The Prince's Revenge
14: Anastasia (Flashback)
Attention!
This chapter, the flashback to Egon's first life.
***
“Hai Egon, what are you reading?”
“Anastasia! You sneak in here again?”
Egon was surprised to find a girl of his age entering the palace garden.
“I told you, I'm good at things like this.”
“Are you sure you're not a chimpanzee species?”
“Hey! My father keeps chimpanzees in the castle, he's smarter than me!”
“Hahaha. You're a weird”
***
Anastasia is the second daughter of Duke Willyn. When he was 10 years old, he realized that he had always been treated unfairly by his father and mother. Therefore, he always sneaked outside the castle to stay away from his heartache towards them.
So did Egon. Although the King always happens as if he does not distinguish between him and his brothers. He realized that as a half-noble like him, he had to try many times harder when he wanted to get recognition like his brothers.
Sometimes, it makes him tired. To eliminate that, he often sneaked out of the palace.
And the two of them, met by fate.
In a downtown area, when summer festivals are being celebrated.
At that time, people clapped their hands to watch street performances. As Egon watched the people nearby, he accidentally saw a little girl with blond white hair tugging at the cloak of an adult man beside him.
As the man's robe was blurred, Egon realized that the man was a knight from Duke Willyn's family.
Seeing him overwhelmed by the girl, Egon approached the knight.
“You're Duke Willyn's knight, right? Do I need help?”
Hearing someone mention the name of his master, the knight went on standby as he checked the identity of the questioner.
“Oh? Prince Egon! Long live and may the land of Ecloupevell bless the noble!” The knight in a small voice greeted Egon.
He realized that Egon was covering up his identity because he was wearing a similar cloak.
“Prince Egon?” The girl peeked out from behind the knight's robe to see the child who was bothering her.
“It's okay. We'll be out of here soon. So, don't worry about us!” Say the knight.
Seeing the knight again persuaded the girl to leave. Egon nodded small and said goodbye to leave.
“Alright then, please keep it secret that we have met here” he said before he left again.
***
The next day, when he had just finished training his sword skills, he rested near the apple tree while breathing in the fresh breeze. Just as he was about to open the waterskin(1) he was carrying, he was suddenly startled by a girl sitting on a tree branch above his head.
“Reacted right! You were the kid yesterday!” Said it cheerfully.
“You! Since when are you here? How can?” Egon who was sitting relaxed immediately got up and saw the girl with a face full of questions.
“Since my brother is busy with the crown prince!” Answer's relaxed.
The girl then came down from the tree in her slightly dirty and messy dress.
“Sorry for my noble impoliteness, I am Anastasia, the second daughter of the Willyn family,” she lifted her dress and greeted Egon.
Egon frowned looking at Anastasia who looked imperfect when she greeted him. His feet look shaky. As if she had just been in shock.
‘He can't be afraid of me right?’ thought.
The girl then stood back up and cleaned up the dirt stuck in her dress.
“Sorry, I honestly don't really understand royal etiquette. My treatment doesn't offend you, does it?” Ask the girl.
Egon smiled as well. It was the first time he saw a girl could be respectful and disrespectful at the same time.
“Your name is Princess Anastasia right? Want to accompany me for a walk?”
Considering Anastasia was talking about her brother and the crown prince who were spending time together, Egon also invited Anastasia to accompany him.
“I'm sure your highness should change clothes first?” said the girl while smiling.
“You're right. May I call the maid to clean your dress?”
“No need, I will wait for you here.”
“Hmm.. alright.” Egon then turned around and began to step away from the place. But, he had not gone any further, Anastasia again called the prince.
“Don't tell them I'm here.”
“You told me?”
“I ask you for help.”
Egon smiled back. “Alright, you owe me.”
Anastasia returned her smile.
***
That day, when Egon returned, Anastasia was no longer there.
Seeing Frederick walking freely alone in the hallway of the palace, he was able to guess that Anastasia and her sister, Princess Charlotte had already returned to their residence.
And when Egon thought that he would return to meet Anastasia in the near future, a plague struck the far reaches of the Ecloupevell kingdom. Everyone was ordered not to come out of their homes as a form of prevention so that the outbreak did not spread.
The outbreak began in Stillburgh, where Duke Willyn lived.
Those who are infected with plague skin as if blistering, as if just doused hard water. His body will weaken drastically. Even drinking in your mouth takes effort.
And so is Princess Charlotte. One year after the outbreak hit, Charlotte became a victim. As soon as his hand was seen starting to blister, Duke Willyn had several knights and female servants take Charlotte to a secluded villa within the forest to be cared for by a royal physician.
His body instantly weakened on that very day. Food and drink were hard for his body to accept. It made the princess look so skinny in just a few days.
Her beautiful face turned like a monster. Her blond white hair that always looks beautiful like a natural crown, instead makes her look like a middle-aged woman.
Duke Willyn, who initially intended to hide the condition of the princess, finally resignedly informed the king, to withdraw the title of crown princess from his daughter.
Realizing the crucial reason behind the difficult proposal, the king immediately granted it with a heavy heart.
Princess Charlotte, who had heard the news from her subordinates, turned insane. The doctors and doctors who treated him looked very overwhelmed to deal with him.
He did not want to heal, even if he wanted to die at that time. He began to claw his body which had been blistered by the disease.
A few days after the news was heard by Charlotte's daughter, she was found dead in a well not far from the village settlement. The well is 5 KM from his family villa.
From the results of the investigation by the authorities, it is confirmed that Charlotte committed suicide. This was evidenced from the horse that disappeared and was found not far from the well. The princess had stolen it from the Duke's villa.
However, in order to keep the surname of Willyn, the incident was covered by the Duke. Other people besides the people who were in the villa were not aware of the original incident. All they know is that Charlotte died as a victim of the plague.
***
(1) Waterskin: A drinking place made of animal skin.
Seriate...