Foreboding Storm - Chapter 153

An image of a white-robed and veiled female appeared in his mind, and his heart thumped in his chest.

“No way…” It couldn’t be…

Did his indifferent and cold attitude towards his wife…have something to do with Laila?

“But…but before leaving the Northwest, I was fully confident the two were one and the same?”

In Laila, he saw his wife, Princess Qamari’s shadow. And when he returned to the stone mansion of Laining City and looked at his wife’s portrait, a vague feeling of familiarity swamped him until he was absolutely certain the two were one and the same.

But that sense of familiarity…he couldn’t perceive from the woman in his tent.

“What exactly is going on? It couldn’t be I developed feelings for Laila and transferred that feeling onto Qamari? But if that’s the case, then why don’t I feel anything now? Or is it the other way around?”

But even if it was, the question was still the same.

Why didn’t he feel anything now?

Crown Prince Lail was confused and lost. He didn’t know what was going on!

The only other solution, that he probably fell in love with the stranger Laila and no longer felt anything for his wife, was too disturbing and heart shuddering for him to believe.

After all, while his wife was still alive and well, how could he fall in love with another?

This was against his convictions and the marriage agreement they made!

The next morning, the farers of the Sailors Union packed and continued on their journey, leaving the Crown Prince in the company of his wife and her personal servant.

“Lail, which road are we taking?” They still needed to return to the Amayan Empire so she could live a glamorous and carefree life as the Crown Princess Consort of the strongest and richest empire!

“We’ll continue upward.” The man replied indifferently and turned to take down his tent.

“Aar…I mean, Princess Qamari, are you ready? Once we enter the empire, if that other one returns, we’ll be executed for fraud.” Marui Osklain stepped closer to the other and furtively whispered in a barely audible tone.

“I’ve long been ready since the day I came up with this scheme. But that da**ed wench! She refuses to die no matter how many mercenaries I commission!”

“That’s why I say it’s still not too late to back out. This Crown Prince is cold. And that one is practically impossible to kill. If she returns and tries to reclaim her identity, this man won’t show any tender feelings to the fairer sex.” This was why she felt tense and anxious.

The target of their scheme turned out to be more ferocious and frightening than she’d imagined.

Under his overbearing pressure, she felt as if an axe was hanging over her neck. One mistake and their head would roll.

Marui Osklain wanted to live a good and comfortable life. But more than that, she wanted to live long.

But her companion wasn’t on the same wavelength as her.

“Stop fretting and don’t mention her again. If she won’t die once, twice, or even a hundred times, then I’ll try a thousand times. Either way, she has to go and never return.”

“Okay, that’s fine. But where are you going to get the money to commission her death a thousand times?” Marui Osklain skeptically looked her over. Aside from the clothes on their body, they didn’t have a single cent on their person.

“Heh…Am I not the Crown Princess Consort of the Seven realms richest empire? Do you think I’d lack that bit of money?” The other mirthfully curled her eyes and walked away.

Kill Princess Qamari with her own money and authority?

Da**! Too vicious!

Marui Osklain wiped off a cold sweat and followed after the woman. Since they were on the same side and she hated Princess Qamari as much as the other, she was more than happy to see such a scene play out.

Crown Prince Lail debated whether to just damp the tent and hurry through the marsh. But when he recalled the other person traveling with him, he discarded the idea.

Even if he didn’t want to be anywhere near her, unless it was proven she wasn’t his wife, he had the responsibility to look after her comfort.

With a snap of his fingers, the tent folded into itself and he slung it over his shoulder.

“Let’s go.” Without a backward glance, he continued through the marshes.

On the way, they encountered Wild Scorpions, Spider Lilies, Bloodsucking Leeches, and many other wild beasts that had mutated as a result of the Dark Moon.

Crown Prince Lail effortlessly took care of them as the two women admired from the side.

“I must say, he isn’t a bad catch. His dashing looks and bottomless strength would’ve been wasted on that Princess Qamari.”

“Of course. Such an outstanding and capable man is only worthy of being mine.”

On their fortieth encounter, a group of thin-bodied civilians in tattered and shredded clothes descended from trees and stood in their way.

“Young man, can you help us reach the empire? Our houses and livestock are gone. Our village is occupied by a group of deadly beasts. Please, help us get to the empire. Please, save us.”

“Please, save us!”

“Be benevolent and have pity on us. Help us get to the empire!”

Suddenly swarmed with a throng of civilians pleading on their knees, the Crown Prince was stumped.

“Everyone, everyone, stand up!”

“No! We won’t stand unless you promise us! Promise to help us and we’ll stand!”

“Yes, promise us!”

“This is a question of our lives!”

Crown Prince Lail frowned. The moment the pack of haggard civilians appeared in his way, he already planned to help them.

But the forceful manner in which they sought help made him feel disappointed.

The less populated regions of the empire must be in chaos now. Though this group of villagers were unlikeable, they were only looking for a way to survive.

Since that was the case, he’d help them safely get to the empire, but assist no further.

“Alright, calm down. I’ll help you.”

“Yay! Big Brother, you’re a wonderful person.”

“Yes, young man. Thank you for assisting us. From now on, we’re in your care.”

“Once we reach the empire, we’ll be safe!”

The civilians held their bags close to their chests and surrounded the men.

“What is he doing? A pack of useless baggage would only slow us down.” The purple-red clad woman anxiously wrung her sleeves and hissed.

She was already pressed for time.

To send another wave of powerful and deadly mercenaries, she needed to enter the empire and occupy the seat of Crown Princess Consort.

Only then would she have the capital to commission more assassins.

“He’s the Crown Prince of the Amayan Empire. Seeing his subjects so wretched and homeless, his heartstrings must’ve pulled.” Marui Osklain gently consoled.

“But…if we travel at such a speed, it’ll be months before we reach the Imperial Capital. By then, if she’s still alive, the wench will probably arrive in the empire.”

“But what can we do? If we rush him or try to dissuade him from bringing them along, then we’re more likely to expose ourselves.”

“Hmm…”

In this manner, the group trekked through the Southern Wild Marshes.

Blood Lizards and Poisonous Centipedes slithered out of the muddy waste, their horrid appearance causing the civilians to crowd around the two women in perfect silk dresses.

In their mind, since the two were able to remain nice and clean in such a muddy and stinking region, they probably had a secret method or two for safety and defense.

Though not entirely on point, the civilians’ guess was right as the females waved their hands and flame arrows and water spears shot out, piercing into the skulls of the wild beasts.

‘She’s not Laila.’ After seeing this scene, the Crown Prince was certain of this fact.

Laila didn’t use her magic much and usually wielded her golden sword for any confrontation with pride.

Though the task of wielding a weapon was a laborious one, from watching her light and graceful steps, one would feel she was dancing rather than swinging a sword.

But when she used her magic, a stream of creamy, pure-white light would flow from her figure.

The radiance and glow of the light alone was enough to vanquish all darkness.

But this female…his wife?…her elemental ability had a blue glow.

She wasn’t Laila…

…but she was his wife.

Then Laila and Qamari were two different people?

Blinding light flashed across his vision and Crown Prince Lail slashed with ferocious fervor.

“Ahhhhh!”

Boom!

The swarm of Centipedes and Blood Lizards were suddenly thrown in turmoil as numerous stabs, pierces, and slashes rained down on their figures. Enraged and frightened, they shrieked in pain and lashed with blind fury.

Blood smoke of poisonous gas leaked from the Blood Lizards as the Centipedes released bursts of green gas.

“Poison! It’s poison!”

“What do we do? We don’t have poison repellent pills!”

“We’re done for!”

The civilians fearfully huddled together, fear and utter despair marring their faces.

“Heh…they don’t have poison repellents? Perfect! This way, we’ll be rid of them without lifting a finger.” Aarya Quime’s purple pupils flashed with a ruthless and cruel light.

She swept a disgusted glance at the crouched peasants and felt an intense urge to ruthlessly stomp them under her feet.

But recalling her new identity, she quickly turned her gaze away and restored her cold and calm appearance.

“I wish we had poison repellents as well. Unfortunately, we didn’t anticipate a clash with the Poisonous Swarm.” She regretfully lowered her head.

“Princess, don’t feel sad. You’re not a god so how could you predict the future?” Marui Osklain comfortingly placed a hand on her shoulder.

“But…”

“No but. This whole beast horde attack came out of nowhere. It was meant to happen so it happened. There’s nothing you could’ve done differently.”

The nearby civilians’ hearts warmed on hearing the two’s conversation.

Princess? The one they were traveling with was a princess!?

What a beautiful Princess! She was so kind and gentle…

“That’s right, princess! Don’t blame yourself. It happened when it was meant to happen.”

“Yes, none of this is your fault!”

Filled with fervent worship, the civilians forgot about their precarious situation and enthusiastically showered the woman that desired their death with praises.

Right at this moment, numerous streams of black light appeared and sunk into their bodies.

Stunned and caught off guard, the civilians blinked and exchanged confused glances.

“What was that light?”

“You felt it too?”

“Of course, I felt it! It entered my body!”

Immediately, shouts and cries of agreement sounded out. All the civilians had felt the black lights enter their bodies.

What to do? Were they poisoned already?

“Those were poison repellents. I had some with me. You should be fine.” A cold and indifferent voice resounded and the villagers raised their heads to see the grim and gloomy appearance of the young man they’d asked for help.

“Poison repellent?”

“This means…”

“We’re saved!”

“Thank you, benefactor! Because of you, we’ll live a day longer.”

In the midst of the jubilant cheers, Aarya Quime clenched her fists under her sleeves. She maintained the calm, cold look in her gaze, but her teeth were gritted in hate as she looked at the dirty peasants.

“Lail, are you okay?”

Crown Prince Lail stiffened on hearing her voice.

After reaching the conclusion of having fallen in love with Laila, he felt guilty and uncomfortable in her presence.

“Hmm!”

With that, he turned and resumed their trek out of the Southern Wild Marshes.

“A…I mean, Princess. Did you hear that? He actually gave a response!”

“Hmm, he did.” Aarya Quime’s eyes shined with radiant light as she walked the young man’s receding back.

Since she’d first met him in the Mistland Academy’s Seven Academies Competition gathering, this was the first time the Crown Prince hadn’t ignored her or replied rudely to her question.

Maybe, traveling slow wasn’t so bad…

At least now, she’d get enough time to make her way into the cold Crown Prince’s heart.

“Let’s go!” With lighter steps and shiny eyes, she followed after the man.