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"Take him away!"440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13vEVPkyXB
"Lock him up and throw away the key!"440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJykKCLOS2k
"Seal the Cursed One forever!"440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAHng551aU
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6rVBhy0qE
"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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiq72REMAdv
The sole occupant of the sealed carriage presses his lips together.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQasJbX5H4C
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizJWvTZFQx
"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--"440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEbsoQtaQd
"That's quite alright, Marcus," the passenger of the sealed carriage mumbled under his breath.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nPdIlCMpD
"But, Your High--"440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlLkjjOrju
"Enough, Marcus," the passenger tells the carriage driver once again and curls into a ball on the carriage seat.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDgOTF2h5f
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRLcAnm9F9
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7O9mT5QXm
And with the sole occupant's current size, it can actually be a bed for him.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeTeSxo0x5
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWNGfXrTK4
However, those kinds of luxuries give little to no interest to the passenger.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEuwSqSk80
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvkNT590AS
If the thought of him existing was a bane to everyone's existence, he could just go and disappear.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOXWSCwKmb
However, he can't do it no matter how much he tries and...if others get to do it themselves...440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrflTNa60nB
Well, those who attempted to get rid of him lost their lives instead.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCjxaZz17a
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJrihv99Q5
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c5SZmbcKu
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgsgmzBjk8
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYN9DVIcvKx
And it involves a smiling face of a girl, filled with love and affection...just for him.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1j0krGo7E
Someone...whom he can't ever kill even when she's near him with his trait...440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVvCrFknZ7
His salvation.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvufzGfyD2
~*~*~*~440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hh87RcmA4
Knock. Knock. Knock.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRevxr87Cw
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHP6p3b4b0N
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbgCwT8nj9
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSW74KqlXM5
"Oh no!"440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bMCzcz11Z
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlFbNArgd1
"Ow..."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkOMlnAOf5
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. 440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjr8Fd4rCw
There...was a person...below him...and...440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhssKcqfP0
Are they alive? Are they writhing in pain from his curse? Are they dying?440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCG98uoPrFF
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--440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORwF0tBadJ
"Uhm, excuse me, but...can you get off of me now?"440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMN7h8yIXi6
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!440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVTkkqcn6n
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?440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhwYtdTr5L
"Excuse me? Please, get off. You're too heavy."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeFtoCpysX
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJPVjI8sYE
"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!"440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIy6S91Y3H3
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeg0ctiOQV8
"My name's Rose," she introduces herself, silently offering her hand to him to help him up.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGr3jrOCxnw
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveeTw4JeEl
But now...440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxidvn85UDL
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAaP2cpS1S
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeV0Fuc8z2z
"Uhm...and your name?"440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthFbIoBtM1
He opens his mouth and answers, "I'm...Andrius."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlNe717Cvk
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoCAXpaEfP
"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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5qEKs7kAT
She pulls on his hand, taking him somewhere, and without a shred of suspicion, he follows her like a little lamb following its shepherd.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDzvWePSR0
"...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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3OECV3D1b
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalhlcqjtfu
No one knows how he came to be that way and it had made his life a living hell. 440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFIEzhJwb7
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuedOXaeQM
If not...440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MjInz2giO
"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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMO6qI5PxI
He smiles. "Nothing, Rose. What's that thing over there?" He points at something randomly.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtTzzlNMVb
"Oh! Oh, that!" She then began to ramble, explaining anything and everything she could see.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5w4O7PGic
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzvai8b1QM
