secret love

Episode 10

Lera slowly opened her eyes and found Herry still asleep beside her. She watched him for a moment, feeling warmth in her heart. Just then, a maid knocked on the door, seeking permission to enter.

"Come in," Lera said softly.

The maid entered, placing two cups of tea on the table before stepping back. Lera nodded. "You may leave now." The maid bowed and left the room.

Turning to Herry, Lera gently called out, "Prince Herry, wake up."

Herry stirred, slowly opening his eyes. She handed him a cup of tea while taking a sip from her own. As he took the first sip, she asked, "Did you sleep well?"

Herry nodded. "Yes, I did." Then, setting his cup down, he looked at her with a knowing gaze. "Now, will you finally tell me what's on your mind?"

Lera hesitated for a moment before softly confessing, "I like you, Prince Herry… and I have fallen in love with you."

Herry smiled, as if he had known all along. "Yes, I already knew that. But you’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?"

Lera shook her head. "There's nothing else I’m hiding."

Herry exhaled and leaned back slightly. "I have to return to my kingdom today. We'll talk about our engagement when I come back."

Lera's eyes darkened with worry. "Will you come back?" she asked, stepping closer and wrapping her arms around him.

Herry stroked her hair gently. "Of course, I will. I'll come back soon, Lera."

Then, cupping her face, he placed a lingering kiss on her lips before pulling away. "I must go now. Take care of yourself. No matter what, we will meet again."

With one last look, he turned and walked away, leaving Lera standing there, watching him go.

Herry dressed in his proper royal attire and stepped outside, where all the soldiers and Max were already waiting for him. As he approached, he bowed slightly before Max and said, "Forgive me for what happened yesterday."

Max crossed his arms and replied, "We'll talk about that later. For now, we need to hurry. The dragon must be defeated."

Without another word, Herry mounted his horse. Lera's brother turned to Max and said, "Everyone is here. We should set out now."

Max nodded and addressed the soldiers. "Today is an important day. We will not return without defeating that dragon!"

The soldiers roared in unison, "Victory will be ours!"

With determination in their hearts, they set out for battle, ready to face the mighty beast.

Lera's brother approached Herry, his expression serious. "What happened yesterday?" he asked.

Herry gave a small smile and replied, "Your sister wants to marry me, and I said yes. We just need to talk to our parents about it."

Lera’s brother nodded thoughtfully. "Lera never talks to anyone much, but when you went to her, she actually spoke to you. And today, she seemed happy. Will you take care of my sister?"

Herry placed a hand on his shoulder and said firmly, "Is that even a question? She is my responsibility now."

Before the conversation could continue, Max interrupted from ahead, his voice sharp. "I can hear both of you talking. Stay quiet and focus on the task at hand."

Max reached the forest with the entire army and commanded in a firm voice, "We have arrived. Stay alert, everyone."

The soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons, scanning their surroundings cautiously. The dense forest was silent, too silent, as if it were holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. The rustling of leaves and distant animal calls were the only sounds breaking the eerie stillness.

Herry rode up beside Max and asked, "Any signs of the dragon yet?"

Max shook his head. "Not yet, but I can feel its presence. Stay sharp."

The army pressed forward, their footsteps careful and deliberate as they ventured deeper into the unknown.

Everyone was searching for the dragon, but there was no sign of it anywhere. Hours passed, and exhaustion settled over the soldiers as they wandered through the dense forest without any clue. The tension was thick, and frustration was beginning to show on their faces.

Max finally raised his hand and called out, "Everyone, stop! We’ve been searching for too long. Take some rest."

The soldiers sighed in relief, some sitting under the shade of the towering trees while others drank water from their flasks. Herry leaned against a tree, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

Lera’s brother approached Max and asked, "Are you sure the dragon is here?"

Max looked around, his eyes narrowing. "I’m certain. It’s just hiding. We need to be patient."

The forest remained silent, as if mocking their efforts. But deep within, something was watching them, waiting for the right moment to strike.

After some rest, everyone resumed their search for the dragon. They moved cautiously through the dense forest, their weapons ready. Suddenly, Herry stopped in his tracks—his eyes widened in shock. Right in front of him stood the massive dragon, its dark scales gleaming under the faint sunlight filtering through the trees.

Without wasting a second, Herry swiftly pulled out his bow, aimed, and released an arrow. The sharp whistle of the arrow cutting through the air alerted the other soldiers. They immediately joined in, launching a flurry of arrows at the beast.

The dragon roared furiously, shaking the ground beneath them. Its wings flapped, creating powerful gusts of wind that forced some soldiers to shield their eyes. The battle had begun.

Max, staying calm amidst the chaos, carefully aimed his arrow at the dragon’s eye. He pulled back the string with all his strength and let the arrow fly. It struck just below the dragon’s eye.

A deafening roar echoed through the forest. The soldiers braced themselves for another attack, but before they could react, something unbelievable happened.

The enormous dragon began to shrink rapidly. Its massive form twisted and shimmered, transforming in the blink of an eye. Within moments, the fearsome beast was no longer there. Instead, in its place, stood a small, delicate plant.

Silence fell over the battlefield. Everyone stared in shock at what they had just witnessed.

"What… just happened?" one soldier muttered in disbelief.

Max clenched his jaw, his gaze fixed on the tiny plant. "This wasn’t an ordinary dragon," he said, his voice filled with suspicion. "Something… or someone… was behind this."