Just A Friend

The world seemed to slow as the crown prince, Alexander, stepped forward. His presence was commanding, and the air around him seemed to shimmer with authority. The old nobleman faltered at the sight of him, his whip halting mid-air as he looked between Alexander and the child in my arms.

“Glory to the Crown Prince!” The old nobleman immediately fell to his knees, his body trembling with a mix of fear and reverence as he tried to show respect. But his eyes, still full of malice, flickered toward me before they were quickly lowered to the ground.

The crown prince's voice rang out, sharp and filled with anger, as he addressed the nobleman. "The one you're trying to hurt is my crown princess. How dare you?"

In that instant, a surge of panic hit me. I’m not! I screamed in my mind, but the words never left my lips. I bit them back, feeling the weight of the prince’s gaze, the growing tension in the air, and the crowd watching in silence. I dared not speak against him, not here, not now.

My heart pounded as I stood there, forced into silence, the truth lodged in my chest like a heavy stone.

Alexander didn’t take his gaze off the trembling nobleman, his posture rigid with authority. His next words, however, were laced with something far darker. "For raising your hand to my crown princess, for daring to strike an innocent child in front of me, I hereby strip you of your noble status. You are nothing but a commoner now."

The nobleman’s face drained of color, and his body swayed, clearly struggling to process the weight of the prince's declaration. His mouth opened, but no words came out—he was at a complete loss. The crowd fell silent, watching in stunned awe as Alexander delivered his judgment with unwavering certainty.

"You will have no title, no land, and no position in this kingdom," the prince continued, his voice steady, every word deliberate. "And you will leave the capital before the sun sets, or I will make sure you never set foot here again."

The nobleman’s knees buckled as the reality of his fall from grace hit him. His eyes flicked between the prince and me, and in that moment, it seemed he fully understood the magnitude of what he had done.

With no more words left to say, the nobleman stumbled backward, his dignity shattered. He turned and fled, his once-pristine robes now trailing behind him in the dirt, a shell of the proud man he had been moments ago.

The crowd parted, and the atmosphere shifted—what had been filled with tension moments ago now buzzed with gossip and murmurs. Alexander didn’t even acknowledge the commotion as he turned toward me, his expression hardening into something unreadable.

"Are you alright, Val?" Alexander’s voice was soft, his hand outstretched toward me, but I couldn’t bring myself to take it.

I couldn’t stop the flood of emotions that hit me all at once. I had lost Elara and Magnus to slave traders, and now, I was standing here, separated from them in a place that felt more like a nightmare than reality. The girl in my arms—she was the one who helped me escape. But as I tried to help Elara and Magnus, who were still tied up inside the carriage, the girl had followed me, unknowingly bumping into that sh*tty old nobleman.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and before I could stop them, they began to fall. I felt the heat of shame rise to my cheeks, but I couldn’t control the overwhelming weight of it all.

Alexander’s expression shifted, his brow furrowing in concern. “What’s wrong?” His voice, usually calm and collected, betrayed his flustered confusion.

I quickly handed the girl over to one of Alexander’s bodyguards. “Please help her,” I said, my voice trembling. “I owe her my life.”

The guard nodded, carefully taking the girl from my arms.

After everyone left and the girl’s wounds were tended to, I wiped the tears from my face. My breath caught in my throat as the reality of what had happened hit me. Elara and Magnus were gone. The pain of their capture was still too much to bear, and I felt helpless. I couldn't shake the feeling that I had failed them. The weight of it all crashed down on me, leaving me with an emptiness I didn’t know how to fill.

“They were taken while we were sleeping,” I whispered, almost to myself. “They couldn’t chant a spell because their mouths were covered, and the carriage they’re in… it’s already been thirty minutes. They could be anywhere by now.” My heart pounded, and a sense of urgency gripped me like a vice.

Alexander’s eyes softened, but there was no time for sympathy now. His gaze sharpened as he focused on me. “Where are you going?”

“I have to save my friends,” I said, determination hardening my voice. “I can’t let them disappear into the hands of those people.”

I took a step forward, my mind racing with the plan to find them, but Alexander stepped in front of me, blocking my path. “Val, wait,” he said, his tone commanding but not unkind. “You don’t have to do this alone. I’ll help you.”

I shook my head, my resolve unwavering. “Your Highness, I am no longer your crown princess.”

For a long moment, Alexander said nothing. His gaze locked onto mine, studying me with a mixture of concern and understanding. Then, with a resigned sigh, he stepped aside, his voice soft but sincere. “If you don’t want to be called that, then let me be just a friend. Please, allow your childhood friend to help you.”

His words struck a chord deep within me. I hesitated, torn between my pride and the desperate need to find Elara and Magnus. I had no power in the royal capital, and my brothers might take too long to reach me.

After a pause, I sighed, a reluctant acceptance settling in. “Fine, but the guards…” I trailed off, uncertainty creeping in.

Alexander nodded. “I’ll leave them behind.”

But before he could say more, his guards voiced their objections. "Your Highness, we cannot allow you to go alone—"

I cut them off, my voice firm. “You can bring them, but remember this: whatever you see, whatever you hear, leave it there.”

I released just a hint of my mana, enough to send a subtle ripple through the air. The guards visibly stiffened, their expressions betraying the weight of my words. They understood.

Alexander gave a slight nod, indicating the matter was settled. With one last glance toward the guards, we turned, heading in the direction the carriage had gone. The weight of our mission hung heavy between us—Elara and Magnus weren’t just my classmates; they were my friends. And I would stop at nothing to bring them back.