I Was Reborn To Be With You

Autumn Leaves Part 3

The sound of birds chirping sounded in unison, the morning sun was shining brightly illuminating the neatly lined tents. The sound of the river flowing is quite loud and makes the atmosphere of the morning gloomy. Traces of firewood that had been burned to the point of leaving charcoal and ash, which still had a few sparks between them, emitted smoke that blended with the fog.

Arzoo slowly opened his eyes, his face pale. Part of his body was visible from the edge of the blanket, his shoulders were wrapped in bandages, blood stains seemed to slightly stain the white cloth. Arzoo frowned feeling the pain in his body. He tried to get up and saw the different circumstances around him, he sat down with his hand holding his aching shoulder. He walked slowly out of the tent, he opened the door of the tent to see the scenery outside the tent. The guard who was guarding the front of the tent immediately looked up and saw Arzoo who was walking bare-chested immediately saluted.

Arzoo was about to speak when someone's voice called out to him, "Your Highness Crown Prince".

Arzoo turned to look at the man, Nevaan was walking towards Arzoo with water and some potions. Arzoo looks disappointed because the person he was looking for didn't exist and someone else came to see him instead.

"Your Highness, you are still injured, you better rest first and I will check on you", said Nevaan who opened the tent door and motioned for Arzoo to go back into the tent.

Arzoo who felt very dizzy and the pain in his body was not only in his shoulder but also spread throughout his body so that it was difficult for him to even warm his own body with his strength, he couldn't help but surrender and enter the tent.

Arzoo sat on the bed and allowed Nevaan to undress the wound on his shoulder and treat it. Arzoo didn't speak a word until Nevaan finally started the conversation.

"Your Highness, your wound is not deep but the arrow that stabbed you was an arrow of magical and poisonous power that made your strength disappear. It will take time for your strength to return to normal so you should be more careful and never be alone", said Nevaan who had finished dressing the wound on Arzoo's shoulder neatly.

Then Nevaan gave a potion that Arzoo had to drink, "This potion is made from a physician and has been given healing powers from a healer so it will speed up your healing, Your Highness. Please drink it".

Arzoo nodded and drank it in one gulp, the bitter taste of the potion running down his tongue made him squint his eyes. Potions that have been given magic power from healers will have a faster effect. Arzoo gave the potion container to Nevaan and Nevaan immediately accepted it.

"Your Highness, please give me your hand. I will check your magic circulation ", said Nevaan politely. Arzoo gave his hand and let Nevaan check his body.

The sound of the guard outside the tent was heard talking to someone, before long the curtains of the tent door opened. Nevaan who had finished checking Arzoo stood near Arzoo and looked at the person who had just arrived, as did Arzoo who looked directly at the person.

"Your Highness", Isolde saluted Arzoo.

Isolde looked at the shirtless Arzoo and then saw the wound on Arzoo's shoulder, "How is His Highness, Nevaan?".

Nevaan replied, "As I said yesterday that His Highness's power is disappearing and it takes time to get back to normal".

Isolde sighed and asked, "What about his body injuries?"

"In a few days the wound won't be seen again," said Nevaan.

Isolde walked over to Arzoo and suddenly gave his outer garment to cover Arzoo's body. Arzoo was obviously shocked but somehow Nevaan looked normal. Nevaan then said goodbye and came out of the tent.

After Nevaan came out, Isolde gave clothes to Arzoo and helped him put them on. Arzoo just obeyed and silently stared at Isolde.

After a long silence without a word, the guards from outside the tent announced that the food had arrived. Isolde immediately walked out and picked it up.

"Your Highness, please have breakfast", said Isolde while preparing breakfast and then going to feed Arzoo.

Arzoo gasped and quickly said "I can eat by myself".

"But.. Your Highness", said Isolde who was reluctant to give the spoon to Arzoo.

"Give it to me," said Arzoo slowly but firmly.

"Alright, Your Highness", Isolde resignedly finally gave it to Arzoo.

Arzoo ate quietly and Isolde sat beside Arzoo's bed while looking at Arzoo who was eating.

"Your Highness, how are you feeling? Feeling better?", Isolde asked in a soft voice.

Arzoo put down his food and answered Isolde's question with a sullen face, a sullen expression that he didn't realize appeared and looked childish but Arzoo did unknowingly become spoiled and showed his true feelings only to Isolde, "Hmm".

Isolde, who saw Arzoo's sullen face, smiled slightly and asked teasingly, "Is there something you don't like and feel uncomfortable about, Your Highness?".

Arzoo who heard Isolde's different way of speaking noticed that Isolde was teasing him and he replied in annoyance "I don't like you".

Suddenly the atmosphere inside the tent changed, it was cold and very uncomfortable. Arzoo noticed that and turned to look at Isolde who was sitting beside him. Arzoo looked surprised by the expression on Isolde's face which became very dark and his sharp eyes stared at Arzoo with a look that was difficult to describe but Arzoo knew that Isolde's feelings were not very good right now.

Isolde suddenly brought his face closer to Arzoo's who was staring at him. Then he said in a deep voice and seemed to whisper in a serious tone, as well as his serious eyes looking at Arzoo, "I will let Your Highness do anything, like anything and hate anything, I will give you everything you want and I will do whatever you want but one thing you can't do, you can't say you don't like me. Because it's very painful to hear."

Arzoo was immediately stunned and looked at Isolde who was so close to him, his eyes that looked deeply at Arzoo radiated deep feelings too. Arzoo unconsciously touched his face gently, his heart that seemed to stop for a moment was beating again but now it was beating fast. Isolde closed his eyes gently as Arzoo's hand gently caressed his face.

"I..", Arzoo seemed difficult to say and just stared at Isolde's handsome face.

"General!!", Leone's voice was loud and he was immediately entered the tent without a word.

Arzoo and Isolde immediately moved away from each other, an awkward atmosphere was felt but Leone didn't seem to care and immediately submitted his report, "General, a message just arrived saying that a Fire Dragon has been seen in the forest on the border between the Kingdom of Ashley and the Kingdom of Celesine".

Arzoo and Isolde immediately turned serious. Isolde immediately took the message in Leone's hand and read it.

"Looks like we have to move there before things fall apart", said Isolde seriously.

Isolde sees Arzoo and gives the message so that Arzoo can read it too. Then he said softly, "Your Highness, it would be best if you rest here first".

Arzoo who finished reading the message remembers that in his past life it was also like this but at that time Arzoo was in good condition unlike now. At that time, the troops quickly chased the fire dragon but what happened instead made the fire dragon, which turned out to be just sleeping in the interior of the forest, woke up and destroyed the Ashley Kingdom's stronghold in the Abizer Dukedom which caused the Celesine Kingdom to use that opportunity to attack the border. The arrest of the fire dragon was temporarily stopped because the troops that were supposed to capture the fire dragon had to fight against the Celesine Kingdom.

Dukedom Abizer has never fought with the aim of attacking the opponent but only defended by utilizing a solid defense fortress and when the fort was destroyed the defense forces immediately fell apart. At that time, Isolde could not help but lead an army with everything limited to fight Celesine.

Arzoo thought if at that time, they didn't come there maybe the Fire dragon wouldn't destroy the fort and after that flew away from the border somewhere. But after being reborn little by little things have changed and things start to be unpredictable.

"What do you think, Your Highness?", Isolde asked after seeing Arzoo who looked very serious.

"Hm, I don't think we need to be rash and just give a warning so that no one approaches the forest first", said Arzoo quietly.

"But Your Highness, isn't this our chance to capture the Fire dragon? Right now the fire dragon is in the forest far from the village and there is a defense force that can help? And it would also be dangerous if the fire dragon first approached the fort and destroyed it like what had done in sterre", Leone said giving his opinion.

Isolde looked at Arzoo and seemed to give a hint that he thought the same thing as Leone but he still saw and thought about Arzoo's opinion as well.

"How about we discuss this with the others first, isn't there Dame Alcina de Aspen who is famous for the knowledge of legendary animals", said Arzoo who remembered that Alcina de Aspen in the past was the one who helped him solve the problem when Arzoo's fire turned into power for Fire Dragons.

Alcina de Aspen herself is a student of Gwyneth de Aspen and earned a dame for her contributions to the research of the legendary animal that has appeared several times in Ashley's kingdom. Witch Land itself is not led by a duke like other regions but is led by a Witch leader and does not have a peerage as is the case with Holy Land which also does not have a peerage but they have a special position in the kingdom. Alcina de Aspen herself, although not Gwyneth de Aspen's biological daughter, but daughter-in-law, it is clear that the position of Witch Leader will fall to her because the witch leader must indeed be a woman, not a man.

_

After resting for 4 days, the troops started walking again towards Sterre to meet the local military forces and send food and medicine supplies to the people there. The troops who were in the previous barracks had also joined in and at the same time brought additional supplies. After a long discussion it was finally decided to head to Sterre first as originally planned, considering the many victims of the Fire Dragon and from the analysis given by Alcina de Aspen that the Fire Dragon entered the forest because of exhaustion fighting the troops in Sterre for a long time and the new dragon body that just finished hibernating makes them still easily tired so they are looking for a place for them to rest and maybe will stay there for a long time. At times like that the dragon's condition is not as strong as when it is in normal condition but that's when the dragon becomes very sensitive and more irritable so it would be better not to attack them right now.

Isolde finally decided to help the victim first and sent troops to the border to keep no one from entering the forest and also to monitor the dragon's movements. Isolde dispatched Alcina de Aspen, Caily de Abizer and Hugo de Chase to lead their troops to the frontier first and watch over the Fire Dragon. Others will stay in Sterre for a while and help the civilians to restore the village.

After the preparations were complete, the troops started walking towards Sterre but this time the troops were no longer wearing disguises and all the troops were wearing the Ashley Kingdom military uniforms, including Arzoo and Isolde along with the other nobles. All military uniforms are the same from ordinary troops to captains and generals, the only difference is the attribute that symbolizes their position in the military and what awards they have received. This military uniform that didn't differentiate between nobles and ordinary soldiers made things in the military feel more comfortable without being discriminatory. And this time the nobles who usually wore military uniforms in their respective dukedoms have now also used the Ashley Kingdom's military uniform which symbolizes the unity of all regions in the kingdom.

Arzoo saw Isolde sitting on his horse in the Ashley Kingdom's military uniform which Isolde didn't usually wear made Arzoo stunned. Isolde who usually wears white clothes now looks so dashing and extraordinary in a black military uniform. Isolde in a black military uniform and riding a white horse that looks very elegant but also strong and dashing makes Isolde like a prince on a white horse in a fairy tale. Arzoo was stunned by his own thoughts and he remembered that in reality was that Isolde was indeed a prince but because of the Ashley Kingdom, Isolde had to kneel and no longer be a prince. In a part of his heart, Arzoo thought if he felt guilty and felt that Isolde should hate him reappearing like in the past.

Arzoo who sat in the carriage with the window open, closed his eyes and opened them again after a while he looked into the distance. The expanse of golden rice fields looks so reassuring with the afternoon sun reflecting on the water flow beside it. Nevaan who was sitting in front of him was now looking at him with a face that seemed to have a question he wanted to ask but he hesitated to ask. Arzoo noticed it and looked at him who looked like he wanted to ask something, "What's wrong, Nevaan?".

Nevaan was shocked when Arzooo asked him but he immediately replied "Your Highness, sorry if I'm being presumptuous but may I ask you something?".

Seeing Nevaan looking serious made Arzoo curious about what Nevaan would ask him, "Please, what do you want to ask?".

"Your Highness, have you felt anything strange in your body lately?", Nevaan asked seriously.

"Strange? I don't feel any strangeness", replied Arzoo without thinking.

"But Your Highness, I found something odd about your body when I checked you and during I checked you many times I tried to make sure it was true," said Nevaan looking at Arzoo with a serious look.

"What do you mean?", Arzoo felt that Nevaan found something that Arzoo himself might not know.

"Your Highness, have you ever dreamed of being someone else or have you ever felt like you were doing something out of the ordinary and you didn't realize it at the beginning?", Nevaan asked seriously.

Arzoo was immediately stunned to hear that and as if realizing something, Arzoo knew what Nevaan meant. Arzoo believes Nevaan realizes that the soul in Arzoo's body currently has another soul that Nevaan considers to be someone else's soul and not Arzoo. Arzoo was about to answer and tell Nevaan not to worry and not to say anything to anyone but someone knocked on the carriage window. Arzoo immediately motioned for Nevaan to be quiet and not to talk about it again. Arzoo opened the window curtain and saw Leone who was riding a horse right next to the carriage and smiled at Arzoo.

"What's wrong?" asked Arzo.

Leone gave him a black and white oriental magpie-robin and he said, "Your Highness, the General just accidentally found this bird and the bird was injured. The general wanted to ask Lord Nevaan to help heal him and after he recovered, the General would like Your Highness to be the one who decide to keep it or release it back into the wild."

Arzoo took the bird in his hand and stared at it for a long time, as if he reminded Arzoo of something valuable but had forgotten. Arzoo woke up after Nevaan called him "Your Highness?!".

"Ah, this", Arzoo woke up from his daydream and gave the bird to Nevaan to treat.

Arzoo opened the curtains of the carriage window again and looked at the front row and that was where his eyes fell, on the broad back of Isolde riding his horse. Arzoo turned to one of the soldiers close to the carriage and called out to him. Arzoo spoke quietly to the soldier and made the soldier surprised and refused Arzoo's request but Arzoo forced him until finally the young soldier couldn't help but accept it.

Nevaan saw the excited Arzoo who quickly opened the carriage door and jumped onto the horse ridden by the young soldier who resignedly accepted Arzoo's request. Nevaan didn't even have time to react and Arzoo who was riding the horse along with the soldier had already walked to the front row. Nevaan just sighed and said slowly but a smile appeared on the corner of his lips, "His Highness, very naughty too".

Arzoo who also sat on the horse belonging to the young soldier who was probably 13-14 years old, seemed to be breaking out in cold sweat because he had to ride a horse with the injured Crown Prince so he was very careful and trembled. Arzoo wants to talk and tease Isolde a little so he plans to surprise him but since the person he chose as his partner in crime is an innocent person then his plan is bound to fail. Isolde was already aware of Arzoo's presence a few meters behind him, Isolde turned around and saw Arzoo sitting behind the young soldier.

Arzoo who saw Isolde who had steered his horse towards him made the soldiers in front of him tremble even more and whispered in fear, "Your Highness... His Grace is coming here.. it seems the general is angry".

Arzoo chuckled as he heard the young soldier in front of him tremble as if he was confused at how he calls Isolde. It's like the rumors about Isolde that he is really scary when he's angry is right. Arzoo saw Isolde and smiled. Isolde looked at Arzoo sharply and saw Arzoo's hand holding the young soldier's waist. Isolde approached until their two horses were next to each other and Isolde quickly pulled Arzoo's body into his arms until Arzoo was now sitting on Isolde's lap on the horse. Arzoo was very surprised by Isolde's doing which did not show any courtesy to a crown prince but Arzoo actually didn't care about it but now many eyes were staring at the two and made Arzoo feel that he and Isolde looked too close to cause problems later.

Isolde whispered in Arzoo's ear, "Your Highness, what do you want to do? Go back to your carriage".

Arzoo had not had time to reply to Isolde's words but Isolde had brought Arzoo back to the carriage and told him to come in, "Your Highness, if you want to talk to me, you just have to tell someone to call me and I will come. Please don't do something like that again, I beg you".

Arzoo just kept quiet and looked at Isolde. Arzoo unintentionally showed that he was annoyed and pouted. Isolde secretly smiled at Arzoo's behavior. Nevaan who was in the carriage witnessed the behavior of the two but he just kept quiet and pretended not to see it.

"Turns out both of them are both ridiculous", thought Nevaan.

_

To Be Continued