The Hero's Forsaken Princess
Chapter 18: Surrender

Chapter 18: Surrender

Alaric aimed for a head cut, charging at Gideon, but the hunter was quick enough to block his attack. He wielded his sword to deflect Alaric’s blade while protecting Eve in his arm. He used his own body as a shield.

Gideon’s expression turned ashen as he stepped back, keeping his distance from Alaric.

"Are you trying to cut your wife?" Gideon snarled at Alaric, his eyes burning with fury.

"I told you to release her!" Alaric spat back, clenching his jaw.

"I won’t! I must ensure her safety... especially from you!" Gideon gave him a ridiculing look.

Alaric narrowed his eyes on the stubborn hunter, pointing the tip of his sword at Gideon’s neck. "She is my wife. She is mine to protect. Not yours!"

Alaric lunged forward, determined to snatch Eve from Gideon’s grasp. But the hunter won’t allow him to get near Eve. With another light-moving flash step, Gideon widened the distance between Alaric and him.

"You already failed to do that. Your wife is in this state because of you." Gideon kept blaming Alaric.

Alaric was fuming with rage. He couldn’t stand to see another man holding and hugging his wife so close. There was a hint of jealousy in his bloodshot eyes.

While Alaric was arguing with Gideon, another figure appeared from behind. Using a shadow veil technique, a warrior managed to point a dagger at Gideon’s neck. It was Caleb, Alaric’s trusted confidant.

"Don’t move or else, I’ll cut your throat," Caleb threatened Gideon.

The hunter just cursed inwardly as he became careless. His focus was on Alaric so he failed to sense another presence hiding behind him. Caleb managed to blend into the surroundings, launching a surprise attack against Gideon.

"Release our Princess!" he added.

Gideon remained unmoving as he assessed the situation. He could fight Alaric and Caleb, if and only if he wasn’t holding Eve’s unconscious body. But the current situation was not in favor of him.

Alaric was a skillful combatant. He couldn’t defeat him easily. Furthermore, Alaric’s comrade joined them, making it hard for Gideon to fight them with two versus one.

’I’m sorry, Princess. We have a change of plan.’ Gideon thought to himself, keeping his cool and composure.

"I’ll give her to you. But promise me one thing– You must not hurt her, or else I’m going to hunt you down."

Alaric scowled. "How arrogant?! Why are you doing this? Don’t tell me you are one of her lovers?" He directly interrogated Gideon, curious about his relationship with Eve.

Gideon burst out laughing. "Are you jealous?"

Annoyed by his behavior, Caleb pressed the dagger further into his neck.

"Stop laughing! My general is asking you. You must give him a proper answer," Caleb demanded.

Before Gideon could say another word, Alaric already snatched Eve from him. Then the royal guards arrived on their spot, surrounding them.

"Capture this man. We will bring him to the palace and detain him in the stockade," Alaric ordered Caleb.

Caleb was about to bind Gideon but he suddenly pushed him.

"Don’t bother. I’m coming with you willingly," Gideon said, striding toward Annie’s lifeless body.

He made a promise to the princess. He would bring Annie’s back home to have a proper burial. Annie’s home was where her lady was, so Gideon would bring her back to the palace.

Meanwhile, Alaric signaled his men not to attack Gideon. He let the hunter carry Annie. Holding Eve in his arms, Alaric felt conflicted. He was mad but at the same time, worried about her.

"Let’s go back to the palace!" Alaric’s authoritative voice echoed in the waterfalls. The royal guards immediately obeyed him.

On the other hand, Alaric specifically called for Caleb, the Knight Commander of his 5th Battalion.

"There is something I want you to do."

Caleb looked at him with intrigue. "What is it, my lord?"

"Investigate the background of the man who claimed to be my wife’s lover," Alaric ordered, sensing something suspicious about the incidents surrounding his wife.

Alaric tried not to jump to conclusions. Given the circumstances, he needed to validate the truth first.

"Leave it to me, my lord," Caleb replied before immediately dispersing to carry out his general’s command.

****

Meanwhile, at the royal palace, Gavin went to the Royal Gaol to visit the prisoner who claimed to be Eve’s lover. Unlike Alaric, Gavin didn’t believe a single word coming from the man.

Gavin was about to enter the prison fortress when several guards stopped him. He arched his eyebrow in annoyance.

"I’m here to see the new prisoner," Gavin declared.

The guards exchanged glances with one another before they responded.

"You can’t. The Queen gave us an order not to let anyone see him."

Gavin narrowed his eyes when he heard that. He was now more convinced that the Queen must be involved in this.

Pak!

Gavin hit the guard in the face. "How dare you talk back to me? Don’t you recognize me? I’m Gavin Ravenmoor, the Duke’s son, the husband of the second princess. And I’m the Commander of Master of Arms!"

The two guards immediately knelt in front of Gavin as they apologized for their disrespectful behavior. They should have recognized Gavin Ravenmoor.

However, the queen left a strict order not to let anyone see the new prisoner. Now, they didn’t know whom they should follow.

"Let me pass through," Gavin said in his authoritative voice.

The two guards were still reluctant to let him enter the prison. "Our lord, Her Majesty gave us a strict order–"

"You don’t have anything to worry about." Gavin interrupted them. "Queen Amara will never know about my visit here. I just want to talk to the prisoner," he reassured them.

Right now, Gavin was aware that Princess Eve was in serious trouble. The accusation of infidelity could spell her doom as she couldn’t defend herself. No one would believe her. She might even be abandoned by her husband, Alaric.

For some unknown reason, Gavin felt the need to intervene, hoping to gain Eve’s favor. He had a hidden motive for doing this.

Soon, Gavin managed to convince the guards, letting him enter to see the queen’s prisoner.

Gavin snorted upon seeing the man who claimed to be Eve’s lover. He didn’t look like a prisoner there. Instead, he was enjoying a sumptuous meal along with his wine. Special treatment was given to the man.

’I knew it! This man might be under the command of the queen. They want to get rid of Princess Eve.’ Gavin smirked at that thought.

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