THE RISE OF THE KNIGHTS OF SINNERS

#24# HURRICANE CARRIER OF DISAPPOINTMENT

1 Hour before sunrise, the Valdia region began to be hit by a large storm accompanied by heavy rain and lightning. Many of the town's houses were damaged but fortunately none of the residents were injured. The storm lasted more than 3 hours before it finally disappeared. That's when marquis Aiden ordered Valdia's entire army to help the residents repair their homes. Valdia's troops were divided evenly in order to reach the entire region.At the swift start of the rain, the entire Valdia army was even more eager to carry out the task.

They were dispatched while carrying various kinds of food, medicine, and materials needed to improve the homes of the residents outside the city and within the city, as usual, Leo will lead the army outside the city, while the city will be Thalia.

Valdia's entire army was completely preoccupied today and that was Licia's chance. Amidst the rush of rain, the girl came out quietly through the window of the room while carrying a backpack that was not too big. Where would he go? Of course he went to the place where Orka was. Precisely at the main gate of the city where Orka disguised himself as a merchant carrying a horse carriage full of merchandise and escorted 10 soldiers.

10 Minutes for Orka to wait for Licia to arrive. When the girl came, Orka immediately pulled her into the horse carriage and Orka ordered her coachman to run the horse carriage.

The horse-drawn carriage was running without the suspicion of the gatekeepers because indeed a great many merchant horse-drawn carriages left the city after the storm had passed.

" Where are we going Orka? " tanya Licia looked at Orka who was reading the map of Valdia territory.

" We're going to Caspia, "

" Caspia? Wouldn't it be faster if the city went straight north towards Aru? "

" It's true, Licia. However, the northern region of Valdia was heavily affected by the storm. I got reports there were two villages in the north that were destroyed and most likely the son of the marquis was there, "

" That's why you chose to turn? "

" Yes, besides, the path to Caspia is better to pass because it is only a meadow so we do not have to fear about fallen trees and others, "

Licia suddenly felt strange after hearing Orka's explanation. He had just heard there was a village north of Valdia. As far as Licia knew the area there was only grassland and not a single village.

" Lician? " ask Orka looking at the dreamy Licia.

Licia shook her head then looked at the window of the carriage. " Have you made sure no one followed me? "

" yes. Ever since last night I've been ordering my bodyguards to keep an eye on the marquis's son's troop movements. "

" Beware, they're not just any troops, "

" What does Licia mean? "

" As far as I can tell, they are Special Forces who are above average. They are divided into 10 divisions and the head of each division might be equal to me or even you, "

" Just calm down, my bodyguards are much more experienced and powerful. You're too much, Licia. You better rest because the journey is still far away, "

" Alright at least I warned you. " Licia comforts her sitting position so she can sleep.

The journey from the city of Valdia to Caspia took 1 hour due to the slightly muddy road. On the way, Orka and Licia had fallen asleep in a horse carriage until they did not realize they had almost reached the Caspia region and there were 1 village that was also severely damaged by the storm this morning.

As Orka's party walked closer to the village, they were startled by the chariot wheels that suddenly detached and broke down.

" Hoy what is this!? Why did you guys stop? " ask Orka who came out of the horse carriage while scratching her head.

" I'm sorry, sir, it looks like the wheels have come loose and broken. I forgot to check it this morning because of the storm, " said the horseman.

Orka walked up to the coachman and kicked him. " Stupid driver! I paid you dearly! "

" I'm sorry sir you gave too much money until I forgot to take care of the horse-drawn carriage, "reply the coachman with a satirical bada.

" H...!? Say it again if you want to die! "

" Master's illicit money made me forget to take care of this horse-drawn carriage, "

Orka hooked the word of the coachman. He spontaneously took off his coat and threw a punch at the coachman. " Dolent of you...! "

The coachman surprisingly managed to avoid the blow. Orka even repeatedly sent punches and kicks but managed to be fended off and avoided all.

" Damn! Who the hell are you!? None of my coachmen are good at martial arts! " The Orka was further infuriated and began to suspect the coachman.

" Haha... After a month, only now do you ask that? " said the coachman who opened the hood of his coat. It appears that the figure of the courier is Kiran.

" Who are you!? I've never had a coachman as young as you! " ask Orka a little surprised because indeed all Orka coachmen are old people.

" Don't Licia's daughter warn you? "

" Th-you!? So you're the squad member that Licia meant? "

" Yes... I got a special mission to spy on you guys and you seem to have caught my trap, "

" W-what do you mean!? " Orka started to panic when she heard the word trap.

" That map you brought from me. You should be suspicious but believe it. After all, those two ruined villages in the north were nothing but lies. Actually the ruined village is the village in front of you now, " replied Kiran while showing a smile full of satisfaction.

" Wh-what!? "

" Lord Leo is in the village now. It's a pity Mr. Orka, your plan ends here. "

" Damn you...! I'll kill you here...! " The orka was ringing as it cast a lightning magic that was directly drawn towards Kiran.

And that's what Kiran wants. Yes, from the very beginning Kiran had indeed deliberately provoked Orka for her to use her magic to provoke the attention of the troops in the village. Unfortunately, Orka's mature plan that has been prepared for months ends just like that because of his own stupidity that does not suspect his men.

The swipe from Orka's magic exploded and caused a huge puff of smoke. Sure enough, the explosion and puff provoked the attention of the troops in the village and the leader of the troops there was Leo. A few minutes later, one by one the Yurei 6th and 10th divisions came to where Orka was.

" Hey what's going on? " ask one of the Yurei members who walked towards Orka and the other.

Kiran turned her body towards the member. " There's nothing. Only a small insect is on the rampage, "

" Kapteeen!? Where have you been! For weeks we searched for you! " shock the Yurei member earlier who turned out to be a member of Divis 6 where Kiran was the dreamer. Kiran herself was focused on the mission Thalia had given her in the last few weeks so she abandoned her temporary duties as leader.

" Ahaha.excuse me... There is an important mission from Miss Thalia that I must carry out, " replied Kiran without guilt.

Who would have thought behind the members of Yurei earlier, there was Leo who immediately walked up to Kiran. " Important mission? "

" Master Leo!? " shock Kiran.

Leo turned to Kiran's right and saw a stranger. " Orka? What are you doing here? "

Orka just shut up. He's been caught off guard and out of sense what to do. While the guards were no longer able to struggle because they were surrounded by Yurei troops.

Before long, Licia suddenly came out from inside the horse carriage and it instantly shocked Leo. " Licia!? "

Lia herself was surprised as well. He fell silent and looked at Leo in the rain. " B-how could you be here? "

" I should have used that. Why are you here? Didn't you forbid you to leave the palace? " ask Leo who occasionally glances at Orka.

" A... A... I just want to take a walk! " refute Licia who did not dare to look at Leo.

Leo realizes Licia's lie. Then he walked up to Orka and looked into her eyes. " Say what are you doing here? "

" I-I just invited pu- "

" He planned to run away with my master's daughter Licia"." said Kiran who suddenly interrupted Orka's words.

" the reason? "

" Why don't you ask Licia's daughter directly? "

Leo turned his gaze to Licia and approached her. " What does this mean? "

Licia immediately bowed and replied softly, "It's none of your business!  "

" Say it again? "

" I told you it's none of your business! " snaps Licia loudly.

" If you still love Orka, why not say it from the beginning so that our match does not happen? " ask Leo who can still take a snapshot of Licia.

" Yes, I should have said it if I knew from the beginning that you agreed to the match just because you wanted the throne. "

Leo immediately remembered and began to understand the reason Licia had been away from him. So because of that huh? I was stupid I hadn't noticed all this time. That's what Leo thought when he looked at the girl who made him fall in love.

" Is that so? My answer in the cave was just a cursory answer appearing in the brain. I can't tell you the real reason because it was a deal with your grandfather. "

Leo clasped Licia's hand and slightly pulled her. " Let's go back to the palace. Looks like your brain has been washed Orka, "

Licia immediately forcibly removed Leo's hand and slammed it just like that. " You're the one who washes my brain! If you hadn't come to the lake, my relationship and Orka would never have been like this! It's all because of you! My life was ruined after meeting you! "

" You blame me? "

" Yes! All wrong! I know you were intent on inciting my grandfather to have him match me with you and then you went to the lake to get close to me! By getting rid of Orka and getting my grandfather's heart you have a great chance of becoming a king! You sly man! " Licia was unceasingly cursing without proof. But Leo still continued to face it patiently.

" You changed Licia. Where was my childhood friend Licia? "

" changed? Do you know what you know about me!? You just left and disappeared all those years ago coming again as if you knew about me completely!? "

" Forgot my question. Now let's go back to the palace! It's so cold here, "persuade Leo.

" Wouldn't! "

" why? "

" I want to live with Orka! I want to go wherever Orka goes! From the beginning he was the one I loved, not you! "

" I'm your future husband, and I have the right to refuse your actions. Now come back to the palace, "

" Wouldn't! Remember Leo, everything I want to do has nothing to do with you! Our relationship is just a childhood friend nothing more! I don't care about this match anymore! I will reject her even if I have to lose my status as a princess! For the sake of being able to live as I wish, I don't care! "

Leo is running out of patience. This time, Licia's words had completely torn her heart apart. A love for a girl is reciprocated by a very painful puncture of words.

Leo turned from Licia. He looked at the sky while breathing. Unintentionally as he blinked, a drop of tear fell from his eyes. " Hhh... I'm stupid to love a woman like you. "

Leo walked away from Licia in disappointment and despair. He wondered in his own heart why all this was happening? What harm? Why is her love story like this? That's the question that keeps swirling around in Leo's brain.

" Kiran, take Licia back to the palace. If you don't want to, do everything you can if you need to kill Orka and her followers. "so continued Leo who walked back to the village.

" You heard princess? " kiran said accompanied by Yurei 6th division troops who suddenly pointed a knife at the neck of Orka and his bodyguards.

" What are you going to do? " ask Licia.

" If you don't want to come back, I'll kill them. If you want to come back, I'll fix them. An easy choice, right? "

" It's okay, Licia. Go back to Valdia! We'll meet again at the academy in the fall so there's no need to worry "between Orka was terrified at the cold blade of the knife that stuck to her neck.

" Okay, I'll go back to the palace! " Licia walked back towards the city.

" It's stupid of you princess, "the grouse of Kiran that runs behind Licia.

" What do you mean? "

" It's nothing, "Kiran walks past Licia and stops in front of her. " Safe you broke our master's heart. "

Kiran's words slightly irritated Licia. How not, Licia still considered herself innocent. Kiran blamed herself.

They both walked for 2 hours. The journey to the city is longer because Licia does not want to ride horses and prefers to walk.

...***...

Arriving at the palace, Licia went straight to the hot pool and returned to her room again. He was pensive in bed lamenting the failure of his escape plan with Orka.

" You are indeed a fool, Licia, "a woman's voice suddenly came from Licia's room.

Licia looked in all directions and there was Thalia leaning next to the door. " When have you been here? "

" When you daydream, I come in here, " replied Thalia smiling.

Thalia's smile made Licia suspicious and wondered what the rival's business was here. And a few seconds he began to realize something from Thalia's smile. " Is this all your plan? "

" You're aware too, aren't you? I don't want this incident to happen either. But last night I failed to tell Leo early, "

" Why are you meddling in my business? "

" Because you're stupid. "

Licia was annoyed at Thalia's taunts. He got out of bed and approached Thalia. " stupid? Isn't your brother stupid? "

" Hmh wouldn't it be more foolish to conclude an uncertain answer and try to avoid it? Licia, you trust yourself too much and always reject the opinions of others that is what makes you stupid and always fails to pursue me, "

" What did you actually say? "

" You stayed away from Leo because you knew he was approaching you for the throne, didn't you? "

" You know already? "

" Yes, all thanks to Kiran. If I hadn't told him to keep an eye on you and Orka, I probably wouldn't have known about this, "

" Isn't it the fact that Leo is only after my throne? Thalia, as a fellow woman you know what I want, right? "

" Yes! Of course all women want genuine love. Didn't Leo do the same? Licia you never knew about Leo. He was a figure who would be honest if his path was wrong and lied when he felt his net was right. "

" Then you want to say that the reason Leo approached me for the throne was a lie? "

" I don't know. That's the fool of you, why don't you just ask your grandfather? After all, if Leo wants the throne, why would he bother to be betrothed to you and seek the throne of Gerelia? "

" Do you underestimate the king's family? "

" Hey stupid! When Leo was in Taiyoria, he had already received matchmaking offers 4 times. The ones he was betrothed to were the princesses of the eastern continental kingdom and one of them was the daughter of Yun Zhu of the Cronix empire. If Leo wanted the throne, he had long since married the daughter of Yun Zhu and usurped the rich imperial throne rather than having to seize the throne of a poor kingdom like Gerelia now, "

" Pu-daughter Yun Zhu? Wasn't he the first son of the emperor Cronix? "

" Yes! But it was a surprise that Leo turned down the offer. He said his dream was to live freely and peacefully in Valdia. And everything Leo said to you and to me about the hard-earned reason for building Valdia was also a lie. He reasoned just to help his father, didn't he? Actually he built Valdia in every field for me. He wanted me to be able to relax as a leader later because Valdia's whole problem was over and after that he could live freely without worrying about me anymore, "

" What does this have to do with what happened today? "

" Hey Licia, you're the only woman who has made Leo fall in love. Do you know, every night he's the one guarding your room and as many as fourteen hit men who are after you he's caught. "

" Aren't you taking care of me? "

" Yes, it should have been me because it was the king's order. But Leo replaced me. He wished he could talk to you while on guard and that hope never happened. Every night he waited outside your window and saved your life many times but now you hurt him. "

Thalia's words startled Licia. How could the busy Leo be willing to take care of him until the morning? Is he really in love? Yes, the fact that Leo did was purely his impulse to want to get closer to Licia.

Licia was silent for a moment. He began to think 2 times about his behavior earlier and began to be able to think more calmly about Leo's reasons while in the cave. The girl was a little sorry and blamed herself. How not? He just stayed away from Leo for no apparent reason and even though he could ask directly to the grandfather about the truth of Leo's speech but instead all this time the idea was never thought of.

" You don't know anything about Leo and easily swallow the answer without trying to figure it out first. Now I hope you understand. "

Licia replicates her hands. He realized what he said to Leo was too cruel. " I regret it. It's not appropriate for me to say that bad in front of him, "

" Well, now what? Do you still want to be with Orka or try to be with Leo again? "

Licia looked deeply into Thalia's eyes and shook her head. " I'm sorry Thalia. I can't put two names in my heart. I chose Orka because she was the one who understood more about my wishes. "

Thalia closed her eyes for a moment and smiled. " Well if that's your decision I hope there's no regret at the end. But at least apologize to Leo and tell him how you feel, "

" Yes, I'll do that. Thanks Thalia, if you hadn't come here, maybe my mind wouldn't have opened up, "

" Next time look for the truth before you conclude anything. Our nature is the same, and what is happening to you now has happened to me. Therefore, I don't want my mistakes to rub off on you. I'm going first. Later that night come to the hall and wait for her to come home, "Thalia opens the door to Licia's room and leaves.

" yes. I'll do it. "reply with a satisfied smile. His heart was instantly relieved after hearing the rival's advice. It's just that he still doesn't understand about Leo. He also felt guilty for having originally concluded and would ask the grandfather after returning to the capital. The most important thing for Licia right now is to apologize to Leo.

However, the time to apologize did not come because Leo had 2 weeks not returned to the palace. Day after day Thalia sent messengers to send Leo home but Leo refused. The young man chose to stay in the village to eliminate the disappointment and heartache that continues to terrorize him until now.

All of Licia's sharp words continued to haunt her endlessly and made Leo's figure turn tempramental. He often scolded Indra and the others for their unfinished task.

^^^To be continuous.^^^