17. WAR IS COMING

Pascal was there. Without a single servant in it. Lying on the bed with the room so bright.

''It's a miracle you woke up before noon,'' said the king, suspiciously. His eyes scanned every corner. Along with Pascal's personal butler who had just joined.

Meanwhile, under the blanket, Pascal's hand was busy smothering Crysta's mouth. Just in case the girl made a sound or something. Although Crysta assured him many times that she would remain silent, Pascal still didn't believe her.

However, Crysta smiled to herself at being so close to Pascal. Completely without distance. Hugging at an angle so that the blanket looked like it was only covering one person. What a brilliant reflex idea. With her head between Pascal's chest and stomach. She could feel Pascal's heart racing. This prince was scared. Afraid of being caught because he was in bed with a woman. A woman who would become someone's wife.

Crysta smiled amusedly at Pascal's attitude that looked calm but actually wasn't.

''My sleep was disturbed by a mosquito,'' he replied.

Suddenly Crysta pinched the waist of Pascal who pretended to cough to cover up the pain.

''Are you alright, Your Highness?'' Mathias wanted to come closer. But one of Pascal's raised hands stopped Mathias' movement.

''The mosquito went down my throat.''

Crysta almost exploded with laughter if Pascal hadn't pressed his grip more firmly. She hurriedly released the pinch. How insolent of this prince to treat her as a mosquito.

King Lumiere frowned. Mathias also felt something was strange. Pascal's room was always kept clean and moist. He had never found a single mosquito in his life.

''What are you doing here? Usually you would ask someone to take me to the palace hall to see you,'' Pascal said in a silly way.

King Lumiere let out a harsh sigh. He shook out his red robe and approached the end of the bed. ''That's because I don't have time to wait until you wake up, Pascal.'' His voice raised. Everyone looked down. Except for Pascal who didn't flinch at the sharp intonation. Instead, he did not blink at his father.

''Your decision to kill Princess Cassava made the kingdoms in the west want to attack the east. This war is not only about Valliant and the west. It also threatens the peace of the eastern kingdoms. You will be blamed for the chaos.''

''Believe me, Father. They're using that useless princess to anger you and the other kingdoms. They're just washing their hands,'' Pascal had many spies. He could get information easily. Including possibilities like this. He had even expected it long ago.

''You're underestimating everything, Son. This is no ordinary matter. This is about tens and millions of lives. Many people's lives will be lost. This region is renowned for its peacefulness. There has never been a time when a kingdom from another region has attacked the east. And soon it won't be peaceful because you have ignited the flames of war.''

''I will not let innocent people get hurt or lose their lives. Especially the people of Valliant." That was a promise. A promise that he would definitely keep. Crysta's mind was cool as she listened to his words. No wonder why he was so respected and praised by the people.

''So you are hands off to the people of the other eastern kingdoms when you yourself are the reason for their suffering?''

Pascal carefully sat up. Removing his hand from Crysta. The atmosphere was heated and Pascal had to calm down the one in front of him because the one under him was already under control.

''I put the people of Valliant first because I am the prince of this kingdom. I'm just putting my position where it belongs because other kingdoms have their own princes,'' Pascal said. Calm and so self-assured. ''But if they seek my protection- I promise there will be no word of refusal from these lips of mine.''

The bowed soldiers smiled proudly. Their prince was truly a knight.

''You must realize that you have no one to rely on other than me, Pascal. And I have only one heir, and that is you. You are the spearhead of this kingdom. Valliant's sword and shield. You must protect the pearl in the shell. Your people are under your protection. So make sure your shell stays strong and doesn't get brittle.''

''I promise, Father.'' He nodded solemnly. Her gaze was sharp and piercing. It eased King Lumiere's anger a little, because Pascal would definitely be consistent with his words.

The veins on King Lumiere's forehead loosened. Who knows how Pascal will handle the attack from the eight kingdoms in the western region. There were originally ten, but two of them had already fallen under Valliant's control.

''You've just returned from Argorn and several kingdoms are waiting for you to conquer.'' There was a sense of pride as well as worry hidden in that sentence.

''How did you know that I would be able to defeat those kingdoms? There is no more than one. It's eight, Father.''

King Lumiere took one step closer. ''Because you never lost two major wars.'' The father and son both smiled. The king swung his legs toward the door. Then took the time to say something to Pascal.

"Make haste to have lunch together. The sun is almost at the top of our heads. You must meet Crysta. She's been waiting for your return since yesterday.''

Crysta's lips parted.

''Really? I didn't know that,'' he replied flatly.

''Can you help me, Son?" King Lumiere pleaded. Pascal raised both eyebrows, waiting to see what kind of help a father would ask of his son.

''Be kind to, Crysta. She has endured a hard journey.''

''So she's waiting for my return so that I can lessen the trauma of her journey?''

''No. From what I can see, Crysta is missing you a great deal.''

Crysta folded her lips. Oh my. Is that what the king thinks of her? Is it so obvious? Crysta covered her face, embarrassed. And Pascal suppressed a smile at that reaction.

After the king and his guards had left, followed by Mathias who was chased away by Pascal in order to carry out the order to vacate the castle immediately- to make way for Crysta to get out of the room- Pascal lifted the blanket with a faint smile. Finding Crysta curled up in an unchanged position.

''Is this the girl who missed me?" Pascal teased.

She lowered her hands from her face slowly. Searching the eyes that were also looking at her with a playful glance. ''Do you believe it?''

Crysta leveled their positions when Pascal shook his head. ''Then what do you believe?''

Pascal again uncovered the strands of hair covering that lovely face. The face that he would never kill. The face that he could not explain had always comforted him. But he was made painfully aware of his position and Crysta's current status. ''I believe that the one you miss is Leonard.''

Ergh! Crysta pressed her lips together, annoyed. Leonard all over again. How annoying.