"I'm sorry, Princess Rose."

"Sorry, Rose."

The king and Dan apologized to me the next day. We were outside of the castle and ready to leave when Ren decided to burst out and scolded both his father and brother for locking us up in a room.

It turns out no one knew about it until now. The queen and Nate were shocked while Ace seemed expressionless as always.

The queen seemed furious at her husband and son that she asked them to apologize to us - she even pinched their ears when they refused.

"What about me?" Asked Ren when he realized that the king and Dan were only apologizing to me. The king and Dan only looked at Ren with a blank face.

"Oh, you're still there, boy?" Asked the king while Dan said, "Get out of here." I swear, the king and Dan are more like twins than Ren and Dan.

"Hey!"

"It's alright. I forgive the king." I said. The king turned to me with a great full look and nodded his thanks.

"What about me?" Asked Dan, giving me his puppy dog eyes.

I gave Dan an unpleasant look. "Don't talk to me." I said, making Ren laugh and stuck his tongue out at his brother.

"Ha! Take that for punishment," Ren said with a victorious look on his face and earned a sharp backhand to the head from Dan.

"Ow! Dan." Ren growled at his brother. If Dan noticed the murderous look that his brother is giving him, he ignored it as he started to whistle like nothing happened.

"Princess, we're leaving." Nate stepped beside me and placed a hand at my back as he faced the king and queen of Sanver.

"Thank you for your hospitality, your majesty." He told them.

The king and queen smiled and nodded at Nate in acknowledgment. "It's our pleasure." Said the queen. Her eyes suddenly found mine. "You all are welcome to visit here anytime."

"Even for a lifetime!" Said the king as he grinned at me.

I smiled awkwardly as I looked at Nate before returning my gaze to the king and queen. "Thanks. I'll....think about it." I said and let Nate lead me away from them.

I leaned onto Nate as I whispered into his ear. "I swear Ren and Dan's parents want to adopt me." Nate looked down on me with an amused look in his eyes. "Do they?" He asked and chuckled when I nodded eagerly.

Nate assisted me onto riding Cloud before he headed back to get on his own ride. From where I sat, I watched Ren and Dan bidding their parents farewell before making their way to Garius and Wyren, who let out pleased noises when they saw them.
A few meters from us I saw Ace with Midnight by the palace gate and decided to head towards him. I pulled on Cloud's reign to a stop beside Ace. He hasn't noticed me yet as he gazed out into the woods looking distracted. I thought he was only daydreaming or something when I noticed that his face had grown pale and he started to wobble.

"Ace?" He started to lean towards my side and would have fallen if I hadn't pushed him back. "PRINCE Ace!" I raised my voice a little louder and finally, he seemed to have regained his consciousness. He sat up and looked at me. I noticed the tired look on his eyes behind the hairs that obstructed them.

"Are you okay?" I asked worriedly. He looks tired. Did he not get enough sleep?

Ace closed his eyes for a bit and let out a long breath before opening them again. "Fine." He said and his midnight blue eyes suddenly trained on me. "I should be asking you that question."

"What?"

"The ride to Hazel is short. We'll be able to reach it before sundown. Are you sure you're ready to face him?"

I swallowed and looked down at my hands as I started to play with the reins. I haven't really thought about what I would do when I get to see Fred again. Sure, I would be happy to see him and his carefree attitude and his calming aura, but I don't know what I would actually say when I see him. Would I greet, smile, joke, or slap him? Well, I guess I could go without the slapping part since I don't think I have the guts to do that to him.

I could also demand why the nymphs want me to see him.

"I...I don't really know." I admitted. "Maybe I would know once we get there."

Ace seemed to study me more before he finally nodded and looked back to where the others are. "Pack up! We're leaving." He called out to them.

Among the five of us, Ace seems to carry more authority, because in just a matter of seconds Nate and the twins were already positioned behind Ace and I - that or the others are afraid of him.

We said our goodbyes to the king and queen one last time before we headed out. Going to the back for our exit so we would not be chased off again by the people of Sanver.

***

As usual, our trip basically consisted of Nate and the twins going all Vampire vs. Werewolf again. Arguing about little things that we see in the woods like how many nuts did that squirrel have, how long that snake was, how fat can a bear get, etc. Even now it makes me wonder if their dislike against each other is due to their race.

I was getting annoyed by the nonstop quarrel that I chastised them which resulted in pointing fingers at who started who, making it even livelier. Because of that, Ace burst out and threatened to shoot an arrow at our throats and cut our tongues if we won't shut up.

And that, my friends, is the way of the Ace. Better take note of that one when you want to shut people up.

We had a short lunch break after a few more minutes before he headed out again. This time, our trip was a little peaceful.
True to his words, we were able to reach Hazel before sundown. The sun had barely set when he reached the outskirt of the city.

"Well finally." Breathed Dan and stretched his arms up making me hear bones pop.

"Dan, manners." Scolded Ren.

Dan snorted. "You eat like an animal back home."

"Well, you fart randomly back home."

"You burp loudly back home."

"You get out of the showers nake-"

"Woah there!" Nate cut them off. "Please keep in mind that there is a girl here?"

"Yeah. And that girl here has a name and she would like to be acknowledged properly?"

Nate grinned sheepishly at me. "Sorry."

"Hey, Leech. Stop flirting with my brother's girl!" Dan shook his fist in the air as he yelled at Nate.

"She's not my-" Ren only shook his head at his brother. "You and your weird words again, brother."

"Shut up all of you!" Ace scolded us making us zip imaginary zippers on our lips. "Get down from your horses." Commanded PRINCE Ace and we obeyed. Nate assisted me down from Cloud and I let out a sigh of relief as I stretched my muscles.

Ace suddenly appeared beside me and handed me a brown cloak. "Wear this. We don't wanna be seen or recognized in this place." He said and I couldn't help but notice that his voice had gone low.

Tentatively I took it while looking at him. "What for?"

"Just wear it and no questions." He snapped and told the others to do the same.

Geez, what's on his butt? I don't really know the purpose of why we are wearing this cloak but if his HIGHNESS wants us to wear it then who am I to refuse?

We started to walk on foot this time. Nate led Cloud and Ryde on each hand as we went deeper into the city.

The Kingdom of Hazel was unlike Vertez, Sanver, nor Thalia. It looked like something straight out of a Harry Potter world. The city buzzed with busy people wearing something that resembles robes. Stoned floors lined with shops that sell different colors of bottles with strange liquid in them. A bunch of herbs and weeds hanging from the stall. Carriages with wooden wheels drawn by horses passed by. Shouts echoed from left to right as sellers bargained with their customers.

As we passed by one of the shops I saw a sign saying: NEWTS EYE. FRESHLY PLUCKED.

I cringed at it and quickly averted my gaze. "Don't look at them in the eye or else they will offer you their goods." Ace said beside me. I could barely see his face from the cloak but I was certain that he was looking up ahead.

I felt Nate bumping my side and whispered to me, "The way he said it sounds nasty. Offer you their goods. Pfft!!"

I looked at Nate with a confused look. "I don't understand."

"Uhm....never mind." Dismissed Nate. "I forgot you have the mind of a child."

"What do you mean, Nate? Nate? Hey!" I hissed when I saw him scurrying to get away from me while whistling. That's weird.

Nonetheless, I followed Ace's advice and forced myself to look straight ahead until I saw something familiar from my line of vision. A man wearing a white coat had his back to his. The unmistakable blonde hair and lean posture made my heart swell in recognition. I stopped walking.

"Rose? What is it?" Ren asked and I felt him place a hand on my shoulder.

"It's him." I mumbled and before I knew it, my legs carried me towards where I saw him stood. "Fred!" I called out.

"Wait, Rose!!"

Too late. I was already running. I kept my eyes on the crown of his head so I would not lose him. Again. I kept running and running, but the crowd was too thick and it was hard for me to get a clear path. The man turned his head to the side and I could just make out his face.

It is Fred!!

But he was walking away. He didn't see me!

Through the thick crowd, I started jumping and waving. "Fred, you got for nothing blonde prince...over here!! Fre-'' I suddenly bumped into someone so hard that we both fell on the ground.

"Ow!!" Both of us said at the same time and at that moment I turned to look at the person who I ran into. She was a teenage girl like me with long dark hair styled into a side braid. She was slim and pale. Her skin was very smooth and her cheeks were tinted with a rosy glow. She's pretty especially with those gray eyes looking at me with alertness before she scrambled to her feet.

"Sorry. I am so sorry." She apologized and offered me her hand.

"No. It's alright. I should be the one to apologize. I wasn't really looking." I said and took her hand. Her grip was strong and I let her help me to my feet when she gasped. Her eyes closed for a few seconds. I noticed that she had a few freckles on her nose when she wrinkled it in concentration.

Finally, she opened them again and looked at me. Her eyes were wild and terrified. "You....." She paused and looked from side to side and I started to worry that she may be crazy or something. Suddenly, her eyes were back to mine. A sense of urgency in them. "Come with me." She said.

"What?" I drew my hand back and started to step away from her. My eyes darted back to where I last saw Fred and found nothing. My heart sank when I realized that I lost him. Again.

Then I started to remember Ace and the others and I suddenly felt chills run down my spine as if Death himself was there.

Was I separated from them? Oh no. This is not good. Not good at all.