Chapter 456: Chapter 456- Transport Port

With a nod of approval from Darrell, the Coachman left the scene and the elvin youths were left to their own devices.

Tiara had shifted her focus from the young prince to the world outside the carriage.

A part of her was brimming with long-lost curiosity.

Ever since she had been found, the only two places she ever knew were the Elvin Castle and the Academy.

Nothing more, nothing less.

‘It can’t be helped… they’re protecting me in their own way.’

News of her existence was only known to a few people. The higher-ups, for example, include the Great Families and the Imperial Family.

For the rest, they saw her without knowing the truth behind her.

She narrowed her gaze at the thought.

‘Perhaps it is for the best that people don’t know.’

Or perhaps it didn’t matter if they did.

“Shall we?”

Darrell’s voice cut through her thoughts and snapped her to the present.

She blinked once, then glanced down where she found Darrell’s stretched hand.

Then looked up at his gaze to find the same charming smile he had always put on.

Perhaps others would have fallen for this, after all, even she had to admit that Darrell was quite alluring to the female eyes.

‘Not as handsome as Raph…’

But he held his own quite well.

But to her, his face. His hair.

It was only a reminder of the position she would have held if her people had not been whipped out.

The thought alone caused a wall she was not ready to scale yet whenever it came to Darrell, and as such, prompted her to do what she could do best to make do of the situation.

Ignore it.

Without darting him another bit of attention, she descended from the carriage and walked past him.

Leaving the prince smiling at nothing but air.

Darrell sighed. ‘Expected.’ and walked after her in silence.

Soon, they crossed the large gates of the Transport Port, following the Coachman who had brought them here.

Their destination had been set since they boarded the Carriage, and the duo were being led to that very venture. The Portal Station.

In silence, Darrell took in his environment with an inquisitive stare.

Glancing around ever so often while taking notes of different features that took his fancy.

The Transport Port, like every other commercial travelling agency, was packed with people.

Coachmen, mounts and customers, and Carriages of different build and make.

Steel and Wood alike.

The carriages were lined in rows and columns, giving enough space for people to thread by while conversing with a worker or two.

Placing their destinations in their hands and finding a recommended Coachman to get them there.

Everything was being handled systematically, and orderly.

Without a hint of chaos in the ever-increasing rise of people.

It was quite amusing to watch Darrell, and his thoughts rang with that thought.

‘Humans… Beaskins, and us, Demi-humans alike…’

He could spot them.

Beings with human-like appearance, but animal fur, ears or tails etched vividly on their features.

Even those with long ears and flawlessly white skin— Elves, were seen walking around in search of a Transport.

It was worth noting that the day had just begun… and the Transport Port was more than just busy. They were full.

‘You would think chaos or conflict would ensue in a place like this.’

But wherever he turned, and even at the front gates, he had seen them.

Armoured Knights.

How they got Knights, strong individuals to work for them, Darrell wasn’t certain.

And quite frankly, it wasn’t something he wished to dwell on.

‘The affairs… and conflicts of the humans remain with the humans as long as it has nothing to do with us.’

A rule his father had drilled into his head, many times.

“Prince Darrell?”

A whisper of a voice rang in his ear, and it twitched ever so slightly as he halted in his tracks. Tiara and the Coachman, who had led the way stopped as well on noticing his action.

They had turned to him to inquire the reason, but the Elvin Prince had his focus drawn to something else.

He shifted his gaze to the side where the source of the voice had come from.

He found nothing, blinked, then instinctively looked downwards.

‘Oh?’

In front of him was a young girl.

Far younger than him. An Elf of about less than half his age.

‘Though, looks can be deceiving when it comes to Elves.’

He wouldn’t be surprised if she were actually a hundred or so years… but her attire was what truly sold her out.

She was adorned in a small green dress, a commonly found attire in the Eastern Forest.

But to him, none of that mattered.

How could it, when she had seen him?

“Hey, little one?” His naturally tuned smile formed on his face as he bent to her size and shuffled her pale silver hair as he placed his index finger on his lips.

“Don’t tell anyone you saw me, dear.”

He said with a playful chuckle, and the child blushed in response.

Lowering her head a bit while she tugged at the white doll of a woman in a green, long, floral dress.

Darrell glanced at it, and an image sparked in his head. One that drew out memories that tugged at his chest.

‘This craftsmanship…’

It was the same wherever he went, and no matter the numbers he found.

Crafted in the same manner, and adorned in the same dress.

And unsurprisingly, despite how bland it appeared, it had been a commodity that never lost its value.

‘The goddess, Gaia.’

The following represented the figure they served and adorned.

The mother of the earth. Their one and true goddess.

It served as their beacon and hope, and also a form of protection for all Elvin girls who feared the outside world.

Darrell’s smile broadened at the thought.

“What’s your name?”

He asked as he stroked her cheek.

“St–Stel– Stella, your majesty.”

With a chuckle, he slowly stood up.

“Call me Darrell when we’re alone together, okay?”

He whispered as he winked at her.

The young girl, unable to hide her emotions had turned completely red from this, and Darrell couldn’t help but chuckle at her response.

‘Cute.’ He laughed out lightly as he waved at her.

“Go find your parents, will you?” He turned, ready to leave, when–

“Gaia’s Day.” Her voice rose in the air.

Though not loud enough for all to hear, considering the multitude of conversations occurring at the same time.

But Darrell’s enhanced hearing picked it up instantly.

He froze in place in realisation and a bit of shock.

‘Gaia’s Day?’

It had been a day for festivity and spiritual growth with nature.

With Gaia’s blessing over Elves, this day had been their own way of reciprocating their feelings to her.

Gratefulness and love.

‘It has skipped my mind entirely…’ His brow furrowed. ‘Especially since I was in school.’

He sighed as he nodded with the same smile.

“Of course, young one. We’ll all be there…”

Stella glanced at him carefully as she tapped her fingers together.

It was clear she had wanted to say something more, but hesitated, and Darrell could see it.

Though, he didn’t exactly have the time to wait for her to build the courage to do so.

“I will see you on that day, no?”

He asked, and the young girl beamed in excitement.

It was easy to tell what she wanted to say, and all he did was give her the necessary response.

‘A lie or not… a Royal should be able to satisfy their people.’

She nodded instantly before bolting away, towards one of the Carriages.

A carriage that was, unsurprisingly, headed for the East.

‘Oh…’

He thought to himself before marching forward.

‘It’ll take at least three or so weeks before she arrives…’

He narrowed his eyes into pinpricks as he walked past Tiara and the Coachman.

‘I hope they have a pleasant journey.’

“Shall we?”

His voice called out Tiara and the Coachman who had been watching him in silence.

They quickly composed themselves and continued on their way, with the Coachman increasing his pace.

Tiara had lingered behind the Elvin Prince this time, unlike usual, and her thoughts were well hidden behind the mask she wore.

But with the constant stares she threw at Darrell, he knew she wanted to say something.

‘Why don’t they ever be direct, this gender?’

He mused inwardly with a deep sigh.

They continued on their way, unbeknownst to the multiple eyes which followed them.

From behind, in the carriage where the young girl called Stella had retreated after her conversation, three large, bulky figures sat apart in utter silence.

Draped from head to toe in robes of black.

And in their midst? Marilyn Typhoon, the 8th Executive of the Red Peacemakers.

She kept the poise of the little Elf girl she had carried with delight.

Smiling ever so graciously while her gaze, which pierced through every obstacle, was fixed on two figures.

Darrell Silvan and Tiara Goldin.

Her eyes, which had been bright blue, and her pale, silver, hair seemed to warp under the dim light of the Carriage.

Bearing something darker across her features.

Besides her was the doll of Gaia, but broken.

Its wooden arms and legs tugged apart from its main body while its head hung low with a string.

And below it, amidst the wretched darkness caused by the dim lighting, were three figures. Three bodies.

Long, slender ears and pale skin that looked like marble.

Elves, whose eyes hung open, lost and devoid in the eternal abyss. Long gone from the world of the living.

Two adults and a little female child.

All under the blanket of something called eternal peace.

There had been no signs of pressure on them, nor a physical wound.

After all, what left their eyes ghastly open wasn’t a pain from the body… but one from the mind.

Marilyn folded her hands as she licked her plump, crimson lips.

“Hah… yes, we will see indeed, Prince Darrell.”

A deep longing was laced at the back of her throat.

One that would only be quenched by blood.

Hey guys.

A bit under the weather, but the rest will be coming soon.