"Is my face that terrible?" asked the old woman.

"See the princess looks scared to see me."

        "She's not a princess, Grandma, just a stupid girl we found in the forest. We've been searching all day, only this girl we found. Your prediction must be wrong, Grandma," said Rion sharply.

        "There's no way I'm wrong," said the old woman as she stumbled closer to Arina.

        Arina herself looked frightened. Her fingers gripped Aldrich's arm tightly without realizing it.

        "I'm not wrong," said the woman in front of her with a smile. Her hand reached out to touch Arina's hand, which just froze. She wanted to dodge and walk away, but was afraid to offend her.

       "Skin as smooth as porcelain and a face as beautiful as this, surely only the princess has it," she said again.

        Ariana was stunned. This woman had indeed been wrong. Ever since she was little, no one had praised her like that. According to her own judgment, her appearance was also ordinary. Nothing exciting or alluring. She think she's overestimating her.

        Rion snorted then laughed. This was the first time she heard the young man's laughter, it turned out that his laughter sounded soothing. The young man's cynical and frozen face also turned handsome.

         'He's like the prince I've always dreamed of since I was little,' said Arina in her heart.

Even though she knew the laughter was mocking, she was still fascinated.

        "Grandma Silva, she's not a princess at all, I even now regret picking her up in the forest," said Rion.

"I think she's a bit of a nuisance, asking strange things. Maybe it's because she's out of her mind so her family dumped her in the forest."

        Arina and the woman glared at Rion. Arina seemed to realize that no matter how handsome the young man's face was, as sweet as his laughter was, it still didn't change the cynical nature that was in him.

        "I'm not a princess, but you shouldn't have insulted me like that!" said Arina didn't accept to be bullied. This time she dared to reply to Rion's words. It had been enough for her all this time to be patient and restrain herself. She never likes to find trouble with other people, for her it is better to avoid.

        'But here I am alone. I can't run away because I don't even know where I am right now. So I have to be able to handle this myself,' said Arina in her heart.

         Rion stepped closer and stood right in front of Arina. His eyes were piercingly sharp. Arina persisted in responding to that gaze. She didn't want to appear weak even though her heart was shaking with fear.

         "Apparently you dare to reply to me," Rion hissed in a threatening tone. He then grabbed the girl's hand and dragged her out of the hut.

         "Let go of me. Let me go!" shouted Arina while slapping the man's arm. However, everything seemed to have no effect on Rion. He still didn't let go of her hand.

        'This youth is really rude. He always treats people as he pleases. If I keep quiet then he will bully me even more.'

         Rion let go of Arina's hand while half pushing the girl.

         "Get out of here. It's up to you where you want to go. Don't make any more trouble!" he exclaimed.

        "I'm not causing trouble!" Arina said as she rubbed her red-stained wrist. It crossed her mind, if the young man continued to be rude, eventually her wrists would fall off the hinges.

        "You're the one who's always looking for trouble with me. I've been silent all this time because I don't like to make a fuss, but you even casually say that I'm out of my mind. I can't be patient anymore!" She exclaimed.

        "You dare yell at me?"

Rion immediately drew his sword and drew it at the girl.

"You must be tired of living!"

        Arina's hand gripped tightly. Her face was still looking up at that young man who was taller than her. Even though her heart was pounding hard, she persisted so that the young man would know that she was not afraid.

         The only thing that Arina regretted was that if her life ended now at the slash of that young man's sword, then she would never return. She will not be able to meet her father and mother. Also her friends. She can't reach her dream too.

          "Rion, stop it!"

         The voice made Arina heave a sigh of relief. At least for now her life was saved. If she survives now, maybe one day she will be able to return home.

         Grandma Silva immediately rushed over, followed by Aldrich and Erland.

        "What are you doing? How dare you draw a sword at the princess. Have you forgotten your manners, you should kneel down and salute her?" scolded the old woman angry.

         "Grandma, didn't I tell you that she's not the princess? Maybe she's even a spy sent by Queen Solandra. Maybe she killed the real princess!"

         "Rion, have you forgotten your words that she is my responsibility?" said Aldrich.

"Whatever happens to her it must be with my permission. If you want to kill her, then I will stand in your way and fight you!"

          Aldrich then drew the sword from its scabbard. Rion continued to draw the sword, but a moment later he lowered it. That young man then just left.

           Grandma Silva then immediately invited the others to enter the hut.

***

        "Don't be angry with Rion's words. He doesn't trust people easily, other than himself," said Aldrich as he sat beside Arina. They were now on the stairs in the courtyard of the cottage.

        "I just don't like him carelessly accusing me," said Arina.

"I'm in a foreign land. I've never been to before, but he just doesn't greet me kindly."

        "Be patient, you guys are just getting to know each other. Rion is different from me and Erland, he doesn't trust people easily because he was betrayed by the people closest to him. Therefore, you must give him time to trust you."

         Aldrich's words made Arina ponder for a moment before finally nodding.

        "Okay, I'll try to be patient with him, but I hope he doesn't get into any more trouble with me."

        "Good," said Aldrich, ruffling Arina's hair gently. Arina smiled back while looking at Aldrich.

"I trust you. I'm sure you can work things out with Rion."

        A loud thud sounded loud.

"I feel like a third party here. Interrupting your intimacy," said Erland, who had just arrived.

         "It's good that you're self-conscious you'd better go inside," said Aldrich.

          Aldrich's answer made Arina's heart beat faster.

          'Is what Aldrich said true? Does he really have feelings for me?' She said to herself wonderingly. She then rose to her feet and hurried into the hut.

         "Hey, where are you going?" Erland asked.

"I just came, why are you all leaving?"

         "'You already know the reason,' said Aldrich.

"You are our nuisance. She must be in because you were here."

        Erland grumbled, he didn't know why he was wronged in that situation.