Chapter 82

82 The Next Journey Home

The looks on the three of them made Anne so curious. They have the looks that

She asked them while trying to get up from the bed, “Why are you crowding on me?”

“Anne, are you... are you alright?” Justice nervously asked her. His hand helped her, how glad he was when there was no uneasiness towards him.

“I’m fine...” Then everything came back to her. She was shaken and took glanced at Justice, “You... you bit me!”

“I know Anne, I am so sorry, I don’t know what’s coming on my mind at that time,” Said Justice, feeling remorse towards Anne.

Xavier took the charge of holding Anne and asked for Justice to mind his distance from her. Justice comply and retreated to the farthest from the other two. Anne looks grateful towards Xavier, although that drudge feeling still lingered at Justice.

“I know that something happened to you at Beyor’s cemetery, but I’m sorry Justice, I can’t even look at you right now.” Said Anne meekly at Justice.

Agreed with her opinion, although Justice feels bittered by her reaction, “I agreed, I will take my distance from you, don’t worry, however...” He looked warily at Vale and Xavier, “We need to discuss something.”

“I don’t like the sound of that. What is it?” Anne let out a sigh when she looks into the three of them.

.....

Trying to comfort her, Vale patted Anne’s hand. “Anne, we need you and Justice to be in an isolation chamber for maybe about a week.”

Her ears were ringing, and Anne’s eyes goes to Vale, “What? I am sorry, but I need to take a minute about what you said earlier. You said one week in an isolation chamber?”

“Yes, unfortunately, Justice had a disease that he might transmit to you.” Xavier carefully explained the situation to Anne.

Vale, smiling at Anne, tried to give her the comfort that she might need. “We also need to go as soon as possible. We never know when uhm...”

“When the bloodlust will set in, I know I read about Vampirism before.” She then took a deep breath and exhale it, “So, where do you take us now? I mean one week in isolation will be hard, and I reckon we need to in a secret about this. The last thing people wanted right now is another plague coming into their life.”

“You’re right, that is a good mindset for a healer, Miss Anne.” A voice came from behind them. It was chief Hale, smiling at her, “We need to go as soon as possible. You may change your clothes first. Brom already set two huge carriages for us.”

“Chief Hale, I am surprised to see you here, sir.” Anne felt a bit taken aback.

“How are you feeling? I gave you some painkillers. Maybe you feel a bit nauseous?”

Shaking her head, Anne finally realized chief Hale was treated her wound. “Thank you so much chief, I’m fine for now.”

Chief Hale looks satisfied. “Good. Now maybe these three gentlemen could help you go back to your room?”

“No, thank you, chief, I could go back by myself,” Said Anne smiling at chief Hale, “Although, I am so sorry, is it alright for me to go into isolation when the announcement of the civil service exam came out?”

“It’s quite alright, miss Anne, I got all the evaluation that you need. The announcement will come in two weeks so, there’s time.” Says chief Hale reassuringly smiling at Anne.

Anne gave out a sigh of relief. Now all she needs to do is to go into the isolation chamber. Justice, on the other hand, feels some pressure on him. He asked Vale to call for Jason. They need to have a serious talk. Anne excuse herself back into her room when Jason came inside.

“What happened? Why are you packing your bag?” Asked Jason, he looks confused by how busy the maids were inside Justice’s room.

Looking around the room, Justice called for Jason to go outside and talked on one of the terraces, the barrack has a special terrace with chairs and a small table, and soldiers can have a comfortable conversation while looking at the view of the botanical and herbs garden below.

They sat on the chair, where Justice begin to speak, “Look, I know you have my best interest in your heart, but next time, please be more considerate next time and maybe asked me beforehand.”

Jason chuckled at his brother, “You do realize the Bahamut already peeking at the portal, right? I don’t have the time, little brother. What I had in my mind was how to save you, as the prince of this kingdom. Protecting you is my main duty.”

Frustrated with his brother, Justice rustled his hair and spoke his mind, “No brother, you are what you are. I want you to think about yourself before me! I can protect myself, and you also need to protect yours.” Justice was frustrated by his brother, Javier was the cold and calculated brother, while Jason always put Justice’s interest above all. For the young Justice, the love from his brother is comforting, but not for the adult Justice, the one that has everything figured out and is capable of his own. “Brother, I love you, and you’re the one that I can count on since I was a toddler, but you can’t dote on me so much.”

The realization came downing on Jason, “I... I never thought you felt like this about me, I guess This is why you spent your time more with your best friends than with me,” said Jason bitterly, he glanced at his little brother, “You do know that I never intended to be possessive at you, right?”

“I do, brother, you always have a strong sense of duty above Javier and sometimes, even me,” Justice smiled at his brother, he holds into Jason’s shoulder, “But I want you to become the man you want to be, not as the prince that need to sacrifice everything for the crown prince.”

Jason closed his eyes and the warm breeze of the dawn wind came through his face. He nodded and smiled at Justice. What he saw before was the young crown prince with loose two front teeth grinning at him. Now, it was a handsome young man, smiling at him with his red hair and red ruby eyes.

The two of them have a discussion about Justice’s disease. He gave him the information, but not as much as Jason need to know. Jason asked him to keep it a secret from Javier. The second prince will do anything to get the crown prince’s position. When he knows that is something wrong with his little brother, Javier will definitely dispute everything in front of the councils.

“Don’t worry about Javier. I will try to divert his attention for a while,” said Jason to Justice. “I need to have someone take your paperwork every day, maybe Bernard? and what about the mysterious man that bites you?”

Justice froze for a moment. “I... I never thought of him, f*ck you’re right, I’ll have the discussion with everyone in the carriages.”

“Be careful brother, whoever he was, I sensed that wasn’t the last encountered you’re going to have with him,” Jason warns his brother before he goes back to the war room, his duty, for now, is to observe Gaftan and observe the clandestine tower.

Already finished packing her bag, Anne waited for the others on the terrace. She never meant to overhear Justice and Jason, but it will be more awkward for her to go away. She sat so low between the hedges, avoiding the brothers. After hearing their conversation, a hand caressing her cheek, she squeak and saw Justice smirking at her.

“What do we have here, a young girl hiding and overhearing the conversation of the royalty,” Justice chuckled at her, “You realize that purple color as the hair will never hide you from even the dense hedges or plants, aren’t you?”

She was pouting at Justice. “I don’t know you have a private conversation with your brother. Believe me, I tried to go, but both of you will notice.”

“Actually, I was noticing the flowy purple hair before you even sat on the chair. Good try though.” Said Justice while softly poking at her nose.

Anne rubbed her nose and glared at Justice, “Fine, I’m sorry, your majesty, I didn’t intend to overhear the conversation, happy?”

“Good, just wait for my punishment later on,” Justice smirked at her and go back to his room. One thing that he was realized, Anne doesn’t have any fears in her eyes anymore, it was enough for him.

The carriages were ready for them, one carriage is being loaded the trunks and bags, while the other was packed by everyone, the drivers and another servant arranged the pieces, while Anne, Vale, Xavier, Justice, chief Hale, and Brom took their seat inside the massive carriage.

Sitting at the end of the carriage with the view from the window is how Anne loved to sit on every journey. She took a deep breath and look all over around the carriage, it will take almost two days non-stop to go back to the capital. What a long journey with very different natures of people.