The Crimson General Desires no Prince! (GL)
Chapter 40 - 36: Taking A Princess Home (IV).

Chapter 40: Chapter 36: Taking A Princess Home (IV).

Chapter 36: Taking A Princess Home (IV).

Meanwhile...

The carriage went a bit further than expected, leaving the two figures of the princess and crimson general like ants in the distance.

"Everyone, let’s stop for now. They’re still where we left them." (Jonathan) pulls the reins on his horse as the others follow. The three carriages stopped, two of them were carrying all of the trusted servants that the princess had been with all of her years in the palace while the other were their possessions.

Sir Marshall stops turning back to see how the progress of those two were doing, he squints his eyes and sees that General Rowan was helping the princess get onto the saddle looking a bit giddy like a little girl in love.

"Sigh... Honestly, is this how your general usually is?" He asks Jonathan, as he parks his horse next to his.

Not expecting for the well renowned general to be so softhearted.

Jonathan chuckled. "If you’re asking whether she’s always like this with the princess- happily following her every whim- then yes, pretty much every day right after they got introduced to one another this past week." He shrugged, the amusement lingering in his tone. "But if you mean in general? No. She’s serious when it comes to work. This is the first time I’ve seen her truly enjoying herself... War does things to a person, you know."

At the mention of war, Sir Marshall’s face darkened. "The war..." he murmured. Then, after a pause, "How was it? I mean... what did it do to your general?"

Jonathan’s gaze drifted toward his longtime friend. For seven years, he had stood beside Rowan, witnessing the toll that battle had taken on her. And now, seeing her smile- even if just for a brief moment- was something he would never take for granted.

"Our great general barely kept herself together in that shitty war, people talk like it’s all about the good glory, serving the kingdom and bringing peace- killing demons and bringing their heads as trophies? Hah...! If only they knew." The stories, the bards, the poets, they only captured fragments of what war truly was. None of them had lived through the endless nights of bloodshed, the screams of comrades, the weight of loss.

Rowan had cherished him like a brother, had protected him, had once shone with a brightness that war had slowly dimmed.

"We lost one of our bonded brothers, the three of us were close. He died protecting General Rowan, there was an ambush- one of the demon generals... the damn piece of shit gave us a surprise visit and we were unprepared." (Jonathan) doesn’t want to go back to that awful memory of mourning but it comes and goes. "She killed... so many of them. That day made her so enraged to the point my voice couldn’t reach her."

Before it was just General Rowan and Lieutenant Jonathan- the legendary duo that brought glory for their kingdom participating over gruesome battles, has a kill count of almost ten thousand demons by her hands.

There were three friends that had a dream.

Rowan was quite close and often saw him as a little brother figure. She took care of him, had the most bright smile of a young lad and was a hero that saved her from danger.

The loss was too much... but...

"She swore to kill the demon lord and avenge our brother but... he asked Rowan to forgive the demons and to always remember that a life is a life. Such is the nature of war... pfft- I thought it was hilarious and even annoyed me that his last words would be to forgive the demons for killing him. But we honoured him and promised to do what he wished." All the prayers that Rowan does for the demons after they were slayed is because of their dead friend’s wish.

"We did our best to forgive our enemy for every bonded brother they have slayed... Rowan kept that promise. I didn’t." His hold on the reins suddenly tightens.

Jonathan might’ve been a goofy and happy character but deep inside he’s been hiding a secret that he can’t tell his friend.

"I don’t care for demons." (Jonathan) looks up to see Sir William being dumped by this much trauma. He immediately sighs and apologizes for talking too much about their life."Sorry, if I’ve been ramblin’ too much. Our past isn’t really that important. I hope you understand why I’m not being a complete control freak over General Rowan’s schedule and responsibilities."

"I don’t want her to overwork and even if I’m her right hand man you have to give a girl her freedom." The reason why he was glad and even overjoyed that Rowan was going into the capital city after being invited by the King was because at least now they can let go of the past and just have fun at this grand ball that they’ve been invited to.

Sir William nods, "...It shocked me years ago that a new female general had been chosen to take care of things on the border. I thought it was bogus- that she had other means of becoming a general. Then I heard so much news right after that proved her strengths- the fortifications, the battle at the south bridge and the border clash at the north!"

"After that the tide of the war just kept getting better and better- then our kingdom won because of the crimson general. I never got to thank her properly for her service. She’s a hero... I doubt the rewards given to General Rowan Bonheur was enough." He was there at the rewarding ceremony after she was given the title of Marchioness.

Not only was she given a title, a promise of being built a mansion and the prospects of marrying into royalty...

All of one’s suffering and achievements could ever compare to that?

It was only his own opinion.

Jonathan waves his hand telling him that the rewards were just the thing that his friend needed. "Oh friend, trust me... I guess now for the reward she earned- it’s all that she ever wanted. We can take a break, I doubt the princess can learn horse riding in a matter of minutes anyways-"

Whoosh!

"Whoohoo!"

Not for long they could hear horse hooves running down on the road, they all realized that figure was coming straight at them.

"My goodness- is that the princess?!" He asks, seeing the princess holding the reins tightly as if she’s one experienced rider.

Jonathan sees what the head royal guard was seeing and laughed after realising was holding for dear life behind the princess. "Rowan is trying not to fall behind her! Oh heavens above! Hahaha! Oh wait... that’s not good, why am I laughing?" He realized that if the general gets hurt in his watch that’s definitely not going to be a good thing.

Marshall, however, was less amused. "This isn’t good!"

"Wait! Rowan~! I don’t think you taught me how to stop her yet!"

"Yield!"

...

Moments later after Jonathan and Sir William calms down Rowan’s horse- teaching the princess how to properly stop beauty was done and hopefully in the future prospects of horse riding, the same accident won’t happen again.

"Whew... My apologies for showing you all that chaotic display. Thank goodness Lieutenant Jonathan was there to help." (Princess Camille) smiles warmly at her fiance’s friend.

Speaking of her fiance- she’s currently resting on her back feeling tired and drained.

The sudden shock of the ride must’ve taken her out of it. That and the amount of socialization she’s been doing these days hit the spot.

"Happy to do so, your highness. I never expected for my bonded sister that she forgot to teach you how to stop a horse out of all things." He laughs, eyeing at Rowan looking like a deflated balloon.

Rowan replies with a hoarse voice, "...I’m sorry I thought I had everything under control. I taught her how to get on the saddle, move but I thought she wasn’t going to make black beauty move at full speed."

Sir William sighs but as long as the trouble has ended and it seems that the princess is in high spirits he can let this one pass as well. "As long as the two of you are safe then everything is fine. Your highness is actually a very decent rider. You have picked up much skill in just mere minutes."

"I’m enjoying the view and the thrilling feeling of the breeze hitting my face. I never got to enjoy this much freedom when I’m in the palace but I have always envied my brothers for being able to do things like this. Now that I am no longer burdened by my royal title- I plan on doing more things with the General in the future." (Princess Camille) glances back making sure that Rowan isn’t slipping off from her hold.

Rowan was unconsciously hugging the princess from behind, right by the waist.

"..." (Rowan) wanted to sleep right then and there but tries her best not to and fights off the drowsiness.

Jonathan hears that the princess would like to do more exciting things in the future then he’ll be happy to help! After all, his buddy isn’t exactly the outdoor extroverted kind.

"Well if it’s thrilling activities that you want I’m your guy! My buddy here usually doesn’t go outside much and I have to drag her out of her office- she always works everyday all day without break. Being an important figure, she’s often cooped up in her office more than in the battlefield- one time she fainted because we both couldn’t keep up with the demanding paperworks in her office."

It was either in her office or at training, only when she’s really needed is when Rowan appears.

"Is that true General? Did you overexert yourself and faint?" She asks Rowan who cowers in the back.

She says nothing. "..."

"Rowan?" (Princess Camille) calls again but only this time by her first name.

Rowan nods hesitantly before confessing the true reason why she can’t handle paperworks as much as the next person. "...I’m a slow reader so I take longer to read than the others. Jonathan knows of my condition, I have been studying ever since I was in the Voclain’s family household but- I guess the only good thing I was to my father was a bargaining tool to be married."

"I see..." (Princess Camille) tries to recall if there was such a quirk of the heroine in the game, is that why most of the scenes where the love interests meet the heroine is when the night settles she was doing her documents or working?

Because she takes a long time to read?

"You... no need to worry about staying up late any longer. I’ll accompany you to read and teach you a few studying methods that I have picked up. I want to help- I will not tell anyone of it as well so fret not." She continues.

Rowan’s hug on the princess’ waist suddenly shifted and her hold on the princess went a little tighter like a clinging koala who doesn’t want to let go. "Thank you, your highness."

Jonathan’s face softens after hearing his friend opening up, he was one of the only few who knew about her condition. "Well, your highness if you’re helping her with some work documents, maybe help me out in getting her to experience the great outdoors more often! I invite her a lot to play with me but it just ends up both of us working in the office for hours!"

He teased the crison general, making her look like a total workaholic.

Rowan frowns, calling out on Jonathan’s invite to the ’great outdoors’ when it was either just a bar filled with pretty women or another bar filled with expensive beer. "Jonathan usually invites me out to drink at a bar- I don’t think her highness would like that idea."

"The best reward after a long hard day at work! I’m pretty fond of both the taste of beer and ladies-" (Jonathan) cuts himself immediately right after seeing the princess’ judging stare- it was as if she’s waiting for him to continue and dig his own grave even further.

"Gulp...! Apologies to her highness! That was only a joke! My good friend here will never step not even one foot inside of a bar from this day forth!" He laughs nervously looking to Rowan for help. "...help."

"...pfft." (Rowan) could only snicker.

Princess Camilla smiles, liking this man even more. "Please, since you are a good friend of my fiancé who’s been taking care of her for years already- you can call me by my name."

"Ah Princess Camille?"

"Precisely."

"Well then, Princess Camille- I assure you that Rowan only merely makes sure that I don’t end up being lost on the street when I invite her. I’ve never actually seen her drink in my life."

"Y-Yeah I don’t do bars... drink and look at other girls." (Rowan) proudly stated and Jonathan pats her back.

"It’s actually the opposite, girls look at you a lot on the bars. Oh our great general is a notorious and well known figure in our village so a lot of women and men were eyeing her like candy." All of the village girls would swoon, the peasant ladies, the servants working for her, the soldiers, the middle aged ladies who’re already married, the noble ladies willing to drop all of their inheritance just to be with Rowan and the men!

All could not escape her charms!

Jonathan was both envious and so happy for his friend.

Now she bagged a princess!

For Jonathan, speaking of one’s achievements and people’s admiration for you is something to be proud of- he means no harm with his words. However, Rowan who clearly has an interest for the princess was unsure of what would happen.

’Jonathan stop making things worse!’ (Rowan) was panicking internally because she could feel the princess’ body stiffening. She opens her mouth to hopefully defuse the situation. "Your highness I-"

"I am aware of my fiance’s charms... I cannot blame them for taking such an interest in such an amazing person." (Princess Camille) confidently whips the reins on her horse, taking a leap forward to show Jonathan that his words do not have any effect.

She eyes the Lieutenant giving a cheeky grin. "Too bad for all of them she’s already spoken for."

"...!"

"...gasp!"

Everyone who heard the princess’ such strong choice of words, made them all gasp and giddy.

"I don’t intend on letting her go either."

Ding!

[Notification: Heroine is happy]!

[Love Meter: MAX Level].

[Happiness: MAX Level].