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"Take him away!"515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmDcVoHp7Q
"Lock him up and throw away the key!"515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDUwfaniWQ
"Seal the Cursed One forever!"515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XsgzMsSAU
The mob cheered as the sealed carriage made its way through the streets, out of town, and ultimately, heading out of the Kingdom. Far, far away from the Kingdom.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo8ORJxenQ
"Agh! Geez! What the heck--Oi! You idiots! Why are you throwing rocks at ME?! I'm just minding my own freaking business here and driving, okay?" the carriage driver hisses.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVDiWEV6Wq
The sole occupant of the sealed carriage presses his lips together.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3P0cubUZRD
Even though no one can get in and out of the sealed carriage, enchanted to only receive and let passengers alight according to the specified instructions of the caster, air can still freely pass through despite the windowless and doorless carriage. And if air can freely pass through, sounds and noises from outside can also be heard.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzOU4MaEPH
"And how dare you all throw something like that on a Royal carriage!" the driver of the carriage can be heard, continuously ranting from his perch. "You all are committing treason you know! No matter what the circumstances are the Pri--"515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwTk7ZNr6X
"That's quite alright, Marcus," the passenger of the sealed carriage mumbled under his breath.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpL6VVUG0F
"But, Your High--"515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsNxwIT8My
"Enough, Marcus," the passenger tells the carriage driver once again and curls into a ball on the carriage seat.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa811We855p
Even though the carriage is sealed, preventing others from getting in and out of it, only opening and closing once it reaches its destination and letting air for the occupant to breathe, it has the comforts and utilities of a top-tier carriage.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyelxH3lOUb
The seats are very soft, softer than any bed one can imagine. Even if it's just a seat, one might think it's actually a bed.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0Klasxpdc
And with the sole occupant's current size, it can actually be a bed for him.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPeDeqit2m
Despite it being sealed, the inside is bathed in a warm and comfortable light, as the gentle rays of the sun do with the fragile plants in a greenhouse. Not only that but there is also a magic compartment under the seats that stores all kinds of food and beverage that always stays fresh, hot, and cool--depending on the meal.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWXDmZ2H13
However, those kinds of luxuries give little to no interest to the passenger.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2ksHKkENH
All he wanted was to leave the Kingdom and get things over with. He's miserable not only because of the hatred he has been receiving from the people around him ever since he can remember but also the fact that he's too much of a coward to end his own life.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIMp6bimJm
If the thought of him existing was a bane to everyone's existence, he could just go and disappear.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWjxtBVywN
However, he can't do it no matter how much he tries and...if others get to do it themselves...515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCZgEiiySX
Well, those who attempted to get rid of him lost their lives instead.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhBqKACETj
As he lay there, curled in a ball, he blinked his misty turquoise eyes, as if doing so would stop the tears from falling even though his throat was hurting from the effort.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRKBDsTH5I
In the end, he lost the fight. The tears fell from his eyes, soaking his long, unmaintained silver-blond hair. He then closes his eyes, hoping that it will not only block the fact that he had cried despite not wanting to but also the sounds and shouts of the people who want him to leave.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqTMADec85
And as he close his eyes, exhaustion seeps through his bones from not being able to sleep well last night. Not that he had ever slept well since he was old enough to feel that he was being neglected and avoided.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfI8jVoVw4
But as he did, a dream came to him. Probably the first and only dream he could ever remember having. It was a dream that he would forget even when he woke up. One that shows a future where he's happy and content.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4A5APUnwf
And it involves a smiling face of a girl, filled with love and affection...just for him.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpX8IE5jdPO
Someone...whom he can't ever kill even when she's near him with his trait...515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPC8fD6qlri
His salvation.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BXsjP8xQ2
~*~*~*~515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4W9kT4762
Knock. Knock. Knock.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3ZuUKp29B
Disoriented and dazed from his sleep, he stumbles towards the door, momentarily forgetting that it's supposed to open and close only when he has arrived at his destination. Maybe it was because he just woke up from what seemed to be the longest sleep he'd had in a long, long while, he even forgot about Marcus.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YIzmU3HzV
As soon as he's near the door, it opens. Someone cheeps in surprise from the outside and the sound, along with the sudden opening of the door, made him come to his senses. However, since he was shuffling towards the door with a heavy head from sleep, with the intention of leaning on the door, all his weight was shifted to the front. And because the door opened, nothing can catch him anymore and he tips over.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe94t9UhsZN
Still somewhat lethargic, he couldn't move fast enough to lean away and fall back inside the carriage. It seems he'll be hitting the ground face-first. Closing his eyes, he braces himself for the fall.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOchmWzAY3O
"Oh no!"515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbvX4MIxIu
That cheeping voice he heard just now spoke up again and he felt hitting something warm and soft then a heavy thud. Whatever he's on right now, it's definitely not the ground.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleWuBGYFkc
"Ow..."515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2dxqMdekT
His eyes snap open and lifts himself up from the ground with his arms. With wide eyes, he looks down at the person below him, rapidly blinking his eyes in disbelief. 515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BbtHx32Uh
There...was a person...below him...and...515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVwadiSM11
Are they alive? Are they writhing in pain from his curse? Are they dying?515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AU9bPJT9c
His mind is swirling with questions that he's going dizzy. So he closed his eyes shut again as he froze in place. As much as he wanted to roll away, he knew that it was too late. Any second now, the person will be dead anyway--515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpBllRAIn5
"Uhm, excuse me, but...can you get off of me now?"515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTC705wIEG5
At that, his eyes blinked open wide once again, and he looked down. It wasn't just any person. It was a woman. And not only that, she's...she's still alive!515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5lHtZuFB0
But how? Why? Who is this woman? What is she even? How is she still alive after being exposed to him? Let alone be this close to him?515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfyevmbgpZ
"Excuse me? Please, get off. You're too heavy."515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXCyZjraOw
Her wheezing plea made him come back to his senses and he quickly muttered his apologies and got off from the woman. He was still in awe to see someone still alive, moving and breathing, even after they were exposed to his presence.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBnV74YLA9
"Haaa, great. Now that's a load off my chest, haha! Get it? Cause you were on me and..." she falters, laughing weakly, she clears her throat awkwardly and rubs the back of her neck. "Yeah, sorry. I know it was a bad joke. Anyway! Hup!"515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUeVFdua7h
She hops from the ground and stands up, patting her clothes to get rid of the dirt and grime from her person and the satchel that hangs across her front. While she does, he watches her, still filled with disbelief to see that she's still up and about.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHNMGaJLzV
"My name's Rose," she introduces herself, silently offering her hand to him to help him up.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFGCmfkfCK
Still speechless, his gaze ping-pongs between her hand and up at her face. For the first time in a long, long time--just stared at someone right on their face, without any coverings to protect them from him. All his life, he has to look at people who are talking to him from a safe distance or when they fully cover their faces.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQhd7qd2IR
But now...515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCpx2Rkv1b
With a trembling hand, he slowly and carefully places it on top of hers. He can feel his heart skip a beat when her fingers wrap around his, squeezing his hand gently before gently tugging him up from the ground.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyG85aQalY
She was a small woman and he knew she won't be able to fully help him up. Instead, with her help, he easily pushed himself from the ground. He wraps his fingers over hers as well, still staring into her face until a pink tinge starts to blossom across her cheek.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApBRdJXDSX
"Uhm...and your name?"515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtWJV3Pv2c
He opens his mouth and answers, "I'm...Andrius."515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mtK4AKPli
She smiled at him and to him, it was blinding. No. It wasn't her smile that dazzled him so. It was Rose herself. Just being able to be with her like this without dying...to be able to converse like how other normal people do.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmH6MOURlPx
"Huh. Andrius, huh? Okay, then," she beams at him and tugs at his hand. "By the way, you look like you're lost. I actually saw a guy running back the way you came from, saying he dropped his mask or something and asked me to keep an eye on the carriage..." She starts to chatter but he doesn't mind. It was the first time someone was talking openly to him, without a hint of fear or anxiety.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEw19pK2OVF
She pulls on his hand, taking him somewhere, and without a shred of suspicion, he follows her like a little lamb following its shepherd.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLywvCevYV
"...oh, did I mention that your name sounds like the Crown Prince's name?" she asks belatedly. But before he can even respond, Rose is already chattering away, talking about something new and pointing at stuff to him.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FcTCepQRc
He was amused and she was endearing. Maybe...now's not a good time to tell her that the reason why he had a name that sounds like the Crown Prince is because he was the Crown Prince. The dreaded Crown Prince who was cursed to exude tasteless and odorless poison that could kill anyone who went near him.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyexX29QWvx
No one knows how he came to be that way and it had made his life a living hell. 515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUBDRKWyBd
But...somehow, in some kind of way, there's actually someone capable of surviving after being with him. His salvation. Maybe he'll have to tell her the truth about himself one day. And hopefully, she'll remain by his side after that.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVpwTaCySS
If not...515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvgpLaJ3Ej
"Hmm? What is it, Andrius?" she asks, glancing down at their clasped hands that he was unknowingly squeezing a little, and then up his face.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUu84QMYwNJ
He smiles. "Nothing, Rose. What's that thing over there?" He points at something randomly.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbKajVywa9
"Oh! Oh, that!" She then began to ramble, explaining anything and everything she could see.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMwg4D854I
Well, if she won't remain by her side, then...he'll do whatever he can and everything in his power to make her stay.515Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM58fkEgEVt
