Blood Prince

Chapter 3 Little Girl

Erza's words were hard for Galerna to decide, Erza took Galerna to a big tent. What do you see now? They, the people of the Terrace Kingdom who were victims of the civil war, were accommodated in a medical center in hiding.

Children, women, unarmed men, the elderly, and several armies of magicians were separated from ordinary citizens, only separated by small cubicles. Moans were heard everywhere, the Mecird were running here and there, treating the injured. So crowded, stuffy, and congested, the smell of blood and drugs burst everywhere.

Galerna did not expect this war to take so many victims. In just a few moments, the noise began to be controlled, it became quiet, there was no moaning, the crying stopped, and even the Mecird stopped treating sick patients. They all turned their heads in unison towards the person they had so long hoped for peace.

"Your Majesty. You came to see us?" said an old woman, smiling happily.

Galerna turned to the old woman who was in the middle row, lying on the patient's stretcher, smiling expectantly, behind the freshly bandaged bloody wounds on the old woman's head.

The old woman was so enthusiastic that she forgot she was sick, forcing her old body to turn away from the patient's stretcher, trying to reach Galerna. Seeing that the old woman was about to fall, unable to support her frail old body, Galerna, as fast as a gust of wind, caught the old woman before falling to the cold floor.

"You should rest, there's no need to force it," said Galerna softly,

Carrying the old woman, lay back on the stretcher of the patient. Galerna's eyes turned to the thousands of pairs of eyes inside the infirmary tent. The faces that so expected it. Galerna couldn't see the faces, they had too much hope in her.

Failure in power brought his kingdom into a bloodbath, a civil war that would never end. At this moment, what he saw was a blow to Galerna's solar plexus. Galerna really couldn't breathe.

He recalled his actions at that time, massacring the rebels who hated Galerna so much, so wanted to overthrow Galerna's power. Provoked, to kill his people. And what he saw, those who were saved by this cold hand, once again, were expecting it so much.

Can not. Galerna really couldn't give them that hope. Galerna wanted to run as far as possible, away from the pairs of eyes that were looking at her expectantly, let them be surprised to see Galerna just gone, even Erza shouted for her. Galerna just wanted to run as far as possible to a quiet and serene place, without any tides constantly staring into her eyes.

***

Galerna ran, almost two hours more. His running ability is quite impressive, a record that no one else can achieve, in terms of running, Galerna is the winner.

Breathing heavily, resting after running non-stop. Galerna just realized, there is no salty smell of the ocean or the waves crashing against the rocks. This place is so cool, the smell of trees is fresh, alive, and calming. Better a place like this that could calm his mind.

Just as Galerna was about to sit on a fallen log, a 'crackling' sound from the bushes behind her was heard. His hands were ready, holding a sword, staring straight behind the bushes.

"Who's there?" asked Galerna, staring behind the moving bushes.

But there was no reply, only the sound of bushes cracking louder and louder, and a small stick falling from above, hitting something in the bushes.

"Ouch."

There was a small groan, groaning in pain after being hit by a wooden branch that fell from above.

The figure of a little girl crawled from behind the bushes, the little girl held her head in pain. Feeling caught off guard, the little girl stood up and lowered her head.

Galerna could not scold the little girl but was amused at each unexpected encounter. The little girl was not very tall, only Galerna's shoulder height. Galerna lowered her head, her face was so close, and her hand gently stroked the little girl's head. A blush appeared on the little girl's face, so shy and cute at the same time.

"Be careful, don't want to peek at someone," said Galerna, flicking the little girl's shy nose.

The little girl seemed petite, with wavy black hair tied in a ponytail and bangs that made the little girl even more beautiful. Galerna couldn't imagine that the little girl was wearing a pale blue-printed battle suit, which looked darker, and a small, shiny, yet deadly dagger was tucked into the little girl's waist belt.

"You don't have to go into battle."

"Not." The little girl looked at Galerna full of determination and tenacity.

"I don't remember how many times you've said that. The prince and the thief girl."

Galerna brought her charming face closer to the tiny figure in front of Galerna until her blush grew redder like a boiled crab and said so softly. "You are indeed a master of sneaking, without anyone not knowing about you."

The little girl, now her face looks red, like a boiled crab ready to be lifted.

"I-I-I'm not like that," the little girl stuttered.

"As I know, you are not this shy girl. You are tough, persistent, and unyielding. I've always seen you in the front row, protecting me so hard. But I don't want to be protected by a little girl like you."

"Your Majesty, have you completely forgotten your promise?" cut the little girl, impatient.

"It doesn't matter what other people think of me as just a thief. But, I am me, and Your Majesty has saved me. In our first meeting, I promised to always be by Your Majesty's side, protect you, and be useful to you, to be hands and feet for you."

"A thief girl who adores Your Majesty so much. No matter if everyone hates you and abandons you. However, Your Majesty must know. I will never leave you and will always be by Your Majesty's side."

Galerna was speechless. The little girl has such a strong determination, what the little girl wants must be achieved, despite being hit by obstacles. A girl thief who admires Galerna so much.

Sometimes, Galerna's heart was touched by the little girl's strong determination. Everyone hates Galerna and stays away from Galerna. However, there were only two people who were always by Galerna's side. The little girl Galerna had known for a long time and, his late first wife, the first woman Galerna loved.

"Very touching words, Your Majesty."

"Who is there?"

Galerna heard a familiar voice, a very familiar voice. Cold and cunning. His eyes turned behind the dark trees, and a white figure appeared, wearing a crying smiling mask, the human-faced mask had a smile on his lips and three blood-red tears.