Chương 117: She Returns From The Dungeon
Jasmine stood with her back against the window, surrounded on all sides by guardswomen bearing magic resistant shields. Prince Wilbur stood behind the first row, with his carefree smile.
"H-how could you find me so quickly!?" She asked, panting for breath.
"Oh? You don't know? Everyone here wears a plaque to allow them entrance. You didn't think that the plaque you were given could be so easily emulated, could you?" Prince Wilbur pursed his lips. "But, that clueless face of yours is priceless. I really shouldn't have said anything."
Suddenly, Jasmine stood straight and laughed, her breath no longer ragged.
"That's right. you really shouldn't have." She said. "Now I have confirmed my suspicions."
"Apprehend her, but do not cause her harm!" The Prince ordered.
But then, Jasmine disappeared in a puff of smoke, the identification plaque falling noisily to the floor.
"A body double!" Prince Wilbur's smile grew wider. "She's becoming more and more excellent the more I know her." He turned to the guard women. "Quick! Search the castle! She must be here somewhere!"
The guards scattered, and the Prince leisurely walked down the hallway. Such a long chase it was. He hadn't had such fun in years.
----
Christian and Keith were stopped at the castle gates.
"But my cousin is in there! If I don't stop her, it's likely that she'll bring down the whole castle with her!" Christian argued.
"Even so, you are a man. All men aside from the royal family are not allowed in." The guard woman replied. "If you insist upon entering, then I will have no choice but to stop you, even if I must kill you."
Keith shook his head and grabbed Christian's shoulder, preventing him from moving forward.
"If there is no way to enter, then we will take our leave. But, if that which you protect should be destroyed, I wonder...just what use are you as guards?" With those sharp words, he began to drag Christian away.
"Keith, what are you doing? Can't you see that these people are in danger?" Christian asked.
"If they can act like that while their castle is being torn to pieces, then they are probably not worth saving. You know that Jasmine can't stand for any kind of injustice." Keith reminded him, and added.
"We've already been marked as hostiles now. It's natural that they will try to capture us. Jasmine can take care of things by herself. Besides, Ponzu and Gerard have no idea how to fight. We need to return to the inn and make sure they aren't taken as hostages."
Christian clicked his tongue and set his back to the castle. If their company was taken as hostages, then Jasmine truly would be in trouble. They needed to hurry up and join up with Robin's group to make sure everyone stayed safe. "Then, what are we waiting for? Let's hurry!"
-----
Robin's group emerged from the dungeon, eager to see the sunlight again.
"You're out quickly." A guard noticed.
"One of my comrades is not feeling well, so we kept the trip short." Robin explained.
"Mighty sorry to hear that. Sir Drago left a message for you. He's sorry, but the spar will have to be postponed. something has happened back at the castle, so he had no choice but to return."
"No problem." Robin nodded. "We'll be heading back to town as well, then, so my companion can have a proper rest."
"Stay safe!" The old guard bid them farewell with a salute.
Once they were out of sight, Robin began to pick up the pace.
"Why are we running?" Chelsea asked. "Hey, why are we running?"
"It's highly likely that the cause of the commotion at the castle is either Christian, or Jasmine. Sir Drago is very skilled. If Sir Drago is on his way there, our group will be in trouble." Robin explained. "I do hope it's my imagination, though."
"Well, a little exercise never hurt anyone." Chelsea nodded. "But I want an all-vegetable meal tonight! No meat allowed."
"Noted." Robin laughed.
"Master, shall I fly ahead and scout out the situation?" Skye asked.
"That would be helpful, thanks. Be careful not to be seen." Robin nodded.
"Got it!" Skye flew away ahead of them towards town.
-----
Jasmine clicked her tongue as she observed the entrance way being blocked by guard women in a solid wall. Even if she were suddenly able to turn invisible, there was no way she could squeeze through that mob. She had tried to quietly cut a window open, but they were all magic proofed to the point where it was ridiculous.
Having no other choice, Jasmine returned to the one place they didn't expect her to go: the library. She had noticed that there was an entrance to the 2nd floor from there, and decided to try her luck. But, before that....Jasmine collected a lot of the valuable tomes into her magic bag, impudently.
Since they weren't being cordial anymore, there was no longer any need to be polite. The price for insulting a master magician wasn't cheap. She patted her magic bag in satisfaction before heading up to the second story.
-------
"Your Highness, we have checked all the rooms on the first floor, and have yet to find the escapee." A guard woman reported.
"Your highness, the library has just been found ransacked!" Another guard woman hurriedly reported upon arrival.
"Expand your search to the upper levels, and continue searching." Prince Wilbur ordered.
"Understood, Your Highness." The guards saluted before returning to spread the new orders to the other search parties.
"Heh heh. The more you run, the more I want to chase you." He laughed as he leisurely headed up the stairs.
-------
Sir Drago reached the city gates. "Make sure not to allow anyone to leave." he ordered the guards.
"Yessir!" The guard captain saluted. Unbeknownst to them, Skye had observed this conversation from a nearby tree, and contacted Robin.
"Robin, he's having the soldiers keep anyone from leaving."
"Perfect. We're almost there!" Robin answered. "Stay hidden."
------
Christian and Keith were relieved to find that the people back at the inn were safe and sound. "Pack your bags." Christian ordered, as he quickly burned some green leaves to fill the room with a thick smoke. "Jasmine's temper has appeared once again. The situation may go south very easily."
Ponzu and the carriage driver nodded, and began gathering their things in a manner which seemed to be very practised as they were ready to leave within five minutes. Gerard was impressed.
"Now, get in the closet, and cover your mouths with a cloth." Christian ordered, taking out a pipe for camouflage. "Don't breathe in too much smoke."
It was a good thing they were ready, because not two minutes later, a messenger arrived from the castle with an invitation from Prince Wilbur. He stepped into the smoke-filled room without hesitation.
"Heh? Is that so...Let me tell you something: I was just there at the castle. The guard woman very adamantly not allow me entrance." Prince Christian replied, acting . "And only now do you arrive with an invitation!? Isn't it rude to refuse entrance and then invite us back as soon as we leave?"
"You have been granted a special dispensation due to your status as a fellow member of royalty. The guard woman has since been informed, and will let you pass." Came the reply.
"Hmmph! You can tell him that he is lucky if I decide to come at all with how I was insulted." Christian snorted.
"Forgive me, but this is an invitation that you are not allowed to refuse." The messenger replied. Soldiers filed into the room, surrounding them.
"I suggest you think about the consequences of trying to take me anywhere by force." Christian gave his last warning.
"His Highness, Prince Wilbur is willing to shoulder any consequences necessary. You still wish for your cousin to remain in one piece, right?" The messenger replied.
"Are you threatening royalty!?" Christian slammed his fist down.
"I wouldn't dare. I am merely a messenger. These words came from His Highness, Prince Wilbur, himself." The messenger said.
"Hmmph. My cousin can handle things on her own. You, on the other hand, do not have the authority to order this prince around." Christian shook his head.
The messenger staggered. "What did you...do..." he fell to the floor, along with the knights, unconscious.
"Just a harmless little sleeping smoke is all." Christian chuckled, as Keith had Ponzu, Gerard, and the carriage driver quickly evacuate the closet and leave the inn with him.
"It's no use trying to leave the city. They've sollidly blocked the exit. Since Christian is still here, then it must mean that Jasmine's the one in trouble." A voice came from behind them.
Christian turned about.
"Oh, thank goodness it's you, Robin!" He sighed in relief.
"Yup. I'm back." She replied. "Now where's Jasmine?"
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