His Highness and the Heroine

The King wants to see me today.

I feel my chest become heavy and my heart pound wilder. It was unusual for him to make me see him. The Generals would always be the ones who would summon me. I wonder what was so special about this?

I look back at my other apprentices. They were behind me, trailing– also with curious eyes. I stop my tracks, turn my back, and then ask them.

"Both of you look nervous." I crossed my arms. "Is something wrong?"

They shook their heads. "Nothing."

But I knew that something was bugging them. That softened look, furrowed brows, and pursed lips. I knew that something was bugging them.

"No, I insist," I told them. "What is it?"

I heard one of them sigh. "We find it very peculiar, Captain Vermillion."

"Peculiar?"

"We wonder if something wrong happened? Is the King upset, perhaps? Did we do something wrong?"

I chuckled at him and placed a hand on his shaking shoulders.

"I believe it is none of that." I gave him a reassuring smile. "He could be summoning me for another task."

I made sure that my words were as firm as possible. I didn't want them to feel nervous about this mysterious ordeal. I saw their eyebrows shift back to their relaxed state and their muscles loosened. They smiled at me back.

"Well, if that is your hunch, then we will not question you, Captain. Your hunches are always right, after all."

I scratched the back of my nape and fixed my crimson cloak. I dusted some of its parts and combed my hair with my fingers.

"Are you guys ready?" I asked them.

"Ready if you are, Captain."

"Alright. Let's get in."

I gestured to the guards of my arrival. They looked at me with a stern gaze and reached out to the doorknobs. The door opened wide and the light from the inside instantly blinds me.

When the flash of light was gone I immediately looked up and rubbed my eyes.

"Captain."

"Mhmm?"

"Come on, let's get inside."

I nodded at him and shrugged my shoulders while inviting myself. I felt my chest suffocate and my knees go weak as I laid my eyes on His Majesty's throne.

There he was, looking at me with those gentle, blue eyes. I swallowed the air forming inside my mouth as the consternation inside my chest started to rise. He was tantalizing.

I can't believe that I am standing before the very man I admire.

I lowered myself and knelt with one knee. My companions both followed me and mimicked what I did. I kept my head low to the ground, not meeting his gaze once again. I felt so screwed inside my chest. I didn't know what was going on.

"Your Majesty, here I present to you, the Captain of the Wolf Hunters, Miss Ruby Vermillion."

I couldn't stare at him. I lifted my eyes further and saw the King's reflection on the General's mighty sword.

'Perhaps this will do.' I told myself, joyously feasting on the fact that I am able to look, without staring at him directly.

I saw his eyes look at my body. My muscles tensed as he breathed on.

"Miss Vermillion." he marveled. "Lift your heads, so I may look at you properly."

I gently raised my head to look at him and removed the hood from my head. He started at me with a gentle expression and smiled.

Damn it. That smile. It never fails to make this heart of mine, race.

I had always been watching the King from the shadows. Admiring his courage, his strength, and his beauty as a leader. He was a tall man, with a lean body and firm posture. His face was mellow and soft. His hair was blonde like gold– unlike mine which was pale and dull. He wore his usual royalty tunic and dark pants that wrapped his long, slender legs. On his waist, was a belt and a sheath of what seemed to be his sword.

Everything about him was so dashing and princely.

"Little Red Riding Hood." he breathes in.

I clenched my jaw and straightened into a rod.

"I have heard from the Generals that you are quite the beast in clearing up the mountains. And for that, I thank you."

I couldn't part my lips. He was too holy! "O-Of course... you're welcome, Your Highness."

I cannot believe it! Did he just thank me?!

"Ruby Vermillion." he smiled. "Even your name sounds strong and undefeatable."

I could feel my cheeks heating up. I looked away and shied my face with my cloak.

"I know that this is presumptuous to ask, Captain Vermillion, but you would please do me a favor?"

I shot my head up and frantically nodded. "O-Of course. Anything, Your Highness."

He slowly stood up from his seat and sauntered towards me intently. I stared at him, bamboozled and breathless. I can't believe this is happening to me! I've always been dreaming about this for years!

"Can I truly ask you a favor, Captain?"

"Yes. Of course." I firmly told him, shaking my fondness away. I cannot let the other officials know that I am secretly crushing on the King.

"Wonderful," he says. "You see, the Northern Woods has been reported to be infested by the Weres recently. I've sent enough soldiers to sustain the safety of the villagers, but they were wiped out in an odd circumstance."

"An odd circumstance?" I raised a brow in confusion and gave him a puzzled look.

"The Weres do not come only at full moon. No matter which phase it is, they would always come and feed. Is there something, that an expert like you, would like to recommend?"

An odd circumstance. Mhmm.

I pondered a thought for a while.

The werewolves are very active during the full moon. However, I have heard of cases where they shift even if the moon isn't so. Could this be the case?

"My recommendation is to hunt them and put them down as quickly as possible."

"I see."

"Would you please tell me more about it?" I asked him, trying to find some intel that I would find useful.

"Well, you see, Captain– there could be quite the confidential matters that I won't be able to discuss-"

"Then I will not send my men to go after your request, Your Highness." I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "They too, are my precious apprentices. If we are not told of the information we seek, it could all bring us to our graves."

The King angled his brief in a worried state and looked at his officials. They all nodded at him, given that they had no choice but to confide with me. It was only then that I realized that this ordeal should be something more than I imagined it would be.

And even so that he was a man greater than I am, or even if I am interested in him- I would never allow my men to perish their lives for one single mistake of intel.

"Very well, if you insist so, then perhaps I shall tell you everything that we know. Follow us."

I stood up. I could see my knees trembling from being so brave earlier. My companions patted me on the shoulder.

"Thank you, Captain." they told me. "Thank you for taking care of us."

I smiled at them and took his palms off my shoulder. I squeezed them with mine. "Of course. I wouldn't allow you to fail. They are keeping things and I must ensure it to myself that it is retrieved in harmony. I do not want any of you to end up like minced meat."

My companions lowered their heads and bowed at me. I bowed in return as a gesture of my next action to follow the King. They gave me a smile, and I left with it.

I followed the officials into a room. The King sat on one a Chesterfield lounges and crossed his legs. I sat timidly on the chair I was invited to and clasped my fingers together.

The room's tension increased.

He cleared his throat and the officials lowered their heads, signifying that the King would not want them to interfere in his words.

"As I have said earlier, the Northern Woods has been reported to be infested by wolves. You are their commander of the Wolf Hunters, am I correct?"

"There are only fifteen registered ones who can take down the Weres. If those are the kinds of wolves you are talking about."

"Ah yes, werewolves." the King corrected himself. "The Werewolves. They have been infesting the Northern Woods and their influence is starting to spread."

"Fifteen, including me are able to take them down. But I believe that I have deployed them widespread on the continent. Each with three members."

"So there are five teams, including yours?"

"North, South, East, West. Central, which is composed of the companions with me today."

"There is a team for the Northern?" he asked me, his eyes full of worry and doubt.

I nod my head. "Yes, there is. But they could be busy now, as you've said earlier, their numbers are growing aren't they?"

"They have."

"I believe my men can take them down." I smiled at him, but my eyes were narrow and firm. "I have faith in them."

"That is not what I am worried about, Captain Vermillion." the King looked at the people around the room and raised his fingers in the air.

The officials stood up and left the room one by one, leaving us both alone. I felt my chest thump faster and faster. I heard the door close behind us, and I tried to fixed my composure.

"Now where were we, again?"

"The reason." I told him. "Reason why you sought for my assistance despite having them there."

"Ah yes." he heaved a sigh and leaned against the soft cushions of the maroon lounge. "I believe that the Werewolves are plotting something."

His voice was cold and stern, it made my body tense. I gathered my strength to look at him and nod. "Plotting? Why have you assumed this?"

"I believe that their leader is trying to expand his territory by killing and infecting the villagers to join their forces."

I wanted to yank my face aside and blurt a laugh, but I couldn't. Despite the King being so serious about this, I couldn't believe that he was saying this to me.

"Are you telling me, Your Highness, that what we are dealing on the Northern Woods- is a sign of a pack?"

"Indeed." he leaned closer. "Have you ever encountered a pack before, Captain?"

I gritted my teeth and scoffed mockingly at the thought of it. Werewolves gathering together as a group. Such a disturbing thought. "Of course, I have."

"Have you heard of the Phatomcrescents?"

Phantomcrescents.

I stare at him narrowly. "I've heard of them, but I do not know much of them."

"They are the most notorious pack around," he told me. "They prowl among the mountains of Baronveil Alps and are known to be the pioneers of the food chain."

"Pioneers?" I raised a brow. "Surely if they meet me, they wouldn't be holding that title for too long."

A gentle smile escapes from his lips which made my heart skip a beat. "You're very roguish and brave, Captain Vermillion. I salute you for that. It reassures me to have such a lion-hearted warrior on my side."

I could feel my cheeks heat up. I looked away and tucked the strands that fell from my ears. "I-It's nothing, of course. I have sworn my loyalty to you, after all."

"I am delighted to have such a brave soldier in my Kingdom. So will you be taking this quest, then?"

I didn't know if it was euphemism or the King's gallant charm that brought me in such disarray. All I could hear inside my head was his sincere praises about me.

"O-Of course." I couldn't help but stutter. His presence just intimidates me so much. "But please, tell me more about this Phantomcrescent pack. I would need more information."

"Let me see... hmmm." he puts an index below his chin. "They are vicious and ferocious. I believe that their pack is highly intelligent and they can shift whenever they like. Even if it is the full moon, or not."

I was taken aback. "They can shift whenever they want? I thought that they could only shift during the full moon?"

"This is what makes the Phantomcrescents so dangerous. Whenever and wherever they please, they would. Nothing can stop them."

I clenched my fist and let out a smirk with my brows furrowed. "That's insane. Yesterday was a full moon and I caught three highly intelligent ones, too."

"I believe you can handle the common ones." the King told her. "Your skills are unmatched, after all."

"I appreciate the compliment, Your Highness, but I am still puzzled. By now, since you placed your faith in my skills– you shouldn't have that look in your face, am I right?"

The King stared at me for a couple of seconds, and I swear to the heavens above that it felt like an eternity. He chuckled.

"I am quite worried, for you, of course."

"How so? I can guarantee you that I'll be able to do as you please."

"Ah, that isn't the case. The common Weres should be easy enough for you, but their leader is quite the challenging one."

I leaned towards him and smirked. "How so?"

"Have you slain an Alpha?"

An Alpha.

The leader of those scoundrel packs. I crossed my arms nodded. "I have. But I wouldn't lie, that it wasn't very easy."

"Well, you've got yourself another challenger," he told me. "The Alpha of the Phantomcrescent pack is not to be underestimated. He is the brains of the pack and is planning to expand the influence of his territory by starting in the North. And you know that I cannot allow that."

"So you want me to slay their Alpha?"

"Can you?"

"I'm not sure of it. But you can convince me." I smirked and leaned against the cushion too. "It is not a very easy job. I need a little push."

The King chuckled. "I like your tenacity and mischievousness, Captain Vermillion. Very well, I will reward you generously when you come back. You will not be disappointed."

"I like the sound of rewards."

"I've also heard of your story from the generals. Perhaps you can find a clue to seek justice for your loss when you were a child."

There is nothing more in this world that I'd want than to have my family back. My grandmother. That woodcutter. My friends. My family. The entire village.

They took it all away from me.

And now, I'm going to take it away from them.

"I'm in."