"Take him away!"519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwQQCEUF79
"Lock him up and throw away the key!"519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsLzoUWeVg
"Seal the Cursed One forever!"519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNJdhZRDxT
The mob cheered as the sealed carriage made its way through the streets, out of town, and ultimately, heading out of the Kingdom. Far, far away from the Kingdom.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHsZPi7r8y
"Agh! Geez! What the heck--Oi! You idiots! Why are you throwing rocks at ME?! I'm just minding my own freaking business here and driving, okay?" the carriage driver hisses.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTIv2h7rWF
The sole occupant of the sealed carriage presses his lips together.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGgLAdKyHw
Even though no one can get in and out of the sealed carriage, enchanted to only receive and let passengers alight according to the specified instructions of the caster, air can still freely pass through despite the windowless and doorless carriage. And if air can freely pass through, sounds and noises from outside can also be heard.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkxpHGIoxV
"And how dare you all throw something like that on a Royal carriage!" the driver of the carriage can be heard, continuously ranting from his perch. "You all are committing treason you know! No matter what the circumstances are the Pri--"519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmHgFjehAX
"That's quite alright, Marcus," the passenger of the sealed carriage mumbled under his breath.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeWXPSj85N
"But, Your High--"519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZZhyS4wBC
"Enough, Marcus," the passenger tells the carriage driver once again and curls into a ball on the carriage seat.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpX97Vza1cA
Even though the carriage is sealed, preventing others from getting in and out of it, only opening and closing once it reaches its destination and letting air for the occupant to breathe, it has the comforts and utilities of a top-tier carriage.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnBJLm9Z1I
The seats are very soft, softer than any bed one can imagine. Even if it's just a seat, one might think it's actually a bed.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvM2q0ioeC2
And with the sole occupant's current size, it can actually be a bed for him.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYYkIuOkj7
Despite it being sealed, the inside is bathed in a warm and comfortable light, as the gentle rays of the sun do with the fragile plants in a greenhouse. Not only that but there is also a magic compartment under the seats that stores all kinds of food and beverage that always stays fresh, hot, and cool--depending on the meal.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjXLMQiQLA
However, those kinds of luxuries give little to no interest to the passenger.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHik9HQit3t
All he wanted was to leave the Kingdom and get things over with. He's miserable not only because of the hatred he has been receiving from the people around him ever since he can remember but also the fact that he's too much of a coward to end his own life.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39sF7FqoGk
If the thought of him existing was a bane to everyone's existence, he could just go and disappear.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuA4jMDqQH3
However, he can't do it no matter how much he tries and...if others get to do it themselves...519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElo6qWytiu
Well, those who attempted to get rid of him lost their lives instead.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXrmepNToK
As he lay there, curled in a ball, he blinked his misty turquoise eyes, as if doing so would stop the tears from falling even though his throat was hurting from the effort.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDDJ90ayU4
In the end, he lost the fight. The tears fell from his eyes, soaking his long, unmaintained silver-blond hair. He then closes his eyes, hoping that it will not only block the fact that he had cried despite not wanting to but also the sounds and shouts of the people who want him to leave.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3a6bfgW5X
And as he close his eyes, exhaustion seeps through his bones from not being able to sleep well last night. Not that he had ever slept well since he was old enough to feel that he was being neglected and avoided.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpDeji1lch
But as he did, a dream came to him. Probably the first and only dream he could ever remember having. It was a dream that he would forget even when he woke up. One that shows a future where he's happy and content.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsT362Ubl8J
And it involves a smiling face of a girl, filled with love and affection...just for him.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRsJrWYSkd
Someone...whom he can't ever kill even when she's near him with his trait...519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzp3mYAOfZ
His salvation.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtRWiqIMwx
~*~*~*~519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeuJwt4i9O
Knock. Knock. Knock.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJJDU3Y7P7
Disoriented and dazed from his sleep, he stumbles towards the door, momentarily forgetting that it's supposed to open and close only when he has arrived at his destination. Maybe it was because he just woke up from what seemed to be the longest sleep he'd had in a long, long while, he even forgot about Marcus.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwtay8pNtJ
As soon as he's near the door, it opens. Someone cheeps in surprise from the outside and the sound, along with the sudden opening of the door, made him come to his senses. However, since he was shuffling towards the door with a heavy head from sleep, with the intention of leaning on the door, all his weight was shifted to the front. And because the door opened, nothing can catch him anymore and he tips over.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50bZ1lgr3B
Still somewhat lethargic, he couldn't move fast enough to lean away and fall back inside the carriage. It seems he'll be hitting the ground face-first. Closing his eyes, he braces himself for the fall.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wUgcuD0sl
"Oh no!"519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDb2OnNfgro
That cheeping voice he heard just now spoke up again and he felt hitting something warm and soft then a heavy thud. Whatever he's on right now, it's definitely not the ground.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BmMjwINrh
"Ow..."519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MJuBadvas
His eyes snap open and lifts himself up from the ground with his arms. With wide eyes, he looks down at the person below him, rapidly blinking his eyes in disbelief. 519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNy1v5JP7F
There...was a person...below him...and...519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EEuTM9xo9
Are they alive? Are they writhing in pain from his curse? Are they dying?519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Pqm5mkPyS
His mind is swirling with questions that he's going dizzy. So he closed his eyes shut again as he froze in place. As much as he wanted to roll away, he knew that it was too late. Any second now, the person will be dead anyway--519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumvaSQ6vkN
"Uhm, excuse me, but...can you get off of me now?"519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwOf773NsC
At that, his eyes blinked open wide once again, and he looked down. It wasn't just any person. It was a woman. And not only that, she's...she's still alive!519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLyuTItZb0
But how? Why? Who is this woman? What is she even? How is she still alive after being exposed to him? Let alone be this close to him?519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoGv2i5iVL
"Excuse me? Please, get off. You're too heavy."519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyWJXJFGkj
Her wheezing plea made him come back to his senses and he quickly muttered his apologies and got off from the woman. He was still in awe to see someone still alive, moving and breathing, even after they were exposed to his presence.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0RyIoWj1L
"Haaa, great. Now that's a load off my chest, haha! Get it? Cause you were on me and..." she falters, laughing weakly, she clears her throat awkwardly and rubs the back of her neck. "Yeah, sorry. I know it was a bad joke. Anyway! Hup!"519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF5kviOYFo
She hops from the ground and stands up, patting her clothes to get rid of the dirt and grime from her person and the satchel that hangs across her front. While she does, he watches her, still filled with disbelief to see that she's still up and about.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG78aCMfsmo
"My name's Rose," she introduces herself, silently offering her hand to him to help him up.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CoDLdB4WS
Still speechless, his gaze ping-pongs between her hand and up at her face. For the first time in a long, long time--just stared at someone right on their face, without any coverings to protect them from him. All his life, he has to look at people who are talking to him from a safe distance or when they fully cover their faces.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EoOhQDhbx
But now...519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqId6iKDJC
With a trembling hand, he slowly and carefully places it on top of hers. He can feel his heart skip a beat when her fingers wrap around his, squeezing his hand gently before gently tugging him up from the ground.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieGQdbyfof
She was a small woman and he knew she won't be able to fully help him up. Instead, with her help, he easily pushed himself from the ground. He wraps his fingers over hers as well, still staring into her face until a pink tinge starts to blossom across her cheek.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Bht7hiiML
"Uhm...and your name?"519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvkuThQPB7
He opens his mouth and answers, "I'm...Andrius."519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IN2phqzTE
She smiled at him and to him, it was blinding. No. It wasn't her smile that dazzled him so. It was Rose herself. Just being able to be with her like this without dying...to be able to converse like how other normal people do.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYASMASG8K
"Huh. Andrius, huh? Okay, then," she beams at him and tugs at his hand. "By the way, you look like you're lost. I actually saw a guy running back the way you came from, saying he dropped his mask or something and asked me to keep an eye on the carriage..." She starts to chatter but he doesn't mind. It was the first time someone was talking openly to him, without a hint of fear or anxiety.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8m60YY4PmY
She pulls on his hand, taking him somewhere, and without a shred of suspicion, he follows her like a little lamb following its shepherd.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRzsxPeS1q
"...oh, did I mention that your name sounds like the Crown Prince's name?" she asks belatedly. But before he can even respond, Rose is already chattering away, talking about something new and pointing at stuff to him.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOW0FVaEpB
He was amused and she was endearing. Maybe...now's not a good time to tell her that the reason why he had a name that sounds like the Crown Prince is because he was the Crown Prince. The dreaded Crown Prince who was cursed to exude tasteless and odorless poison that could kill anyone who went near him.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ycG9FsW9W
No one knows how he came to be that way and it had made his life a living hell. 519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQmSnuIHip
But...somehow, in some kind of way, there's actually someone capable of surviving after being with him. His salvation. Maybe he'll have to tell her the truth about himself one day. And hopefully, she'll remain by his side after that.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhgoMxDS71
If not...519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxF8UvoZLm3
"Hmm? What is it, Andrius?" she asks, glancing down at their clasped hands that he was unknowingly squeezing a little, and then up his face.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2cWayLAWR
He smiles. "Nothing, Rose. What's that thing over there?" He points at something randomly.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1VYSms5dW
"Oh! Oh, that!" She then began to ramble, explaining anything and everything she could see.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB51eaD3VPW
Well, if she won't remain by her side, then...he'll do whatever he can and everything in his power to make her stay.519Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKe9Z5BQF9
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