The Legend of Carmine

Because of the pain, he could barely focus but he could hear them saying,

"Have you seen him? … Where did he go?"

The assassin pointed in another direction and said," I saw him running in that direction."

As the assassin followed his teammates in another direction. The assassin remembered the moment when he could have shot the emperor to death, but he just could not go against his principle. He just knew this was wrong as Rulean had no intention of harming his brother, unlike his uncle "

He said to himself," This is the only leniency I can do for you Emperor Cynax. It's up to you if you will survive or die."

Therefore, Cyanx ran in the opposite direction. And in a distance he could see a camp, he got there limping with his last ounce of strength.

When he reached there. Alor saw someone lingering on the bush. He went to check on it and when he saw it was Cyanx.

He was astonished. He rushed him to Carmine. Seeing him in that state, she was also shocked. Alor stated, "I am going to inform Rulean."

"STOP. "

"No, we can't take him to Rulean"

"Why?"

"Since we do not know who is behind this. It is not safe to inform Rulean. "

As per their plan, Rulean went straight to Carmine camp to arrest her for an assassination attempt.

In Carmine camp, she got notified that a group of horsemen were coming towards them.

"Alor, stay on guard outside my room."

In no time, Carmine could hear Rulean's voice demanding to enter Carmine's room.

"General Carmine has just gone to rest. If it's not urgent. I will inform her to visit the General."

"The emperor has been attempted for assassination and is missing and I suspected it's her doing."

Alor was conflicted for a minute and wondered if he should say it. But he trusted Carmine's instinct and insisted that she was resting.

As Rulean was demanding to check on her, he saw traces of blood on the ground.

He thought this could be used as an issue to take her as well as use as evidence in future.

He pushed him aside and entered her room.

When Rulean entered he stopped halfway and turned around in awkwardness as it appeared she had just finished out on her garment.

"General"

"What do I owe this visit in the middle of the night? "

"The Emperor is missing and has been an attempted for assassination. And you are our prime suspect"

Carmine sounded shocked, "Emperor is missing. I will help to find him"

No, I do not need your help. I think you are the person who did it.

"I saw traces of blood in front of your room, and I am sure you are the assassin"

She replied with a shocked "Me".

That trace of blood does not prove me guilty. Actually after the banquet, when we got back, I did some sword practice with Alor, but I was drunk and ended up getting injured.

Then, she turned to Alor and instructed to get some bandage for the wound.

Since, General does not believe me

Why don't I prove it to you?

Carmine loosened her dress and showed her bare left shoulder

He turned his head at the side and said, "Shameless Women."

"General, you had no shame barging into a women's room without permission. Why should I be shameful half-dressed in my room?

She slowly applied an ointment. She applied it slowly on her wound as if to kill time. He had it enough. He pulled her left wrist towards him." Enough of this. I had never thought you would be this shameless and disgraceful woman. I thought…." but before he could complete his sentence

Rulean felt dizzy. You…. then he fainted on the table.

When Alor walked in with gauze. Carmine immediately got hold of the gauze and poured alcohol in it and wiped her skin and wound as if her wound was soaked in salt water.

Alor was horrified. "General, Is he okay? "

"He just fainted. He will be fine by morning. Help me to put him to bed."

Carmine crawled under her bed to bring Cyanx out. He was still breathing but it was getting shallow.

Both agreed they must take him to the physician as soon as possible.

Carmine thought for a while and whisper something in his ears.

Then, they both puth on civilian cloth on Cyanx. And Carmine put on Rulean armour.

Alor went to Rulean henchmen and stated that Alor will be escorting Rulean and Carmine back to the prison and the rest of them to continue searching for the Emperor.

The henchmen were sceptical. Seeing his uncertainty, he bluffed saying, "If you do not believe me you can go and ask the general."

But they did not dare as they knew Rulean had bad temper and Alor had been his arm of aid for long, so they no longer doubted him and went for the search.

All three sneaked out from the camp on a carriage. As they passed through another scouting team. They voiced to check it as the scout was raising the curtain of the carriage. Alor stated that he is escorting Rulean and Carmine to prison. He also noted Rulean armor as he could see the lower part of it, through the half-raised curtain.

Alor took them to a doctor as he was familiar with Inap due to his past posting in the place.

Doctor immediately started the treatment. Both were excessively worried.

Alor understood that if the Emperor is not saved. They both will be executed and will be labeled as traitors of the nation.

Finally, after 2 long hours. He finished the treatment.

"He almost died. The arrow had missed the heart by only a few cm. I do not know if this was intended, or it was just his good luck. His bleeding has stopped but he needs lots of rest & nutrition to recover."

To protect the Emperor, he introduced him as Lord and one her reliable subordinate, who got injured to save her.

She thanked him. But by this time, she was drained and was feeling dizzy. Then Alor noted that her arm was bleeding and blood had started to drip from the side of the armor.

Alor was suspicious of the wound. He held Carmine on both shoulders and looked directly in her eyes and asked boldly and said, "This does not look like an ordinary wound."

She could no longer lie to him. "The ointment I applied on my wound is made of a special ingredient. It was a test sample sent to me by Owen. It contains the secret weapon of Ouran, the pink dust and when it encounters living body surface it disintegrates by absorbing the water from the applied area and becomes a sedative drug. But it also corrodes the living body surface."

He could only imagine the pain of Carmine feeling on her wound after being corroded.

He requested the doctor to treat it. Doctor applied medicine and bandages on it but warned her that the wound can be healed, if treated well, but the scar will never leave her.

Carmine thanked him and voiced to Alor that it's time to go. Otherwise, the gate will be closed if Rulean wakes up.

As per plan the Cynax & Alor were disguised as sickly Lord and his caretaker, who were traveling with the doctor to another city for treatment through the east gate of Inap.

Alor departed for the East gate of Inap but he kept looking back at Carmine. His heartached to leave her behind. He was torn between his duty and his wishes. He looked at her longingly even as he rode away. He so deeply wanted to protect Camrine but he couldn't help it.

Rulean was boiling with rage when he woke up in Carmine camp and found that his armor was missing. And Carmine and Alor are both on the run. He instructed them to close all the city gates and to hunt them down. It was not long when they tracked her because she intended them to be tracked. She tried to run away from the guards when been approached to be checked at West gate. She fought a lot of soldiers and created ruckus in the West gate. And all scouts were trafficked to the west gate.

At the east gate the guards did not suspect on Alor identity when he stated that he has sickly Lord, and they were going to another city in search of new treatment regime.

In the west gate with numerous soldiers, she was held captive and taken back.