6. HEADING TO LUCARD KINGDOM

Pascal was not like any other civilized prince. Who woke up early with servants who would come like alarms to wake him up from a dream.

One time when a new servant opened the window curtain to make the prince wake up, the male servant immediately lost his hand. It became a constant reminder for the servants not to violate the rules that Pascal made. Before noon, no one was allowed in his room.

As the prince of Valliant, Pascal was much busier than King Lumiere and Queen Ruby. He often slept late and sometimes didn't sleep at all.

But when he is awake, Pascal is always busy with many things. For example, like now. In his room, he was visited by General Alvar with a scroll of paper in hand. Pascal's job as a prince was awaiting him.

''Your Highness, this is the latest report about the Calvard kingdom sent by General Galliant. Also a report of Andromeda's forces guarding the kingdom's borders last night. From Captain Bold.''

The black-haired man was busy with breakfast at lunchtime. After Pascal took a sip from the golden cup, the young prince chuckled.

''Mathias, you should have kicked Alvar out and not let him in,'' he said and leaned back in the chair with his gaze on Alvar. Sharp and deadly as well.

Alvar's glance at Pascal's desk made him realize that there were scrolls piled up there. And Pascal hasn't touched it at all. His arrival with another scroll only made Pascal look at it like another burden.

Pascal's butler bowed in fear. Who was he to prevent a general from meeting a prince? He could have died at Alvar's hands.

Nevertheless, Alvar walked up to the prince to deliver the message containing the report. ''Here is the report, Your Highness.''

''Don't you see what the hell I'm doing?'' Pascal's words cut Alvar off. ''I feel like my eyes are going to pop out if I start the day with reading. Read it!" He said with a grumble.

Alvar patiently unrolled the paper and read the contents. Then a few seconds later he rolled it back up when he was done.

''There is good and bad news, Your Highness.'' Alvar drew a conclusion.

''Tell me the good news first.''

''The Valliant border is in good shape, My Prince. Everything is under control. Those rebels are out of sight,'' said Alvar relaying the contents of the report.

Pascal picked up the piled-up chicken thighs. "Excellent work. Tell Bold to do the usual guard shifts with the Valliant soldiers. Remain at the border until late afternoon.''

Alvar nodded.

''And the bad news?''

''The Argorn Kingdom, which is Calvard's ally, was observed to be forming an army to attack Calvard.''

Upon hearing that, the chicken thigh that was already in front of his mouth was pushed away again by Pascal.

''Argorn?'' He scoffed dismissively. ''How dare they touch Valliant's.''

''What should I do, Your Highness?'' asked Alvar, waiting for orders.

From the way Pascal responded, it was clear that the prince would not remain silent. War was like a playground for Pascal.

With the waking Titan immediately approaching where Pascal was, Alvar, Mathias and the few servants there certainly already knew Pascal's next move.

''Prepare the armies! And get Andromeda away from the border.''

They will advance to the battlefield.

In the meantime, a group of Orva soldiers, led by Captain Christian, were escorting Crysta to the kingdom of Lucard.

The wheels of the chariot drove Crysta away, leaving the Orva Kingdom behind. Dozens of soldiers accompanied the princess.

They were already halfway there. And if there were no obstacles, Crysta would reach the kingdom of Lucard tomorrow afternoon.

As someone who was about to meet her future husband, Crysta did not show a happy look. Her heart was split into two. Unwilling and forced.

Besides Monic, Pascal's pearl necklace accompanied her on the train. The maid could only watch Crysta's sadness without being able to comfort her.

''Your Highness, we will rest for a while near the Valliant river.''

Christian shouted from outside. But it was Monic who opened the window instead, her head popping up. ''I'll tell the princess.''

The captain nodded. Then re-directed the horse he was riding to the front of the carriage.

''Did you hear that, Princess?''

Crysta glanced at Monic. The river, meaning they were close to the kingdom of Lucard. According to the map, the river was the halfway point between Lucard and Valliant.

''Please, change that look.'' Crysta's flat face made Monic speak up.

''I'll only smile when what I see is that tyrant prince, Monic!'' she said quietly. Her eyes may have been looking out the window at the view of the trees along the road. But for Crysta, Pascal's face was playing in her eyes.

Crysta was mostly silent throughout the trip. It was a strange thing for her because usually Crysta would be a little chatty by continuing to talk about Pascal. In the kingdom of Valliant, Crysta had a spy who always gave her information about Pascal. It was the love of a girl who loved her man.

In the midst of Monic's confusion looking for something to talk about to lure Crysta into talking, suddenly neither of their bodies felt the movement of the moving train.

''Ah, apparently we've arrived.''

Still, Monic's babbling was ignored by Crysta who was still lost in thought with a blank stare.

''Come on, Princess. There's flowing water that you can see while resting for lunch. Your favorite roast chicken and lemon cake will help you calm your mind.'' Monic coaxed enthusiastically. Still, the girl before her seemed uninterested in that explanation.

''Queen Ophelia also packs green grapes,'' Monic felt like giving up on Crysta's residence. But she remembered something. ''Did you know, Your Highness? Green wine is Prince Pascal's favorite.''

It works.

The deceptive sentence made Crysta turn to her. Monic nodded her head reassuringly. ''At your birthday party, I saw the prince eat a large plate and only leave the stem.''

Crysta's fingers stopped rubbing the pearls on her neck. She was more interested in hearing storytelling from Monic.

''He didn't even leave the seeds,'' Monic pretended to be annoyed. ''Isn't the kingdom of Valliant very prosperous and fairly wealthy among the eastern kingdoms? But why does the prince act like he never eats any fruits.''

Crysta chuckled.

''What's a tyrant prince? He's more like a greedy prince.''

Crysta was now laughing out loud. ''Stop it, Monic.''

''Are you going to defend him?'' Monic pretended to be angry.

Crysta no longer leaned back. She slightly advanced her body to look deeply at Monic.

''I'd like to correct a few things, Monic. Your explanation was a little exaggerated.''

''I'm not lying. I really saw it, Your Highness.'' She defended herself because she was telling the truth.

''My Pascal does like grapes. But he is so picky, Monic. Pascal only likes grapes with no seeds.''

''So that means...'' She had misunderstood.

Crystal smiled widely. One hand poked Monic's ear who immediately cried out in pain. Having a multitalented maid seemed to be a boon for Crysta. Because Monic was just the way she was.

The sun was getting brighter. The weather was getting hotter. Captain Christian's decision to stop at the river was the right choice. A cool atmosphere was needed to enjoy the meal. That way lunch would also taste good and maybe Monic was right, that it would help her calm her mind.

But, Crysta's smile suddenly disappeared.

Each kingdom in the eastern region had seven different access roads. However, all of them had riverine areas. Although not focused, Crysta heard Christian say that the captain of the guard said the name of the Valliant river. Not the Lucard river.

''I think...''

''Let's get off, Your Highness.'' Monic was already about to open the carriage door before Crysta stopped her.

''Monic!'' Glaring at her questioningly. ''I know you and Christian have a special relationship. But you shouldn't have used that to bring me to Valliant.''

''Oh my, princess. Christian deliberately said the river Valliant to attract your attention. But unfortunately it didn't work.'' That explanation left Crysta stunned. It turned out that the two people were in cahoots with her.

''I guess you didn't notice.''

A wide smile was etched on Monic's face. Crysta grumbled. How dare they play a prank on a princess?

''Quickly open the door!''

Monic nodded with a hanging smile.

She immediately did Crysta's bidding. But, the door should have been opened from the inside. And for some reason Monic had trouble opening it. In fact, Monic kept pushing until it made her sweat.

''Look. You easily opened your mouth to demonize my Pascal. But just opening the door leaf you have trouble doing.'' Crysta's laughter filled the silence between them.

However, seeing Monic who earnestly showed an expression that she was not joking, moved Crysta to also try to open it.

''Is the door stuck?" she said. Realizing that they were trapped inside.

''Christian...'' Crysta squealed. No answer made Crysta try to peek through the window. Looking around for the dozens of soldiers around her. But unfortunately none of them were to be seen. Moreover, the window that was designed like a prison cell made it difficult for Crysta to see everything.

''Are they preparing a banquet at the river?''

Crysta was speechless. Even if Monic's guess was correct, there was no way Christian would leave the carriage without a single soldier on guard. Crysta had a bad feeling.

''I'll teach Christian a lesson. Just watch. How dare he leave us unattended...''

Monic continued to ramble while Crysta tried to think and kept an eye on the situation outside. Until Crysta heard the clanking sound of swords, and at that moment Crysta...

''Shhh!'' Telling Monic to be quiet.

Both of them had their ears wide open. And the commotion sounded closer and closer. It was like Christian and the rest of the soldiers were trying to drive away the person who made the Orva soldiers raise their weapons to not approach Crysta's carriage.

''Protect the princess's carriage!''

Crysta's prediction was right. Their entourage was under attack.