The Underworld Prince Next Door

CHAPTER 23

The whole Top's Development Inc. and Top's mansion turned to a complete chaos.

News were spread so quickly that made Knight and Harriet turned wary. They sped up their travel and in only a day, they finally arrived at the gate.

"Please deliver this letter to Crow." Harriet gave her letter for Crow to Knight.

"My Lady."

"Thank you very much for helping me out. I will remember this and forever be grateful to you. Please take care." She bowed her head and then bid her farewell to Knight who is in a daze while watching Harriet walk towards the Area 667.

But, Area 667 is not the woman's destination.

Because of her appearance, she's afraid that no one can accept her and only insult and bully her. But she still walk pass by the area to buy necessities before setting out to the forest where survival is possible.

Everyone saw her superb beauty. They admired her appearance that called the attention of the City Lord.

"Who is she? Where did she come from?" Evans, the City Lord asked.

"Her origins are unknown, my lord. But based on the direction she came from. She may be came from the Area of the Devils." Louie, his subordinate reported.

"Really? How come that, that area let a beauty escape?" Evans asked with interest.

"Do you want to ask her personally?" Louie asked.

Evans smiled and nod at Louie. "You really know me well. Follow her and invite her if you have a chance." Evans commanded.

"Affirmative, my lord." Louie left the hall and started to look for the red-haired goddess.

At the same time, Harriet was shocked to see the difference of her expectations and the reality. The people in Area 667 didn't bully her for her appearance, yet they started to surround her, looking at her with like and admiration.

"Are you not a local?"

"Are you a fairy?"

"Where did you come from?"

"Why are you so beautiful?"

"You're so beautiful, I want you to be my sister-in-law!"

"My brother is handsome, he can marry you!"

"Marry me, too!"

She smiled awkwardly and tried to look for a person she can ask for a*****e to buy her foods and necessities. Then, she saw a man in black that looks like a guard of some personality. She walked to him and asked.

"May I trouble you to show me the way to a*****e? I need to buy my foods and necessities there." She asked awkwardly.

People loved her voice as well as her politeness. Everyone thought, "she is a goddess!".

The man was stunned. The woman he is looking for approached her for some directions. This is his chance.

"Ahm. I-I can take you there." He stuttered.

"Oh my! Then I should thank you then." She smiled kindly.

Louie blushed and also the other men. But these men glared at Louie sharply for stealing the fairy from them. But Louie stayed silent and started to accompany the newly arrived beauty.

"I am Louie. The City Lord's subordinate. Actually, he wants to invite you in his residence. If you want, I can take you there." Louie asked straight.

Harriet looked at Louie with shock. She never thought that he will disclose a detail that is supposedly confidential to a Shadow guard— if he is one.

She chuckled and shake her head.

"I will not go to a stranger's place because he wants to. By the way, my name is Henrietta. Harriet for short."

"Where you came from?" Louie asked curiously.

"Will you believe me if I say that, I escaped from Area 666?" She asked instead.

"Why? Did they bully you?" Louie asked innocently.

Harriet shook her head and said, "I don't like there. I feel like, if I stay there, I will be dead soon." Harriet replied.

Natahimik at napaisip si Louie sa naging kasagutan ng dalaga sa kaniya. Iniisip niya kung ano nga bang klaseng lugar ang Area 666. Iniisip niya rin kung ang lugar na iyon ay literal na lugar ng kasamaan tulad ng bali-balita. At ang patunay dito, ay ang mga sinabi ni Harriet sa kaniya.

Samantala, sa Area 666.

Tila ba naulit ang mga pangyayari labing anim na taon na ang nakakalipas. Napuno na naman ng iyakan at sigawan ang kapaligiran. Ang kaibahan lamang ay, walang dinudukot at pinapaslang.

Hinahalughog ng mga lalaking naka-itim ang bawat bahay, sikretong silid, banyo, basement at lahat ng sulok ng mga bahay, mansion, gusali at iba pa. Halata ang desperasyon sa mga mukha ng mga lalaki lalo na kapag hindi nila nahahanap ang kanilang sadya— si Harriet.

Madami ang nagtataka sa hindi normal na ginagawa ng mga tauhan ni Timothy Top, lalo na ang mga mayayamang pamilya ng mga tao at demi-humans. Nagpakawala din ang mga ito ng mga bersrrk beasts para hanapin si Harriet sa buong area.

Pero, sumapit ang limang araw ng paghahalughog, ni anino ni Harriet ay hindi nakita.

Galit na galit si Timothy. Takot na takot naman ang mga lalaking nakaitim. Hindi man nila alam ang halaga ng dalaga sa kanilang amo, sapat na ang galit na nakapinta sa kaniyang mukha para mapagtanto nila ang halaga ni Harriet kay Timothy.

"Tell me the truth, Crow Philips. If you tell me the location of my daughter, I will give you her hand for marriage and live a prosperous life within my family." Desperado na si Timothy na kahit ang anak niya ay kaya niyang ipamigay kay Crow na nakatayo sa kaniyang harapan.

Nasurpresa si Crow sa naging alok ni Timothy. Alam nito marahil ang nararamdaman niya kay Harriet kaya naman ginagamit na niya ang kasal sa kondisyon niya. Pabor ang alok ni Timothy sa kaniya dahil gusto talaga niya mapangasawa si Harriet. Pero... Nangako siya kay Harriet.

Dear Crow,

I want to say, thank you for always helping me and keeping me safe at all times. I am very blessed that I became friends with you. I know that words cannot describe how grateful I am to you and how I owe everything I have to you. Please take good care of yourself and Master. This is my last wish for you. When the time comes, I will return to stay beside you. I know your feelings, and I will consider it.

Please keep this secret. Burn my letter to avoid the casualties by President T. Oh! By the way, he is not my father, actually. He just claims that I am his daughter for an unknown reason. Nevertheless, please keep your life safe then, I will be at peace.

Loving,

Harriet

Hindi man nakatala sa sulat ang biglaang desisyon ni Harriet. Alam niya na ang mga sinabi nito ng nakaraang anim na gabi ay totoo. Kita niya din ang takot sa mga mukha nito. May nangyari habang wala siya sa paligid nito.

"I am so sorry to disappoint you, President T. I don't know where she is. All I know is that she is scared of something that's why, I guess. I assume that she hid somewhere from whoever wants to harm her." Tanggi pa rin ni Crow.

Nangako siya kay Harriet sa pamamagitan ng pagsunog sa liham nito na aalagaan niya ang kaniyang sarili, gayundin ang sikreto nito. At wala siyang balak na talikuran iyon.

"What?! Someone wants to harm my daughter?! Who is it?! I will kill him!" Namumula sa galit na pagbabanta ni Timothy.

"Report!" Biglang singit ng isa sa mga tauhan niya.

Bahagyang nabuhayan ng loob si Timothy. Namutla naman si Crow. Natatakit siya na baka hindi nakalabas ng border si Harriet at nahuli siya ng mga tauhan ni Timothy.

"What is it?" Kalmadong tanong ni Timothy.

Namumutlang inangat ng tauhan niya ang kaniyang ulo at sinabing, "the King's Saviour is here."