WHO MADE ME A PRINCE
chapter twenty nine - freedom.

"SO, WHO'S NEXT?"

His red eyes glowed behind his blue strands of hair and his eyes screamed anger as they faced the disgusting beings before him. Right then a couple of men ran on the stage from behind the curtains.

"Why you little punk!?" They were armed with swords and began swinging them as soon as they could.

Arius's Invisibility spell wore off and now he became visible. One of the men targeted him but Cadell defended him.

Cadell fought against the two armed men all on his own.

Arius wanted to help but he couldn't use any more mana.

He closed his eyes and tried focusing so he could muster some mana but before his attempts bore any fruits he heard a voice from the distance call out to him.

"Your Highness!"

It was Felix. The Imperial Knights were now in the Auction room. Arius smiled when he saw the knight's arrival. But then why did Felix look so worried?

Why was he shouting?

Why did he call Arius by his title?

Arius knew these cliches all too well and he immediately turned to face behind him.

'Ah...'

A third man had emerged from behind the curtains. He had a sword and he was coming right at Arius.

Time slowed down.

Felix tried to reach Arius in time but the man was too close.

Felix once again shouted Arius's title as he ran closer. Arius didn't have time to run. He just closed his eyes as if hoping for a miracle to happen.

And it did.

Arius opened his eyes as nothing had happened to him. And what he saw before him was green hair.

"G-Gunther?!" Arius exclaimed in surprise.

Gunther hit the man in the stomach with the hilt of his sword, causing the man to lose grip on his sword and allowing Gunther to easily subdue him.

He sent the man's sword flying and Jasper, who was also standing at the edge, caught the sword.

"Your highness!" Felix called out and this time he was only a step away from Arius. He suddenly picked Arius up and began checking for any injuries.

Arius gulped as he thought about how much trouble he's in.

"Hahaha Felix...I'm fine..."

"Take His Highness outside and protect him with your life." Felix ordered a knight beside him. Arius didn't argue because he could see that he had made Felix extremely worried and he had been close to death.

Everything was over a lot sooner than Arius thought. After almost twenty minutes of assuring the children outside, Arius saw Imperial Knights coming out of the mansion with arrested slave traders and nobility.

Soon Gunther and the rest were out as well and they all hugged each other in relief.

"I can't believe we survived that!" Ruby cried out. She was a mess, tears streaming down her face and her eyes swollen red.

Everyone else was a mess as well. Most of them looked exhausted.

"I'm glad it's over." Arius said as he smiled at them.

"Ario–" Jasper was about to say something when Felix suddenly came and stood behind Arius.

Arius turned and could swear he almost screamed at the face Felix was making. "I believe there is something we need to discuss." Felix said in an extremely serious tone, which is not like him at all.

"YOUR HIGHNESS. Do you realize exactly what you did?"

"Felix, I know that was dangerous and I could have died but in the end I'm alive...so, it's okay..."

"Okay? Your highness, does dying not sound serious to you? what if your friend had arrived a bit late, what if you had gotten injured. What were you thinking when you decided to come to such a dangerous place?!"

"..."

"Your Highness. This is not a game. You would have lost your life. I understand that you are very mature and knowledgeable for your age...but even so... you are still a child."

"..."

Arius was conflicted. He knew Felix was correct but at the same time, he didn't understand his concern.

'I'm fine. All's well that ends well, no?'

'I didn't even get a single scratch.'

"I told the emperor that I would protect you with my life. "

'Oh, so he's worried about what Claude would say...?'

"..."

'Would Claude care if something happened to me? I...don't know. In Lovely Princess and who made me a princess, Arius de Alger Obelia didn't exist. And even in this new story which he is affecting, Claude seemed indifferent about the assassins. He said he cared but he's begun to create a wall between us. Honestly, I'd like to see his reaction if I did die. Would he be sad , would he cry , or would he just have his usual blank face and carry on with his life without any regret?'  Arius's thoughts as he sighed after that.

"Felix, I apologize for my reckless actions. I will try to be more careful in the future." Arius said politely and bent his neck for a small bow to show his sincerity.

Arius then walked back to where his friends stood, leaving Felix to wrap up the scene.

"Hey guys–"

"Blessings and Glory upon the future son of the Obelian Empire." They said in unison as they kneeled on one leg.

'A-Uh-Wha...F-Felix!'

Arius immediately turned to glare at the redhead who seemed to be ordering the knights. Felix could feel his intense glare on his back and dared not to face him.

"Thank You for helping us, Your Highness." They once again said in unison.

"S-stop! " Arius said as his cheeks slightly blushed at the tone they were using.

"No need to be so formal... just act like you usually do..."

Cadell suddenly slapped Arius's shoulder slightly and replied with a 'Alright!'. The rest of them also eased up.

"I knew you were fishy from the moment we met." Jasper stated.

"Same here, but to think you were the prince..." Winslow said as he placed his index finger on his lips and thumb underneath his chin, and went into his own thoughts.

"Ahah..." Arius laughed awkwardly and they went on with their discussions.

It was over. They were free. Arius looked around to see the other slave children talking, crying , sleeping , and looking happy. He was glad. Glad that they were finally out of that hell.

His gaze then shifted to the nobles and slave traders who were currently bound by iron chains and locked inside a cage placed on a carriage.

His eyes shone an icy cold blue which shone brighter when the moonlight fell upon them.

No mercy.

No mercy will be given to them.

Arius decided that. And he chuckled slightly when he thought of the various punishments they could be given.

IT HAD BEEN LONG NIGHT. Felix wrapped up everything extremely quickly and prepared for a carriage to take the children back to their base and escorted Arius back to the Palace in a different carriage.

The carriage ride was quiet. Arius didn't talk to Felix, which made Felix a little worried.

'Did I scold him too much? He is just a child... so it's okay for him to be mischievous and disobedient...what if his highness never trusts me again?' Felix's trail of thoughts was interrupted by Arius's sudden praise of the crescent moon which illuminated the night sky.

"Isn't the night sky lovely Felix?"

"Ah, Yes. " Felix stated as he shifted his gaze outside the carriage window and onto the moon. When his gaze returned to the prince he saw that the prince's eyes were closed and his head was leaning onto the window.

He softly smiled at the prince who was in a state of deep slumber and arranged his position to allow him to comfortably sleep during the time they arrived at the Palace.