Knights of The Dauntless Princess

Chapter 33: The Fourth Knight

"Cyrus! Dravis!!!" Amara called out with concern, and they quickly understood.

Dravis grabbed a long cloth and tied it around Shiloh's arm to try to stop the bleeding from her wounds. He then lifted Shiloh and carefully placed the injured girl on his horse.

They hurriedly made their way to Louie's house, and when they arrived, a heartbreaking scene greeted them.

"Erica! Enrico!" Cyrus shouted, and he quickly dismounted his horse to approach the other two children.

Ranz, Dravis, and Amara also got down from their horses. Dravis gently laid Shiloh inside the chaotic house. Cyrus and Ranz carried the twins and took them inside as well. Amara couldn't help but feel a pang in her heart when she noticed some traces of blood on the ground. She wondered what had happened in that place and where Louie was.

They tended to the children's wounds, seeing the bruises and cuts on the twins' faces and arms, while Shiloh's arm looked as if it had been stabbed. They refused to leave the children because of their concern, and they also wanted to find out what truly happened and who was responsible for it.

Meanwhile, Louie was on his way home after selling all the medicine he had made. Before going back, he stopped by the herbal shop to gather ingredients to make more medicine.

"Matilde, how are you—"

"Louie! Louie!!!" The old woman vendor, where he always bought plants, called out to him urgently.

Louie furrowed his brow in confusion, wondering why the woman seemed so flustered and looking around anxiously. Several other vendors also glanced at him and whispered among themselves. That's when the young man began to have a bad feeling about it.

Matilde grabbed his arm and pulled him into her shop.

"Where have you been, Louie? Have you gone home already?" There was concern in the tone of the old woman vendor's voice.

"Huh? You know that at this hour, I'm usually selling and delivering the medicines I made to my customers, right?" Louie replied, his brow still furrowed. "Why? What happened?"

"Soldiers! Emmett's soldiers were here earlier, and they were looking for the former general, Azalea! They showed your mother's picture, saying they recently saw her around here!" Matilde revealed, causing Louie's eyes to widen in surprise.

"M-My mother? Is she here in Luciana?" Louie asked in disbelief.

The old woman nodded, her anxiety evident, "Yes, but as I said, the soldiers were looking for her earlier! Not only that, one of them mentioned that they know where you live, so it's likely they went there too!"

"What!?" Louie was further startled by the news.

"Yes, they went to your house! It's been about three hours since they left!" the vendor said, clasping her hands in anxiety. "Go home, Louie! Your siblings are there! Unlike the soldiers during Lord Lennox's time, who were friendly and kind, today's soldiers are heartless! I'm worried about your siblings!"

Louie pressed his lips together, taking a deep breath before nodding. Matilde then handed him some of her medicinal plants, simply passing them to him.

"Here, take this! You might need them!" the old woman said.

"Thank you, Matilde! I'm leaving!!!" Louie said and bid farewell to the kind vendor.

Louie hurriedly ran towards their home, which was located in the farthest part of Luciana, a remote and secluded region of the plains. Despite feeling exhausted, he endured it due to the overwhelming concern for his siblings. As the darkness was about to engulf the surroundings, he reached their backyard. From there, he realized that something terrible had happened, seeing traces of bloodstains and debris. Louie's heart pounded faster out of extreme fear, prompting him to rush into their house.

"Shiloh! Erica, Enrico!!!" Louie called out to his siblings as he entered their home.

Their belongings were scattered, but his eyes quickly searched for his siblings. He was surprised to find Dravis, Cyrus, Ranz, and Amara inside their house, along with the twins, who had just regained consciousness after being unconscious. Shiloh was still asleep, so they attended to the twins first.

"What are you doing here!? Why are you here!?" Louie shouted as he grabbed Cyrus, who was the closest to him.

"Big brother! Stop!!!" Erica and Enrico tried to restrain him, but Louie was so overwhelmed with anger that he seemed not to hear them.

"You again! You must be the reason why this happened to my siblings!!! Didn't I tell you we wouldn't join you!!!?" Louie yelled, and he was about to throw a punch at Cyrus when suddenly... Shiloh woke up.

"Big brother..." Shiloh weakly spoke, tears streaming down her face as she stared at her older sibling.

Louie clearly saw the tears in Shiloh's eyes, and that made him pause. It momentarily halted his anger.

Louie released Cyrus and quickly approached Shiloh. He noticed her shoulder bandaged and her pale complexion due to the pain she was feeling.

"S-Shiloh! Are you alright?" Louie asked, deeply worried about his siblings. "Erica, Enrico, are you both okay?"

"My body hurts a bit, big brother because they kept kicking us repeatedly! I accidentally bit my lip, and it started bleeding," Enrico explained.

"Tell me! Tell me what happened!" Louie commanded, pointing towards Amara and the others. "Was it them? Were they the reason why this happened to you?"

Shiloh turned to see where Amara was, and she realized that it wasn't just a dream when she had met the princess earlier, and Amara indeed helped her. A faint smile appeared on Shiloh's lips, while her eyes threatened to fill with tears.

"T-Thank you. Thank you, Princess," Shiloh said emotionally and let out a sob.

Louie was confused by what was happening. He knew they were discovered by Emmett's soldiers, but he couldn't understand why Shiloh was thanking them.

"You shouldn't be thanking them! It's because of them that they found our whereabouts!" Louie retorted.

Shiloh shook her head. "N-No! You're wrong! The soldiers came here looking for our mother!"

Upon hearing the mention of the former general, Dravis, Cyrus, and Ranz immediately became alert to gather information.

"They arrived earlier while I was cooking. I went out to see who they were, and they immediately asked about mother's whereabouts! They searched the entire house and even broke some things!"

Because they were searching for our mother! One of the soldiers choked me, and when Erica and Enrico saw it, they tried to set me free. However, the soldier who was choking me got angry, so they kicked and beat him repeatedly until he lost consciousness!" Shiloh recounted.

Everyone fell silent, and the twins nodded in agreement with Shiloh's story.

"And then? What happened next!?" Louie asked eagerly.

"M-Mother... o-our mother arrived!!!" Shiloh exclaimed, almost startling everyone.

"Our mother? She came? Where is she??? Is she coming back here!?" Erica asked in rapid succession, her excitement turned to concern at Shiloh's somber expression.

"M-Mother came to save me, but... but she had to sacrifice herself for my safety," Shiloh sobbed, tears streaming down both of her cheeks. "They beat and tortured her right in front of me. I couldn't do anything but cry and struggle. I pleaded for them not to hurt her, but all I got was a soldier stabbing me in the shoulder to silence me! I was so weak that I couldn't stop them from taking our mother. Even though my vision was blurry from the blood flowing down my shoulder, I still tried to stand up. I thought of seeking help, and then... I happened to encounter the princess on the way!"

Louie was momentarily taken aback by what he had learned. It was at that moment that he pieced everything together. From the letter he saw in the morning, confirming it was indeed a warning from their mother. Even Matilde's words about Emmett's soldiers going to Luciana and someone claiming to have seen their mother there. Louie bowed his head, realizing that their mother had been watching over them all this time without them even knowing. He had thought she had long forgotten about them, but it turned out to be a grave mistake.

His palms clenched, and then he faced the princess. He remembered what his mother had written in the letter, urging him to trust the princess. Amara stood up from her seat, looking at Louie with concern.

"L-Louie, I'm sorry if we—" Amara couldn't finish her sentence as Louie suddenly knelt before her, like a loyal servant of the kingdom.

"Forgive me, beloved princess, for the harshness of my demeanor. I am not worthy of being your servant, but I want... I still want to be accepted by you, and now, I want to pledge my loyalty to you. I hope I can still have your trust despite everything I've done," Louie earnestly expressed from the depths of his heart.

Amara looked at Louie and supported him to stand. When their eyes met, she gave him her sweet smile to comfort him.

"Thank you, Louie! But I don't desire flattery; what I want is a friend who will fight alongside me for the same cause — to achieve peace in our kingdom!" Amara declared.

As Louie gazed at Amara, he couldn't help but notice her beautiful and gentle face, which made his cheeks flush. He felt at ease with the princess, and he couldn't explain why his heart seemed to beat faster.

"Princess..." Louie began to speak.

"H-Huh? Why?" Amara asked, feeling a little taken aback.

"D-Do you... do you have a boyfriend?" Louie inquired, and the three men behind Amara immediately perked up.

Amara's face turned crimson, and she averted her gaze. The question left her pondering about how to respond, considering that Dravis had kissed her and held her before. However, she realized there was no official confirmation of their relationship, so she shook her head.

"I-I don't have a boyfriend!" the princess replied, unaware that Dravis' eyes seemed to suddenly ignite with irritation as he observed them from the corner.

Louie's smile widened as he immediately embraced Amara. "That's great news!"

Ranz and Cyrus both sighed and exchanged knowing glances, tapping their foreheads in unison.

"Here we go again with another rival!" they said simultaneously, locking eyes with each other, and it seemed like a spark of irritation ignited between them.

Due to the capture of Louie's mother by Emmett's soldiers, he decided to heed his mother's advice and trust the princess. Thus, he and his siblings chose to go with them and return to Ranz's fortress. Upon arriving, they were taken aback to find a camp atop the Priya mountain.

"W-What? T-This is the lair of bandits, and you're... their leader?" Shiloh exclaimed, finding it hard to believe. Louie was also caught off guard, but he remained silent.

Ranz's men prepared a simple feast to celebrate their arrival and join them. Inside the dining hall, everyone was in high spirits.

"Yes, and I am the strongest among them!" Ranz declared confidently, taking a big bite of the roasted chicken leg.

"Yeah, you are the strongest in your group as a bandit, and Dravis is a former general, and as for me... well, I am the future husband of my princess! Right, princess—OUCH! WHAT THE—!?" Cyrus yelled as Ranz and Dravis simultaneously thumped his head.

"Hey! No way! We won't allow it! The future husband of the princess is none other than my big brother," Erica asserted, glancing at Louie. "Isn't that right, big bro?"

"I'll give it a try if the princess will like me," Louie answered, giving Amara a sweet smile.

Amara seemed to feel a sense of embarrassment, and her face turned red. She couldn't deny the fact that Louie was also handsome and appeared to have a pure heart. Avoiding eye contact, she tried to steer the conversation towards light-hearted banter.

"You must all be hungry? You've been saying all sorts of things," Amara said with an awkward smile as she grabbed some food. "Come on, let's eat so we can rest!"

"Is it okay if they temporarily stay in your cabin? I'll have a separate room made for them since the remaining one has been turned into storage for the rainy season," Ranz suggested.

Amara smiled and nodded, "The cabin is spacious enough, I'm sure it'll fit, and it'll be fun if they stay in our room too!"

Moments later, a familiar presence passed behind Amara. She felt as though someone was looking at her sharply, but she resisted the urge to turn around. She had a strong hunch... it was Nina. The smile on Amara's face was quickly replaced by a look of bewilderment.

"If it gets crowded there, you can always sleep in my room, princess! My bed is big and soft! You'll surely be comfortable lying next to me!" Ranz laughed, but he was immediately soaked with water on his face as Dravis and Cyrus playfully threw water at him.

"Silence, you p*****t!" the teacher and the former general said simultaneously.

Louie's siblings burst into laughter, but Amara remained quiet. Once again, she was reminded of her misunderstanding with Nina.

"I'm the leader here! You fools!" Ranz retorted while wiping his face.

"Leader for 'your bandit members,' but not for us! i***t!" Dravis and Cyrus chimed in, speaking in unison.

"Damn it!" Ranz sighed heavily and had a sudden realization. He turned to Louie, "By the way, wasn't your mother captured by the guards? Do you want to save her?"

"Yes—" Louie's siblings started to say, but they immediately fell silent.

"It's dangerous! We can't just rescue her like that!" Louie replied, bowing his head in deep thought. "I don't want to put anyone's life at risk. As someone who aspires to be a doctor, my goal is to save lives, not to endanger them!"

"Big brother!" Erica uttered with emotion.

"Yes, I'm afraid for our mother, but I remember what she said before, that the lives of many are more important. I won't gamble your lives just for the safety of my mother, especially not the life of the princess!" Louie declared firmly.

"Louie..." Amara uttered, her eyes capturing the genuine concern in the young man's heart, which deeply impressed her.

"Aren't you worried they might kill your mother?" Cyrus asked, causing Shiloh and Erica to fight back tears.

"I am worried, but as you said, what if they've already killed her!? I can't be sure if she's still alive up to this day! It's not like we can rush in without sufficient information! That would only undermine all the sacrifices my mother made to protect us!" Louie explained.

Ranz leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm certain your mother is still alive. According to my informant, orders have been given to hunt down all the former generals, and they intend to behead them publicly in front of the people of Dillon! Your mother is second on their list; if not General Emery, they will be looking for General Wix next!"

Erica and Shiloh covered their mouths, their faces revealing the distress they felt after hearing Dravis's revelation. The plan was to s*******r all the loyal generals of the former kingdom before the eyes of Dillon's citizens. Their knees seemed to tremble, and they slumped in their seats, fearing the same fate for Louie's mother.

"We still have time to prepare and rescue them! As long as the other two generals are not found yet, there's still hope that we can get them back!" Dravis declared, rekindling a glimmer of hope in their hearts.

Amara smiled and nodded her head, "You're right! We can't just give up that easily!"

Everyone's spirits were revived. For the moment, they set aside their sorrow and filled themselves with nourishment. They needed to strengthen themselves because they knew they were not only facing an easy opponent but a formidable wall they had to break down!

****

Due to the events of the day, everyone retired early, except for Amara, who seemed to have a lot on her mind. Her eyes were closed, but her mind felt restless, unable to find sleep.

She faced the ceiling and then opened her eyes. She sighed, and memories started playing in her mind, along with her worries about the generals. She wondered, what if they had been prepared before that day? Azalea could be in danger, and the siblings could lose their mother forever. She didn't want that to happen.

She sat up in her bed, finding everyone else sound asleep. It felt like her thoughts were suffocating her, so she moved cautiously and silently, making no noise, as she walked out of their room.

She sat outside on the veranda, gazing at the brilliance of the moon's glow. The surroundings had grown dark, with only a few torches providing a dim light in that area. Amara found herself lost in contemplation, sighing deeply. What more should they do to be truly prepared?

"Can't sleep either?" a familiar voice startled her.

She turned to her left and glanced at the source. She hadn't noticed that Dravis was also there, leaning against the opposite side of the veranda.

"D-Dravis? Have you been there all this time?" Amara asked in surprise.

"Didn't you realize I wasn't in my bed when you woke up?" Dravis replied with a question and chuckled. "I thought you were really looking for me."

Amara felt a hint of embarrassment, and her cheeks flushed. She truly hadn't noticed his absence from the room due to its darkness, but she was grateful that he was there now, giving them another chance to talk.

"It seems like you've found yourself another admirer," Dravis teased with a mischievous tone, flashing a playful smile.

Amara furrowed her brow and clenched her fists, "Huh? What are you talking about!?"

"I saw you earlier, blushing while Louie was looking at you!" Dravis winked.

"W-What!? That's not—" Amara was taken aback as Dravis suddenly leaned in, his face close to hers, and kissed her lips.

It was a sweet and quick kiss that surprised the young girl. Dravis gently pulled away, but their faces remained at a close distance, allowing him to gaze into Amara's beautiful eyes.

"D-Dravis..."

"I know I have no right, so forgive me, princess. It really pisses me off when you get close to others."