Story of Season: Winter

Chapters 10

Right at midnight Delphy and Blaze managed to catch up with the group. Nothing happened, everyone continued their journey calmly. Crystal was sleeping in her carriage. Delphy returned to escort Crystal's chariot, while Blaze chose to ride behind Delphy instead of returning to his carriage.

There was only the sound of horse treads and carriage wheels heard. Even so Delphy did not lower his vigilance in the slightest. Blaze who was behind Delphy also paid attention to the surroundings. The trip at night made the soldiers of the Palace who were in charge of escort unable to talk. At night they should increase alertness. Therefore, the Palace guards who are on guard duty at night will always change so that the escorts are always in maximum condition. Likewise with Delphy who will fall asleep during the day. Delphy's the only person who will be on guard every night, because Crystal's safety must take precedence over his own.

Until a few days passed, they were about to arrive at Ash-Shaif Kingdom, only to have to pass one last night in the forest with tall tree trees huh, the next morning they would arrive at Ash-Shaif Kingdom and the next night arrive at the capital.

"Let one more night and then you can sleep at night." Delphy told himself. Blaze, who usually accompanies Delphy at night, decides to sleep in his carriage.

The white horse riding Delphy suddenly stopped his steps, walking out of line without being ordered by the rider. Delphy was quite surprised, as were the other soldiers who saw him. As Delphy pulled the harness, the white horse neighed.

"Damn, my gut feeling is bad."

"Hurry up your horses! For the group on three groups and split up!!! Prioritize the King and Queen as well as the Crown Princess!!!" Delphy shouted, forcing his horse back to escort Crystal's carriage.

The group went faster. The group led by Delphy was forced to quit. A group of robbers surrounded them. Delphy felt the surrounding air heating up. The soldiers were on standby to stop the robbers.

Crystal woke up from her sleep, she looked out the window and then closed the curtains, too scared to see anything that happened outside her carriage.

"What do you want?!" Delphy said half screaming. The robbers looked at him. The sharp look they gave.

"What we see is what we want." A robber replied without taking his eyes off Delphy in the slightest.

Delphy tried to calm down, find out what he could do. He glanced at Crystal's horse carriage, his mind anxious, the only priority Delphy had in mind was how he could bring Crystal out safely from this situation. Blaze with the King and Queen. Colden with his own company.

A sword was ready in Delphy's hands, he could have finished off anyone who approached him at this moment. Just the thought of Crystal was enough to make him bring out all his abilities. He will not let any of the robbers get close to Crystal.

"I don't know what your purpose is. We, of the Whittaker Kingdom, it is appropriate that you get out of our way right now." Delphy said as he pointed his sword forward, "I have no intention of negotiating at this time, we have important affairs between kingdoms if you mess up, then there is no word of mercy for you."

"We won't leave until we get what we want." One of the men who was seen leading the robbers retaliated. "Give yourself up, that's all."

Delphy scrunched his forehead, what did the leader of the robbers mean to him, but for what? Not the property they want.

"Captain!!!" A soldier shouted trying to ask for orders from him.

The robber leader smiled cynically. He would not have expected if it would be this easy to carry out his mission. The personal bodyguard of the Crown Princess who was famous for her prowess, she thought that she would make a truce turned out foolishly Delphy surrendered.

Delphy looked at one of his subordinates, "You can leave, let me take care of the rest."

"Captain, are you sure?"

Delphy nodded briefly with a calm gaze, so calm that all the soldiers felt hypnotized and did Delphy's orders without saying anything more, whereas in every soldier's mind it stored the anxiety of Delphy's orders. How could they possibly let the captain himself. But no one can say a word, they can only obey his orders.

Until Delphy's entourage is unseen, Delphy reinserts his sword. Observing the surroundings, about 15 people brandished various kinds of weapons to him, swords, daggers, axes, wooden beams, and various other dangerous objects.

***

The Whittaker Empire reached the Ash-Shaif Kingdom at almost sunset. The King, Queen, and Crystal descend from their chariot elegantly followed by Blaze and Colden descending from their horses, apparently Colden rode his own horse last night when the Delphy tau divided them into three groups. The Ash-Shaif royal family welcomed them warmly, they were invited in and given their own private rooms to rest.

Blaze sat on the edge of the bed, his mind in a frenzy. He didn't see Delphy until they arrived at Ash-Shaif's Palace despite Delphy's entourage returning to the ranks late last night. I don't know what Delphy's doing right now. He should be here, escorting Crystal. But Crystal has not been seen with Delphy. What happened to Delphy, the situation last night was really tense after Delphy suddenly divided them into 3 groups.

Tired of his own thoughts, Blaze walked out of the room. Apparently in front of Blaze's room door there was Colden who just wanted to knock on the door. "Sister? What's up?"

"Where were you last night? Leave Delphy alone among the robbers? I don't think you're a coward, apparently you can only follow the safest troupe?" Colden immediately charged at Blaze with his speech, his gaze sharp, looking angry.

Blaze looked at Colden not understanding. "What does brother mean? Delphy's entourage has been with us since last night, which means he's okay, right?"

Without saying anything, Colden stepped away, Blaze tried to follow Colden's accelerated pace, as if he was being hunted for something. Until Blaze finally realized, one of his sisters was not okay and Colden knew it. Can Blaze see Colden's hands clenching hard.

On the other hand, Crystal sat down while enjoying a cup of tea. Last night's events still loom over him. How he saw Delphy's back as his chariot drove off leaving Delphy alone with the robbers. Crystal felt both admiration and envy at seeing that. Amazed because Delphy did not look daunted even the slightest fear in that dangerous situation and envied because he could not do the same. He could only sit sweetly on his carriage with trembling hands.

For a moment Crystal also felt guilty and worried about leaving Delphy alone there, but how she saw Delphy's gaze when telling them to leave first made the feeling of guilt and worry disappear instantly. He didn't know when his twin brother looked so cool. Until he realized that he and his brother were standing on a different stage.

"Either since when, I no longer know you." Crystal murmured as she stared into her teacup. Unconsciously her tears dripped, for what reason. His mind became confused, his marriage, becoming queen, and Delphy. Shit, I want it to feel Crystal running from this moment as well, somewhere, the most important thing he can be free, he can be like Delphy who can stand alone, do many things without fear of anything.