Permitted To Try

At Crown Prince Helias's question, Elaine Vernimiere recalled the look King Arias gave her when she returned with that wound. There wasn't much different from what she always witnessed in the past year.

He was pretty composed despite feeling concerned.

"I don't know," she finally replied. "Ever since he became the King, His Majesty is never easy to read. Even I often fail at that."

The Eslore Crown Prince nodded several times when he heard her response. However, the look on Elaine's face told him that it would be best to change the topic and start their hunt.

"I think we should start the hunt," he said and with a playful smile on his face, he added, "You won't want me to lose, right?"

"I don't really care about that," the Captain honestly replied yet she exchanged the Crown Prince's playful smile. "I'm not a fan of hunting, Your Highness."

With a little frown, Helias replied by saying, "Don't worry, Captain. I won't ask you to shoot for me. I'm confident enough with my skills."

"Then let me thank you in advance," Elaine Vernimiere jokingly said while bowing her head. Her action made the Crown Prince burst out into laughter.

"You make me want to go back on my words but I won't do," he dryly stated. "As a royal, it's not appropriate for me to do that."

"I'm glad you know that," was the Captain's another honest yet playful response. This time, it earned her a sigh from the Crown Prince.

"Let's get going," he said and clicked his tongue. "I have a feeling that you stall time for your King to win."

There was a displeased frown on Elaine's face but she didn't say anything. Then they all took the path that wasn't walked by King Arias and his men.

* * *

The hunting went smoothly for half a day and when it was lunchtime, the two groups gather in a place where they promised to meet for lunch. Everyone was on time and lunch that was recently brought from the palace was served.

No one talked about how much the King and the Crown Prince had shot down as it was agreed to be revealed only after the hunt was over in the evening. They all sat down and enjoyed the lunch under the shades of the trees and talked about many things but the progress of the hunt.

Just like during the hunt, Elaine was sitting beside Crown Prince Helias during lunch. Though the Captain remained formal in her words and action for most of the time, it's hard to remain that way while the Crown Prince had so much fun playing around with her.

She was glad that the Crown Prince had regained his lively demeanor but... can't he at least behave while others were around?

He never stopped teasing her around!

As someone who was never patient, she often ended up arguing with him and counterattacking his tease. However, whenever she did that, she felt like everyone else was giving her a strange look.

This was so frustrating!

If only she knew the rumors that were currently circulating in the palace!

Well, she had a drink with the Eslore Crown Prince, according to the palace servants. She even stayed in his chamber for a while and only left when it was quite late. It already became a hot topic among the servants who had nothing to amuse themselves other than gossiping.

While she was casually arguing with the esteemed guest of her kingdom, one thing suddenly caught the Captain's attention. Without even much thinking, she abruptly put down her plate and grabbed the Crown Prince's hand. "What is this, Your Highness? Why don't you say anything about it?"

She almost raise her voice but when she noticed the look that others gave her, she was glad that she didn't.

The bandage on Crown Prince Helias's hand was covered with blood which meant that his wound was reopened due to all the pressure that it was put through while he shot his arrows!

"It doesn't hurt," Helias Casteveron simply replied yet there was an amusing smile on his face. "Don't let yourself be bothered."

Elaine's gaze briefly swept her left and noticed how King Arias was also looking at her with almost a surprised face. However, her attention was quickly back to the Crown Prince's wound. "If you don't change the bandage and apply a new ointment, it might get infected, Your Highness. Don't you know that we are outdoors and that raises the chance even higher?"

"There's no -"

"We brought some ointments and bandages, right?" Captain Elaine asked the guard who was the nearest to her.

She didn't even know that everyone's eyes almost popped out when she cut off the Eslore Crown Prince!

Everyone was stupefied by how easily she did that. Everyone, except Evan Ravire and the Crown Prince himself.

It's funny how Helias Casteveron didn't say anything. With an amusing smile on his face, he just let her have her way.

It felt great to see this daring side of her again.

The confused guard was snapped out of his stupor when he noticed how his Captain was growing impatient. "Yes," he quickly responded, nodding his head several times. "Shall I bring them to you, Captain?" With a single nod from the Captain, he quickly searched the bag that they brought and handed the necessities to his Captain in no time.

Even when Elaine removed his blood-covered bandage and wiped his wound without asking him, Helias Casteveron didn't protest and only looked at her face as she tended to his wound.

In the past, he never wanted others to be worried about him, let alone pity him. However, he didn't hate it that much when this woman did that. Instead, it warmed up his heart that was frozen for years now.

Of course, he thought a lot about their conversation last night. As she had no memory from the time before the adoption, he can't prove anything. That can't stop bothering him and even stole his sleep last night. Then he ended up coming to one decision.

He won't do anything from now on. He won't stop or force himself. He will just go along with the flow and see where this brought him. That's what he decided, despite knowing that it won't be easy.

At least, he was permitted to try, right?