Chapter:12
Marco (shouting): Stop, Guinevere! The Princess comes first!
Guinevere hesitated, teeth gritting, eyes burning with fury.
Guinevere: Fine… we have to find them—now!
Marco gritted his teeth: Right… let's move.
Night settled quietly over the riverbank. A small fire flickered in the darkness.
Princess stirred and suddenly sat up.
Princess: Everyone—
John: Easy. You're safe.
Princess looked around, tense.
Princess: Where is everyone?
John: Alive. We were carried downstream. Safer here for now.
Princess frowned.
Princess: What happened?
John: You fell. I followed. The river did the rest.
Princess lowered her gaze.
Princess (thinking): I hesitated… I wasn't ready.
John noticed.
John: You're blaming yourself again.
Princess: I'm assessing the situation.
John: That's not what your face says.
Princess narrowed her eyes.
Princess: And what does it say?
John: That you think this was your failure.
Silence. She didn't deny it.
Princess: A leader who cannot protect her people has no excuse.
John: A leader who survives… learns. That's more important.
Princess studied him carefully.
Princess: You speak as if you understand leadership.
John: I understand pressure.
A quiet pause. Then she noticed something.
Princess: Your hand is bleeding.
John glanced down casually.
John: It'll heal.
Princess: That wasn't an answer.
John gave a faint smile.
John: I grabbed a rock during the fall. Nothing serious.
Princess: You jumped without hesitation.
John: Of course.
Princess: Why?
John met her eyes: Because you were falling.
A small silence passed between them. He reached beside him and lifted two fish skewered on sticks.
John: Also… I caught dinner.
Princess blinked.
Princess: After a battle and a fall from a cliff… you decided to fish?
John: Survival is attractive, isn't it?
She almost smiled. Almost.
Princess: You're unusually confident.
John: I prefer prepared.
He leaned slightly closer, studying her expression.
John: You should smile more.
Princess stiffened slightly.
Princess: That's irrelevant.
John: Not really.
Princess: You're very bold for someone speaking to a Princess.
John: Do you want me to stop?
A pause. She didn't look away.
Princess: No.
He was surprised.
Princess: But don't mistake tolerance for weakness.
John smiled slowly: I wouldn't dare.
The fire crackled softly between them. The river flowed steadily in the darkness.
Princess: How far are we from the battlefield?
John: Far enough they won't find us easily.
Princess studies him.
Princess: You calculated that while falling?
John: I noticed the river's current before I jumped.
She exhales quietly, reassured.
Princess: You observe everything.
John: I try to.
Princess: Why did you follow me?
John: Leaving you wasn't an option.
Princess: That's not strategic.
John: Not everything is strategy.
Princess folds her hands, thoughtful.
Princess: Carrying everyone's expectations… doesn't it get tiring?
John: You don't have to carry it alone every second.
Her eyes flick toward him.
Princess: A future ruler doesn't get that luxury.
John: A future ruler who breaks helps no one.
She considers that.
Princess: You speak like you understand pressure.
John: I understand enough.
Princess: You don't talk about yourself much.
John: Neither do you.
A faint challenge passes.
John: Fine. One question each.
Princess: Interesting. Fine then.
John: If you had a choice—be a princess again or a normal person—what would you choose?
Princess looks down, softer than usual.
Princess: I… I would still choose this life.
It's stressful, but I'd rather fight for what I want than stay out of everything.
John tilts his head slightly.
John: Really?
Princess meets his eyes.
Princess: What about you? You once said you want peace.
John: I do. But that doesn't mean I can't fight for what I want.
I'll do everything when needed… but if I'm not happy, it's not worth it.
Princess: My turn.
John: You're quite talkative when you're alone.
Princess: What? (shocked, embarrassed)
John: Haha, no… I mean it's good. You seem… different.
Princess (tilted slightly forward): Am I?
John: Haha… your turn.
Princess: Ah… right. Well…
You always look calm. Even during battles… when everything is falling apart. You never seem afraid.
John: Being afraid doesn't help.
Princess: That's not what I mean. Everyone feels fear… but with you, it's like you've accepted it.
John: Maybe I just don't think too far ahead.
Princess: That's strange. Someone like you… most people dream of power, fame, recognition.
John: Those things never interested me.
Princess: Then what do you want?
John: A life where I can breathe freely.
Where my choices are mine.
Princess lowers her gaze.
Princess: That sounds peaceful.
What about you? Could you leave everything behind?
Princess shakes her head gently.
Princess: No. I wouldn't change it.
I love this kingdom… the people, the land… everything.
Being a princess means I can protect them, help them… it's not a burden.
It's a privilege.
John: You really believe that.
Princess nods.
Princess: My mother used to say…
"A true princess isn't someone who wears the crown… she carries it for the people she loves."
John: Your mother sounds amazing.
Princess: She was.
And… you remind me of something she said too.
"The strongest people are often the quietest ones."
John: I'm not sure about that.
Princess: I am.
Because you're stronger than you think.
John: You're surprisingly good with words yourself.
Princess laughs.
Princess: Am I?
John: Yeah… you are.
For a moment, both laugh. The weight of the world feels lighter.
next..
John led the Princess to the riverbank.
John: Here… you can wash up. The water's clean.
Princess nodded, looking at her reflection in the moonlit water.
Princess (thinking): Why am I still so weak?
If only I could have beaten the Prince… why am I not improving?
John noticed her sadness.
John: Overthinking again?
Princess: Oh… no…
Suddenly, her necklace slipped into the river.
Princess: My necklace!!
She leapt into the water.
John: Princess!!
Half her body above water, clutching a small knife, she struggled to stay afloat.
Princess: Don't worry… I'm okay.
But the water erupted behind her. A massive, serpentine monster surged, smashing its tail into the surface.
John's mind froze. A memory flashed: the monster from his childhood, him trapped and helpless. Panic gripped him.
Princess stabbed at the creature's tail, barely keeping herself alive.
Princess: John!! My sword!!
John trembled, paralyzed by trauma.
Princess: John!!
Water sloshed violently, her face determined but exhausted. Every second felt like eternity.
...CHAPTER 12ENDS...