"Take him away!"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmNZAScrN4
"Lock him up and throw away the key!"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXojeB2n3kW
"Seal the Cursed One forever!"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98npeB2puM
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUU6HG1j18
"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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZuxJME4TW
The sole occupant of the sealed carriage presses his lips together.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweEIYP0gsi
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXspBwd8aKj
"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--"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqX1F4gHQUb
"That's quite alright, Marcus," the passenger of the sealed carriage mumbled under his breath.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BJ8K5HtD2
"But, Your High--"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxEfLlrpkX
"Enough, Marcus," the passenger tells the carriage driver once again and curls into a ball on the carriage seat.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIUWKaCpmY
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMDqbd4j8p
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DCntiqtxc
And with the sole occupant's current size, it can actually be a bed for him.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2Tz3alJuk
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9qzWqYAVR
However, those kinds of luxuries give little to no interest to the passenger.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosKTGFsjvh
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbIqt2zmH7
If the thought of him existing was a bane to everyone's existence, he could just go and disappear.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhUqcGm7Im
However, he can't do it no matter how much he tries and...if others get to do it themselves...477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEhOK4bavB
Well, those who attempted to get rid of him lost their lives instead.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2ZrUnu2qJ
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEgT6W2Lin
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ16nFhBycp
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtMMTfds6N
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIA5kzSqwv
And it involves a smiling face of a girl, filled with love and affection...just for him.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISchWluEyW
Someone...whom he can't ever kill even when she's near him with his trait...477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ouYRaYOiq
His salvation.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPVZ4RxszK
~*~*~*~477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuNREK1Zai
Knock. Knock. Knock.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjq85NyrtO2
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXRmEBp5oR
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePd4OKBxFU
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pRsrGeXGe
"Oh no!"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xfKjDw2ml
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtavQhXEPz9
"Ow..."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUQ9WVOvoH
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. 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnqw44texn
There...was a person...below him...and...477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ecxKeaYk6
Are they alive? Are they writhing in pain from his curse? Are they dying?477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bm6RrKlCz
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--477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHicJissNW
"Uhm, excuse me, but...can you get off of me now?"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQEGlgVOg8
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!477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeXgnD1YW2
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?477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHnvOTplIT
"Excuse me? Please, get off. You're too heavy."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyrijRLCjQ
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerAuMqzI3S
"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!"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcTSK8ZRKe
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFrC1PWaso
"My name's Rose," she introduces herself, silently offering her hand to him to help him up.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMkm1m69YF
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowCWz19GE8
But now...477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMwKyBMdNv
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDYpDRNgka
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSaWPAyHff
"Uhm...and your name?"477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyznnxyLqA1
He opens his mouth and answers, "I'm...Andrius."477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJ8PpXUmho
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlDlItavDd
"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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOz56n0NfNe
She pulls on his hand, taking him somewhere, and without a shred of suspicion, he follows her like a little lamb following its shepherd.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2ITdj5bqg
"...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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxantHQUW5
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YqR3jHemg
No one knows how he came to be that way and it had made his life a living hell. 477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkaE6j6IPm
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHb7HqEe27A
If not...477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSL0aQfavF9
"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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutN2rrsc8d
He smiles. "Nothing, Rose. What's that thing over there?" He points at something randomly.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFAbrLlySY
"Oh! Oh, that!" She then began to ramble, explaining anything and everything she could see.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICTVumgDie
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.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9cigskKa2
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