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"Take him away!"409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4TpDoXHaB
"Lock him up and throw away the key!"409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmVMeWpgW8
"Seal the Cursed One forever!"409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdljd0PfBu
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lZ7D4MA0C
"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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMBpUjaMtx
The sole occupant of the sealed carriage presses his lips together.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXrJn3xPn0
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMimnBOoVbZ
"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--"409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaG4oA0FBtN
"That's quite alright, Marcus," the passenger of the sealed carriage mumbled under his breath.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQ1NKWg2od
"But, Your High--"409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbLGWm3dbT
"Enough, Marcus," the passenger tells the carriage driver once again and curls into a ball on the carriage seat.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lSxAFFShP
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUX7jlMhWP8
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAaLUre4dt
And with the sole occupant's current size, it can actually be a bed for him.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdc3tJk33WB
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjEZbh2aQC
However, those kinds of luxuries give little to no interest to the passenger.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzZjFBXrp2
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFI3z8F6YEw
If the thought of him existing was a bane to everyone's existence, he could just go and disappear.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1n85NSAbn
However, he can't do it no matter how much he tries and...if others get to do it themselves...409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxyR1gxVYM
Well, those who attempted to get rid of him lost their lives instead.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQyt5aF6GI
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49MXTqe6L9
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdC0yCaYm0
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPU8ud4VHm
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeZVtmHUn1
And it involves a smiling face of a girl, filled with love and affection...just for him.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZBVuSvGL7
Someone...whom he can't ever kill even when she's near him with his trait...409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUu5Loxs4i
His salvation.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaAnatKa2i
~*~*~*~409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88VlhFAlGU
Knock. Knock. Knock.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFP7Ssaku7R
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2zkpXwNW9
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHMMae5CtK
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdsKmJEmU3
"Oh no!"409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJFjlmX6RU
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX56GPatTLV
"Ow..."409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4ZDJdJf75
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. 409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRf8voQxzev
There...was a person...below him...and...409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8r8W7TReOT
Are they alive? Are they writhing in pain from his curse? Are they dying?409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuPMIAGqr7
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--409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUN8EgqCVr
"Uhm, excuse me, but...can you get off of me now?"409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPutSSxFIE
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!409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2H8LvJPGt
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?409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaD1JrsSow4
"Excuse me? Please, get off. You're too heavy."409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3oZBlleeq
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdKhLQCD1z
"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!"409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLIWpccIy9
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmDu3FCWdQ
"My name's Rose," she introduces herself, silently offering her hand to him to help him up.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3gAJ6jyrK
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUWT7m2K6m
But now...409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcviNnZqLWO
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4tZ473WkP
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m9XskluNv
"Uhm...and your name?"409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsKz7WWryc
He opens his mouth and answers, "I'm...Andrius."409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUfPZp8ef9
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRPO5JDFLH
"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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3mEgS0fcL
She pulls on his hand, taking him somewhere, and without a shred of suspicion, he follows her like a little lamb following its shepherd.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqajBZdJI0M
"...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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8px63XuvzP
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XbNEjNjPx
No one knows how he came to be that way and it had made his life a living hell. 409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2KNnlcDpd
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzqfUsE6UO
If not...409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhxOcjPDSr
"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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNAdVVh82C
He smiles. "Nothing, Rose. What's that thing over there?" He points at something randomly.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡti9HbikiQM
"Oh! Oh, that!" She then began to ramble, explaining anything and everything she could see.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpVFTYuwl8
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.409Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5aduDCwRS
