Chapter 11: Clarines

***

May, 17, 1898

Ryujin's POV

We had plans to go to, Clarines, I'm going with Chae, and we were supposed to be in Clarines by now. But something happened, and we got lost on the way.

Chaeryeong, said that her parents live in Clarines, but her Sister lives in Roselia. Because, her Sister has dreams that can only be achieved in our kingdom.

We were, walking in the forest, when we saw a house, that's so big. We were about to knock, when we heard running and swords clashing. We also heard laughter, which is weird, if you ask me, because if you're fighting then you should be all serious. Because, it's a matter of life and death.

We just shrugged it off, and knocked on the door. When, nobody was replying, I saw somebody bumped off the wall, from the other side. I was shocked as I thought, nobody was here, but when I saw him, we made eye contact to each other.

And that actually caused him to lose balance and fall to the floor, and then, he sprained his wrist, then he was followed by two more figures. One male and one female, but unlike him, they fell to the ground gracefully, and peacefully.

"Are you okay, Beom?!" The guy asked, the guy who fell down.

Me, and Chae, are currently still on the state of shock. As we actually didn't know there was a person who keeps on going to the border.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine." The guy who fell down said, while standing up.

Once, he stood up, he quickly looked at me and Chae. And me being, me. I was in high alert, because they have swords, for crying out loud!

"Okay, what are you two, doing here?" The guy who fell down asked us, obviously trying to hide the pain of his wrist.

"Umm-." Chaeryeong, was about to say something when I cut her off.

Cause, my instincts says that they aren't easy to deal with.

"We're just going to Clarines, but got lost on the way there." I said nonchantly.

"Are you for real?" The other guy asked.

"Y-." I was about to answer his Question, when I heard mumbling.

"You sound like her." The other guy said.

"Excuse me?" I asked him, while glaring at him.

I guess that snapped him back to reality.

"I mean n-nothing!" He said, flustered.

'This will be a long day...' I thought.

"Anyway, we better get you treated, because my conscious, will surely bother me. Plus, it was half my fault, for having pink hair that is super eye catching." I said, while trying to get to him.

"Excuse me! You might be carrying poison, and know what my identity, is!" He said, and tried to get his injured wrist away from me.

"Well, excuse you! I'm an Herbalist, in Roselia, so whether you like it or not, I will get that treated. By, all means." I said, but then, a sword met my neck, it was being held by the male.

"I'm sorry. But, this is just an instinct of mine." He said, while still pointing his sword right at me.

"Well then, forgive me as well..." I said, while eyeing his sword.

"What do you mean- Hey!" He said, obviously shocked.

I quickly got the sword and swung it over at my arm, making me have a cut on it. Everybody was shocked with what I did, I mean who wouldn't be a princess, scratch that, a villager knows how to use a sword. It was bleeding so fast.

"If you want to be a Guard, or at least one of the Royal Guards, you should try to at least know how to hold a sword." I said, and went over to Chaeryeong, who looks surprised and got some medication, and quickly put it over my cut, then showed it to them.

Nobody said something. Until, Chaeryeong snapped out it.

"Ryu! Why did you even do that?!" She asked.

"Well, they wouldn't believe us, so we can at least get them to believe our occupations, right?" I asked her.

I was looking at them, when the blonde haired guy, suddenly smiled and then laughed.

"Okay. Okay. We believe you guys, now can you please do my wrist?" He asked, while showing me his wrist.

"Yeah, sure, but can we at least go somewhere comfortable? Our injuries might get infected if we stay here. Because of the density of the forest." I said.

"Okay, then. Let's get in, the house." The other guy said.

"How, the house is locked. And it looks like there's nobody home." Chaeryeong said.

Chaeryeong quickly gasped. "Don't tell me, we're breaking in?!" Chaeryeong asked them.

"Not exactly, the person who owns this house died two years ago, and left it to us." The girl finally said.

"So, basically you guys own this house?" I asked her, which she only answered by nodding.

She quickly went over to the door, and unlocked it. Once everybody was inside, the guy with the blue hair, closed the door, and went over to the guy who had blonde hair, and he whispered something to him.

After he whispered something to him, I went over to look at his wrist, and treated it. While, I was treating it, I heard a cough coming from him.

"So, since we know nothing about each other. How about, we introduce each other?" He asked us.

"Obviously..." I murmured under my breath, but I guess he heard me. He coughed once again, and said something that made me look at him.

"So how about we start with you guys?" He asked, while smirking, in victory, I guess?

But, then again he doesn't know who he's dealing with, yet. So, I just let him think that way. I did change my appearance, just my hair, and maybe I did go through some phases in life where you cannot deny that you won't be going through, but other than that, I didn't change a thing. So, my attitude, name, and habits are still the same.

"Okay, then. Chae, how about you start, while I continue to patch up, mister overconfident judgmental over here." I said, while smirking, and continuing to tend on his wrist.

I know, Chae is almost to burst laughing, but is trying to keep it in.

"Okay." She said, and started introducing herself.

"Hi, my name is, Lee Chaeryeong I'm originally from Clarines, but lived at Roselia, for some errands." She said, not saying our real motive to go and live in Clarines. Knowing that, I'll be the one who'll be saying that, because she knows that I have a plan.

"Okay, how about you then, Miss?" This blonde haired guy asked, I was just finishing off tending his wrist.

"And... Done!" I said, and stood up.

"So, your name is 'done'?" He asked, mocking me.

'So, you're mocking me now, huh? Well, two can play that game.' I thought.

"Are you dumb or something? Or maybe you hit your head as well? Oh no! Do you want me to take you to another Herbalist? Because, obviously 'Done', cannot be a name, unless, you're a very dumb person to name somebody that." I said, well more like mocking him. I can feel the other three are just holding their laughter in.

I can see his expressions, turned into a dark one.

"Hahaha, very funny." He laughed sarcastically, and crossed his arms.

"What? I thought you were having fun?" I asked him.

"I was having fun that is not until you ruined it." He said, rolling his eyes at me.

"Okay, are you really a Boy? Or are you a Girl? Cause clearly, you act girlier than me, I mean I rarely roll my eyes at people." I said.

I know that he was getting mad, so I decided to stop, before he throws a tantrum at me.

"Anyway, let me introduce myself, properly, this time." I said, saying 'Properly' with venom, at that guy.

"My name is Shin Ryujin, I'm originally really from Roselia. I've lived there ever since I was a Baby. This is actually the second time I've left Roselia, and also the second time I'm going to Clarines." I said.

"Okay, what's your business in Clarines?" The guy with the Blue Hair asked.

I sense that we can trust them, and they'll keep it a secret, for us.

"Actually, we just wanted to visit, Chaeryeong's parents, but, now we want to, stay." I said.

"Now, you guys have to introduce yourselves to us." I said, demanding.

"Okay, okay. No need to be so demanding... Geez... You can even beat my Younger Brother, for being so demanding." The blonde guy said.

And with that I quickly glared at him. He then, raised his hands up, as if he was surrendering to me. I quickly smiled and then laughed.

"Okay, enough, slacking just introduce yourselves." I said, while trying to control my laughter.

"Okay, ladies first then." The blonde guy said, while looking at the girl.

She sighed, and started introducing herself.

"My name is Hwang Yeji." She said, making me confuse, is she the first Princess of Alynthi, why is here?

"And before you guy ask, yes. I am the famous 'run away' princess of that kingdom." She said, looking super uninterested with the topic.

That kind of made me, think. Why, would she want to run away?

"What? Why did you that?" Chaeryeong asked, looking at me. As she knows, that this kind of topics, are super extreme on my blacklist when talking to me about my background.

"Let's just say, Our Kingdom already has an heir to the throne, and I have a younger, adoptive sister. Who is very annoying, if you two ever see her or meet her, please avoid her at all costs." She said, warning us. We only nod our heads at her.

"Anyway, my name is Choi Yeonjun. I'm from Clarines." He said, and that made us a bit freaked out, because he is rather mysterious.

"Okay... Yeonjun hyung, can you please at least tell them more about you? Before I introduce myself?" The Blonde guy, said, while sighing, if he was a Royal, and another Royalty saw him, he is so dead.

Yeonjun, then took a deep breath, and sighed. "Fine."

"I actually work for somebody in the higher ranks. Beom, and I knew each other while he was still sick. I also know what his, darkest secrets are." He said, while pointing at the blonde haired guy. And we busted out laughing.

We were all laughing, the blonde guy was yelling at Yeonjun. Once we all settled down, he took a sit and sighed, and said something, but it was a bit inaudible to hear.

Beomgyu's POV

"Oh my, what did mother, even think about while looking for a suitable bodyguard for me." I said, and took a sit down.

"Hahaha, anyway. My name is Choi Beomgyu. I'm from Clarines obviously. I was born March, 13. I'm in a high ranked family." I said, explaining my life, in summarization.

We were all talking to each other, to know more about ourselves, when Ryujin. Suddenly stood up, and excused her to go outside.

She really does feel super familiar to me but, I don't know when and where I met her.

I quickly stood up and left without telling them, what I was going to do. Even, I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm sure that I was looking for her.

For some reason, I feel comfortable near her. And she has the same name as my supposed to be secret pen pal, or in other words the First Princess of Roselia, Shin Ryujin. I wrote several letters to her, but, none of them came back to me. It is true, that's, the last letter I'll be receiving from her. I never thought, that I'll be actually be friends and get to talk to her; it was all a wild fantasy of mine, that started when I was bored, and attached to their kingdom.

But, four years ago, they said that the First Princess of Roselia, got into a fight with her parents, and days later, an assassin attacked her, but her body was nowhere to be found, that is, until two years ago her body was seen, but not recognize as they said, it was floating on a river side, and that her body was burnt. And that made things complicated as, from what I know, the First Princess of Roselia, was the heir to the Throne, But now that she's gone, the second princess will take her place.

That's why the borders of our Kingdoms are rarely open. They want to capture the person who did that to their precious princess. But, suddenly a girl who has the same Name, and attitude as her appeared, I'm thinking that there's more to this story, than what she said.

I quickly walked towards the possible places where should she would be, but then, something went in, my brain. I quickly ran towards the direction of the place.

When, I reached the place I saw her, leaning on a tree while looking at the sky. I was about to go near her, when I thought, I should give her some time alone. I was ready to head back, when I suddenly stepped on a twig, and it made some noise.

"Who's there?!" She asked, from the tone of her voice, I'm pretty sure; she's ready to either run or attack. But, knowing her she wouldn't do that.

I quickly sighed in defeat as it would be better if I surrender myself, rather than having a dispute with her.

"Chill, it's just me." I said, and walked towards her with my hands up.

I heard her sigh, in relief, I guess.

"Oh. It's just the idiot, who pretends to know everything." She muttered underneath her breathe.

But, I heard it. Since, were alone in this very dense forest. It would be a miracle that I didn't hear her, because, were the only two here and besides who can practically hear the wind blowing here.

"You do know that, I heard you right?" I asked her, gaining her attention, I looked at her.

"Yeah, I mean who wouldn't? Were alone in a very dense forest with nobody else. Plus, you can even hear the wind blowing." She said, and looked at me while smiling.

That made me skip a heartbeat. For some reason, she really looks like the girl in my dreams back then. She also had Pink hair that was shoulder length. Fair Skin, was also wearing the same clothes as her right now. She was also smiling back then.

'This is really, weird. I thought dreams aren't supposed to come true? But, how come she came here? She is also, doing the same thing as before. Who is she? What is she? Were my dreams back then, trying to tell me, that she will do something bad to me? We're they warning me?' I thought.

"Hey?" I heard a voice ask, and that quickly snapped me out of my thoughts.

'I forgot that I wasn't alone.' I thought.

"Hey? You okay?" I heard her ask, once again.

"Hmm? Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I asked her back.

"Well, it kinds look like you were in some kind of deep trance. What were you thinking about?" She asked me.

So, I did once again zone out, my Dad said, that ever since I found out that my Pen Pal was the First Princess of Roselia, I became distant, and cold. But, that wasn't really the reason. It's because, of a family matter. I want to know why did, that happen to us. We didn't do anything wrong, but we got that. That isn't fair.

"It's nothing, just a family matter..." I said, while looking down.

It was quiet for a good couple of minutes, well, except, the fact that she was walking and the sound of the wind was also calming. It was comfortable, I can live like this forever, being free, nobody to listen to, having my own rules. But, even me, feels lonely from time to time. From time to time, I wonder if I ever helped the First Princess of Roselia, because of her problem, maybe she'll still be alive.

Nobody outside the kingdom, knew what really happened, maybe she knows something about her that can at least help me. I've been contemplating whether to ask her or not, since it might be a touchy subject for her, as it is well, who wouldn't be? Talking about the death of a royalty in your own kingdom, and asking questions about it.

I was still contemplating, whether to ask her or not. But, it seems like she noticed it, once again.

"If you're going to ask me something, you should ask. It's not like I'll do something bad to you, as you're a royalty, so, I wouldn't want to get to your bad side." She said, while looking at some flowers.

I was shocked, as she wasn't even looking at me, and she knew that I was wondering, if I should ask her or not.

"How'd you know that?" I asked her.

"Oh, that? I'm a very observant person, since we met earlier, you kept on running your mouth the whole day, and now..." She said, and stood up then looked at me.

"Do, I even have to explain?" She asked me, I just shake my head meaning 'No'.

"Good. Now, you can ask me anything. Just nothing really personal. Really." She said, and started looking up in the sky.

'What does she mean by, "Really Personal"? Is she hiding something? Why would she hide something so important?' I thought.

"Anyway, since you wanted me to really ask you. Here's my real question. What really happened to the First Princess of Roselia? They said that she died." I said, and started looking around.

It was quiet really quiet as, I thought she was just thinking if the answer. But, when I looked at her, I was wrong. She was like a Stone, frozen in shock, I guess?

I started to walk towards her, and when I reached her, I tapped her. She suddenly was all jumpy, and I must admit, it scared me. A little bit suddenly something went in my mind.

'Does she know anything about the First Princess of Roselia?' I thought.

But, something tells me, that if I push anymore, she will be mad. So, I decided to change the topic, and she was actually fun, to talk to, I was actually talking to her as if, I was only a regular person, but, truth be told, I'm actually not.

After that talk, we got to know each other more, she said, that she also had an argument with her parents and ran away. Which, is really weird, is running away in Roselia, a thing nowadays?

We talked for who knows how long. We were going to back to the house when it suddenly rained, making the both of us run towards the house.

"What?! Why did it suddenly rain?! The weather was just fine earlier, today." She said, while continuing to run.

"I know right." I said, agreeing to her.

We just running through the forest when the rain suddenly stopped, but, leaving us soaking wet from the rain. We both, looked at each other and slowly smiled, that turned into laughter. We decided that we should, hurry since it's getting colder by the minute, because were wet, and the wind is certainly not helping. But, I remembered were at a forest, and it rained, and Ryujin has a cut, meaning.

I quickly looked at her, seeing that she was still walking, beside me. For some reason I took of my coat, and wrapped it around her, she was just as shocked as I am, because I don't even know why I'm doing this, to her. But, I know, I promised Mother, that I will treat the Girl that I will spend the rest of my life with, just like this. I was once, again was lost in my own dreamland, that I didn't even notice we already reached the house, and bumping my head onto the wall.

Making me fall on the floor, while I was standing up, I hear laughter, I looked at Ryujin, and she was laughing while pointing at the window upstairs, I quickly looked up. And I saw Yeonjun hyung, talking to Yeji noona, well more like flirting.

'Are they forgetting that they're my Bodyguards? Or maybe Yeonjun hyung forgot that Yeji noona is a Royal?' I thought.

Once, I was back up on my feet I quickly went over the door, and opened it for the both of us to get in. Once she got it, I got in as well, and they started bombarding us questions, but, I didn't answer because I was too busy, thinking about this Girl, many thoughts went in my mind, but they quickly went out as well.

But then, a sudden thought came and entered my mind, a thought that is very intriguing.

'Is she really a normal villager? or Is she the First Princess of Roselia?'

***

May, 19, 1898

Beomgyu's POV

It has been two days, ever since we met, Ryujin and Chaeryeong. And I must say, that both of them are super different, let's say Ryujin is just a bit too confident, and Chaeryeong is well, not so much, but I have a feeling that she's just shy, and needs a little push.

I'm currently walking towards my Horse, with Yeonjun hyung and Yeji noona. I asked them, to come with me, while the other two are fixing their clothes.

"So, Beom. What are we doing here?" Yeonjun hyung asked me.

I was literally screaming eternally, in my mind. Because, I literally got the stupidest bodyguard ever.

"What do yo-." I was about lecture him, when Yeji noona suddenly cut me off.

"Are you seriously that dumb, Yeonjun?" She said, crossing her arms.

"Umm, for your information, I'm not actually dumb; turns out you guys are both Royalty and just know more stuff than me." He said, explaining his side.

"I actually doubt that. One hundred percent." Yeji noona said, while rolling her eyes.

"Me too." I said, but suddenly remembered what the real agenda is.

"Anyway, the reason why I both called you two here is because I want your opinion, on something." I said, while having the most serious face I ever had.

I have to ask their permission for this, if not. Then, I'll probably fail, as the next king of our kingdom. They both looked at each other, and sighed.

"If, you're going to ask us, on what we think about Ryujin and Chaeryeong, then. Please be more straight to the point, Beomgyu." Yeji noona said, while sighing.

"But, if, you're going to ask us, on what we think about bringing Ryujin and Chaeryeong, back to Clarines, with us. Then, at least do us a favor that you won't be like a little kid, and listen to us, once in a while." Yeonjun hyung said which made me surprised.

"Yeah, about it's that.... So, what do you guys think?" I asked them.

Once again they both looked at each other, and sighed. They both look so hopeless, based off the looks on their faces.

"Well, what can we do? I think you already made up your mind." Yeonjun hyung said, while sighing in defeat.

I secretly smiled in victory, so I quickly dashed inside the house, as if, I'm a little kid, and bumped into something, well not really a something but it was a somebody. Because, I heard it saying things, when I opened my eyes, I was hoping it would Ryujin, but to my dismay, it was Chaeryeong. It's not that I don't like her, it's just I would rather bump into ryujin, who will practically, scold at me forever.

Once, I stood up, I quickly helped her up and told her to wait with the other two outside, and she just nodded, before going outside. I quickly went upstairs and went in the room, that Ryujin stayed in, I went in, and saw her looking at something, I was curious so I went near her, when, I was already close, I saw that it was a pendant, that had the initials: S. R.J.

She was just holding it as if something happened to the person who gave it to her. In short she was reminiscing the past.

'Was it given by her past suitor or something?' I asked myself.

Seeing her being down, and that thought getting in my mind, kind of hurt me. I don't know why though, I've been asking myself, that ever since I met her; I suddenly feel something in my stomach. It took a while, as I forgot about it, is my sickness suddenly returning back?!

I was getting in deep thought, but, I got a hold of myself and went to her, quickly tapped her shoulder. She quickly turned around and saw me, she was startled, when she saw me.

"Are you done now?" I said, trying to change tone of my voice.

"Huh?" She suddenly said, and turned around, she was startled when she saw me.

"What do you mean?" She said, and quickly hid the pendant.

"I mean, you were looking at a pendant. That has your initials, and was heart shaped earlier, right?" I asked her, while crossing me arms.

"Mind telling me, who gave it, and what happened?" I asked her and sat down on the bed, tapping the space beside me. Telling her to sit next to me.

I'm trying to test her, if she will even tell us, something like this, or maybe something about her past, so we will get to know her more. I don't actually need to do this, but, she never said anything about her past or family, but, Chaeryeong said, she had a rough past, so it would be hard to get anything out of her. I was only looking at her, and for some reason, I was captivated by her looks, it was like their telling me that she will be the key to my future.

She sighed and sat down next to me, reluctantly. And stared at me, I saw something in her eyes, that we're telling me that she's sad, and in need of something. She quickly took a deep breath.

"This pendant... It was given to me by my parents... Ever since I was baby, I was already wearing it. My parents said that this is a special pendant, that it symbolizes my name, that they from the time they met, and who made them meet. They said, her name was Ryujin, as well but, she died, when an assassination happened at their place. And they made a promise to her to name their very first daughter, in her honor. But, I did nothing else and made shame for that name." She said, while trying not to cry, but miserably failed.

For some reason, I want to comfort her. But, I know my limitations, and we don't actually know each other or maybe trust each other. So, if I ever want to make her happy, I should just do want she wants, just for today.

I quickly stood up and kneeled on one knee, just to get those tears off her. Once, I got all of them out, of her beautiful face. "Okay, once you're done packing, go down and we'll wait for you outside." I said, and then left the room.

I didn't see her reaction, as I planned, but it was good seeing a new side of her, I guess. I went down, and went outside the house, where I found Yeonjun hyung, Yeji noona, and Chaeryeong. Waiting for us, Chaeryeong still looks so confused, with what's happening. Haven't they told Chaeryeong, yet? I just looked at the two of them, as I know them, they should've told her already.

"Umm, Beomgyu. What is this about?" Chaeryeong asked me.

I sighed, knowing there's literally no point of thinking, about this matter.

"I'll tell you later, when Ryujin is also here." I said, while looking at her.

"Well, tell us already. I'm already here so might as well, tell us." I heard a voice from the back.

'She's here, already. And with the tough act as well.' I thought.

"Well, since both of you are here, then Yeji noona can you please lock the house?" I asked her, which she only answered with a nod, and went away.

"Yeonjun hyung, load their bags, already." I said, while looking at him.

"Wait, you said 'please' to Yeji, but to me, you just commanded me. For your information, I am much older than the both of you!" He said, and left to load the bags.

"Now, mind explaining, the situation to us?" Ryujin asked, with her tough act on.

"Let's just say. We're leaving." I said, and smiled.

"Wait, what do you 'Leaving'?" Chaeryeong asked, while tilting her head.

I sighed, for who knows how many times, I've sighed today. While, scratching my head. "I mean, we're giving you guys a lift to Clarines." I said, and looked at the two of them. They both looked surprised, that's for sure.

"Beomgyu, I already locked the house." Yeji noona said, and went near her horse.

"Same as me, I'm done, loading their bags." Yeonjun hyung said, while cleaning his clothes.

"Okay, then. You two can pick who you guys want to ride with." I said, and went over to my horse, and hopped on.

"Okay... Chaeryeong you can go with Yeji unnie." Ryujin said, and smiled.

"Well, how about you then?" Chaeryeong asked.

"I'll just go with, Yeonjun oppa." She said, and went over to Yeonjun hyung's horse, and hopped on.

Yeonjun hyung, was just as surprised, as me and Yeji noona. How, does she know how to ride a horse, like that? But, in another unrelated note, that kind of hurt me, to be honest. Well who wouldn't be, when you were the one that was there for her but then, she chose somebody else. In the end, I just decided to let it pass, as maybe it would be the best for the both of us, as it may be awkward for the citizens of our Kingdom, to see me with a girl, on the same horse.

I just sighed, and gave the two a signal, meaning we should already go.