started to enter the forest. "I miss you more." Flat reply.

But Arion is serious. He misses Amabel more than his family. Returning to Plodnavor meant he had to become a Prince. Tied to rules. Amabel cleared her throat, though she felt warm but at the same time also felt uncomfortable. "Empress Jovanka would be sad to hear that."

Arion chuckled at hearing that. Arthur, who was at Arion's side, turned his head. He never saw Arion laughing, even smiling during the war. His eyes were on the blond woman in front of Arion. Arthur was curious, what did the woman do to make Arion happy like this?

"I don't miss my mother, or my brother, nor your King. For me they are all in my heart. Because they are family." Arion with a straight look.

Amabel understands that. Just like he who does not miss his mother, father, and his two brothers. Amabel kept them in her heart and the belief that they would be fine became her own guarantee. When it comes to longing, maybe Amabel even misses the scent of Andette more. Because they're family, they're not leaving, and they're always there.

"I know quite a few changes in Plodnavor. Rain told me." Obviously Amabel. With Rain, he did not need to send a letter or get out of the Fairy Land to know the developments that occurred. "Rain knows a lot of things. It could be said that he could hear many things from inanimate objects."

There's a point where Arion doesn't like Amabel talking about Rain. In his place, Rain felt his back cold as if someone wanted to kill him. After that, both of them were silent. Arion was busy guessing Rain's appearance, while Amabel was busy looking around. Feeling bad, he turned his head, and found Arion's gaze sharpening.

Arion raised his hand, making the entire army stop. "There are three to five big trols. Standby!"

No one replied, but everyone agreed. On the way, whatever Arion's orders are pretty agreed upon in the heart. They could not let the enemy know of its existence so quickly. "How do you know their numbers?" Amabel asked as the horse returned.

"I heard it." Reply Arion, his eyes stare. "Rear down!" Shouting Arion. "Supply alert!"

From his place, Amabel could hear a loud step. Arrows began to shoot out and several sword knights advanced. Amabel jumped, got off the horse. It made Arion shocked, but he could not leave the line immediately. Too risky. He could only observe for now.

"I hate killing, so please forgive me for today." Amabel said, drawing out her sword. Manna was already flowing until the sword was giving off red color. Usually Amabel only took out this color as she hurried to end the fight. With a single slash, the trolley before him split apart. The other slash made the other trol lose its head.

"Is anyone hurt?" Ask the knight who just looked at him in disbelief. Amabel wiped the blood on her cheek, her eyes still flat and straight. To the knights there, Amabel's gaze was the same as when Arion was on the battlefield. He looked one by one at the knights and nodded. "Looks good."

Amabel then flicked her sword, leaving the rest of the blood on the sword and disappeared. His steps were light towards Arion. "Can I be in the back?"

Arion cradled for a while then nodded. "Do as you please. Axel, let Rosemary get on your horse and you ride with Taki."

Amabel nodded and went back to the back row. He looked at Axel apologizing, but the man just shook his hand no matter what. Axel was still fascinated by Amabel's sword movements earlier. His sword slash was so smooth and voiceless, creepy was also awesome at the same time. If this miss was an enemy eating her sword slashes was terrifying, it was fortunate that they were in the same army.

It seemed that due to seeing the two trols die, the other trol chose to leave. Amabel had often seen trol in the Fairy Land, but the trol was a bit strange. His blood was black and emitted a strange smoke as Amabel slashed at him. Amabel will ask Rain when she meets him.

Before the sun set, they stopped on the field ground. The knights instantly made a bonfire to burn the deer they found on the road earlier. Amabel chose to find water to fill her drinking place. He touched a tree and tried to figure out the flow of wind through the roots of the tree. Afterwards Amabel observed the tree, in the trunk of the tree there was a large scratch. He was sure that this was not a trace of a wild animal.

"What are you doing?" Arion asked while observing Amabel. The girl directly pointed at the scratches on the tree.

"This is not a former wild animal. Is it possible to scratch the trol?" Ask Amabel while touching the scratch.

Arion advanced, observed for a while then nodded. "It could be this is the scratch of the trol earlier."

Amabel frowned, "if you can be honest, the trol was a bit strange. The blood that came out was black and gave off smoke as well."

Arion listened well then nodded. "They don't usually attack, while we had no choice but to kill. The trols live in other areas, but some still live on these hills. No matter where, there is a border between the land of Trol and the human world in this place. The trol-trols were probably already being used by the black magician."

Maybe that's why the trols attacked. If this is a black magician they might just want to assess Amabel's abilities. Luckily, Amabel only used manna on the sword. The girl touched her wrist, hiding the agreement with the wind element. No one should know about this, as Rain said.

"Then why are you here?" Ask Arion.

Amabel jerks and then clears. "So I wanted to find some water, but it wasn't necessary."

Right now it is better not to part with the knights. Either endanger himself or the knights are innocent. At a time like this, Amabel wished Rain was by her side. He cannot make good decisions because no one knows about his abilities. Amabel's worries are visible on her face, making Arion touch her shoulder. "Is there a problem?"

The girl shook her head, "no."

He turned and walked towards the fireplace. Looking at Amabel who was away made Arion again feel the distance between them.