I Will Protect You This Time

Episode 43

(CONFLICT)

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Shaa~

It is raining heavily in the lonely darkness of the night. Although the sky was clear in the morning, it became dark again at noon. And soon it started raining again. 

"I am worried, El."

Cande said while walking in the hallway.

"Hah~ Me too."

Ella replied worriedly. She was walking next to Cande while holding a hurricane lamp in one hand.

The reason for both Ella and Cande's worry was Isabella. Soon after eating breakfast, she fell asleep saying that she felt tired.

After that, Cande woke her up at noon to take shower and have lunch. But even during those times, she was constantly dozing off. 

<

"I don't have any strength left to work today. I will do all of them tomorrow, Ella."

"As you wish, My Lady!"

"I want to sleep now. Don't wake me up."

"Okay. But what about dinner?"

"It's okay. If I am sleeping, don't wake me up. Even for dinner. I have already eaten a heavy lunch."

"But My Lady, you had already skipped dinner yesterday."

"Ella… I am really sleepy now. I am having a hard time keeping my eyes open, let alone speaking."

"I… I see, My Lady."

"Thanks for understanding, Ella."

Saying that Isabella laid on the bed and fell asleep in no time.

>

"I wonder what happened to her…"

"Mhmm."

"And who bruised her so brutally?"

"We should mention this to His Highness."

"I know, right? It's could be an assassination attempt."

"Yes. But the Princess told us not to say anything to anyone."

"Then why did you agree?"

"Well, we have to assure her. If it's the Crown Princess, she was probably thinking-"

"That she will be a nuisance."

"I know, right! We were thinking the same thing."

"Yes. She should be a little bit selfish and have more self-confidence."

"Yes. Then we wouldn't have to worry about her so much."

Sigh~

Both of them sighed deeply and continued walking silently. 

And after a while, they reached in front of Leonus's study. Two knights were guarding the door.

"We wish to visit the Crown Prince."

Cande said to one knight.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince. Two maids are requesting a visit."

The knight announced with a loud voice.

"..."

There was no answer from inside. 

"You guys should probably go back. His Highness' temper is really bad nowadays."

The knight whispered to Ella and Cande in a cold sweat.

"Please tell him it's very important. It's about the Princes-"

"Let them in."

And a voice came from the room.

The Knights and the two maids looked at each other awkwardly.

"Did you not hear me?"

"Y-Yes."

A knight flinched at Leonus's cold voice.

After that, one knight opened the huge metallic door and both of them entered the room while bowing their heads.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

Ella and Cande bowed simultaneously.

"Raise your head."

"Yes. Thank y-"

Both Ella and Cande halted seeing a familiar face.

Ella frowned and asked while pointing fingers at the suspicious person as if confronting a perpetrator,

"Y-You! What are you doing here?!"

"Ahaha."

The person in question laughed awkwardly.

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Half an hour ago...

"Allen~! You ruined the potion again!"

The Royal Healer, Dalton Dexter screamed with annoyance. 

"Ah! I am sorry, Grandpa. This won't happen again! I promise!"

Allen apologized in a crying tone. He always addresses Dalton as Grandfather when he is in trouble. Allen's full name is Allen Dexter. He is a member of the panda Clan.

"Sigh~ This is the 20th time!"

Dalton said nicely while holding back his anger with all his willpower.

'Wow! You are even counting, old man?!'

Allen thought inwardly.

"Don't let this happen again."

"Yes, sir."

Allen agreed in a serious tone.

Dalton sighed and explained the potion to Allen for the 10th time today."

"Look. First, take the Ginkgo, then Ginseng root and lastly the Lunar herb. After that apply your magic power. It's as simple as that."

"I understand!"

"And DON'T USE TOO MUCH MAGIC POWER, you stupid grandson. You are burning my precious Lunar herb."

Dalton threatened with a smile.

"Y-Yes, Sir!"

After that, Allen put the herbs in a test tube as instructed, then put his hand above the tube and carefully dispersed his magical energy. 

"Yes. That's right. You are doing a good job, Al."

"Hahaha! Thank you, Grandpa!"

Crack~

The room became silent. The small sound of glass cracking was all that could be heard.

"T-That…"

Cold sweat was running down from Allen's forehead.

Rumble~

"Get the hell out of my chamber!"

More than the thunder, Dalton's angry voice was heard.

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'D*mn that, old man. Kicking me out like that.'

Allen thought while pouting. He was walking in the corridor on the first floor.

"This depressing rain… D*mn it!"

Allen screamed with annoyance. 

'What should I do? I couldn't tell Grandfather what happened this morning. I promised after all. The reason I couldn't concentrate on making potions… Should I tell Gramps? Nahh! If I return now he will beat me up for sure.'

Allen thought deeply while looking at the raindrops.

"'But I should tell this to the Crown Prince, at least. The Princess is his mate after all."

Allen mumbled to himself.

'And it is a serious matter. Her wound was horrible. What if she gets attacked again! I will be tortured by the Crown Prince then. Yes. I shouldn't think much about this anymore. '

After thinking the entire day, Allen made a firm decision.

"Let's just inform the Crown Prince about the Crown Princess."

Saying that Allen started heading towards Leonus's study room.

"I am the apprentice of the Royal Healer, Allen Dexter. I have an urgent matter to speak with the Crown Prince."

After that, a knight announced Allen's Presence.

"His Highness, the Crown Prince. Allen Dexter, the apprentice of the Royal Healer requests you for a visit. He mentioned that it's an urgent matter."

"Let him in."

After that, a knight opened the door and Allen entered the room. 

"Greetings, the Crown Prince."

Allen bowed and greeted Leonus. Leonus was sitting in the chair doing paperwork. His Aide, Adler was standing next to him helping him with the work.

"Raise your head."

"Yes. Thank you, Your Highness."

"So what is the urgent matter that you spoke of?"

"That…"

Allen hesitated while looking at Adler.

"You are excused for today, Adler."

"Yes. Then I will be going back, Your Highness."

Saying that Adler bowed then left the room.

"So what is it?"

"That… The pr…"

'How am I supposed to say it to him? What if he asks why I haven't informed him earlier. Sh*t!'

Allen cried inwardly.

"Hurry up and tell me before I lose my patience."

Leonus said with a glare.

Allen flinched at Leonus's word. 

'Ughh! Whatever!'

Thinking that Allen blurted out,

"It's about the Crown Princess. She-"

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince. Two maids are requesting a visit."

The knight from outside announced Ella and Cande's presence.

'Phew~ I am saved for a while.'

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"Why are you here?"

"I can ask you the same question!"

"Are you betraying My Lady?"

"What are you talking about?"

Ella and Allen started arguing with each other.

"You promised her. So how can you break your Promise like this?!"

"You are also here. Did she not make you promise?"

"Yes. I mean, No."

"Humph! You came here too."

"Hey you two, His Highness is here."

Cande whispered to Ella and Allen with cold sweat.

Both of them flinched at the murderous gaze of Leonus.

"Why did you stop? Continue arguing. Go on."

"We apologize, Your Highness."

"Pardon us, Your Highness."

"Please forgive us."

'But why am I apologizing?!'

Cande thought to herself.

The three apologized while bowing.

"Will you keep wasting my time like this? Or will you say whatever you came here for?"

"Ah. Yes. It's about the Crown Princess."

Allen said while looking down. He feels less nervous now because of Ella and Cande's company.

"What about Isabella? Is she okay?"

Leonus jumped up from his chair and asked with a worried face.

"Yes. Her Highness is fine. She is sleeping now. But…"

Allen halted in the middle. 

'How am I supposed to say this to him?'

"But she was attacked yesterday."

Ella said while closing her eyes.

Leonus: "What?"

The three flinched at Leonus's bloody tone.

Leonus: "And you are telling me about this just now."

Ella: "We apologize, Your Highness. The Princess told us not to tell anyone."

Leonus: "Then why did you come?"

Allen: "That…"

Ella: "It's because of her that we came here, Your Highness. For some reason, she couldn't remember anything that happened yesterday afternoon."

Leonus: "What?"

Cande: "And when she returned after visiting the Empress yesterday, we noticed a bruise on her wrist."

Cande said, almost sobbing.

"Yes. But in the morning, it was in a horrible state… Her wrist was red and blue. And some part of her skin was ripped off."

Ella described while frowning.

"I can't believe this much has happened and you three didn't even say a word. Should I be amazed at your loyalty?"

Leonus said while glaring at them with bloody eyes.

"We apologize, Your Highness."

Cande apologized while closing her eyes.

"We will accept any punishment."

Ella added while bowing.

"Yes. We deserve punishment."

"It's good that you know. Now get out of my side."

"Yes."

The three replied simultaneously and left the room after bowing.

"D*mn it!"

Leonus cursed loudly while punching the top of the table. The table broke in half because of his strong punch.

After that, he snapped his finger and disappeared.

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"Phew~" 

The three signed in relief after coming out of the room.

"I apologize for arguing that time. I was out of my mind that time."

Ella apologized while bowing.

"Oh, no. It's me who should apologize. I shouldn't have made a promise that I couldn't keep."

"No. I think I would've done the same if I were you."

"Yes. Your action gave the Princess some peace of mind."

"Yes…"

"Anyways it's late now. We should return to our rooms."

"Yes. Goodbye then."

After that, Allen walked towards the Royal Healer's Chamber. Ella and Cande walked towards the maids quarter.

"Can, we have to stay with her every moment from now on."

"Yes. I don't really know what happened. But I think it had something to do with the rumours and that b*tch Anne."

"I think so too. We can't let her hear any rumours from now on."

"Yes…"

The two maids vowed inwardly.. Then continued walking in silence.