The Cursed Prince

Gewen was so happy when he came to get the doe and found that it's already dead. He didn't like to use his sword to make sure his prey was really dead. It gave him a sense of pride to get a clean kill.

The man cast his glance around him and tried to find a good spot to clean up the prey and gril it. He found a nice big rock not far from the location of the doe and decided it would be a perfect place to cook.

Gewen looked down at his new clothes and sighed deeply. He forgot to change his outfit and now his new clothes would be soiled with the doe's blood.

Ah, whatever. He could wash it later. What's important now is to get this prey ready to cook and eat!

Gewen lifted the dead doe and carried it on his back toward the big rock. It was the driest part of this forest.. He could easily light a fire there and gril the meat.

Actually, Gewen didn't like doing this kind of work. Even when he went out together with Mars and their men on a hunting trip, Gewen usually only did what he was good at, that was hunting, and let other people did the heavy lifting, like cleaning and cooking.

However, now he had to do everything by himself.  He did bring with him some salt and spices so he could cook his own food from the animals he hunted while he was traveling with Sand.

He was so happy when he finally reached Castilse because he didn't have to do it anymore. Sigh.

Who would have thought that his joy was short-lived?

Only twenty-four hours later, he was back at doing this thing that he hated.

As he prepared the fire, Gewen felt like crying.

GRUMBLE GRUMBLE

He wiped his sweat and took off his coat when the fire became too hot to be around. Impatiently, he cut some big chunks of meat and grilled them over the fire. He licked his lips so many times while waiting for the meat to be ready to eat.

Ahh... when he finally took the first bite, Gewen thought the meat melted in his mouth.

It was soooo good!

He ate voraciously like there was no tomorrow. He was so hungry and now his stomach finally received food. He couldn't help but eat like a starving man.

After he finished five big chunks of meat, Gewen could barely move. He lay down on his back and closed his eyes in bliss.

Suddenly, life was good again.

He lay down like that for a good one hour, until his system digested some of the meat he just ate.

Gewen felt like a snake who just ate a big prey and wanted to sleep for two weeks. Sadly, he was not one. He had to work and hunt more preys to sell so he could get some income. 

It's true that Gewen could eat from the animals he hunted, but the accommodation wouldn't pay for itself. The inn he chose was especially expensive because he thought all his sacrifice for the past several weeks needed to be compensated with decent rest in a nice comfy bed.

So, he had to capture several big animals, brought them to the city, and sell them for money.

Besides, after traveling for weeks with a dragon and ate nothing but grilled meat and his mother's homemade jerky every day, Gewen actually already felt sick of grilled meat. Once he made money, he planned to buy some bread and wine.

The handsome man pushed himself so hard to get up from the rock and hunt more animals. He took his equipment and went back on Masai's back to look for more deers or other animals he could shoot.

His work for two hours gave him a good result. Gewen managed to capture three preys, one hare and two boars. He collected them and brought them to the big rock where he originally cooked his first prey.

After he made sure they were all dead, he tied them together and put them on some sort of stretcher he made quickly from the branches around him.

Gewen tied those branches together with the rope he brought and connected the stretcher to Masai's saddle.  His journey back to the city would be much slower because he had to drag the animals, but he had no choice.

He thought maybe next time he could just hunt one animal and carried it on his horse. Or, he could rent a cheap simple wagon to transport the prey.

After everything was ready, Gewen prepared to go home. He got on Masai's back and started heading back to the city.

Ahh... Gewen smirked and patted himself on the chest for being so resourceful. He was a spoiled young master from a wealthy noble family, but he could survive being on his own. This was something to be proud of.

Gewen was in such a good mood after the successful hunt that he started humming.

However, just when he thought his luck had changed, suddenly Gewen heard scary wolves' howlings from three directions.

His heart skipped a beat. Was this forest inhabited by wolves???

He turned to see his treasure, the three preys, and pursed his lips. He realized the wolves might have smelled blood and decided to come here and get the free meat.

Those hungry wolves wanted take these preys from him? No way!!! They were a testament to his hard work today. He won't let those wolves snatch his prey!

Gewen pulled the reins and forced Masai to run faster. He just needed to leave the forest as soon as possible, before the wolves reached him. He couldn't give up now. He needed the money and—

NEEEIIGHHH...!!

Masai suddenly raised his front legs and started kicking in a panic. That's when Gewen saw three hungry-looking grey wolves coming at them from the front.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

More howlings were heard from all around him.

There were two more wolves from his right. And finally, he saw four more coming from his left. Beads of sweat started dripping down his temples. 

Gewen was not a coward and, normally, he could take on one or two wolves by himself, but now he was surrounded by no less than nine ferocious-looking wolves. They were all showing their teeth and fangs at him, and their eyes bloodshot.

His successful hunt had just turned into a nightmare. Gewen felt his body tremble.

Even the bravest man's heart would waver in such a situation.

GULP

Now, even if Gewen wanted to leave behind his preys, it was already too late.

He bit his lip and remembered how he had said his farewell to his mother before he left for Summeria. Gewen honestly thought he would die in the hands of the enemy once he landed.

Who would have thought he would actually die being attacked and devoured by a pack of wolves. Such a sad way to die.

His eyes were gleaming in tears. If his mother knew what would happen to him... she would be devastated.

At least, if he died in the hands of the enemy, they would still honor him as a human being and give him a proper burial. His mother would be able to someday visit his grave.

But now...?

Nobody would even know he died here...

"HEYY!!!"

Gewen had unsheathed his sword, ready to defend himself when the wolves attacked him. However, suddenly, he heard a loud scolding from his right.

The handsome man batted his eyes in confusion when he saw a black shadow moving so fast, following the loud scream. The next thing he knew, the two grey wolves to his right were all howling in pain... and blood spurted everywhere.

"What the—" Gewen gasped.

When he looked carefully, he saw the two grey wolves were bathed in their own blood and a woman in black, riding a black horse was going on a slaughter mode, attacking the other four wolves to his left with a big long sword.

The other three wolves looked so shocked and they unconsciously stepped back in fear... and finally fled in unison.

Gewen couldn't believe his own eyes. The person who was on a killing rampage before him was... a woman?

And not just any woman, but it was the average-looking woman who mocked him earlier in the market.

Gewen gasped and his mouth was agape as he followed the woman's beautiful movement when she swung her sword and attacked the remaining four wolves viciously.

All his life, he had never seen such a sight, a woman being so brave and fierce...

Somehow, he was in awe.

Suddenly, she no longer looked average in his eyes.

.

.

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Awww... Gewen!!! He is infatuated after Kira saved his life. While Kira... becomes more convinced that he is a weakling. XD