I'm Forbidden To Love You

Chapter 15

Ryan twirled around from the onslaught and took a step back.

He gripped his hold on the sword, staring at the person opposite to him as if they were prey and him a predator.

He waited for their attack, staying in a defensive position instead of going offensive.

Even though his sword was a double-edged sword, sharpened on both sides that can penetrate most of the shields and cut at every contact point, he didn’t advance forward.

It can be used with speed as it won’t drag you down after you got accustomed to it and cut more easily.

If anyone even traced a finger over the edge of it lightly, it will definitely draw blood from the fingers. Such was the sharpness of it.

He dared to spare a glance at his sword amid the fight, knowing he was risking his life with it.

The weight of the steel blade and the leather-bound hilt was comfortable in his hand. It was crafted perfectly to fit in his hand.

It is light in weight compared to the weights of some other swords, and what Ryan liked the most was that he could use it in with one hand.

Ryan didn’t like to wield the sword with both hands like the one used by his opponent.

Prince Zander Yilaus from Suvan country.

A friend of Prince Bram Hyrick, the one he participated with, in the final round of horse riding.

Ryan had been practicing with his sword an hour before, swinging in the air as if fighting with an invisible enemy. The one he usually practices with, Norman, had been sent to other duties.

During his practice, Prince Bram Hyrick had offered to practice by dueling him. Ryan wanted to politely decline as he was not in the right mood that he will be considerate towards the guests.

But, Prince Hyrick was such a friendly person that you cannot deny him with the way he smiled at you, so warm and earnest.

Ryan didn’t have the heart to deny him, and he wanted to release the anger in him anyway, or else he would go mad.

Just as they get to know each other’s stances and differences in their fight styles, they were interrupted by Prince Zander Yilaus, the fourth Prince of the Savan country; that’s how he was introduced by Prince Hyrick anyways.

And from the looks of it, Prince Yilaus wanted to fight with Ryan seriously for daring to be friends with Prince Hyrick.

Ryan would have been amused at the possessiveness extruded from Prince Yilaus over the friendship he had with Prince Hyrick, but, today he was not in the mood.

Ryan, though wanting to let his anger out, he couldn’t fight seriously with Prince Hyrick not because he was not good at sword but afraid that he would hurt Prince Hyrick in anger. But, Prince Yilaus offering to duel with him had changed his mind.

Yes, Prince Hyrick seemed strong, and the first few swings had shown that he was facing a master in sword fighting.

Ryan’s talent lay with archery. If you give him a bow and arrow, he can hit any target within his eyesight no matter the distance or size of the target.

It was nothing out of the ordinary anyway. The foreign Princes would get bored if not for some entertainment. Some go hunting while some roam around the nearby villages, and some practice sword fights and horse raids.

So he chose the double-edged sword that he never uses to practice as it can seriously harm the opponent, but seeing Prince Yilaus itching to fight with him, he got ready, wearing a thin armor.

His opponent, Prince Yilaus, wielded a zweihander, a sword that was larger than his and needed two hands to wield it.

But, Prince Yilaus was a tall man, even taller than Ryan, sculpted and aggressive and his sword seemed to suit his built and personality. Prince Yilaus attacks were aggressive, and Ryan could only defend against him

Prince Yilaus clashed swords with him, and his silver eyes seemed so intense and above all experienced.

He was older than him and being a fourth Prince in the hierarchy; he must have been sent to the war front.

Ryan’s experience was nothing compared to him as he had only battled unruly bandits and stopped rebellion in the neighborhood country when His Majesty has been requested to help by the neighbor King.

Ryan ducked from that powerful attack and was blinded by the sunlight a second; he avoided the next attack by sheer luck.

Ryan had forgotten the first lesson in a sword fight.

Be aware of your surroundings and use them against you.

Prince Yilaus had used that against him by cornering Ryan to face the sun.

He was not lucky; it seemed, as Ryan was pushed back by Prince Yilaus’s sword and received a kick in his stomach. Ryan managed to roll around instead of falling down.

He was not in the right mind.

He would lose this duel, and he didn’t care if people out of the fence saw him lose, and his parents might be angry with him again for losing.

None of it mattered.

What all mattered was turquoise eyes filled with anguish…

Torn sleeves…

Reddened bruises on her hand…

Someone making her to clean their heels..

Ryan could still feel the same anger he felt yesterday when he was comforting her.

How dare them!

How could anyone behave like this with a fellow human?

Ryan didn’t know, and yesterday’s memories were haunting him even now, still fresh in mind.

That was why he had come straight here to let his anger out.

He cannot go to the chamber where Mermaid Princess resided and see how she was.

Did she cry silently, hiding in some corner?

Did she eat well?

Did she sleep at all?

He didn’t know how she was, and he very much wanted to see her. He doesn’t know about her whereabouts, and worry for her constantly stayed in his mind.

With a half mind, Ryan tended the attacks of Prince Yilaus, getting a scratch in his left hand as a punishment for not paying attention.

He looked up at the unforgiving eyes of Prince Yilaus, and Ryan’s mind could not imagine anything but another set of eyes staring down at his Zelda cruelly.

He didn’t know what possessed him at this moment as it was powerful and intense, a wave of anger that narrowed his mind.

He charged forward with a strange glint in his eyes, and Ryan was swinging his sword against Prince Yilaus in serious of attacks, never giving him time to anything but defend.

He pushed forward with a strength none had seen in him, and Ryan went ahead with his attack, and this managed to taste the flush of Prince Yilaus, making his eyes widen.

The torn dress and sleeves which made her to cower in a corner with shame..

The turquoise eyes which refused to shed tears.

Her bruised, trembling hand.

Ryan felt like he will burst out with anger and sorrow.

He tightened the grip on his sword and attacked Prince Yilaus with all his might in a swift manner.

Prince Yilaus was forced onto his one knee, supporting himself with his heavy sword.

“Prince Ryan.”

The shout which had an authority in it, had managed to pierce through the haze of his anger and madness, making him realize what he was doing.

From the corner of his eyes, Ryan noted that he had been called by Nora, whom he had sent for an important task yesterday.

What had he been thinking, fighting without a clear mind and managing to injure the foreign Prince? If His Majesty heard about it, he would be upset with Ryan regarding his behavior.

He cannot apologize to Prince Yilaus as it would only be insulting. Instead, he decided to offer his hand, extending it as an offer of friendship.

Prince Yilaus accepted his offer with an expression of grudging respect.

No, there was nothing to respect for. He hadn’t fought well; in fact, he wanted a fight to let his anger out.

Ryan sheathed his sword and bowed to Prince Yilaus in respect.

“Forgive me, Prince Yilaus; It seems I am needed somewhere else.”

“Fine, Prince Burton. I will look forward to fighting you again.”

Prince Yilaus nodded his head at him, and Ryan decided to move towards Nora’s direction, not minding the crowd that had gathered to watch the fights of Princes. He wasn’t the only one practicing sword fight in this arena anyway.

Ryan gathered his shield, among other things, and gave it to Lyle, the personal servant who had been serving him for as long as Ryan knew.

He ignored Lyle and moved towards Norman, who was waiting for him.

Without speaking about anything, Ryan moved away from the field, ignoring everything, taking a right turn, and deciding to take a path leading to the castle garden.

“Are you alright, Prince Ryan?”

Ryan didn’t know how to tell Nora that he wasn’t alright, nor could he lie to his friend about his condition as Nora knew him well enough to see through his pretense.

Ryan gazed at the sides of the path, not giving Nora a chance to continue this.

How can Ryan be alright when injustice happened around him like it was a normal thing, and it’s perfectly okay if you’re of someone powerful?

How can he be okay when it was her who suffered the injustice, and he cannot do anything about it?

If he went around asking about what happened yesterday, his mother would be on his back, and he wanted to avoid that at all cost.

Not only will it trouble him but also it would bring unnecessary attention to Zelda.

And he wanted to protect her.

Protect her from everything.

She would be the most precious treasure that was to be guarded if he was a dragon.

The pathway was planted with decorative flowers on the sideways, and some of them were not in good condition due to the recent rain, so he guessed he should remind the gardener about this.

“Did you finish the task I’ve given to you, Nora?”

 “Yes, Prince Ryan. I’ve sent it safely along with our trusted soldiers. They will be delivered within this evening.”

Ryan didn’t speak openly about this, as did Nora. This isn’t something that can be discussed anywhere openly.

As the second Prince of Avera, he didn’t have duties like his cousin Ivor. Ivor had responsibilities in court, attending the things secondary to His Majesty, looking over revenues along with the ministers and overlooking soldiers’ training, and looking over the imports and exports with the minister.

Ryan didn’t have responsibilities like the Crown Prince Ivor Burton, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have any work.

As a second Prince, he was given duties like looking over the castle security along with the General and would be sent to war area if there was any conflict with other countries and to train the badges of soldiers assigned to him and look over the ministers and assist them if necessary on minimal but important things.

And that’s how he was in charge of yesterday’s party held by His Majesty. He looked over things but let the person in charge to work. He just supervises them.

More than half of the food has not even been touched by the guests invited to yesterday’s party, and Ryan had discreetly taken charge of it and sent Nora and his other guards to move the food to the villages still suffering from the drought, near the southern border.

None would look closely as they will all assume it was being sent away to dump somewhere.

And Ryan used it to provide the village people with food as they haven’t got much harvest this summer and the rainy season had already started.

It wasn’t much, but it would last for a week or two as most were fruits, vegetables, rice, wheat, and flour.

He had arranged the carts to take them away and supply them to the villages suffering by.

Ryan had done this many times, and not many know about it except his personal guards.

He ignored Nora, who was following him, and moved towards the garden to find some peace.

Ryan had been naïve enough to question his father and His Majesty on one royal dinner why we were wasting food when he was twelve or thirteen. He had been advised that it was beneath the royal family to notice such trivial things.

And he had stopped asking that. He had seen people suffer when he went to explore the country.

Why not help them instead of dumping this much food?

Ryan knew none would appreciate what he does if his family knew, but he didn’t care anyway.

There were so many things to improve in this country yet…

If only he had the power…

He would listen to people’s needs, and he can do anything he wanted…

He could even protect her..

If only he had more power…

If only he were a crown Prince or…

If only he were a King….

No…

No…

Dangerous thoughts that shouldn’t have arisen in him..

Ryan looked at Nora and decided to let go of whatever was stopping him.

He doesn’t care anyways what his family would say.

“I need a favor, Nora.”

Nora stood straight, bowing his head slightly,

“I await your order, My Prince.”

There was no turning back from this anyways.

“Bring me information about Lady Triston.”