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"Take him away!"412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTyV1vWC7b
"Lock him up and throw away the key!"412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtdPhhmmHw
"Seal the Cursed One forever!"412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWhK7v9aPe
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLj5qJeKtHE
"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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9kBZOT0zH
The sole occupant of the sealed carriage presses his lips together.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksY4c2Nk3A
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQLerS9YZJ
"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--"412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHjZzq2wzw
"That's quite alright, Marcus," the passenger of the sealed carriage mumbled under his breath.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGj6fQOTkjx
"But, Your High--"412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxbBQbF0h3
"Enough, Marcus," the passenger tells the carriage driver once again and curls into a ball on the carriage seat.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjuCqniqQx
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhA31D67enm
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0wDs4JHeO
And with the sole occupant's current size, it can actually be a bed for him.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFxQ1Nzyge
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGXLMnYdY4
However, those kinds of luxuries give little to no interest to the passenger.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhhzkqoRsB
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2q5wBxHxFW
If the thought of him existing was a bane to everyone's existence, he could just go and disappear.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUF37K9Dip
However, he can't do it no matter how much he tries and...if others get to do it themselves...412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBsbr6LiGg
Well, those who attempted to get rid of him lost their lives instead.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajPVNLF1yj
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEf84wiAyYw
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dbXDqh6zL
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuvKD7ImpD
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXaxIjrORA
And it involves a smiling face of a girl, filled with love and affection...just for him.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROIBbL3Tbu
Someone...whom he can't ever kill even when she's near him with his trait...412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTehpbiyqRe
His salvation.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONunC9QR3r
~*~*~*~412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSrk3QZ4VW
Knock. Knock. Knock.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmhNqQxN6G
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yQ7BEtCaf
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJi70ozOi0
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIc1eOW7U3p
"Oh no!"412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1PNExiZuz
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegs6X98Kzk
"Ow..."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9wYcVn3lG
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. 412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFyL3ycwH3
There...was a person...below him...and...412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLsTTI5cOR
Are they alive? Are they writhing in pain from his curse? Are they dying?412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZvPBMJxg7
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--412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XoRz7huCx
"Uhm, excuse me, but...can you get off of me now?"412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3uisjtLjN
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!412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZBJ7HRefR
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?412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UKUxbGyAL
"Excuse me? Please, get off. You're too heavy."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzPyBuDndi
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl5mrYsN4k
"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!"412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSO84gnVut
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgL8Bsz01DH
"My name's Rose," she introduces herself, silently offering her hand to him to help him up.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCsF7nhfVz
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRBpoXJNIG
But now...412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpdkhRyx4j
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo53fk67B6C
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkk4ufwWPOv
"Uhm...and your name?"412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQOVfTGk6F
He opens his mouth and answers, "I'm...Andrius."412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibpGoQztt2
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGenJ1spYlN
"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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDkR6MFQAC
She pulls on his hand, taking him somewhere, and without a shred of suspicion, he follows her like a little lamb following its shepherd.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvS5ajqefp
"...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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNxLJWd3Dw
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY2DPYany7
No one knows how he came to be that way and it had made his life a living hell. 412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQOp7JlGk4
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2yNIh39gN
If not...412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLGWaZKfxV
"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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4bUQskYeY
He smiles. "Nothing, Rose. What's that thing over there?" He points at something randomly.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk35ypSjPkb
"Oh! Oh, that!" She then began to ramble, explaining anything and everything she could see.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWm4yL6CmZv
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.412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVDis2sErR
