The Princess' Harem
Chapter 42: Unexpected Accident

Chapter 42: Unexpected Accident

A few days later, Viana had to travel to the forest to ensure the hunting grounds were safe. She was accompanied by Joel, Reyes, and several knights.

They rode their horses along a rocky path toward the forest’s edge. The cool air brushed against Viana’s face, helping her relax after days of planning for the hunting event.

However, as soon as they entered the forest, Viana’s horse suddenly neighed loudly and began to move wildly, as if frightened by something. It was seeing a snake before him, and before she could react, the horse took off at full speed, and she nearly lost control.

Joel quickly realized the danger and urged his horse forward, and chasing after Viana. "Hold the reins, Your Highness!" he called while his eyes locked on her as she struggled to stay seated.

In just a few moments, Joel managed to grab the reins of Viana’s horse and slow it down until it finally came to a stop. Viana, who was still shaken, took a deep breath to calm herself.

"Are you alright?" Joel asked with concern.

Viana nodded, though her heart was still pounding. "I almost fell!"

Before they could regroup with Reyes and the others, the ground beneath them suddenly crumbled. In an instant, both Viana and Joel tumbled into the ravine.

***

Viana felt the cold, wet earth beneath her as she slowly opened her eyes. A dull ache spread through her arm, but what worried her more was Joel lying unmoving beside her.

"Joel!" she quickly crawled toward him then placing a hand on his shoulder with concern.

Joel groaned softly before opening his eyes and giving her a weak smile. "I’m alright... just a little injured."

Viana glanced at his arm, noticing the wound and dirt covering his clothes. "You’re hurt more than ’just a little,’ Joel."

The rain began pouring heavily, making it clear they wouldn’t be able to climb out in these conditions. "We need to find shelter before the rain gets worse," Joel said with a worried tone, and proceed to walk with Viana supporting him.

Luckily, they found a small cave nearby. Although narrow, it was enough to shield them from the rain. Despite his injury, Joel gathered dry wood to start a fire. Then he tried to light the fire with saying some jokes to the frowned Princess.

Once the fire was lit, Viana sighed, watching how relaxed Joel was despite their situation. "You are way too calm in moments like this."

Joel leaned his back against the cave wall and stared at the fire. "If I keep worrying about small things, I won’t be able to enjoy life." He glanced at Viana with a teasing smile. "Besides, I’m sure we’ll be fine."

Viana scoffed quietly, but deep down, she was starting to see another side of Joel. He wasn’t just a skilled former mercenary leader, he was someone with an unexpected personality.

As the night passed, their conversation deepened. Viana realized Joel had a unique way of thinking, while Joel saw a side of Viana that was more open than usual.

***

Heavy rain continued to pour over the forest, creating puddles between the trees and making the ground dangerously slippery. Meanwhile, palace guards were running frantically, searching for any sign of Princess Viana.

Reyes, responsible for her safety, could barely hide his panic. He had sent all available knights to comb the forest, but there was still no trace of Viana or Joel.

"We have to find her before the storm gets worse!" he shouted and continuing to scan for any trail.

A knight ran up to him with his face filled with urgency. "Sir Reyes, we found footprints near the cliff! The ground is slippery, and we fear they might have fallen."

Reyes was frozen for a moment, but then he wasted no time. Ignoring the dangerous conditions, he sprinted toward the location. When he arrived, he saw the collapsed ground, a clear sign that someone or something had fallen.

"Princess Viana!" Without hesitation, Reyes climbed down. He didn’t care about the mud covering his clothes or the risk of falling. His only focus was making sure Viana was safe.

With every step down, his body grew dirtier, scratched by branches and covered in rain-soaked mud, but he didn’t stop. After struggling for several minutes, he finally reached the cave.

The sight in front of him made him freeze.

Inside the cave, Princess Viana was sleeping, her head resting on Joel’s lap. The fire crackled softly, providing warmth for the two who were drenched from the rain.

Joel, still awake, noticed Reyes’ arrival and raised his head slightly. "You got here fast," he said casually, though his face showed exhaustion.

Reyes ignored Joel’s remark and immediately rushed to Viana’s side. "Your Highness!" he called then kneeling beside her. "What happened? Is she injured?"

Joel shook his head. "She’s just exhausted. No serious injuries."

Reyes let out a relieved sigh but still couldn’t shake off the tension in his chest. He turned his sharp gaze to Joel. "How did you fall?"

Joel smirked slightly. "The ground collapsed, and we had no choice but to go down with it. I made sure she was protected as we fell."

Reyes examined Joel’s injured arm and the dirt covering his clothes. "And you got hurt because of that."

"A little," Joel replied casually. "No need to overreact."

Reyes gritted his teeth in frustration. "You are always too relaxed in dangerous situations, Joel."

Joel chuckled lightly. "Staying calm is the best way to handle difficult situations."

Reyes sighed, then turned his attention back to Viana. He gently touched her hand and feeling the coldness of her skin due to the weather. "We have to get her back to the palace as soon as possible."

Joel stared at the fire before nodding. "Once the rain clears, we’ll climb up."

Reyes clenched his jaw, still annoyed at how casual Joel was about everything, but looking at the princess sleeping peacefully, he decided to hold back. At least they were alive.

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