The Masked prince
Chapter 78: The Black Band

Chapter 78: The Black Band

A very good blacksmith was brought by the guard to Regan soon. The blacksmith looked at the prince with somewhat shock before he bowed his head and greeted him.

As an ordinary citizen, he had never expected that he would one day be summoned by the prince. Initially he had been scared when the guard came and told him that he needs to go to the castle with him. However, when on the way the guard ensured him that the prince had some work for him, he was relieved.

At the same time, he felt happy. There was work and that too, work from the prince.

His earnings would not be less if he did it nicely. Hence with an encouragement of earning more and buy sweets for his children, the blacksmith had accompanied the guard to the castle.

Regan acknowledged the blacksmith’s greeting. Afterwards, he asked the blacksmith to follow him.

When Regan reached his chambers, he saw Hannah and Miri stepping out from there.

The two girls bowed their heads when they saw him.

"Evelyn...how is she?"

Regan asked calmly but from inside he was worried. He had not talked to her since morning because he was following Dan’s words.

"She is asleep, Your Highness. She just took her medicines so we made her sleep."

Hannah answered and Regan nodded his head.

It was good if she was asleep.

After that, he stepped inside the chambers with black smith following him.

Ami was still inside the chambers sitting beside Evelyn to take care of her in case she wakes up suddenly and would need something.

When she saw the prince, she stood up from her chair and bowed her head. However, she was sensible enough not to make any voice just to greet him.

Regan was very satisfied with her sensibility.

If he had not been satisfied with them then he would have never let them be around Evelyn. Martha had herself told him that the three girls were good and kind. According to her, they have been almost raised by her and she could vouch on their loyalty.

They would help in keeping Evelyn happy and come out of whatever trauma she was going through.

Regan’s eyes went to the bed where Evelyn was lying. He felt relieved to see that her face was not as pale as it was on the night he had brought her back to Mazic. That night, her body was so cold that he was scared that he would lose her forever.

Fortunately, nothing he feared happened. And after this, he would never let anything like this happen again.

Evelyn was too precious to him to let any harm come to her.

A few moments later, he reluctantly looked away and then turned to look at blacksmith and then pointed towards the black band on Evelyn’s wrist.

He didn’t speak much and only said two words, that too, in a low voice.

"Open it."

The blacksmith had a deep frown on his forehead as he looked at the black band. He had heard that usually the slaves in Alfaros wore such black bands.

He looked at the prince and seemed to have something to say but then shut his mouth and stepped forward.

There was no harm in checking once.

Hence, the blacksmith stepped forward. As he kneeled to have a look at the band. Regan gently turned Evelyn’s wrist so that he could have a look at the lock.

The blacksmith looked at the band for a few moments. After checking the lock, he even tried to scratch the metal of the band with his nail. Hearing the sound, he frowned deeply and stood up.

Seeing that he was done, Regan signed him to follow him out of the chambers and asked him immediately.

"What is it? Can you open it?"

The blacksmith shook his head and Regan frowned immediately as he asked

"Is it out of your ability?"

The blacksmith sighed when he heard the prince’s question and enlightened him politely.

"Your Highness, I am afraid that Your Highness would not be able to find any blacksmith who would be able to open or even cut that band...unless the wrist itself is cut."

Regan’s red eyes went cold when he heard the blacksmith’s last few words and the latter immediately regretted what he said.

However, before he could apologize, Regan looked at the guard who had brought the blacksmith and said coldly

"I asked you to bring a good one. Can’t you do even one job properly?"

The questioned guard could only lower his head in response. He had asked around a lot and even Martha told him that this blacksmith was good in the whole city and that’s why he brought him. However, he knew better than to counter the prince.

The blacksmith looked helpless and guilty when he heard the prince and immediately said

"Your Highness, I apologize for what I said. However, what I said is true. That kind of black band is generally made for the slaves in Alfaros. They can only be opened by a key that is made for them. If these bands could be opened or broken so easily then wouldn’t all the slaves run away? That would destroy the whole slave trade in such a big Empire."

Regan didn’t have any response to these words.

Indeed, what the blacksmith said was right.

In fact, he should have known it but his whole energy had been on how he could get Rafael punished for Evelyn. He only knew that he needed to make Evelyn an ordinary citizen from a slave. He couldn’t let anyone do all that again to her just because of that black band on her wrist.

In the end, he dismissed the blacksmith.

As he looked at his chambers, his heart was full of conflict. One part of him urged him to go inside and be there with Evelyn and another felt guilty.

He didn’t have the courage to face her until he couldn’t get what she deserved.

In the end, Regan stood at the same spot for a long time before he turned around and finally went to Rex’s chambers.