Reincarnate as Prince: Change Magical World with Industry

28 Rescue

Janus came back hastily towards his carriage. Mr. Arcas proved himself to be a very fast and competent coachman, and Janus had some money to spare for bribes.

"We are going to Eastgate, I need you to get there as fast as possible. We have to reach my sister before they leave for the Empire. Lann, have you seen Sir Arthan?"

"No your highness." The lad said. "But a stableboy said that the knight was part of the escorting party."

"Very well then. Let's catch up to them. Hurry."

Just after they passed the castle gates, Lann raised the royal flag and sped their way towards Eastgate. They passed pedestrians and carriages alike, all were eager to let their carriage pass without so much as another look.

The coachmen took them to passages that were off the beaten path but were clearly shortcuts towards the major roadways. Mr. Arcas carefully maneuvered the carriage so as not to pass by potholes and obstacles. He knew the kingdom as well as anyone. There were a few yells and curses from some of the townsfolk they passed by, but they suddenly kept quiet once they noticed the royal flag.

Janus' heart was racing, he was doing something reckless again. But he couldn't afford to lose Yvaine and he knew she didn't want to go either. If she wasn't free, then he might as well be exiled. Perhaps there are other options besides being a prince in this world.

Janus saw dark figures approaching them. He edged closer to the window. There was a band of cloaked men, around eight to ten who were quickly catching up to them.

"Mr. Arcas! We have a company, can you distract them?" Janus yelled.

They took shortcuts across smaller alleyways and less-traveled pathways, Janus marveled at how many places in the Kingdom that he wasn't able to explore. He took a peek at his pursuers, they didn't look like knights to him, their faces were all covered in hoods, and he can't tell what or who was underneath. He couldn't see any weapons on them but Janus held his dagger and his club at the ready just in case.

"Your Highness!" Lann called out from outside. "I can see them. I can see the Princess and her escort. They haven't passed the gates yet."

Janus squeezed his head out of the window. He yelled from the bottom of his lungs.

"Yvaine! Wait!"

There was a crash. The sound of horses neighing. They yell of the coachman and his assistant outside.

The carriage tumbled over. Janus' world rocked in every direction. For a few seconds, each of his senses was bombarded by sensations. The creaking sound of iron nails berated his ears. Chips of wood went flying on all corners. Cuts and bumps barraged him. Then there was a smattering of light as he was thrown outside of the carriage.

Everybody was yelling, they seemed to be in a semi-crowded area. Janus saw the carriage in his peripheral vision careen into a corner and smack into a building. He heard approaching footsteps from both men and horses. He tried to stand up but his legs wouldn't budge. He oriented himself and crawled towards the carriage.

"Arcas... Lann..." he whispered.

He could see both of them sprawled out in the cobblestones several meters in front of him. Below them was blood. Lann's elbow was at an unnatural angle.

He heard another yell.

There were panicked footsteps running in different directions, but the ones that were approaching him didn't stop.

Someone was stood on top of the coachman. One of the cloaked men. The man took something from his pocket, it shined in the afternoon sunlight. A short sword.

"No!" Janus yelled and tried to reach out with his hand, but a boot was pinning down his shoulder. He couldn't move

Another man walked towards Lann, knelt down, and thrust his sword through the young man's body.

Janus tried to shout again but his neck was held down before he can say anything.

Then the beating started.

Every inch of his body burned, it was as if rocks were falling down on him. He couldn't move, every ache he felt from the crash seemed like it was being repeated over and over.

He saw a few figures running towards him and other figures in black disappeared from his view in a blur of motion. He heard the brandishing of weapons, the coppery taste of blood smacked across his swelling lips. A few familiar voices called out, but they were drowned out by the pain. The pain searing in every inch of his body.

Then everything went black.

#

He fell into a well of infinite noise, flashing colors and distant yells. Voices cried out and figures tumbled over and fell in an infinite void.

A thousand of these sensations seemed to pass in an instant. An infinite amount of possibilities flashed in front of him.

Then everything went quiet. Wherever Janus was, it felt nice. Except for the fact that it was completely empty.

He felt a soft sensation in his hand.

"Janus... oh Janus what have they done to you?" the voice said.

"I think he's waking up now. Princess, look." Said another.

Janus woke to the scent of mint balms and brewed jasmine tea. There were two people beside him right now. One was a golden-haired maiden wearing plate armor and a chestnut-haired lady who was sobbing. She was kneeling down at the bed and holding his hand.

"Yv.."

"Shh.. You need to rest."

"Mydir?"

"The Emperor can eat his trousers. You need to rest."

Everything went black again.

The next time Janus woke up, it was as if there was a party in his room. Sir Arthan was there, as well as Cedi and Bodwin and Yvaine. There were benches and tables inside, and everyone was either sleeping or on guard.

On the desk was a bowl of fruit and bread. With towels and pots of tea and water on the side. His stomach growled and his body ached in seemingly every spot.

Janus recognized this as the castle infirmary, the same place that he woke up almost a year ago, except the beds were rearranged to accommodate his visitors.

There was a knock, and Madam Pomfey came in carrying a pitcher of water.

"Look at this madness! I look away for a single moment and everybody piles up in the room? I told you only one visitor at a time. Sir Arthan, Lady Gisela you may guard outside, everybody else should go outside, except for--- "

"Yvaine." Janus called out. His lips were chapped and his throat was dry.

"Settle down now young Prince. The healers did a lot of things on you and your body needs to recuperate."

"I need to talk to Yvaine first." Janus said with a lot of struggle.

"You heard him, everybody else out."

Cedi and Bodwin smiled at Janus on the way out.

Yvaine sat on a chair beside his bed.

"Now I'm sure you want to catch up with each other on that harrowing experience. But I will need to check on your wounds and bruises first." Said the castle Medic.

Janus thought everything would ache all over as he moved, but that wasn't the case. Although his feet did not have any strength in them yet, he felt confident that every part of his body was still intact.

"Good, the woman said. A few more days rest and you should be good as new. I'll leave you now to discuss your business."

"How long have I been out?" Janus asked.

"About five days."

"Why am I still alive?"

"Gisela alarmed me of the commotion, we saw the carriage topple over and we rushed to the scene. Someone was trying to stab you, but they couldn't get through. Gisela said it was like you were protected by a faint Holy Shield. Do you remember?"

"I... no."

"Anyway you were about to get stabbed when Sir Arthan took the perpetrator with an arrow. The others went running every direction, even the one who was shot. We couldn't see who they were, but we all have our suspicions."

"They're from the Crimson spikes, I assume." Janus said.

"How did..."

"I saw the sigil on one of the swords."

"Hmm..." her sister said. "Same thing Gisela told me. And did you know how the carriage went flying through the air? Eyewitness accounts say that the carriage flew by its own, unimpeded. It was as if someone picked it up and threw it down."

"Magic." Janus whispered.

Yvaine nodded.

"They tried to kill me. Both of them tried to kill me."

"They failed."

"How about Lann and Mr. Arcas? The coachman?"

Her sister shook her head.

A huge pang of pain struck Janus. Two men died because of his carelessness. Lann wasn't much older than him. He'll have to help their families.

If the King didn't want him dead that is.

"How about Father? What happened with the arrangement with Mydir?"

"Father cut it off, at first I thought it was because I delayed my arrival. But I was surprised when I arrived and I wasn't reprimanded. He called off the arrangement himself. Said the Blackwoods would not relinquish control of Galedon, not while he sits at the throne."

Janus laughed. It ached his ribs when he tried to breathe but he kept laughing just the same.

"Why are you laughing?"

"That's what I told him. Looks like it got to him after all."

"Well he's still not happy, but neither am I. Janus, they tried to kill you! Anders and Marcus don't seem to care, and they deny all allegations when confronted. That's why I two of our Royal Guards on rotating duty. Father is still indifferent as always."

"We have to talk to him. I have a plan Yvaine, and I think it will work out for both of us. Probably for everyone in the manor as well, but it will be hard. Will you hear me out?"

She sighed. "Let me hear it."

Their discussions were long and continued as the nights went on.

As expected, the King didn't even visit Janus once. And Yvaine wasn't summoned at all either. So they talked and planned until Janus was fit to stand up again.

Then they met up with the King.