Chapter 79

79 Justice and his condition (Part 1)

“Lady Heirim? What are you doing here?”

Anne never expected to see Heirim in Gaftan, especially when the third exam will be held tomorrow. They look each other, assessing one another until Anne said goodbye to her.

“Wait, why do you go away in a hurry? Aren’t you curious why I’m here?” Heirim wanted to provoke her, trying to make Anne become something that wasn’t special.

“Not really,” said Anne, shrugging at Heirim. “Now, will you excuse me, lady Heirim? I have some important matters right now.”

Before Anne left Heirim alone, the lady grab into her arm. She was enraged at her, “Listen here, you b*tch, you should never think that you’re something special.” She looks at Anne with pure hatred oozing from her body, “You think because the crown prince needs you that you get an exemption and be here to get your third exam score? Don’t be joking, you’re merely a healer while I am the magic knight. Many people could become you, but few people could become a magic knight like myself.”

Let out a sigh, Anne looks with a disinterested expression at Heirim, “Look, lady Heirim, I really need to go right now, if you really have some spare time maybe you should visit your brother, he got hurt in the second attack of the second wave.”

“Henry? Wait, don’t mess up with me, you peasant!”

“I am not, just go to the healer’s tent beside the marketplace, he will be there,” said Anne looking at her, while pulling his arm from Heirim’s grip, “Don’t worry, he was stable and just need some rest, now, I fare you a goodbye.”

“I let you go for now because of my brother. Just remember that!” She glared at Anne for the last time, and walk away from Anne.

.....

“Good riddance.” Muttered Anne.

Once again, Anne tried to look into Justice, but the wave of the healers that were helping outside the town distracted her. She found Xavier and Vale on her way outside.

“Oh, thank God I found you two.”

Xavier had a concern immediately. “Anne, what happened?”

“Something happened to Justice, he was mad at prince Jason, and I couldn’t find him everywhere,” Anne was worried sick, make matter worse she need to help the other healers, “I need to help the others right now, please, found Justice for me, I was worried.”

Vale holds her shoulder and smiles at her. “We will search for him. You can go and help the other. Don’t worry.”

After hearing the reassuring words from Vale, Anne tighten her medicine bag and run into one of the healer’s tents, she met with chief Hale coincidentally inside the tent.

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“Anne, ah so glad to see you, so I’m already talked with chief Obatto, and I will evaluate your progress,” Chief Hale told her while his hand was still busy mixing medicine, “For now, you need to help me mix some ingredients and I want you to assist me on the field afterward.”

Feeling nervous, she couldn’t muster any words toward chief Hale. She just nodded at him, and immediately goes into action. She put every herb in order for easy access. Chief Hale asked for a specific medicine and she mix the ingredients while chief Hale observe her. Next, they rushed into the outskirts of the town next to the clandestine tower. Anne needs to be brave. There were bodies all over the place, the fallen bodies and the injured. She tried as best as she could to concentrate on her duty at hand.

Together with chief Hale, they treated the wounded soldiers with care, chief Hale gave her instructions while asking for her opinion, the pressure of caring for the patient in the middle of once a battlefield, chief Hale trying to see how she could take the pressure.

Meanwhile, Justice was strolling around the town and helping the soldiers take care of the fallen. The Fallen is the term that they are using in the new world to identify death. There are many of the fallen that need to be identified and tagged so their loved ones could bury them. Justice always hates this process, to see the fallen and thinking about their family.

His father, king Leon, gave him the talk once empress Liberty declared him as the crown prince. He needs to think about the people of the kingdom first, choose the crown princess based on how she could lead the kingdom, not because of his own feelings, and protect the kingdom at all costs. These were the conditions that king Leon gave to Justice. At first, he never knew the meaning of protecting the kingdom, but after he saw how devastating the aftermath of every battle against the hoard was.

He helped to arrange the body of the fallen with the soldiers. He could see the tears from some of them. It must be the friends of the fallen, not only the family that will be mourned. His shirt is stained from the blood of the fallen, but he doesn’t care and follows the other group who’s going to take care of the fallen near the clandestine tower. One of the soldiers cried beside him, while the others tried to console him.

“What happened to him?” Asked Justice to another soldier.

“He doesn’t want to go to the front. We heard it was the most devastating aftermath, your majesty.”

He knew the feeling all too well, the devastating feeling, a gripping pain of the thought for every fallen soldier in front of them. He needs to try his best to mask his feeling, especially when the smell of blood is everywhere. Somehow, he felt a strange feeling when the smell of blood was stronger.

“Your majesty, are you alright?” Asked one soldier when he saw Justice fall to the ground.

Justice felt dizzy all of a sudden. One of the soldier call for the healer. Anne, who was in the area for a while, run towards them and saw Justice.

“Your majesty, are you alright? What happened?!” Anne looked into Justice and examine the crown prince.

“Anne? What... What are you... doing here?” Asked Justice with his shortness of breath.

“It’s my duty. I was taking care of the wounded soldiers here.” Said Anne while he look at his face and feel his chest, “You need to take a rest now. Go back to your room. I’ll go and check on you as soon as possible.”

“But I want... I want...”

“No, Justice, go back to your room,” Anne looks to the right and left. She called for one of the soldiers, whispered something to the soldier, and let him leave.

“What... What are you doing whispering to the soldier?”

“Nothing, so stay here with me, alright?” Anne gave a squeeze on his hand, and smile warmly at Justice, while her eyes stared at him, she was worried, something is wrong with him, and she need to get a full check on him, “Stay with me, Justice, how are you doing? Justice?”

Justice in between his shortness of breath manage to smirk at Anne, “You called my name, even when there are soldiers here.”

“Well yes, I know you like it, so tried to take a good deep breath, and follow my lead.” Anne gave him an instruction, her hand staying in Justice’s hand.

Xavier and Vale, come into the two of them, turns out Anne was asking for the soldier to call Xavier and Vale, and he found the two of them at the same time. Anne stands up and waves at the two of them. She was glad to see them, while Justice’s grip on her hand got tighter. Justice sniffed at Anne’s aroma. Somehow, it calms him the most.

“Anne, what happened to him?” Xavier asked her, concerned about his condition.

“Please take him back to his room. He was helping the soldiers arrange the fallen soldiers. I think something happened back then.” Said Anne.

Vale crouched and look at Justice. He felt something was wrong. “She’s right, Xavier, let us carry him back to his room. It would be less crowded than the healer’s tent.”

Justice was being carried to his room. He finally let go of Anne when she promised to see him as soon as she was done treating the wounded. His gaze never goes away from Anne.

Anne continued on her duty with another healer, chief Hale asked her to stay in the healer’s tent for a while, until finally, the night came, she take a look at Henry and asked about his condition, Horden was there, looking after his grandson. Afterward, she goes to Justice’s room, just like she promises earlier.

Felt so tired, Anne already thinking of having a warm bath after she go to check on Justice’s condition. Knocked on his door, and she felt cold all of a sudden. Opening the door of the room, Anne peeked inside to see a dark and cold room.

“Justice? Are you alright?” Asked Anne, carefully she entered the room, and look around.

Someone suddenly grabbed Anne from behind. She was screaming and tried to release herself from her assailant.

“Anne... It’s... me...”

Anne’s eyes grew wide with fear, she recognized the voice, “Justice?! What are you doing?! Let me go!”

“Anne... I... I am sorry.”

“What?”

He asked for her forgiveness when he suddenly put his lips on her neck and sharp fangs pierce into Anne’s neck.