Little Princess Part 1

Leon's entourage was approaching the gate of Dikar after a day's journey. Sitting in front of him on his horse was Ecuti. Leon looked at her expression as they approached the gate. There was awe in her eyes, very different from her expression on their journey, as she was hardly talking and showed more sad expressions.

"Is this your first time seeing a castle?"

Ecuti looked at Leon in surprise, but she quickly turn her face away from him. She might have felt embarrassed, realizing how he was able to see through her.

"It's normal to be surprised. Even I was surprised with it when I came to this place for the first time."

Leon gave Ecuti a big smile, which Ecuti replied with a stare that clearly Leon could read as conflicting thoughts. He knew the girl seemed to question his own true motives.

[What a smart girl.]

As Leon's horse passed through the gate he saw how the inner gate was a little crowder than usual. There were soldiers loitering around the castle ground and there were even camps built. Leon saw the flag that was raised on one of the tents. It has the pattern of a three-headed dragon with yellow color. Leon recognize it as one of the giant monsters' villains from the Japanese special effects movie, but the people around here knew it as the golden hydra. Of course, Leon also knew who owns that flag.

He saw Durbin had been waiting for him in front of the palace, prepared for his arrival. However, he saw how he was not in his usual neat appearance. There were black markings around his right eye and Leon could figure out immediately what happened to him.

"Welcome back milord." Greeted Durbin as the horse stopped in front of the palace.

'Thank you Durbin."

Leon got down from his horse. He then looked at Ecuti and raised both of his arms, offering them to her. Ecuti seemed hesitant, however, she also seemed confused about how she should go down from the horse, as the horse was quite tall. In the end, she finally gave in and hop into Leon's arms.

As Leon put her to the ground, he noticed the stare in Durbin's eyes. He looked at him as Durbin gave him a question.

"Who is this young lady might be, milord?"

"She is someone that I took back for insurance. Her name is Ecuti. So, do your best on making her feel comfortable here. Okay, Durbin?"

"Understood milord."

Leon somehow understood Durbin's stare earlier. The old man might just worry about Leon being a womanizer, Ecuti might be his new conquest, which is something that seemed Durbin quite not agreeing as it was his first show that concern on his face.

"I saw unfamiliar people and camps just back then, so I assume that Anzu is here?"

"Yes, milord. She is now waiting in the throne room."

"And that black markings, that's her doing right?"

Durbin showed a surprised reaction hearing Leon said that. He seemed did not expect that Leon would bring it up. He gave an answer by nodding slightly.

"What happened?"

"I better not speak milord. There are eyes and ears surrounding us now."

"I don't care. She's in my domain. I'm still the lord of this place."

Again Durbin gave a little nod, submitting to Leon's order.

"This was a punch that Lady Anzu gave when I told her that you were away on business."

"The bruise seemed to be more than that."

Leon could see from how Durbin reacted, he did not expect Leon would notice that far.

"Ah, yes, another one was her kick when she got tired from waiting."

"Okay. Sorry for me being too long to go back Durbin. I should have ridden faster and reached this place yesterday night, so I can entertain her."

"No, milord. I'm fine with it. Besides, Lady Anzu had just arrived this morning."

"What? This morning? You mean she was late?"

Durbin's nod confirmed the question. Leon felt something weird.

[Why did she come not in time? She might be a spoiled brat, but she is one that always punctual. Something must be hindering her. I need to know.]

Leon, Ecuti, and Durbin entered the palace and walked through the hall. Before they reached the throne room, Leon stopped and looked at Ecuti and Durbin.

"Durbin, take her to her chamber. Use the room beside mine. Try to make sure Anzu did not know about her."

"But, milord, are you sure that would be a good idea? Lady Anzu's chamber is just across you. She might be aware of this young lady if there are activities in that room."

Leon thought to himself and he agreed partially with what Durbin had said. Anzu had always been a calculating person and smart in reading insight. That was one of the qualities that made her play Trading Card Game and turned out she was so good at it. With that, it's not impossible for her to find Ecuti and find out about the new card mage.

"Okay, then. Make her blend with the maids for now. With that, Anzu should not be able to realize who she is."

"Understood milord. Come girl follow me."

Without any hesitation, Ecuti followed Durbin immediately. Leon perceived it as a sign that she was rather with anyone else as long it was not him.

[Not saying anything huh?]

Leon erased the thought immediately from his head, as he knew he had a bigger problem at hand at the moment. Someone that is super annoying was waiting in the throne room, and if only he could brush her off, that would be good. But, with her power and ability, she is a dangerous threat that could end his life immediately.

As he continued walking toward the throne room, he heard a commotion in it. He saw the guards' faces looking down and showed concern and fear. Leon could only think that there was something wrong inside. When the guards saw Leon, they seemed surprised but there was a sense of relief on their faces. They quickly opened the double door to the throne room.

Leon entered the throne room and saw some of Anzu's men were on the right side of the room. There were six of them and they seemed to watch something there. All Leon's guards were standing on every side of the wall, not moving, but from their expressions, he saw they were agonizing over something. What Leon did not find was Anzu herself.

"Hahahahaha. Good, do some more Charlie."

The familiar squeaky voice was heard from behind the crowd of men that was Anzu's men. Leon quickly felt something was not right and he rushed toward that group. He pushed one of them to see what made them so fixated. As he was able to get a clear view, he saw Jolyn's naked body lying on the ground. There were questionable liquids around her and some bruises on most parts of her body. Beside her, sat a man that seemed to be in his 20's. His private parts were out of his pants. He was about to reach for Jolyn and quickly Leon kicked him to make him go away.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!"

Charlie shouted in anger until he saw Leon's angry face. He quickly became silent and tidy himself. Leon could not care about it and kneel beside Jolyn. He took his robe off and covered Jolyn with it.

"GUARDS! BRING HER TO THE CASTLE DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY!"

The guards were looking at each other for a while as if they were confused about what they should do. The wait made Leon so upset and shouted louder.

"HURRY UP!!"

Two guards nearest to him finally moved toward him and Jolyn. They both carefully tried to lift Jolyn.

"As usual, you attached to them too much."

Hearing a familiar voice on his left, Leon shifted his view toward it. There, squatting as if nothing bothering her, was a young girl that seemed to be in her teens. She looked Asian with fairly white skin and blonde yellow hair.

"What's up Leon? Took your time to go back, huh?"

Her creepy smile usually made most people shiver in fear. However, for Leon who had seen it many times and was disgusted with it, it did not feel anything, especially with the rage in his heart at the moment, it made him want to punch her.

"Anzu…"