Beautiful Scar

Fourteen

When they reached the edge of the lake, they saw a boat had already been readied for them, a rower was there, and Scarlet was already on it, awaiting them with her arms crossed.

She wore her mass jacket over her arms but did not bother to button them up.

“Well, why are you still standing there, hop on in”.

And hesitantly, the suitors stepped inside the boat, followed lastly by Lucas.

They all sat huddled facing Scarlet, except for Lucas who was last and had to sit besides her, the only available seat.

“So”, Scarlet started. “How was the run? Liberating?”

“Liberating?!” Dylan exclaimed but he held his tongue when Neville nudged him again.

“It was quite the exercise, Captain”, said Zuber.

She only smirked at them. And then looked over the vast lake.

The trees that grew over the edge provided a cooling shade over them. And the leaves casted shadows over parts of them.

And in the suitors’ eyes, the young lady in front of them, was like a work of art.

Her burnt scars and the meshes of the leaves’ shadows casting over her, combined with the bright sun that managed to permeate through the gaps of the leaves.

For a moment, within their deepest thoughts, the young men thought she was as enchanting as the Princess.

But Dylan quickly repressed that thought, internally chastising for even considering such a being in front of him to be of that level.

On the other hand, Neville had long acknowledged the hidden beauty that Scarlet possessed. He did his own studies though his intel paled as compared to the network of information the Silverstorm’s kingdom had, or Scarlet’s unit it seemed.

How her wit, strength and her scars were upheld as beauty, but when he saw how nature seemed to want to emphasize that Creation, he accepted the scarred maiden beauty in front of him, grateful for being invited to be her company.

Then, in Neville’s sights, he saw a small leaf perching on top of Scarlet’s head. She seemed to not notice.

And in this small boat, he reached out to pick the leaf out. But Scarlet whose attention was on the view of the lake was a bit startled by this that she swatted his hand off in alarm.

As a person sitting at the side, this caused Neville to lose his balance, the arm that was pushed off had nowhere to cling to and ended up dipping into the water, furthering his imbalance and then he felt something, like a strand of weed, entangled his dipped arm, pulling him along into the water, before anyone could react.

Dylan and Zuber were shocked.

But Scarlet who was surprised at first, composed herself and only looked on.

“Hey, why is he not coming up?” Dylan noticed the time. And whatever his opinion on Neville was, he was still somehow anxious for him.

Scarlet looked disinterested. She did not reply. But her eyes still gazed at the lake’s water.

Dylan, who was growing worried also grew impatient at the lack of response, or to be precise, he was growing irritated to be ignored in this manner.

“Aren’t you going to do anything about it?” Zuber asked, but it sounded more of an inquisitive query and not out of fear for his peers or rivals for that matter.

Scarlet still held her gaze on the lake. A small smile curved on her lips.

Lucas noticed that. Just because she was his sister’s savior, it did not make her any less frightening to work with. And she even specifically instructed Lucas to only act out until she ordered him to.

She knew he could and would jump into the lake to save Neville.

“Hmm…come to think of it, I was supposed to assassinate him”, her tone was light as though she forgot to run a simple errand.

“Stop joking with us!” said Dylan. He started to rise from his seat. He almost pulled out his blade but remembered the memories from last night. The warning.

“Ah…I’m not joking. It is true I should have killed Prince Neville”, she said as a matter of fact.

“But you don’t”, said Zuber. This made Dylan turned to look at him. What did he know.

And then, a few feet away from them, Neville emerged from the water, gasping and struggling to stay afloat.

From that, Zuber and Dylan realized. And for Scarlet, it only confirmed her suspicion.

“Officer Lucas, you know what to do”.

Lucas saluted and quickly jumped into the lake and swam to Neville, bringing him to a nearby bank. The Prince was shivering from the cold water, he was coughing up from the water he swallowed.

The water scared him. But something else made him fear more.

He glanced at the group of people on the boat.

The Lady Captain knew his weakness.

He couldn’t swim to save his life.

Scarlet instructed the rower to return them to the dock, where they met up with Lucas and Neville.

“That was a bit short-lifted”, said Scarlet, “but I think the food is ready by now”, then, she turned to the rower, “Privateer Lim, escort these two men to the small feast we prepared for them”.

Before the two men could say anything, they were ushered away leaving Scarlet, Lucas and Neville.

Lucas who was wet from saving Neville, was unsure how to ease the Prince.

He was breathing hard, head still looking down.

Neville noticed a pair of boots approached him.

“Officer Lucas, get yourself and the Prince dry and change”, Lucas nodded.

“Oh and make arrangement for swimming lessons specially for him”, that made Neville looked up at Scarlet. “In the events, someone wants to hurt the Princess through this method, the Prince or the future Consort should at least be prepared to protect her at all cost”.

She bent a bit, picked up a small leaf that was on Neville’s head. And then, she left.

And for the first time, the ever charming-like Prince fisted his hands and punched the ground in frustration.