The Hero's Forsaken Princess
Chapter 120: One Big Mistake

Chapter 120: One Big Mistake

[ FLASHBACK ]

After giving Alaric the amulet, Eve closed her eyes. She followed his instructions.

’Please be safe,’ Eve murmured in her mind, praying for Alaric’s protection.

Eve didn’t know what was happening in her surroundings. But she could hear the sound of swords clashing along with someone’s groans.

Even though her eyes were closed, she could imagine that Alaric was fighting those four men so hard.

Despite the difference in their physical builds, Alaric had an advantage. He was fast and agile. He could easily block and avoid their attacks while launching a counterattack.

Eve could feel the sound of men falling to the ground. It did not take long before the sound of clashing swords disappeared.

She didn’t know whether to stay still or just open her eyes. But she promised the young knight she wouldn’t open her eyes unless he would say so.

She was still contemplating what she should do when she felt someone holding her shoulders.

"Princess, you can open your eyes now. It’s done." Alaric’s reassuring voice entered her ears.

Eve peeled her eyes open. Alaric’s smiling face came into her view right away. Feeling relieved, she couldn’t stop herself from hugging him. She was glad to see him fine and not hurt.

"I’m so happy you are safe!" Eve softly mumbled, clinging to him tightly.

Meanwhile, Alaric froze in his spot as the third princess suddenly hugged him. She was even gripping his body tightly.

"I promised you that I would keep you safe." Alaric finally found his voice to speak up.

Eve bobbed her head before breaking the hug. Then she gazed at her surroundings.

"What happened to them? Did you kill them?" Eve asked him worriedly. Seeing the men lying on the ground, she instinctively stepped back, distancing herself from Alaric.

Alaric immediately shook his head and waved his hands. "No. I didn’t kill them. I just knocked them down. But they also received some minor cuts. I made sure not to hit the vital part of their bodies."

"I also broke their legs so that they won’t chase after us once they wake up," Alaric explained everything, not wanting to scare her away.

Then he gazed down, looking away as he asked her, "Are you scared of me now, Princess? Do you hate me for being violent and hurting them?"

Eve’s soft giggle bubbled up in the forest. Without hesitation, she moved closer to Alaric, cupping his face to meet his gaze.

Alaric was dumbfounded once more. His heart skipped a beat when his eyes met her emerald eyes. She was smiling at him.

"Why would I hate you? Why would I be scared of you? You protected me. You beat them because they want to hurt me. If you didn’t fight back, we would have been the ones lying on the ground and bleeding," Eve said, consoling Alaric.

"Forgive me if I gave you the wrong impression earlier. I stepped back not because I was scared of you... but because I thought I was a burden to you. I made you fight those big men... what if you died because of me? I won’t forgive myself." Eve tried to explain her side.

But Alaric immediately shook his head. "Don’t say that, Princess Eve. Your life is more important than mine. I am just a knight. And you are a princess. If I die, this won’t be your fault. It’s my duty to protect you–"

Alaric wanted to say more but Eve stopped him by covering his mouth using her palm.

"You are wrong. Your life is as important as mine! I will be sad if you die. Do you want me to cry?" Eve pouted her lips.

Alaric didn’t know what to say upon hearing that. He couldn’t believe that Princess Eve would say that his life was as important as her life. That was so wrong. She was royalty while he was just a commoner knight.

Why would she give importance to his life?

"Why would you waste your tears for someone like me?" Alaric couldn’t help but ask her.

"Because it’s you! You are my knight! My people! A part of Kingdom Averion," Eve blurted out with a bright smile on her charming face.

Alaric’s face turned red as her words sunk in. ’You are my knight!’ Her words kept replaying in his mind. His heartbeat went wild once more.

’Princess Eve is so different from other royalty. She doesn’t care even if I’m a lowborn knight. She thinks that my life is also important.’ Alaric’s admiration for the princess intensified further.

Howling!

Their conversation was interrupted by the howling sounds echoing in the entire forest.

"Wolves!" Alaric mumbled, frowning deeply.

’I just hope they are just ordinary wolves. Not Dire wolves. Otherwise, we will be in big trouble. I need to get Princess Eve out of this forest.’ Alaric thought to himself, trying his best to compose himself.

He didn’t want to look anxious in front of Eve. He had to be brave so that she wouldn’t be scared.

"Princess, we need to leave now. This forest is dangerous... so many wild beasts especially at night," Alaric said as he kneeled. He was motioning for Eve to climb his back again.

Eve cooperated with Alaric. She didn’t want Alaric to be in danger just because of her.

"Are we going to find my mother?" Eve asked him.

"I will find her. But I need to bring you to a safer place first. My comrades are also here. With their help, we can speed up the search."

Alaric thought that the royal knights also needed to know that Queen Amara and Princess Eve got lost in the forest.

Alaric was clueless about the situation. He assumed that Queen Amara and Princess Eve accompanied the hunters in the forest. However, it seemed that the hunters had betrayed them. They chose to kidnap Princess Eve and Queen Amara to gain more money.

Alaric could tell that the four men who attacked them earlier were hunters. They were supposed to target wild beasts. However, they ended up chasing after Princess Eve.

’I should inform my comrades. We need to capture those hunters and imprison them. But Princess Eve’s safety is my priority.’

"Uhmm... Am I not heavy?" Eve’s voice snapped Alaric out of his deep thought. She sounded a little bit shy when she asked Alaric.

Alaric chuckled. "No. You are not heavy."

"Hmm... Okay." Eve responded.

The two of them became silent once more. Alaric just continued walking while securing Eve on his back. He was heading out of the forest.

"Princess, your amulet is so effective. I think I won the fight earlier because of your protection," Alaric spoke up as he wanted to engage in more conversation with her.

He wanted to grab this chance since he knew that once he returned the third princess back to the palace, he wouldn’t be able to talk to her like this.

He would also join General Artemis’s army in a few months, fighting with them on the frontline. The result of the war was uncertain. He might die.

"May I know your name?" Eve asked him.

"I’m Alaric," he promptly responded.

"How old are you?" Eve continued asking him about himself.

"Fifteen," he answered.

"You are too young," she gasped in surprise.

Alaric smiled faintly. "Because of the ongoing war, young knights are needed in the frontline. My brothers and comrades will leave in a few months to defend our kingdom."

For some unknown reason, Alaric wanted to say goodbye to Princess Eve right now.

"I’m so glad to meet you, Princess Eve."

Eve patted Alaric’s shoulder and said, "I’m happy to meet a brave young warrior like you, Alaric. I owe you my life. However, I can’t give you extravagant rewards for saving me."

Alaric chuckled once more. "Princess Eve, I don’t need any extravagant rewards from you. Hmm. But I think I want to hear you play your flute. That reward is more than enough for me."

"Oh! Put me down. I’ll play the flute for you." Eve wanted to express her gratitude toward Alaric.

"I’m not in a hurry, Princess. I have to secure your safety first. You are also injured. Your leg must be treated quickly," Alaric didn’t want to delay further.

But part of him didn’t want this moment to end quickly. He didn’t know if he would get another chance to interact with the princess after this.

"Alright. The amulet I gave you is my reward for you. Please keep it with you. You need it more than me. It will protect you from harm. Please don’t get hurt in the battle."

Eve had decided to permanently give the amulet to Alaric. Though it was from her mother, she wanted Alaric to keep it, thinking it would keep him safe in every battle.

Alaric was taken aback for a moment. This meant so much to him.

"Thank you, Princess. I promise to cherish it. I will stay alive no matter what."

Eve’s soft giggle filled his ears once more. Her laughter was pleasant music that soothed his heart.

It did not take long before they finally reached the entrance of the forest. Coincidentally, Alaric and Eve met Queen Amara in that place.

Queen Amara was surprised to see Eve.

"What is she doing here? And who are you?" Queen Amara questioned Alaric.

"Your Majesty, I’m Alaric, a knight from General Artemis’ battalion. I rescued Princess Eve from the forest. She is injured."

Queen Amara raised her eyebrow before motioning for her servant to take Eve away from Alaric.

"Good job. Now, you can leave! We don’t need you here!" Queen Amara commanded Alaric.

Meanwhile, Eve’s body stiffened as soon as she saw Queen Amara. At that certain moment, Eve realized that Alaric misunderstood her. She didn’t want to see Queen Amara.

She was supposed to meet her biological mother, Esmeralda. However, she didn’t have the courage to tell Alaric to run away with her.

That night, Eve was left on Queen Amara’s side. Alaric was clueless about the big mistake he made by handing Eve over to Queen Amara that night.

Eve’s tragic past happened that night– she became mute, lost her memory, and her mother Esmeralda died.

[ END OF FLASHBACK ]