Knights of The Dauntless Princess

Chapter 12: Founded

The school was completely burned down, and they couldn't do anything about it. Amara could not calm herself about what happened the next day, so she pleaded with Dravis to accompany her to Cyrus.

Amara wore a hooded cape that covered her head, and she rode a horse as she and Dravis made their way to Cyrus' location. They remained silent during the journey. They hadn't been able to talk when they returned home the previous night because it was late, and the young woman's heart was filled with sadness. Dravis decided it was best not to confront her stubbornness for the time being.

"D-Dravis," Amara spoke, glancing slightly at the young man. Dravis just glanced back at her and remained silent, waiting for the girl to talk again. "I actually wanted to apologize for what I did yesterday."

Dravis didn't respond, and that concerned Amara. Her forehead creased with worry.

"A-Are you angry with me?" the girl asked again.

"Why would I be angry with you? First of all, if that moron hadn't taken you, you wouldn't have left." Dravis countered. "And second, I'm not angry; I'm just worried that you might get hurt."

The young man's words touched Amara's heart. She felt how he wanted to protect her.

"I-Is that so," Amara stuttered, feeling relieved to know that the man wasn't angry with her. The former princess turned her gaze back to the road, and a smile appeared on her face voluntarily. "Thank you."

"Lady Amara," Dravis called her, surprising her. "Please don't repeat that again, understood?" he asked in a tone that sent shivers down Amara's spine.

"Uh? O-Okay."

They reached the site where the burned school stood, and as expected, Cyrus was there. He was looking at the remains, hoping that there was still something he could save, but everything had turned to ashes.

Amara and Dravis dismounted their horses and observed the devastation in that place. The young lady felt deep sympathy for Cyrus because she knew how much teaching the children meant to him.

"Cyrus," Amara called out.

He turned to her, and upon seeing the beautiful face of the former princess, Cyrus smiled as if nothing tragic had happened to him.

"My beloved princess!" Cyrus greeted her cheerfully. "Why are you here? Did you miss me already?"

Amara chuckled softly. She realized that he still managed to joke around despite everything that had happened.

"How are you?" Dravis asked, surveying the area.

Cyrus shook his head and smirked confidently. "Nothing. Everything turned to ashes."

"Seems like it."

"Cyrus, I'm sorry," Amara said sadly, bowing her head slightly.

"Hmm? Why are you apologizing? You weren't the one who set the school on fire," Cyrus replied. He gently lifted Amara's chin with his hand to make her look up. When their eyes met, he smiled at her again. "I should be the one asking for forgiveness because you almost got hurt. I'm sorry, my beloved princess."

Upon hearing Cyrus' words and noticing his flirtatious gaze, Dravis felt a vein pulsing in his head due to irritation, so he gave Cyrus a light smack.

"Ouch! What is that for?" Cyrus exclaimed while holding his head as he glared at Dravis.

Dravis just averted his gaze as if he hadn't done anything horrible, "Because you're a moron."

The princess giggled. Whenever Dravis and Cyrus argued like that, she felt a pleasant amusement. When Dravis and Cyrus heard her laughter, they both felt a lightness in them. They knew to themselves they didn't want to see her downhearted.

"What's your plan now?" Dravis asked Cyrus again.

Cyrus turned his gaze back to the burnt school. He took a deep breath, and although sadness was evident in his eyes, he still managed to look fine.

"I know Falcon won't stop, so I think I won't rebuild the school for now," Cyrus said, causing a pang of pain in Amara's heart. "I'm worried that if he does something crazy again, the children might get harmed. I believe I need to fix everything first, but I assure you I won't give him my father's land!"

"C-Cyrus," Amara uttered.

"Don't worry or be sad for me, Lady Amara. Just because I won't rebuild the school doesn't mean I'm giving up. They only burned the school, not my dream," Cyrus replied, smiling with reassurance for Amara.

Amara felt a sense of relief from what the young man said, and she nodded at Cyrus with a smile.

****

Lillian noticed that everything had changed since the princess arrived at their home. It used to be so quiet, but now she could hear the joyful voices and laughter she hadn't heard since her children were young. Additionally, the old woman noticed that Dravis no longer drank alcohol every night. She wasn't sure if it was because of Amara, but she was genuinely happy that she was there, despite the danger.

Dravis left that day, and like the previous days, Amara stayed alone at their house. She helped Lillian with the household chores and learned many things she had never done before in the palace. However, during her moments of solitude and reflection, the young lady still remembered the nightmare her family had endured. The word "justice" still screamed in her heart, but she didn't know how to start seeking it.

How can I bring justice to the death of my family? While Lord Laxus sits on my father's throne, I am here, hiding from a crime I did not commit! Lord Laxus easily convinced the people because he used to be a heroic savior, and they believed he was good. At the same time, I, known only by my name, was quickly judged. They thought I, as the king's daughter, could really kill my family. What the hell is that? Tsk!

"Big sis?" Dion interrupted Amara's deep thoughts.

"H-Huh?"

"I'm asking if you can be my uncle's wife," Dion asked, which made Amara's jaw drop and widen her eyes.

"W-What!? W-Why are you asking that?" Amara asked in surprise.

They were outside in the yard, reflecting under a large tree. Dion looked up at the sky and pointed to it.

"Grandma said my parents and my uncle's ex-girlfriend are there," Dion said before lowering his hand. "Grandma also said that he became a drunkard because of her death. Uncle Dravis used to drink a lot, but we noticed he doesn't drink as much anymore."

"I-Is that so?" Amara forced a smile. "A-And what does that have to do with your earlier question?"

Dion turned to her, his smile widening. "We think he likes you, that's why! Hihi!"

"H-Huh!?" Amara's eyes widened again, and her face immediately turned red. "D-Dion! P-Please, don't say things like that! It's impossible!!!"

"But don't you like my uncle? Is it because of his appearance?" the child asked directly.

"Wh-What? Um, well..." The lady really couldn't lie. In truth, she still wasn't comfortable with Dravis' appearance, but she had gotten used to it. But she didn't know why she always felt safe when he was by her side.

Dion opened her small bag and took out a pair of scissors. "I knew it! That's why I decided to take this! I'm going to cut Uncle's hair while he's sleeping!"

"D-Dion!!!" Amara frowned at the idea that came to the child. "D-Don't do that. Your uncle will definitely get mad!"

"It'll be fine. He will surely forgive me the next day. What's important is that I cut his hair," the child replied with a mischievous smile.

Amara shook her head and tried to explain to the child, "No, don't do that, please. You shouldn't force someone to do things they don't want. That's disrespectful to others."

"I-Is that so?" the child tilted his head, seemingly understanding, and returned the scissors to their bag. "But what should we do then?"

Amara lowered her head and remembered what Dravis had told her: if she gave him a good enough reason, he might consider her request.

"I don't know either," Amara replied.

After a while, they heard some alarming noises coming from inside the house. Dion and Amara exchanged glances before standing up and quickly running toward the source.

"What happened? Lilian—" Amara was stunned when she saw a group of Emmett's soldiers there.

N-No!!! F-Falcon!!!

"Big sister!" Dion exclaimed, and Amara immediately positioned herself before the child to protect him.

"Stay here! You might get hurt!"

When the soldiers turned to face her, their faces lit up. Their eyes widened, and they wore broad, chilling smiles.

"So, you're right here, beloved princess!?" Falcon grinned, the leader of the group. "I think we are so lucky indeed. I'm just looking for Dravis and Cyrus to apprehend them. What they did to an officer like me is a grave offense, you know? But it seems I'll get my hands on gold as well. I didn't know you were just hiding here in that worthless man's house, huh!?"

Amara's eyes narrowed, and her teeth clenched. Her anger flared when she saw blood dripping from Lillian's arm. She knew they were the ones who did that to her.

"Why? Why did you hurt Lillian!? Why!!?" Amara shouted.

Falcon laughed as if he disregarded the girl's anger. "She wouldn't speak about the whereabouts of her stupid son, so I confronted her a little! But she's really stubborn, so that's what she has got! Hahaha!"

"You're all insane!!!" Amara said, looking at Dion from the corner of her eye. "Go to your grandma, and hide!"

"But, big sis—"

"I don't want you to get hurt, so just do it!!!" Dion hesitated out of fear but eventually obeyed Amara's words.

"It looks like you're still going to fight?" Falcon tried to persuade her. "Well, I almost forgot that you were a murderer. Hih!"

Amara grabbed a large sickle from the table, which Lillian used for gardening. She tightened her grip on it, preparing herself to fight those scumbags.

"Do you know that we have already met, Falcon?" Amara said, which surprised the man. "I was there when you burned Cyrus's school! I was restraining myself from fighting so that you wouldn't find out my true identity, but now that you know, I won't hold back anymore!"

"W-What!? You mean you were with them—"

"Yes, that was me!!!" Amara charged at Falcon.

The fight instantly began, and Amara once again demonstrated her skills. Even though she was alone, she didn't let the soldiers who hurt Lillian overpower her. She thought about how that family was all she had left and wouldn't allow anyone to take that away from her.

However, the fight took work for her. Besides being outnumbered, the soldiers were also skilled at sword fighting.

"Hyah!" Falcon shouted as he attacked Amara, but she swiftly defended herself with her sword. "Just surrender, princess, so that you won't get hurt anymore!"

"N-No! I won't surrender! I can't lose because I still need to avenge my family!! Hyah!!!" Amara defiantly responded.

Amara's body was already covered in wounds and shallow cuts. Despite feeling the pain, she disregarded it, focusing on protecting Lillian and Dion.

Amara was exhausted from the battle. She was breathing heavily, but she refused to give up. Her knees trembled from fatigue, and even though she had defeated some of the soldiers, there seemed to be many more left.

Amara took a step back, her eyes still watchful of the approaching soldiers. They all lunged at her simultaneously, and even though she fought back, they managed to suppress her. They tightly held her hands, and another man stood behind her, restraining her with his arm around her neck. Amara struggled to breathe and was unable to think clearly. She still wanted to fight but couldn't free herself from their grip.

"I told you to surrender if you didn't want to get hurt," Falcon grinned. "Now, I'll personally deliver you, crippled, to Lord Laxus! Hyah!!!"

When Amara saw Falcon about to attack her, she closed her eyes tightly and called out the name of the man in her mind.

"Dravis!!!"

In an instant, a sword pierced through Falcon's body. Everyone was shocked to see him fall to the ground, lifeless.

The soldiers immediately turned their heads toward where the sword came from, but no one was behind Falcon. Then, they saw two young men, not so far away, casually approaching them—Dravis and Cyrus. They assumed Dravis had thrown his sword to pierce Falcon, instantly ending his life.

Amara couldn't believe that they had actually arrived and saved her. Tears welled up in her eyes again, relieved that her worries had been taken away.

"D-Dravis... Cyrus, you came," Amara sobbed.

"We will never forgive anyone who hurts you, beloved princess," Cyrus said, playfully swinging his axe in his hand as if he was saying he was ready to fight.

"Anyone who harms you will surely be sent to hell," Dravis added.