Second Arc (His Art of War) – 7. Unexpected Reunion II

"Your Highness, what are you doing here?" added Angel quickly before Ophelia noticed it. Only three people called her name without calling her 'princess' or 'your highness', him, Ilex and King Gervis. Ilex and King Gervis were not here and he was calling out her name spontaneously. If he got caught, his plan would fall apart.

She looked side to side making sure there was no one other than the two of them there before looking at the man in front of him and thinking.
'What should I do? If he shouts or reports it to the guards then I will get caught. ' The black sword in his belt gave her an idea. Even though she rarely practiced with a sword, she often watched Angel and Ilex practicing. Besides the Reinheart's blood flowing in her body was the blood of a Holy Knight, she should be able to do something.

She dashed towards him and tried to take his sword. Angel was about to hold her hand. But he realized that if they were too close, Ophelia could have realized that it was him, so he finally let his sword be taken and backed away.

Once the sword was in her hand she immediately pointed it at him.
"If you shout or do anything I will kill you," she threatened.

Angel almost laughed when he heard her words, he could see Ophelia's hand trembling even though the alley was lacking light.
'She didn't even dare to kill an insect. How could she dare to kill someone?'
"I understand, Your Highness."

"If you call me 'Your Highness' once again. I will cut off your tongue, " said Ophelia as she brought the sword closer to him.

A slight laughter slipped out of his mouth but he quickly covered it up by pretending to cough before he finally asked her again.
"So what should I call you?"

"Call me miss," she said curtly.

"Alright, miss," he replied casually.
"May I have my sword back?" He extended his hand, asking her to return it.

She stared at his hand for a moment and noticed some severe scars there.
'How could he possibly wield a sword with his hand's condition?'
"What happened to your hand?" she said, pointing his scars with her eyes.

Angel turned his gaze to Ilex's stab scars on his hand before clenching his hand and pulled it.
"I accidentally stabbed myself when I practiced my swordsmanship ."

Ophelia focused her eyes, trying to pay close attention to his face. But he quickly looked down to cover it.

"Then why are you covering your face with a hood?" she said suspiciously.

"My face is scary and full of scars like my hands. If I don't wear a hood, people will be afraid of me."

She looked at him suspiciously and approached slowly, intending to open his hood. But Angel quickly asked her.
"What would a princess do in a city like this? Where are your knights?" he added.

She stopped in her tracks and turned her gaze in the other direction, her other hand pulling her hood.
"None of your business."

'Did she just have a quarrel with King Gervis and Ilex?' Actually he wanted to know what had happened, but if he was with her too long his chances of getting caught would be even higher.
"Miss, please return my sword, " he said while extending his hand again.

'If I return it, he could have attacked me with this,' she thought.
"No."

"That sword is my father's only legacy," he reasoned. It was actually easy for him to take the sword from her but he did not want to fight Ophelia. She saw him practicing for years, she could have recognized him from his fighting style.

Meanwhile, once Ophelia heard his words, she thought of Angel. She remembered how much he loved Loyalty, the only sword left by his father. 

'I shouldn't have taken this sword from him …'
She looked at him for a moment, then another idea crossed her mind.
"If you want to help me get out of here, I'll give it back to you."

"Kidnapping a member of the royal family is a heavy crime. The king will give a death sentence to me."

"You must help me! If not ... I will take your sword!" she insisted.

'Why does she insist on running away?'
"Where do you want to go?" he asked.

Ophelia was silent, she hadn't thought about where she was going. Finally, a popular city crossed her mind.
"Pearl Gate City ... I want to go to Euphorion."
'Asteria and Euphorion are at war. Father and brother would never think I was in an enemy place. Likewise with Euphorion, they would not have thought an Asterian princess would take refuge in their place,' she thought.

'Does she doesn't know that Asteria and Euphorion are at war? If she goes there, it is the same as handing over her life. Or does she already know that I'm still alive? But according to General Helias' memories, King Gervis ordered to keep a secret about me from Ophelia.'
"Why do you want to go there?" he asked.

"None of your business. Take me there, I will return your sword."

"I can't, I don't want to get involved in the royal family's crime, " he answered with an emphatic tone.

"If you don't want to help me, I'll scream and say you kidnapped me," she threatened.

"Miss, I'm just a commoner-"

"I'll scream now, " she said again.

"Miss-"

"Hel-"

Angel quickly covered her mouth, his eyes sweeping around, making sure there was no one hear her.
"I'll help you, " he said.

Ophelia struggled and released his hand from her mouth.
"You! How dare you!"

He backed away and looked down. An opposite sex commoner holding a princess without permission was only allowed in an case of emergency or it could be considered as a harassment.
"Forgive me. I really didn't mean it..."

Ophelia's voice screams caught several passing guards' attention.
"What are you doing here?!"

Both of them turned their gaze towards the guards.

Since the guards saw Ophelia pointing the sword at Angel,they concluded that she was trying to rob him. The guards pulled out their swords.
"Robber, put your weapon down!" they said as they pointed their swords to her.

She slowly retreated as she glanced at Angel.
'This is bad... He will definitely reveal my identity soon.'

Meanwhile, Angel lowered his head.
'I can't let us be caught. I also cannot use my power or fight them with my sword carelessly.' Finally, he grabbed Ophelia's hand and took her away.

The guards immediately chased after them.
"Stop!!!"