Hitmasters

Just like Anna said, with August holding that sword, they became the center of attention in the market. Anna wasn't used to many people looking at her. It was excruciatingly uncomfortable. Although August was moving with ease, he didn't let his guard down. He would throw death stares at anyone who looked at Anna.

'Who is that woman?'

'I've never seen her here before'

'she is so beautiful'

'She looks like royalty'

'I heard one of the princes got married. Maybe she's his wife'

'No now. Let's not pronounce doom on this young lady. If she was his wife, she would have been dead already. Have you forgotten what happened to his previous wives? My cousin who works as a maid in the palace told me that their bodies were disposed the day after their weddings'

'Is the prince getting married a rumor then?'

'It isn't. I saw the princess from afar. No one saw her face'

The murmurs went on and on about who Anna was and August could feel Anna was getting uncomfortable with all the comments. He was about to draw out his sword when Anna turned to a woman selling cabbages.

"Do you know nothing but to gossip?" August shouted at the civilians. "One more word about my lady and your heads will be rolling on the ground".

With just that, a whole market became silent. No one dared utter a word, you could hear a pin drop.

"You didn't have to do that, August. I don't want people to be scared of me" Anna said in a gentle voice. "I will take two cabbages, please".

"But my lady, they speak ill of my lord and refuse you as his woman"

"No, August, they didn't know. Besides, if you continue this way, it will be hard to get a wife for you"

The cabbage seller wrapped up the cabbage and gave them to Anna whilst she paid a negotiable sum for them.

"Shall we go now, my lady?"

"No. I want to get some meat and bread first". Saying that, she puked blood and lost her balance.

August was quick to catch her before she fall. He was panicked not because of the lifeless Anna, but because of the symptom of her lifelessness. Only a group of assassin's are skilled enough to pull this trick off without causing havoc. The Hitmasters. But they work for Azareth's most powerful demon lord, Rehaz. The question is, why did they attack Anna?"

August was smart enough to make use of the little time he had to make a run for it because The Hitmasters attack five minutes before they show up. That should give him more time to get to the palace at full speed and get Anna treated. He took her body on his shoulder and ran out of the market, leaving her veil behind. The civilians fought over the veil as they thought it would cost a lot of money. But it ended up falling into the hands of a young hero in an all white outfit.

The guards who were at the palace gate saw August coming at full speed from far ahead with Anna and opened the gates in an instant. He was able to get the physician to attend to her as soon as possible. He was relieved that she was still alive but he couldn't help but feel guilty as he thought it was his fault that Anna got injured.

He took a different horse and went straight to the dark princess's castle. He saw that Juverl was prepared to leave on his horse. He jumped right off the horse and drew his sword.

August gave his sword Juverl on one knee. "It is my fault. please kill me with your own hands as a punishment"

"What happened? What is this?" Juverl asked in complete shock. August knew he was the favorite one so why was he acting that way?

"I know I am as good as dead so please, take the sword"

"There there, August. Tell me what happened. You know I don't kill just like that"

"It was all my fault" a teardrop fell from his left eye

"Stand up and speak to me. Did something happen on the way. You arrived late even for yourself"

August was shaking as he stood up. He gulped a few times before his lips moved.

"Her highness got shot by The Hitmasters?"

"We move now. Full speed ahead". As soon as he heard shot, Juverl didn't want to hear anything else. He was so worried, he was nearly half to almost tearing up.

August knew he was already done for but regardless of that, he joined them back to the palace.

Anna woke up with a heavy head. She couldn't move it at all. Her eyes began to open slightly. She saw a pair of golden yellow eyes piercing into hers. Only one person had those eyes. It was Juverl.

"Were you not at the dark princess's castle?" She asked out of curiosity. "Did you care so much that you had to come and see me?"

"That was a month ago, Anna. I was worried you wouldn't wake up. I almost killed August"

"Don't kill him. I was the one who forced him to the market. He tried to stop me even but I was too stubborn to listen to him. Bring him to me".

Juverl helped Anna to sit up while waiting for August to enter the room. Apparently, since she fell into the coma, August had been guarding the door day and night, without eating, from outside penetration as punishment.

When Anna saw him, she cried. "I'm sorry, August. I couldn't wake up in time to save you from looking more skinny. Getting you a wife would be harder now"

"Please do not apologize, my lady. I was incapable of protecting"

"Why did you have to torture him?" she hit Juverl on the chest

"I didn't do anything to him. He tortured himself" Juverl said.

"Why did you do this to yourself, August?"

"I'm sorry, my lady. I just felt that I had to do it. If not, I will feel guilty for the rest of my days"

"Somebody, send him to one of my maids to clean him up and feed him. Don't come back until you look better than before"

"Yes, my lady"

One of the guards took him away and the rest of them left to train.