Will of a Prince

Jacob was walking around the kingdom with Lidia and Bart close by his side. They saw both of the Katra Clan members waiting for them. Maddy was wearing a bright blue dress with purple earrings to match her hair. She was clearly dressing way too fancy for the occasion. Lee stayed close to her sitting on the ground playing with the stone.

"Hey everyone! Sorry we were a bit late. Jacob here doesn’t know how to talk to his mother-in-law properly!!"

"You aren’t my mother-in-law! Will you stop telling people that!"

"Huh? Are you going to break my daughter’s heart?! Why did I agree to this?!"

"I can’t help but feel you are trying to argue with me sometimes, Miss Lidia."

Bart smiled politely.

"That’s the head of the Rose Clan for yah. For once, it feels like I’m not getting yelled at! This is great!"

Maddy walked over to them.

"Hello everyone, you all look lovely today. I’m glad to see you made it here too Jacob."

Lee slowly stood up and walked over to greet everyone.

"Sorry, it was a bit rough waiting. All I could hear from Maddy is how worried she was that Jacob wouldn’t show up."

Maddy looked at Lee with a harsh expression before turning back innocently to the group.

"I just simply want to make sure the prince was okay! That’s all!"

"Thank you for worrying, that’s very kind of you."

Maddy started blushing.

’Is that flirting?! Is he flirting?! I can’t tell!!’

Lidia stepped forward in between them.

"What are we going to be doing today?"

"I was thinking we could help pick up any trash around the kingdom today. Either that or we could try advertising local businesses to help them out!"

"I say let’s do the cleanup for the kingdom. It’s never a bad thing to have cleaner streets."

"Should we split up into teams and do them?"

"Sure. Let’s have Bart and Lee be one team and then me, Jacob and Maddy can be another one."

"Sure, that sounds like a good plan."

"Where should we meet up when we’re done? Same spot?"

"Sure, that’s fine."

"Alright, let’s get started! I’ll see you all later!"

Lidia walked in between Jacob and Maddy.

"So, Jacob, what’s it like being the prince?"

"Well, it’s certainly not boring. It feels like every day there’s something else I have to do. However, I guess that’s not a bad thing."

"That’s nice. If you ever need a break from anything, I’m always available to do something with you."

Lidia raised her eyebrow and studied Maddy carefully.

"Uh... Thank you. That’s very sweet. Maybe we can all get together sometime and do something else besides chores."

"Well, I was hoping it could just be the two of us."

Lidia stopped Maddy with her left hand.

"Hold it right there you home wrecker. What do you think you’re doing with my son-in-law?"

"I told you to stop calling me that, Miss Lidia."

"Son-in-law? He isn’t married to one of your daughters!"

"Well too bad sister, he’s already taken so you can back off now!"

Maddy got in Lidias face refusing to back down.

"I haven’t heard they are dating yet, so Jacob’s still on the market!"

"Oh no he’s not! My daughter earned that spot long before you! You can’t just barge in here and throw yourself at him to get your way!"

"Oh please, she’ll never make a move at this rate! I might as well since she won’t!"

Jacob tried his absolute best to ignore the extremely awkward conversation he was overhearing and pick up as much trash as possible.

"Love doesn’t rush itself! Plus, they’ve already gone on a date! You’re already behind!"

"Oh, sure they have. You mean the one where they fought the whole time?"

"Who told you that?!"

"Word gets around fast when you’re a noble."

Before they could continue, both Lidia and Jacob got a strange feeling. He stood up from the ground and looked around.

"Lidia, did you feel that too?"

"I did."

"Feel what? I didn’t feel anything"

"Shut your hole for a second."

Lidia threw her hand over Maddy’s mouth. She started looking around her seeing what was wrong. Suddenly, Jacob’s mark started to burn on his right arm. He held on to it and grit his teeth.

"Lidia, we have to get the hell out of here. We’re in danger."

"You don’t have to tell me twice. Let’s book it for the palace."

"What about Lee and Bart?"

"They can make it on their own. Let’s go."

As they started to run, there was a masked figure blocking their path. His ominous presence and familiar-looking mask made him tremble with fear. Soon, more and more masked men started to appear, surrounding them and slowly walking forward.

"Jacob, I need you to punch me as hard as you can right now. It may be our only chance to live."

"Punch you?! Maria would never forgive me!"

"Do it before we all die!"

Jacob cursed to himself and wound up a punch and sent it right into Lidia’s stomach, making her levitate off the ground for a few moments.

"Geez, maybe not that hard next time. Everyone, grab on to me and hold tight."

Jacob and Maddy squeezed together on her back and held on to each of her arms. Lidia squatted down and rocketed towards the palace at incredible speeds, leaving a small horde of masked men behind.

"Who the hell were those people?"

"I’m not sure, but did you sense the same danger I did?"

"Indeed. If we would not have left, there is no doubt something would have happened to us."

"What do we do? Should we take refuge in the palace for now?"

"As much as I hate to say it, that would be our best bet. Hopefully Zeke comes back. His ability is a lot better suited for hoards."

Jacob thought to himself for a moment.

"Maybe we can ask my dad for help? This is still his kingdom after all."

Lidia’s face tightened.

"I guess he still has no idea what we’re planning, so that will work to our benefit. However, I still won’t trust him completely. I just can’t."

"I understand, just let me do the talking."

Jacob looked at his right arm that was still hurting.

"... I think it’s time I share some secrets of my own with him."

The masked men stared at the group shooting towards the palace and started whispering amongst each other.

"That young man. Did you see him holding his right arm? Do you think he’s one of them?"

"I’m almost positive. If he’s who we think he is, we need to back off for now. We can’t reach him with the king in the way. Call off the other squads and tell them to retreat for now."

"Sir, we have reason to believe the water user is coming."

"Why?"

"Look up."

As the masked figure looked up, it saw dark clouds slowly rolling over the kingdom.

"We’ll come back another time. We weakened them enough for the time being."