Igor clenched his fist and eventually, he climbed up the trunk in one fell swoop. Hed rather save the birds demise than to watch those falling tears helplessly. As he climbed, the cat was ready to pounce on the bird and bite its neck. He needed to hurry else the bird would end up someones food.

Chirp, chirp!

Swoosh!

Ahhhh!

Boom!

He fell to the ground with the small bird wrapped safely in his hand. Fortunately, he had not injured himself as he had used a landing technique he learned during fencing. But it did hurt like hell like his bones would break in pieces.

What am I doing?

Are you all right?

Igor looked at her with fiery eyes and wanted to say, No, its not okay! but he held it in. It was best he checks the birds status first. As he opened his hand, the girl held the bird. At that moment, the bird screeched, flapped its wings, and soared into the deep, blue sky.

Ah

While the girl looked up, eyes expressing unknown admiration, Igor patted his sore shoulder and back to rid himself of the dirt. He laughed in vain. Basil would go nuts if he saw his current situation. As for the girl, she continued to stare into the sky without any semblance of interest towards him.

What? I threw this precious body in danger for you and you dont even care? Igors lips tightened and a gruff statement came out in dissatisfaction.

Only then did the girls oceanic eyes face him. It was not until he saw her worried look that he felt a bit better.

Im sorry. Are you hurt?

Nope.

The girl held out her hand and Igor grabbed it, but his grip was too strong that it seemed as if she would fall straight ahead. Igor quickly balanced himself, pretending to hold her hand roughly.

The girl then began to wipe the dirt off his face and Igor felt awkward. It became difficult for him to keep his eyes in one place.

Who are you? he said.

Did you see it?

Again, Igor was taken aback, looking at her in shock.

Im the king why do you continue to ignore what I say?

But he did not express his inner thoughts and said, What?

I know that bird.

What are you saying?

What bird? Igor was confused.

Its Ataraxia!

I dont understand

You know, when the bird flew into the sky, it suddenly grew so big that it sparked ever so brightly. I saw it clearly!

..

Igor thought shed been reading too many fairy tales. Ataraxia? Was she that naive to believe that? He wanted to say, You fool, theres nothing like that in this world! but he did not. He sighed instead. If he said such words, she may cry yet again.

I see wow, thats amazing. So I saw something really great. Igor responded roughly.

That wish is yours.

Hmm?

She picked up a golden feather from the ground and held it out to him proudly.

You saved the birds life. Make a wish with this.

..Wish?

Igor looked at the feather, remembering what his wish was. His wish was to become a good king, meet a nice girl, and live happily with her. He knew this feather alone was not enough to fulfill it, but somehow, it warmed his heart. He felt an unexpected consolation.

The tips of his lips rose slightly as he twirled the feather around his finger.

My wish, will it come true? Igor asked.

Of course. Dimi did it. He held the feather and made a long wish and Myastra appeared.

Dimi? Who is that?

My cousin. Dimi knows everything.

Hmm

Igor squinted his eyes as he watched the girl speak so highly of this Dimi.

Im the one who climbed the tree for you, but why are you praising the wrong guy?

He was hurt struck with an arrow.

Igor looked at the feather again. Meanwhile, the girls face grew slightly sullen, asking if he did not like the golden feather?

No, I like it, but I was thinking that it should be you to write that wish, Igor replied.

But you saved the bird.

Yes, but we did it together. If it werent for you, the thought of saving the bird would not come to mind in the first place. Take it. Think of it as my gift to you.

The girls face brightened immediately at his words.

Igors lips twitched.

You you wanted it all along. Fool, you could have just taken it from the beginning!

Wait, you said Myastra, didnt you? Is Dimitri your cousin from Crichton?

Yes.

Youre a Crichton, too?

No, Im an Arundelite. I was born and raised here.

Who are you?

Just as he was about to hear her name, a womanly voice rang from the distance.

Rihannan?

Igor turned around and saw two figures, his mother and one of her loyal accomplice. He knew who that accomplice was Chrichtons royal family member and his mothers closest friend. His mother the queen had once said that shed bring the ladys daughter in the palace and make her queen and bear a child with Igor.

Mother!

The girl ran straight to the lady and Igor immediately learned her identity. She was the child he would wed. At this thought, his heart sank, feeling like he was in a fairytale world only to be thrown back to reality in the next moment.