Chapter 34: Sage

Chris' POV

"What's her problem?" Yelena asked and sighed, looking at Vice who's playing with the nymphs. "I don't really get her." She added.

I sighed. "Who wouldn't be after what you told him." I said and sipped the grape juice.

Yelena frowned. "I just told her the truth – "

"You do know truth hurts, right?" I said. She didn't answer. I sighed. "So? How do you plan to make it up to her?" I asked.

"Huh? Should I? We're okay now – " she said.

I sighed. "You just made another problem between you two." I said. She frowned. I sighed and touched my head. "You're making my head hurt." I said. "What's with you love-crazed couple - ?" I asked.

"I already told you she's not in love with me – " she denied.

"But you're in love with her." I said.

She frowned. "I'm in love with Vincent – "

"That love of yours to the West prince is as old as that tree." I said and pointed to a tree.

"A fresh one, right - ?" she said and smiled.

"I meant an old, withering one." I said.

She frowned. "Anyways, we're friends – " she said.

"Which you're wishing to be changed to lovers – " I grinned.

"Argh! Damn you! Don't take advantage of my confusion - !" she said.

I chuckled.

"What are you doing here anyway?" Rio asked Yelena. "Isn't the castle more spacious than my lair – " she said, sighing.

"Huh?" Yelena protested. "What's the point of me being in a castle if I'm alone and lonely? I'd rather be here hanging out with you guys - " she said.

Rio blushed and looked away. "F – fine. Can't be helped since you all are here now." She said. We chuckled. She smiled. "Anyway, Yelena. You really should make up with her – " she said and pointed to Vice.

Yelena frowned. "You, too?" she asked. We laughed.

I looked at them and smiled. Ah… they're all so in love. Rio is with that scary-looking knight. Yelena is to Vice even though she doesn't want to admit it. I thought and felt my chest. There's a huge hole here that needs to be filled with that love. I thought. I stood up.

"Chris? Where are you going?" Yelena asked.

I smiled at them. "Sorry to say this late but… I'm leaving." I said.

"Huh? Where?" Yelena asked. "You're going to the capital? Buy me some crepes. I'll pay you when you get back here – " she told me.

"Yelena." Rio said. "She's not going back." She told her.

"Huh? Why? She'll spend the rest of the day there?" Yelena asked. "What will she do – oww!" she cried when Rio hit him. "What's that for?" she asked her as she glared at her.

"Dunno if you're dumb, or really dumb. Chris will leave the kingdom and go somewhere!" she yelled.

Yelena's eyes went wide. "Huh?! Is that true, Chris?" she asked me. I nodded. "You're leaving my welfare to this hot-tempered fairy – oww!" she cried when Rio hit her again.

I laughed. "There're still your knights, you know? Even if the king and the queen left, you still have your family." I said and smiled. She frowned. I chuckled. I looked at Vice who's looking our way. I smiled. She smiled back. "Princess." I whispered to Yelena. "Don't be so stubborn. Just admit that you really love her – ugh." I groaned when she elbowed me.

Yelena looked irritated. "I told you. I'm not. It's just infatuation that she felt towards me." she said, frowning. "And it's just a friendship I have with her." She added.

I sighed and shook my head. "You enlighten him while I'm gone, okay?" I told Rio.

"Hey!" Yelena protested. I chuckled. She sighed. "When will you be back?" she asked.

"In the time you need me." I answered. "You're still looking for a way to save Vincent, right?" I asked. She nodded. "Then I'll gather information while I'm away." I said.

She smiled. "Thanks… and thanks for the time when I was cursed." She said.

I smiled back. "You're welcome." I said.

I waved goodbye to them as I left.

…

"Hey, mister. How much is this ride - ?" I asked.

"Excuse me! Can you give me a lift – " a male voice said.

We all looked at each other. What is this… aura? I thought as I looked at the man. The air suddenly got thinner, but heavier… it suddenly got hard to breathe – "

Hey. You alright?" the man asked and was about to touch my cloak when I stepped back. "Hey. It's not like I'm gonna hit you or something – " he said, frowning.

Why did I step back? I thought and pulled my cloak over to my head. I looked at him warily.

"If you badly wanted the ride, I'll give it to you. I just want to know where Yel – err, the princess is." He said.

I looked at him sharply. "The… princess?" I asked. "Why do you want to see the princess?" I asked. Is he here to kill her? I feel bloodlust from him. I thought, then gasped. Could it be that the evil king sent him here - ?! my eyes widened in shock.

"Hey." He said, looking at me, pissed. "You're glaring at me for a while. Are you mad at me or something?" he asked. I stared at him. "Did I do something wrong?" he asked.

I sighed, then shook my head. "Why do you want to see the princess?" I asked, buying some time to stall him while thinking how to inform Rio and Yelena.

His eyes went wide. "You… know where she is? Where? Where?" he asked excitedly.

"State your objective first." I said.

"Huh?" he said. "I just want to see him." He answered.

I looked at him suspiciously. "Are you… here to kill him - ?" I asked.

"Hey! What kind of crazy idea is that - ?" he exclaimed before he paused. "Ah. It's crazy." He said and laughed. "Rest your suspicion. I'm not here to kill her. In fact – " he said and leaned towards me.

I was taken by surprise. He's too close. I thought.

"I'm here to help her." He said and winked.

I felt my heart jump. Did I just feel… I gulped. Fear? I thought.