The Princess And The Lord

In the middle of the town square, the soldiers keep an eye on the refugees, although most of them are harmless people who obviously need help, however infrequently there are some bad people mixed among them.

it's mind-boggling for anyone who still has the heart to take advantage of other people's misery in this already desperate situation, however, there was an incident in the early years of L'markieth.

At that time L'markieth in the middle of adjusting from moving the citizen of Harland or whoever still left to stay at L'markieth during that times among the refugees from other cities was infiltrated by a small group of a mercenary tried to take over L'markieth, at that time the uninformed mercenary didn't know that L'markieth is owned and under the protection of Harland kingdom jurisdiction.

When they realize what they get themselves into, there are no words that could describe their shocked expression. Since then the gate security gives a thorough examination to all refugees who came to L'markiet and so far nothing is happening but the King's men refuse to let their guards down.

"General Leon" Lory greets the stalwart man in front of her.

The middle-aged man turns around and gives her firm saluted "Greeting Your highness!"

"You look well General" Lory return his greet with the same polite manner "How is the situation?"

"So far, so good," said, General Leon.

"And the beast outside?" Lory squints her eyes.

"Just like weeds, they don't decrease no matter how much we've killed" he gives a lopsided grin.

That's mean the situation remain the same, she folds her hand while leaning on the bridged as she watched the refugees through the examination by soldiers, Lory then shifts her gaze to the old General "have you received any news about Lucas and the other?" although her voice sounds calm and a bit apathetic but it's he could see clearly the anxiety in those beautiful purple eyes.

"Unfortunately we haven't received any news this past five days, but fret not, this is not the first time we lose contact with the prince for several days, however with the Archknight guarding the prince I'm sure the prince is alright" The general confidently said as he tries to comfort the young princess.

"I know…" Lory subconsciously plays with her necklace, the same cheap necklace Lucas gave her a long time ago, but that memory feels like ages.

Saw her downhearted expression general Leon try to divert her focus "Your highness, why don't we check the refugees who just came, I heard they bring a lot of small children, we could check their situation and perhaps they could give us beneficial information about the situation outside."

His plan works, nothing could make her feel better more than handling a new task to keep her mind busy "Oh, you right, let's check them out!"

General Leon inwardly sighs in relief, without further ado, he leads Lory to the temporary camp. Immediately she was overwhelmed with children's cries, while the adult looks a bit lost and nervous because they don't know what would happen to them from here on, they are absolutely and completely dependent on the mercy of Harland Kingdom.

"Ah, your highness!" the nurse and doctor stunned.

"Princess Lorient!" the soldier immediately straight their back and gives her a salute.

The nurses and soldiers simultaneously make way for her as their bend their waist courteously, Lory quickly raised her hands "It's okay, tend the patient first!" 

"Yes your highness!" they immediately raised their head and continue their works swiftly, the refugees were stunned and amazed, they never thought they would meet the legendary Lucient heir in a flesh. One of the patients was so nervous she almost jumps from the bed to kneel on the ground but Lory swiftly catches her.

"Are you okay? don't get up, you will hurt yourself!" she holds the woman's shoulder then gently helps her back to her bed.

The woman was flustered, she feel embarrassed but happy at the same time "Ye…yes, your highness, I'm sorry for the trouble" her face turns crimson.

"No, no trouble at all" Lory tug her blanket "Where are you from?"

"Rodant city, my lady," said the woman.

Lory remembers she was visiting that place before and she was baffled "That place is so far away, how can you get here?" Lory then saw a twelve years old girl holding five years old boy both of them have the same red hair and freckles on the side of the bed, the two young children bored their innocent eyes towards her, just like other people they also knew about Lory story and their eyes flickering while staring at her with awe.

Lory thought the two children are very cute "Are they your children?" Lory smile warmly.

"Yes, they are" the woman patted her son's head dotingly "I also have more son because he still a baby the doctor took them for further examination" she worriedly said.

"Is that so, don't worry your child is in good hands" she comforting the young mother, even though she can use her healing gift to heal the baby, but unlike any other spells, healing gift drained her mana faster than any spell she ever used, and if she helps one person then she would have the pressured to help the other people equally, if not it will incur jealousy amongst the people which would damage the hard earn harmonious environment.

That's why she never used her healing gift since she came to L'markieth at least not in public, she used to check if there any high-risk patients then secretly help them without anyone noticing, well, not literally everyone she's sure a few doctors and nurse knew about this but they keep their mouth shut. Lory noted herself to check the baby's condition later.

"Thank you your highness" the woman humbly said.

"Could you tell me how you get here from Rodant city, I thought that place got the most hits when it compares with the other city"

"It's true your highness, Rodant city always been a lawless city and most of the security or guard is working for the private company so when the beast attacked us the guard is the first to take off" she scoffed in anger.

"I'm lucky enough to find a fire truck in the middle of chaos so I get all my children inside and drove the truck without stopping at any cost, after we got out from Rodant city we came to I.H.C (International Health Center) at Westlake city and we stay there for almost three months before the camped attacked with the horde of beasts, then I run again with my children but luckily I was accompanied by I.H.C soldier who then becomes my second husband…" the women smile faintly.

"He protecting us for all these years if not because of him we won't survive this long, when we knew I got pregnant my husband received news about L'markieth then we heard that this place accept refugees, my husband feel ecstatic because L'markieth is under the jurisdiction of Harland kingdom, he said in this catastrophic time we still can put our hope to the Harland Kingdom because Lucient heir was there, as long we can get here we all will be protected by Lucient, he told me that...but, he got killed before we could get here…" 

"Because of the beast?" Lory asked.

"No….human," said the women "A bunch of crazy people who far worst than beast…." She gritted her teeth in disgust.

Lory does read the report about the emergence of this group of people who hunt and kill humans for fun, the rumor even said they practice cannibalism too, but there's no concrete evidence "How you managed to get away from them?"

The woman bites her lips and her brows knitted closely "That….I don't know" she looks perplexed "Me and my children were kidnapped and they locked inside the jail, one day we woke up and that group suddenly disappeared, they truly are!" she nods her head repeatedly to convince Lory

"The strange thing is the jail suddenly unlocked when I got out of the jail with my children a saw no one, literally no one was there, not even a sound, strangely other than people everything was still there, like the guns, swords, booze even the half-smoke cigarette on the ashtray and the coffee was still hot when I checked. We didn't know what happened as if everyone disappeared on the thin air"

Lory was stunned, she exchanged a glance with general Leon, the woman thought Lory didn't believe her all of the sudden she becomes panic "Your highness please, believe me, I'm not lying, I swear on the name of God, my late husband name and my parent's name that I'm not lying….please - please don't send us away" she frantically grabs Lory hands as she begs her mercy.

"No – no – no, it's okay, I do not think you are lying..." Lory stroke the frantic woman shoulder "Don't worry, I will never send you away, as long you follow the rules of this city, I have no reason to send you away, don't worry…. look, you scared all your children" she teased her a little to calm her down.

she feel more relax after Lory comforting her "Thank you – thank you, your highness – thank you very much..." the woman sobbed while bowing her head deeply overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude and relief.

"Okay, you can't get too excited, get rest and we will transfer you and your family to a better place after you passed the background check, don't cry anymore, you need to be strong for your children's" Lory help the woman to get rest, she left after the woman calmed down.

Lory then takes another round to check the other refugee's condition, thankfully other than cold, fever, and pneumonia they all physically fine, just before she left the camp someone called her "Your highness!"