The Princess (Part One)

In the blink of an eye, it was early May. Tender green grass covered the prairie, and life flourished everywhere.

Across the vast grassland, fifty fully armed cavalrymen sat astride tall warhorses, weapons in hand. Their sharp eyes searched every inch of the surrounding area. Any creature that showed the slightest sign of threatening the person they protected would be cut down without mercy.

A Knight led every ten cavalrymen. It was a formidable escort.

Behind them rolled an ornate carriage drawn by four fine horses. Another four ran lightly alongside, ready to take their turn pulling it. Despite the carriage's splendor, all eight horses looked weary. Dust had settled into every crevice of the carriage. They had clearly been traveling for some time and had covered a long distance.

Dozens of attendants guarded the carriage from the sides and rear. Together with the Knights scouting ahead, they formed a solid ring of protection around it.

"Those damned thieves! How dare they act so brazenly? If I catch them, I'll make them regret it!" After so long on the road, everyone was in a poor mood and exhausted. If a band of thieves had not harassed the princess the previous night, they would not have had to travel in such a hurry. One Knight commander wiped away his sweat, his eyes glinting with murderous intent.

"Sir, why are we rushing like this? I'm afraid the princess can't bear this pace," a Knight asked irritably. He glanced around, but the desolate grassland was empty as far as he could see.

They had already been traveling quickly before today. This pace was far too punishing. Even the Knights were struggling, and he could not imagine how the princess in the carriage behind them was enduring it.

They were Knights of the Royal