Little Red for Mr. Rydding Hood: The Lost World of Agartha 1

Chapter 12

Margaret was listening from the corner and near the exit. She had heard about the story several times and could imagine the frightening events in her mind. But being familiar with the scene never made it less painful. In fact, it was more painful. She doubted even time could never heal the scar such a tragedy left to everyone who knew. Especially to those who had witnessed it.

Princess Loaisa’s steps faltered when their eyes met, and although she did not want to be rude, she looked away to hide her tears, afraid that Margaret could read the guilt and betrayal.

She walked past her without saying anything. She quickly wiped her tears and blindly stepped out to the opening, only to be bumped with someone. At the unexpected and strong impact, Princess Loaisa stumbled backward. Luckily for her, a strong arm came out behind her to support her small back. A strangled gasp escaped her lips. Her eyes met in contact with a blue color. She was contemplating if it was either a sea or the sky before realizing the clear orbs staring back at her were Mr. Hood’s.

She hardly bowed her head and muttered quick, breathless words to excuse herself and walked past him. But Mr. Hood was not planning to go inside the tent even before Princess Loaisa came out. He honestly had no idea what he was doing there either.

It was out of an odd instinct. Like a voiceless voice and blind eye all telling him to head to the tent. He was confused by the feeling that he hadn’t noticed Red coming out so suddenly. And he was utterly dumbfounded by the dried tears on her face.

He had never seen a woman become more beautiful with fresh tears on her face. But he had never felt a strong tug inside him to see anyone cry either unless it was…

He swallowed hard and dismissed the thoughts. He wouldn’t want to allow himself to dwell with the name. Besides, why would he compare what he was feeling to this young lady to the greater one he had before? For him, it was insane ― and reasonable.

But Princess Loaisa had nowhere else to go. In Malacañan Palace there were lots of places she could do for her privacy, or whenever she was upset. But her favorite place was her room and the field where she met with the old man.

The old man that now had a name. José.

The hero and savior of the people who lived here. The reason pure humans were existing and continued to strive down here without the help of Human Royals… because why would they really ask for help from someone who apparently gave out an order for them to be slaughtered?

If she had only known about the old man’s identity and bravery. But who would tell the tale when he had lost most of his memories? She bet they would not be friends, too, because for sure, he’d hate her.

Princess Loaisa smiled bitterly. They would all hate her. She was sure that if people in Northumbria learned of the King's agreement with creatures, they would be mad, too. This knowledge was not known to the palace, and she did not know what exactly to feel except for guilt and betrayal.

She was looking for some place to go to get fixed herself. She knew it was rude of her to just leave her work in the kitchen, but she was too emotional and she did not want anyone to see the sorrowful guilt in her eyes.

At that moment, she saw Samantha and Ayet from afar. They had taken a distance from their friends to wave at her. When Samantha discreetly pointed her thumb behind her and to the direction of the lake, Princess Loaisa knew it had something to do with the conversation they had in the morning.

She followed them in silence, smiling to the kids whose heads and eyes followed her with curiosity. She noticed their hairs were damp, as well as Samantha’s and Ayet’s, and that their clothes were cleaner than yesterday. They must all have taken their bath in the lake already.

“Are there people in the stream?” she asked the kids as she trailed behind them, and down the steep side of the hills. Luckily there was a safe path for them to track down into safety.

“Not until we reached it,” Samantha answered, taking bigger steps than Princess Loaisa to show her familiarity in the place.

Princess Loaisa had no time to reply back as she was busy keeping up with them. Her eyes wandered to the farm they saw on their way down. They made the steps to the hills as their cultivable land, following the natural contours of the hills so as not to destroy nature. They both maintained its beauty and were able to grow food at the same time. It looked fascinating — fantastically beautiful — that Princess Loaisa wondered what kind of technology they used to create it.

"It's the Rice Terraces," Ayet supplied to Princess Loaisa wonder with pride. "Our ancestors build that with bare hands." He showed his small hands to her to emphasize the point, and this left Princess Loaisa's lips gaping.

"They're beautiful," she breathed.

"Because they grow our foods," Samantha replied in a sarcastic tone that Princess Loaisa started to recognize was natural to the little girl. She would be having a hard time getting alone with the children in Northumbria, but that should not be a bad thing. In fact, Princess Loaisa believed Samantha would amaze the Northumbrian children with that attitude — including Princess Liliana, although she was not a kid anymore.

When the kids halted, Princess Loaisa halted as well. But it was because she was starstruck by the beauty of nature in front of her. They had reached the stream. Princess Loaisa had never seen bodies of water as clear as this one. She could literally see the rocks from the bottom. Big or small, but mostly huge rocks. The sunlight reflected on the surface like it was a mirror and not water.

"You can take a bath here," Samantha jerked her head to the stream and to Princess Loaisa's body, referring to her clothes.

"Here?" She was suddenly hesitant. The water is too clear!

As if seeing the embarrassment in his eyes, Ayet laughed and pointed a finger at her. "You can swim in the middle part. The water is enough for you to dip yourself in but not deep enough to drown." His laughter faded as he frowned. "You do know how to swim, don't you?"

Princess Loaisa nodded.

"We are the only ones here. Are you shy?" Samantha's voice turned soft. "We are never shy to see anyone naked or be seen naked. But we don't mean to show it to everyone either. What's wrong? Do you, people in the North, are always concerned with your body?"

She was serious. Princess Loaisa had no idea how to answer that. Yes. These kids act like grown-ups. If not for their young age and the innocent face, they could pass as adults to the congress of Malacañan Palace. Children in Northumbria were smart and advanced, thanks to the books, but they don't think and act this way.

She swallowed hard and took off her cloak. "Will you stay here with me until I finish?"

"Gladly," the girl answered, and they both approached her to take care of her clothes.

"You're like a goddess," Ayet commented innocently. "We believed goddesses are perfection, and you are." Princess Loaisa's cheeks heated badly at the compliment. "You do have lots of clothes though."

She cleared her throat and kept her last underdress on her. "Well..."

"Northumbrian have so much that they waste them for nothing, I see," Samanta said.

"What?"

"Why wear all these clothes?" She lifted the red cloak, her long sleeve, colorful dress, and the sleeveless plain dress, and to her plain underdress. "That's too much, don't you think?"

"Or she knows she'll be lost and wears everything she can instead of holding them," Ayet added and laughed at his own joke.

"Right." Samantha nodded. "Your small bag can't occupy this all." She laid the dress on the ground and next to Princess Loaisa's bag. The latter remembered her bow and arrow still in the kitchen. Nana Sora kept them in the corner because they seemed 'too real' to be toys. If only they knew...

Princess Loaisa shrieked at the first touch of water on her toes. It was cold!

"It's fine!" Samantha shouted from where she was sitting with Ayet. "It'll be warm soon. That's why you should take a bath in the morning."

Princess Loaisa nodded to herself and let her body get used to the cold water. Soon, the warm sun directed to the open stream gave her warmth. She sat on the smallest rock and smiled at the kids. On her hand was a smaller rock they said could be used to scrub her body, and the very delicate and soft organic soap everyone was using. And it smelt so elegant. She knew her Queen Mother would love it.

"Go to the middle!" Samantha pointed to the middle.

She listened to them and enjoyed the water. The sunlight was bright, and the water was so clear she did not fear encountering danger swimming in the unfamiliar stream. She could see right to the bottom. Moving her feet below, she laughed to herself.

"The water's so clear!" she informed them, though she was sure they were aware of that already. She just could not contain her happiness. She lowered her head to the water and gasped. It tasted sweet! Princess Liliana would love it, too.!

She was enjoying using the soap and the smooth stone when Samantha called her.

"Tell us about Mercia now."

Her face fell flat. The little girl continued.

"No one's here to listen but us. We want to know about Mercia."

"Why do you want to know? The elders--"

"They won't know we asked, and that you answered."

But she was not giving them an answer yet and had no clue where to start. She sighed heavily and watched the stone and soap on her hand and underwater. "It's the center of trade..."

"In the whole Agartha, yes." Samantha nodded. "What else? Except that you trade and see other supernaturals in broad daylight without getting killed? What's so special about it?"

Suddenly, Princess Loaisa felt cold in her stomach. She knew it had nothing to do with the water. "What do you want to know?"

Ayet frowned. "We asked because we didn't know?" He shrugged, a look of confusion on his face while Samantha remained serious. She lightly elbowed Ayet.

"That's where the first treaty happened before the palace."

"Treaty," she repeated, although she had a feeling it was the same agreement Nana Sora mentioned.

Samantha sighed. "Just tell us about Mercia. How it looks. The Mercian Royal House! The supernaturals who traded with you. Do you befriend some of them? Vampires?"

"Sssh," Ayet hissed to her as he worriedly looked around to let Samantha know her voice was getting louder.

"No," Princess Loaisa admitted. "I'm not a friend to any of them."

"And?" Samantha probed.

She shook her head. "I don't think we should be talking about it. "Nana Sora—"

"They will not know, I swear!"

"But--"

From a distance, the names of the two kids were being called. Samantha stood and was followed by Ayet.

"Go, tell us now!"

"I... I can't..."

The little girl shook her head with disappointment. "You just have to tell a story, not create one. What's so difficult about it?"

But the calls were coming near. Princess Loaisa swam back, thinking the kids would give her clothes, but she halted when they took them and ran to the voice calling them.

"Um... excuse me? My clothes?" she screamed behind them. They must have been frantic and afraid to be seen here and forgotten to give her clothes. But Samantha waved at her without looking back. She watched them, dumbfounded.

She was not really naked. She left the underdress because she was not comfortable swimming with nothing but her undergarments and...

But she could not get out of the water. Her dress was too thin and too transparent, and the wind was cold above water. She stayed and waited for that lady calling out to the kids. She would notice Princess Loaisa's belongings with the kids and give them to her once she realized what they did.

Or not...

Half an hour passed and no one came. Every minute passed. She was becoming aware of the silent surroundings, the sounds of the dancing tree and their leaves, the birds. There was nothing to be afraid of in the daytime in this beautiful place, but she was yet to familiarize herself with it. It did not help that the tales of her sister were ringing in her head. About witches who swam to the lakes and took children...

Shivering, she ran out of the water with her arms tightly wrapped around her body. She did not mind the rocks on her way and continued to step on them when she accidentally slipped on one of them. She didn't break a leg but knew she was going to fall and might hurt her head. She awaited the pain. It was so fast she couldn't stop her fall.

But a hand gripped her arm to keep her still. Her face hit a hard surface and if not for the familiar musky scent, she wouldn't believe it was Mr. Hood. He moved so swiftly like lightning. But at least lightning brought out blinding lights for everyone to be aware of his coming. But Mr. Hood didn’t. It was like he came with the wind. Like he was the wind. She was sure he wasn't in front of her seconds ago, but now...

Their faces were inches away. His warm breath was enough to help her shivering frame. His brows twitched. Once making sure Red could stand on her own without falling, he gently let go of her.

Princess Loaisa cleared her throat and crouched to pick up the stone and soap, which slipped off her hands.

"Thanks! I..."

His menacing gaze traveled from her long silk, black hair, to the small face, and down her body. He swallowed hard at the sight before him. She was too young and perfect. He couldn't resist but stared. A warning was ringing loudly in his head, but he ignored it. It was forbidden to stare at such beauty and even took advantage of her soaking body. And...

His fingers twitched at the sight of those small peaks on her small chest. Rubbing against the thin white dress. He couldn't stop. Indeed, not a young lady anymore. Lowering his gaze farther down, he could see the perfect shape of her frame distinctly. Every inch and every corner. Every mole, and not a single scar. Small and fragile, but his arms stiffened as the yearning to wrap her around him came out so strong and indeed a shock to him.

He could...

No one's around. They didn't know she was here, but the kids she pissed off for not granting them what they wanted to hear from her. He could let himself get with the feeling. He didn't trust her. He could get the answer to his own hand right now. But he knew it was not right. It was not him.

And he refused to believe it was the beast inside him. He refused to believe he was torn between wrapping her around him and breaking her if it became too much — he knew it was going to be too much.

Being aware of his carnal thoughts, he pulled off his jacket and quickly wrapped it around her. The young girl smiled with gratitude, being innocent with the thoughts running through his head. Not being aware of his internal turmoil.

Princess Loaisa was grateful for the jacket. She turned around to wear it around him as Mr. Hood held the jacket for her. She was honestly clueless about the other's thoughts. After successfully wrapping the jacket around her, which she realized was closed with the length of her cloak, she beamed at him. A blush of embarrassment reflected on her face that the man had to witness her in that situation.

"I think the kids forgot to give me my clothes."

"They planned to leave you here if you don't answer them," he answered in a crisp voice. If not for the icy breeze, she would have thought the voice made her shiver. "You can tell them now you're not a merchant, so they won't force you to describe something you're not familiar with."

She blinked. "What... How did you know?"

He frowned. "I've seen merchants and they don't allow young kids to travel with the cargoes."

Princess Loaisa had difficulty swallowing the hard lump that suddenly formed in her throat. She pursed her lips and stared at the man. "You said kid," she said in a dull, small voice.

"I said kid," he repeated nonchalantly. But for Princess Loaisa, it was cold and rude of him.

If this stranger sees her as a kid, then that must be the reason her parents were strict with her, enforcing rules and expectations on her as the youngest princess. Because she's still a kid to everyone. Sometimes, she felt bad for running away. But her discovery pushed her not to feel bad. Her journey was a treasure of enlightenment. She had become aware of all the things — heartbreaking, horrible things.

Mr. Hood noticed the disappointment, and sadness crossed her delicate face. It was like a punch to his gut considering they were the only ones there, so those emotions were obviously because of him. He was guilty of no explicit reason but could not voice it.

"You should go and dry yourself," was what came out of his lips when he tried to apologize.

Princess Loaisa lowered her head and nodded. "Can I ask you for a favor?"

Anything. His fingers twitched again. If he hadn't controlled himself, he would have touched her hair. Stroke her. Console her. Comfort her with his touch. His frown deeper so Princess Loaisa refused to stare back at him.

"You must know that the kids were not allowed to ask anything about the North, right? Every one of them actually? Can you keep this a secret? I don't really want to put them in trouble." Because Princess Loaisa was certain he had been watching and listening to them earlier. If it was intended or a coincidence, she didn't know.

"Like how you're keeping my secret?" He tilted his head.

Princess Loaisa abruptly looked up at him with wide eyes. She shook her head at him. "It wasn't like an exchange of that. I wasn't asking anything in return. Besides, wasn't that our secret?" She shrugged.

His lips barely parted at how her eyes innocently blinked. He could tell she's a pure human, but why was it always like she was doing magic on him?

Our secret? Was she telling the truth? She didn't really know of his secret? Or was she playing? Questions rang in her head as he narrowed his eyes on her. But her expression had not changed.

Staring at her in wonder, he nodded absentmindedly. Princess Loaisa smiled at him and excused herself.