"Uh... Lucas ? What's this ?" Luana asked, confused and scared.

The princess and her bodyguard were near the training grounds. In front of them, stood a huge wolf with gray fur and black piercing eyes.

"Your Highness, I present to you Leo," Lucas said, stroking the animal's head gently.

The latter was the same height as his master. It had big paws, sharp claws and long canines.

"Leo ?" she repeated, confused.

"Yes. He's my pet. I found him in a mountain when I was on a mission, three years ago. At that time, he was still very small. But now, he's all grown up," he answered, smiling affectionately.

"Oh, I see..." the princess replied, still scared.

"Leo comes from a very rare breed of wolves. They are very powerful magical creatures. He's considered as an alpha in his pack. So he's one of the strongest and healthiest of his kind."

"It's fascinating..." she added, amazed.

"He'll be very useful for us to cross the forest. He's very agile and good at fighting. He's also very obedient. You can also climb on his back when you're tired of walking."

"W-What ?! W-We're going to have to ride on his back ?!" she asked, shocked.

"Yeah. He's going to help us move a lot faster like that," he replied nonchalantly.

"B-But… I-I..." she started hesitantly.

"Hm ? Don't tell me… Are you afraid of him ?" he asked gently.

After a little hesitation, Luana nodded softly, her cheeks red with embarrassment.

"Oh, I see…" he replied, smiling and patting Leo's head gently.

The latter began to walk slowly towards Luana, which made her startle and back up a few steps.

Arrived in front of her, the animal lowered his head, as if asking her to caress him.

"Looks like he wants you to stroke his head, Your Highness," Lucas remarked, smiling slightly.

"R-Really ? C-Can I ?" she asked nervously.

The young knight nodded at her, his smile widening.

The princess put her hand gently on the wolf's large head and caressed it. The latter whimpered softly like a little puppy, showing his joy and submission to her.

"It looks like he really likes you," Lucas remarked.

"It seems like he does, yeah," she laughed while scratching his jaw.

Leo moved closer to her and licked her cheek affectionately, making her giggle heartily.

Lucas, who saw the scene unfold before his eyes, felt that his feelings for the young princess were only deepening more and more. But he couldn't deny the fact that he was a little bit jealous of Leo.

'I've become completely delirious now. I'm getting jealous of my own pet. That's shameful,' he thought.

It was Luana's voice that brought him out of his thoughts.

"You know, Lucas... I find you and Leo to be very similar," she said, stroking the animal's neck.

"Similar ? How's that ?" he asked, confused.

"Well... You both seem cold and distant at first glance. When in truth, you are very kind, gentle and affectionate inside," she answered, her cheeks turning slightly pink.

Lucas felt that his heart was going to come out of his chest from how hard it was beating.

"Did I seem cold and distant to you the first time ?" he asked hesitantly.

"Well... To be honest with you, I really thought you hated me," she answered nervously.

"Hate you ?! How is that even possible ?!" he exclaimed in shock.

"Well... I thought that it must be boring for you to be my personal bodyguard. In addition to your heavy responsibilities as the Captain of the Imperial Army, you were going to have new duties to fulfill, that is to say, a lot more work in addition. And I thought that it annoyed you..."

'How could I find serving you boring and annoying ? Besides, I was the one who asked His Majesty to give me this position so that I can protect you better,' he thought.

"Also, when we were at the reception banquet of the Imperial Knights, you looked at me in a very strange way. As if you were blaming me for something that I did. That's why I thought you hated me," she revealed, embarrassed.

'The reason why I was looking at you so intensely is the fact that I haven't seen you for three years and that I missed you so much. That's why I couldn't take my eyes off you. But apparently, instead of making you feel security and affection, I made you feel fear and hatred,' he thought bitterly.

"But now, I am sure that you are a good person. Sweet and caring," she concluded, smiling warmly at him.

"Thank you... I'm glad to hear that..." he whispered, smiling back at her.

Luana stayed silent for a moment, watching the sky.

"Lucas ?"

"Yes, Your Highness ?"

"When will everything be ready for our departure to the Neldor Forest ?" she asked.

"We already have the most important things, Your Highness. All we have to do now is to prepare provisions of food and medicines, weapons, a change of clothes and blankets," he replied.

"And when can these be ready ?"

"It doesn't take much time. If we start today, by tomorrow morning everything will be ready," he replied.

"Alright… We're going to gather everyone in the meeting hall after lunch… I have something very important to tell them," she declared.

"Understood, Your Highness."

"I also need your help with something else. And since you're in the field, there's only you who can help me," she said.

"I'd be happy to be of help to you, Your Highness."

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A few hours later, everyone gathered in the great hall as planned, patiently awaiting the arrival of the princess.

Azusa was sitting next to her parents. Beside her was Mina and her father, Count Edgar Taliny. In front of them, on the other side of the table, were Eric and Matthew.

The doors of the great hall opened, announcing the entry of the princess and the captain of the Imperial Army. Everyone stood up to bow to her.

Luana was dressed in a pale pink, long-sleeved dress with a pair of ballerinas in the same color. Her long, slightly wavy hair was left free.

As for Lucas, he was dressed in his usual armor with his dark blue cape.

"Welcome to all of you and thank you for quickly responding to my invitation. Please, have a seat," she said with a smile.

The young princess sat down at the end of the table, followed by Lucas who sat on her right, next to Sir Carter and Sir Lobelia.

"I've brought you here today to announce to you a very important decision that I've just taken."

Everyone looked at her intently.

"As all of you know, dad's condition is only getting worse. He can't even speak or move now. And all of you know the reason why he's in this condition."

"Because he was poisoned," Angus replied.

"Exactly. He was poisoned by a potion called Alickina whose only cure is a plant that only grows in the center of the Neldor Forest."

"The Neldor Forest ? I've never heard that name before," Eric retorted.

"The Neldor Forest is a very dangerous and difficult to reach magical forest. The only people who can access it are those with royal blood flowing through their veins, those with powerful magical powers or magical creatures," Luana explained.

"I see..." Matthew said.

"That's why I decided to go there with Sir Koraxos," she declared.

"I refuse, Your Highness !" exclaimed Angus, standing up abruptly.

An icy silence settled in the room.

"How do you expect me to let you venture into a place as dangerous as this forest ?!" he continued shouting.

"Duke Lobelia, I can't sit idly by, waiting for my father to die," she retorted.

"So let me go in your place ! I will go with Sir Koraxos and we'll bring this plant back !"

"You should to have royal blood to access it. Or super powerful magical powers. Which is not very likely in your case. We can't risk failing to access the forest. Dad has only three months to live. If we don't hurry up to save him, he will die !" she exclaimed.

"Excuse me, Your Highness. You said that only a person of royal blood, having powerful magical powers or being a magical creature herself can access the forest," Eric began.

"Yeah, that's right."

"How can we be sure that Sir Koraxos can access it ? He's not of royal blood, as far as I know, and I doubt very much that his magical powers are ultra strong. And it's impossible for him to be a magical creature," he  continued.

"I..." the princess hesitated.

"That's not the problem," interrupted Angus.

"What do you mean ?" asked Sir Carter.

"I'm sure that Sir Koraxos can access the forest," he continued.

"But how can you be so sure of it ?" asked Eric, confused.

Angus exchanged a long look with Lucas.

"I'm sure of it. That's all."

A heavy silence settled again.

"Uncle Angus... Please... I have to help my dad... And I'm the only person who can do it... So please... Don't stop me from doing so... Try to understand me..." Luana pleaded.

After a long silence, Angus sighed heavily.

"I can't hold you back, Your Highness," he said reluctantly.

"Thank you, Uncle Angus !" she exclaimed with a bright smile.

"But ! If anything happens to her, I will never forgive you !" he said to Lucas in an authoritative tone.

"Don't worry, Your Grace. She'll be under my protection," replied the young captain.

"I'm putting my trust on you, then," replied the duke.

Lucas nodded at him in response.

"Okay... I gathered you all here today to clarify a few details. Me and Sir Koraxos are going to be away for some time. That's why I've decided to let you take care of the palace in our absence," announced Luana.

Everyone looked at her intently.

"Duke Lobelia will take care of His Majesty's health and the empire's affairs. Count Taliny will help you."

"Thank you for trusting me, Your Highness," said Angus, standing up and bowing.

"It is an honor for me to be of help to you, Your Highness. I would never know how to thank His Majesty for helping us," said Taliny, doing the same.

"You're already doing much, Count Taliny," replied the princess.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"Now, regarding the responsibilities of the princess, I chose to entrust Lady Lobelia and Lady Taliny to take care of them."

The two young girls stood up and bowed to the princess.

"We will do our best to help you, Your Highness," said Azusa.

"You won't regret trusting us," Mina replied.

Luana nodded at them.

"As for the responsibilities of the Captain of the Imperial Army, I asked Sir Koraxos to choose, himself, the people he finds capable of taking his place in his absence. The people chosen are Sir Lobelia and Sir Carter," she declared.

Eric and Matthew's eyes widened in surprise.

"Thank you for your trust, Your Highness, Sir Koraxos," said Matthew, bowing.

"We'll make sure to keep everything in order," Eric replied.

The princess and her bodyguard nodded at them.

"Good. That's all I had to say. We're going to leave tomorrow morning to the north of the capital to look for the entrance of the forest. So, see you all tomorrow, first thing in the morning. The meeting is over. Thank you for coming."

"Understood, Your Highness," they all replied while bowing.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

After dinner, Luana went to her father's bedroom. The latter was lying on his bed like a dead man. His skin was very pale and his body looked so weak and fragile.

Beside him, on the bedside table, were dozens of vials of medicines and tonics.

The princess walked over to him and sat down on a chair next to him.

"Hi, Dad. I missed you today," she greeted, smiling.

She received no response from him. She could only hear his slow breathing.

She took his hand in hers and kissed it.

"Dad... I'm going to save you... Don't worry... Be strong and hold on... Don't leave me..."