Crown in The Mist (ENGLISH)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Eleanor Robynn. I didn't really expect I'd be using that name. I had considered it gone, forgotten. When my mother died, that name was dead too. It's not that I hated it. I didn't hate my mother. I didn't particularly love her either. She spent most of her time in the Palace, servicing the royal family. When she gave birth to me, she leaves me at our neighbor's house who also had kids to take care of. That neighbor had seven kids. Three of them were my age at that time. I don't remember much but I stayed at that house when my mother was away until I was seven years old when my mother decided to stay home but she was very sick. So I took care of her until she died three years later.

"Eleanor Robynn, huh." I looked at Lance who was puffing a smoke beside me. Kiera gave me a hundred and fifty for the pocket watch. It was fair. Maybe if I had told her it was owned by the crown prince of Oregon, she might have given me a generous price. But I wonder if she'll accept a stolen treasure. Or worse, I might end up being sold out. 

"Yes, the one and only," I said and looked around. The market was crowded compared to earlier when we passed by.

"Are you going to keep hiding half of your face behind that scarf?"

I looked at him, raising a brow. "You're suddenly curious, eh?"

He shrugged then puffed another smoke before he looked at me. "I am very curious. How bad is your mouth infection?"

I rolled my eyes. "Very bad. You'd regret you ever asked."

I heard him chuckle. "You have a very witty mouth. I wonder how you managed to survive without anyone killing you."

"Oh, you can never imagine," I merely said. 

Funny thing is, people aren't trying to kill me for my foul mouth. They want to kill me for being a daughter. For existing. How the Queen was so hell-bent on chasing and killing me made my existence so wrong. How she could judge people's lives so easily is so . . . frustrating. Because people can't do anything about it. Because she's the Queen, the top of the hierarchy. And I am just an ordinary citizen. A thief. What could I possibly do against her?

"What's with the fuss?" I asked as I looked at the thick crowd. We pushed through the crowd. 

"This part sells goods from Central Carnes," Lance answered while maneuvering his way to the crowd. 

Then I spotted a stall where they sell expensive looking silks and other ornaments. There were mini sculptures with small damages and sold at a discounted price. I roamed my eyes around as the customers go wild with the items from Central Carnes. If my suspicions are correct, then these items must be garbage thrown by noble people from the Central. Then that means . . . 

I looked around, noting the customers busy arguing with the vendors. 

"Who brings the goods here?" I asked. 

Lance looked at me over his muscled shoulder. "Royal Guards," he said. 

My body froze. Royal guards. There are Royal Guards in here. I lifted the scarf higher to my face and looked around. I couldn't see uniformed men. 

Then they must be wearing ordinary clothes.  Which is so much worse. I walked closer to Lance.

We were about to turn to the corner when I was bumped by someone. And the next thing I knew was the sharp pain in my side. I stopped walking and winced only to see blood on my clothes. I looked at the man who bumped me and he was looking at me too. 

No. 

No.

It can't be. 

I staggered and clung to Lance. The man who bumped me was walking closer but stopped when Lance looked at me. Then to where my hand was clutching.

"What's wrong?" He looked at my now bloody hand. The man who bumped me was gone.

"We have to go," I muttered and dragged him out of the crowd. He might have been confused but I was thankful he didn't ask questions and just followed my lead.

I stopped in my tracks and bit my lip when I felt the pain. Somebody just stabbed me in broad daylight. That means they already know who I am and that I am here. I muttered a silent curse. 

I spotted two men who were dressed as civilians but the clean trim of their hair gave it all away. I could also see guns strapped on their waists. Royal guards are still distinguishable, at least.

"Why the f**k are you bleeding?" Lance hissed and I just glared at him.

"Let's get out of here," I just said and dragged him away from the Royal Guards. We started walking normally. At least, I tried but was hard with a wound on my side. I gritted my teeth.

Other guards were also stationed at the distance causing me to halt. I turned to the side but there were guards there too. We were surrounded. If they have an idea that I am here, they didn't show it. Then that means the one who attempted to stab me earlier wasn't a guard but a bounty hunter.

I muttered a swear under my breath.

I closed my eyes firmly, shutting down the pain. Then I heard Lance mutter a swear before he removed his coat and draped it on my shoulder. It was big enough to cover the wound on my side. I looked at him and he was looking at the Guards, too. I think he got the idea I was avoiding them. I don't know if it's a bad thing or not. But he's the best help I got.

I felt his arm around my shoulder and I jolted when his finger touched my chin, making me look at him. I gave him a questioning look and I blinked when he flashed a sweet smile. We continued to walk with me in his arms.

We walked past the Guards and he continued to give me sweet smiles and leaning occasionally to me as if whispering something in my ear.

"Quit that dumb look on your face," he said once. I resisted a frown and just tried to look normal. Despite the cold weather, I could feel the sweat trekking down my spine. The Guards didn't so much as pay attention to us.

When we finally passed by them, Lance gave one last glance on his shoulder before he led me out of the crowded part of the market.

I softly grunted when I felt my back on the stone walls in an alley. Lance brought me here and blood was already soaking my shirt.

Shit.

"Just who the f**k are you?" Lance gritted his teeth. I closed my eyes firmly. I could also feel my knees shaking. Sweat soaked my clothes and before I could even open my mouth, my knees gave in and I fell right into Lance's arms.

The next thing I knew was the feeling of being lifted from the ground before I dove into oblivion. 

* * *

The ceiling was unfamiliar. It wasn't the one from my ship or to any place I've been to. It looked old. Cobwebs are everywhere. The cracks and crevices told me it would be uncomfortable in here if it rains.

I tried to get up but flopped back to the bed when I felt a sharp pain in my side. Then everything came back to me. Somebody tried to kill me in the market. Somebody tried to stab me in the open.

I roamed my eyes around. Save for the small bed and the small wooden table beside it, nothing else could be seen inside the small room. I wondered where I was. Then I remembered Lance.

He saved me. But most importantly...

I looked at the scarf laid on the table.

He's seen my face.

The door opened and he stood there with a tray in his hands. I blinked and thought of wearing the scarf back but figured it's all useless so I didn't bother.

"So it's not about a mouth infection, huh." He started as he walked inside the room. The floor creaked with each of his steps.

I know he knows it wasn't about that. Maybe it was his way of starting a conversation. For some reason, the atmosphere seemed a little awkward that he's seen my face. But I was thankful for it. And I owe him the truth. For saving my life.

I inserted my hands in the pockets of my coat laid on the table. I took out the poster I took that night. I showed it to him. 

"I am a thief," I said. He just raised a brow as he looked at the poster and then at me. 

"I kind of get the idea that you are one that time you decided to inserted your hands on my pockets and stole my necklace." He gave me a blank stare.

"Right."

"So that pocket you pawned wasn't yours?" He put the tray down. It had some towels and gauzes and everything needed to clean a wound.

I shook my head. "It wasn't. But it's a long story and I don't have the luxury of time to tell you." 

"Why are the Guards after you?" He leaned his back on the wall across the bed and crossed his arms. 

"I will tell you, but not now. I need to go back to my ship and leave this place." I tried to get up, ignoring the pain on my side. He just gave me a confused look. 

"You have a ship?" His brows furrowed. "Did you steal that too?" 

"In my defense," I said, wincing as I try to get my foot down the floor. "The owner of that tried to kill me." 

"Why does everybody want to kill you?" 

"You tell me. You had a knife under my chin once," I said, bracing my hand on the table. "A little help, please?" I gave him a sarcastic look. He pushed himself from the wall after several seconds and held my hand to help me stand.

I softly groaned with the pain as I tried taking a step.

"Can you walk?" He asked.

"Well, I'm trying." I rolled my eyes. 

I heard him sigh. "What's your plan now?"

"Going back to my ship would be first on my list," I said as I took another step. I looked at him. "Help me get to my ship and you get your necklace."

"Where is your ship?"

"Just drive the boat and I'll tell you where." I narrowed my eyes on him. "If you tell anyone about my whereabouts, consider that necklace gone."

"I don't think you're in the position to make any threats now," he said, his voice low. 

"That's a promise, not a threat. And besides your necklace is on the ship. You have no choice but to go with me." 

He just gave me a dirty look before he helped me get down the set of stairs. The steps creaking with every step. I roamed my eyes and found nothing. An abandoned house.

He must have read the question on my face that he said, "This is our old house."

I just nodded and continued to walk down the stairs.

"The shore is just a ten-minute walk from here. Will you be alright?"

"I once had two gunshot wounds and still managed to run. This is nothing."

He looked like he was tempted to ask me why the hell would I have gunshot wounds but figured it's best not to know.

He let me wear his coat and my scarf to cover half my face. I could see the shore from where we are. There weren't any Guards near the shore, mercifully. But bounty hunters are in this place. They might be lurking somewhere. That's why I need to get to my ship and leave this place as fast as I can. 

"You might want to cover your face," I said as we walked hurriedly towards the shore. I removed my scarf and tossed it to him. He gave me a puzzled look. 

"They've seen my face already. You need it more than I do." 

He must have realized the possibility that he immediately wore the scarf. His hand tightened around my shoulder. 

"If anything happens to my father, I am going to kill you."

"Sorry to burst your bubble but I  would be in the middle of the ocean by then." 

He stopped and held both my shoulders. "If anything happens to my father--" 

"Which will really happen if we don't hurry our asses out of here," I said and continued to walk. We reached the shore where the boat was. 

The shore was silent. There weren't fishermen or anyone, maybe because of what's in the market. And I don't know if that's a good thing or not. 

Lance helped me haul myself up to the boat when we both heard a gunshot. We froze. And from a distance, we could see two men clad in a suit with their guns pointed in our direction.

"f**k," I said as I stared at the two bounty hunters now running towards us.

Lance immediately pushed the boat until it was far enough from the shore. He then jumped on the boat and I took out my gun to shoot one of the men. I missed and Lance gave me a look.

"What? I'm wounded," I said and tried shooting again. This time, I made one of them halt by shooting the ground a few inches from his feet. Lance was busy revving the boat's engine and when he did it, he snatched the gun from me and using his other hand, he ducked my head and started shooting the men.

The men were wise enough to know Lance was a pretty accurate shooter. He did not shoot them. He just made them hide, buying us time to get away. Luckily, there weren't boats on the shore that was available. All were turned upside down and it would take five men to put it back in the water.

So we watched as the two bounty hunters frustratedly kicked the ground as I got away.

Again. 

* * *