The Cursed Prince

Bran was tossed to the ground like the trash he was.

The man who came to Rowena's and Lady Liz's rescue was Jarvis, one of the royal knights who had been watching the situation from a distance. The man wore simple clothes and he blended with the crowd to not attract any attention.

He was watching the princess from afar and immediately strode toward her as a group of young men approached Rowena and Lady Liz. He came just in time before Bran managed to assault the princess and her governess.

Some of the mayor's son's friends helped Bran get up. He scoffed angrily and patted his pants and robe to wipe the dust and the rest of the grass from his body.

"How dare you...!" Bran gritted his teeth. "Don't you know who I am??? I will make you regret messing up with me!"

He narrowed his eyes threateningly at Jarvis. Even though the knight was much bigger and at least one head taller than him, Bran was not afraid.

He thought all these peasants dared fight back to him because they didn't know who he was.

Just wait until they did...

He would wipe the smirk off their faces and watched how it would turn into fear regret. Ha!

The young man rubbed his face and without a word raised his hand towards Jarvis' face, trying to slap him. However, Jarvis brushed him off easily. The knight immediately kicked Bran's knee until he fell to the ground loudly. Then he stepped on the young man's back and kicked him again.

"Aaaahhh...." Bran who didn't expect Jarvis to attack him so brutally instantly curled up and groaned painfully. "Y-you.... h-how dare... you..."

Did his back break? Bran suddenly felt so scared for his life. He felt so much pain all over his body.

"Apologize!" Jarvis said coldly. He walked around Bran and stopped right in front of his face. 

"Aaarrghh..." Bran squirmed and tried to get up from the ground. With the help of two of his friends, he managed to get on his feet. His face was dirty and there was a gaping wound on his forehead from bumping into a rock when he fell.

When Bran touched his face and saw blood, his face paled. Nobody had dared to injure him before. This was the first.

"You will regret this," Bran growled.  He turned to one of his friends. "Go get my father's men. Any city guards or soldiers...! Get them!!!"

"Ah.. all right!" One boy stepped back, turned around, and look for the city guards to help the mayor's son. 

Bran's face was filled with fury. "You obviously don't know who I am... But that doesn't matter. Today... I will make sure you regret being so nosy and meddling in the mayor's son's affairs!"

Bran was surprised to see Jarvis didn't show any hints of feeling shocked or even scared even though he had revealed that he was the mayor's son. It was as if his father's position as the mayor didn't have any value for this insolent man.

"Apologize!" Jarvis still demanded Bran to apologize to the princess, even though he didn't plan on letting the mayor's son go. "If you did, I will make your death a clean one."

"What did you say?!! Are you threatening me? You are really courting death...!" Finally, Bran really lost it. He patted his friends and ordered them to attack. "Kill him! If you can bring me his head, I will ask my father to give you ten gold coins!"

Seeing that there were at least seven of them and only one Jarvis, the youths thought they could easily gang up on him and beat up the man. Jarvis was taller and bigger than them, but he was alone.

They believed in the power of their big number. So, as soon as Bran ordered them to attack, the seven young men immediately charged at the knight.

Seeing the fight ensue, Lady Liz immediately pulled Rowena away. Jarvis himself did not need to fight much. He dodged blow after blow so easily that the group of youths actually bumped into their fellow comrades.

When a punch flew towards his face, Jarvis ducked quickly, making the fist land on the mayor's son's face.

"Awww!! Idiot! Why did you hit me?!" Bran held his bleeding nose and growled furiously.

The mayor's son became more enraged. He attacked Jarvis blindly as well as his friends. Jarvis didn't look the least bit troubled. He only needed a few maneuvers and a kick in the leg, the group of young men fell to the ground gasping for air.

They all fell on top of each other. Each and every one of them had received at least one kick, punch, or jab from the knight. He didn't even need to take out his sword.

Jarvis stood tall and clapped his hands like someone who'd just finished cleaning up dirt. Many people around them who had been watching the fight were so impressed by his skills. A few of them even started clapping to praise his valor.

Bran and his group got up limply. Their clothes were covered with dirt and grass. Their faces looked injured here and there. Bran was so angry because no soldiers or knights came to his rescue.

He didn't know Rowena's other bodyguards had intercepted them before those soldiers could come closer and help the mayor's son. He looked to his left and right frantically, trying to get help, but none came.

Fear started creeping up his mind. Jarvis looked at him in contempt and unsheathed his sword. Seeing the sword glint, Bran peed his pants.

Suddenly, he realized that the man before him really didn't care about who he was. Jarvis just wanted him dead.

"P-please..." Bran felt his throat parched. He was still so young. He didn't want to die today. He just wanted to fool around with that beautiful girl. He didn't have any serious intention.

He deeply regretted his foolishness. This was not a good nor honorable way to die. 

"P-please... don't kill me...."