The Crown Prince

"What are you doing, your highness?" I asked because he pushed me down. I wasn't able to describe the crown prince's face before because I was not really interested but he had this smooth-looking blonde hair and deep blue eyes. I was only able to describe him because I could see his face closely.

"The Valkyrie I know was a tight-lipped girl. You always chases me around and calls me "Alex". After the accident, you became distant. I guess it's my fault." Suddenly, he became serious.

It suddenly dawned on me.

"My lady, you probably don't remember but you fell down the stairs in the presence of the crown prince. When you fell, he immediately called your mother and father." That was according to Dianne. 

Hence, I had a suspicion from the start.

"Your highness, who pushed me down the stairs?" I asked him without batting an eye while looking straight in his deep blue eyes. 

In response, he regarded me with a mournful expression.

This f*ck! He killed the real Valkyrie by pushing her down the stairs. I was wrong when I said he's a good person. 

The plight of that poor little girl mirrored my own. I faced mistreatment from my superior simply because I dared to speak up against her.

At that time, I opposed her for shaming one of my students in front of a crowd. Despite enduring her insults about my teaching abilities and enduring her excessive demands, one incident broke me.

"I'm sorry, Teacher Klea. I'm sorry. Because of me, you'll take all the blame." Witnessing my student in tears, blaming herself for my predicament, crushed me.

As Klea, I withered away. It took me a long time to come to terms with it, but Valkyrie gave me a new lease on life. I refuse to squander this opportunity. I might not be able to give you the revenge you deserve, Valkyrie, but I assure you that this life will not become a jailed crown princess but rather a happy and an awesome witch. 

"Valkyrie always loved you. She always loved you with all her heart. Even if you embarrassed her or degraded her, she never said anything bad about you. She loved you for who you are." That's why, I made up my mind and said that to the crown prince. 

The crown prince's eyes suddenly widened, swirling with guilt and frustration.

"I will never ever forgive you." I said with so much conviction. 

All I could do for Valkyrie was ensure the crown prince would forever remember his actions and suffer the consequences throughout his life.

The atmosphere around us suddenly became heavy and he instantly stood from pushing me down. 

The emperor's scheme was in vain. Instead, I was so full of hatred and disgust towards his son. 

Following that, there was complete silence between us. Before I knew it, morning had arrived and sunlight was beginning to filter in.

Valkyrie's hair is incredibly curly, yet it's quite delightful. I love her hair.

***

An hour after that, a ship that brought us here also arrived and about to pick us up. 

"Your highness and my lady, your punishment was already lifted. You are now asked to return by the emperor." He bowed to us. 

"Lead the way." The crown prince ordered. 

I also saw Brother Vandrel there. He was waving at me.

"Val, are you okay?" He covered me with blanket. 

"I'm fine, brother." I replied and smiled. 

"Did he do something to you?" He also whispered. 

"No. He was very quiet." I assured my brother that nothing happened except that I learned he was the one who killed their sister. 

"Mom, Dad and Vin were very worried. We'll go home when we arrived at the port." He explained. 

"Thank you, brother." I was blessed to have brothers this time. 

We were also about to depart but suddenly five worn-down ships surrounded our ship and men with weapons jumped out of it. 

"Kill the crown prince!" Someone shouted and that was the signal of the attack. 

"Your highness, take the shelter!" His knights grabbed their swords and started to defend the crown prince.

"Val! Hide somewhere!" Brother Vandrel also grabbed his sword and started defending me.

"Brother!" I yelled out as I spotted a towering, masked figure closing in on him with an axe.

My brother immediately reacted and managed to defend himself on time.

"What are you doing, Val? I said hide!" He was really furious.

Their target was the crown prince so why should we suffer? 

"Kill the crown princess too!" The one who shouted earlier was their leader, I think. Apparently, I had been included in their list of targets.

"Hey! Who said that I'm the crown princess? I'm not!" I was really pissed by that title. 

When my brother heard that, his entire body was covered with a black aura.

"Nobody touches my little sister in my presence. You imbeciles, know your place!" That black aura spiked as he uttered these words. 

That black aura... What the hell was that?

That question immediately disappeared on my mind as I managed to caught a glimpse of the crown prince as he picked up a sword from a fallen enemy and started to retaliate.

"What is he doing?" I pondered.

Then it occurred to me the things he did last night, he managed to put up a shelter by himself and he was not picky with the food either. He was a crown prince but he knew the ways of common people.

He killed Valkyrie because she was favored by the emperor and not him. 

"My lady, I heard that the crown prince was an illegitimate child of the emperor." I remembered Dianne's words again which I didn't exactly pay attention too.

He was a child who needed support and guidance from his parents. He was just jealous of Valkyrie. I was a teacher and I failed to realize that.

While his shadow engaged in combat, I witnessed a terrified child weeping before me. As I observed the foe aiming to strike him from behind with a sword, my instincts took over.

"Valkyrie!" My brother called out to me.

I hugged the crown prince before the sword could reach him. My back bore the brunt of the slash, painting the sword crimson with my blood. The crown prince caught me as I collapsed.

"This b*tch!" The one who slashed me said.

"Valkyrie, why did you do that? I tried to kill you!" The crown prince trembled while holding me.

"My back hurts!" It hurt so much that I couldn't almost take it.

I saw my brother rushing to come to my side in response to witnessing my injury. I felt as though I might pass out.

"I'll kill you!" The man tried to attack the crown prince again. 

In that moment, memories of my earlier days flooded back to me.

***

I once had a student who was beloved by his classmates but felt isolated by his parents. Despite this, he maintained a cheerful demeanor while struggling with his inner turmoil.

"I'm sorry, Teacher Klea. This kid was also our problem ever since." That's not why I called your parents.

"Your child is a blessing to his classmates. He would always help people around him. He smiles a lot. He is a good kid.  You should be very proud of him." His eyes that always cry while smiling... That I could not take.

***

I realized that he had eyes like of this crown prince's. His deep blue eyes that are always blue and sad. The crown prince held me tight as we were about to die. 

"Finally!" The man swinging his sword grinned.