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"Take him away!"484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaf3Yr5w5Z
"Lock him up and throw away the key!"484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzPB9e4N6H
"Seal the Cursed One forever!"484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvtKD61qfa
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5esf4qssX1
"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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm7Rd8vOZj
The sole occupant of the sealed carriage presses his lips together.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lYFfqPr7U
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmmKXgdZJu
"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--"484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmBH6kA5lf
"That's quite alright, Marcus," the passenger of the sealed carriage mumbled under his breath.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRAJ53aFHq
"But, Your High--"484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBwBa0PRdf
"Enough, Marcus," the passenger tells the carriage driver once again and curls into a ball on the carriage seat.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIYpysgSW0
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOKdsSBaL5
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDONJwrb6ph
And with the sole occupant's current size, it can actually be a bed for him.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqSe8Nro5u
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mPC8PiaKo
However, those kinds of luxuries give little to no interest to the passenger.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ018bSwdxjs
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRfk2LJllF
If the thought of him existing was a bane to everyone's existence, he could just go and disappear.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUtEvkhrEm
However, he can't do it no matter how much he tries and...if others get to do it themselves...484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrIv5cvN7L
Well, those who attempted to get rid of him lost their lives instead.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPciIPwB1Um
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdV8ANen1K
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2N7dyZc1s2
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA2aYiuAty
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTsEC0o9pr
And it involves a smiling face of a girl, filled with love and affection...just for him.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLhEoLmMve
Someone...whom he can't ever kill even when she's near him with his trait...484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkakNxgM1OA
His salvation.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNn8iKiYSo
~*~*~*~484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiLJ9VpFtj
Knock. Knock. Knock.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0w1h0HzPp
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvIfQ9U1ec
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SNGQWG0d7
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovSXHdxi6X
"Oh no!"484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxHihp01TR
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdW9PfxSPa
"Ow..."484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhY56BkUahL
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. 484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYgPQT6nRw
There...was a person...below him...and...484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7nLK3zHiW
Are they alive? Are they writhing in pain from his curse? Are they dying?484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjtxIanIby
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--484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLKOpJ5dpw
"Uhm, excuse me, but...can you get off of me now?"484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31wPRHXP06
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!484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOO6uxBQ8O
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?484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxs88seVf6I
"Excuse me? Please, get off. You're too heavy."484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkqTDrh2jA
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrejZ4rqkJA
"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!"484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAslSePr1M
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PaPAFBMIL
"My name's Rose," she introduces herself, silently offering her hand to him to help him up.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGXumiOM6O
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfweYLsFXtw
But now...484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GQlCqCpbG
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOR5rOXmcv
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsgHucr1pU
"Uhm...and your name?"484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyudnnUSjLG
He opens his mouth and answers, "I'm...Andrius."484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmvepjUPDo
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjC4L7lfEo
"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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4kmGkbdRr
She pulls on his hand, taking him somewhere, and without a shred of suspicion, he follows her like a little lamb following its shepherd.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmYiJOQvfP
"...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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcS95ZiidJ
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifzw4dSo5W
No one knows how he came to be that way and it had made his life a living hell. 484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiUnk37Xo4
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgdAjvisvc
If not...484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRZencYAeF
"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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSVEo8r1vJ
He smiles. "Nothing, Rose. What's that thing over there?" He points at something randomly.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ixqyq4LjC
"Oh! Oh, that!" She then began to ramble, explaining anything and everything she could see.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtTOMCzU44
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnpgfpKbuv
