Previously, on Sword Vengeance,
General Bale spreads a blanket on the carpet grass and lies on it.
Enjoying the silent night to himself while he stares at the beautifully eerie moon glowing amidst the sky.
Which made him remember his childhood days. If his family had not been attacked and killed in the war, he wouldn't be right now working under Lord Azril.
"Bale "
Princess Lirl called out from the shadows.
General Bale became rigid, sitting upright.
He was surprised that Princess Lirl would seek him out at this hour.
"Princess?"
General Bale called, unsure if the voice he heard was hers.
Princess Lirl came out of nowhere and stood before him.
She was wearing a transparent silver gown that illustrated her physique underneath.
Her appearance tonight gave an impression of a warrior to General Bale.
But he doubted if she could fight.
"Ahem, can I sit?"
She cleared her throat; she was kinda nervous.
"You haven't told me what you're doing here, Princess Lirl."
General Bale chose to answer her question with another question.
For Lirl not to be too affronted, she folds her delicate hands behind her back.
"I came to enjoy the beautiful view of the moon. I had no idea, you would be here too."
She said smiling lightly.
"Oh really, come sit here then."
Bale made a gesture for her to come sit by his side.
She's a princess after all; there's no other option than to treat her with respect.
But to his surprise, she chose to sit down close to him.
Too close.
Is she invading his privacy, he thought as he chose to lie back on his back. Enjoying the view of her back.
Princess Lirl on the other, sat on the blanket, folding her delicate hands around her knees.
The gown, on the other, appears to be roughly pulled back to her thighs, highlighting the black leather trousers she wore underneath.
This is the first time, she will be wearing that. ..
He had never for once seen a black leather trouser on her. Come to think of it; they look beautiful on her.
"Bale"
She called his name.
"Hymn"..
He responded.
"You must have had a very rough and harsh day".
She said, gazing at the sky.
"Not really."
He responded.
Silence ensued between them again.
He was nearly drifting away to his imagination when he felt she lie down on her back beside him.
Which prompted him to sit upright, uncomfortable with her actions.
They've never been this close before. Aside from that, it could get him into trouble with her Father.
"What are you doing?"
He asked surprised.
"What do you think I'm doing? You shouldn't be the only one enjoying the view of the night like this. It isn't fair."
Princess Lirl complained jokingly.
"Oh sorry, I'd remain like this."
General Bale apologized and glared at the moon again.
"Can't you lie back down as you did before?"
She asked, choosing to focus on the moon instead.
"No Princess, I'm comfortable like this."
He swallowed hard, dusting his palm.
"I insist Bale."
She persisted.
"Okay, anything for you princess."
He gave in after a long silence and laid back down.
She craned her neck, looking at him.
"Can you tell me about your childhood?"
She asked again, running her gaze over his face.
General Bale chose to wet his lips with his tongue, feeling the soft caress of Princess Lirl's breath against his chin.
"No "
He refused blatantly.
"Why?"
She asked, feeling offended.
"Because it's nothing to talk about."
General Bale responded surly.
"You should go back "
He spoke shortly after, rising to stretch his limbs.
"Okay. "
She agrees, rolling on her sides to get up.
"Here, let me help you."
General Bale said, offering her his hand.
She simply lets her hands fall on his, and he pulls her up. It was incredibly strong and firm.
"Thank you."
Princess Lirl smiled, withdrawing her hands from his grip.
"You're most welcome. Let me escort you back."
General Bale responded cooly, making a suggestion.
Princess Lirl nodded, tucking the strands of hair behind her ear.
In silence, they both head back.
Both of them are engrossed in their thoughts.
Jenny, one of Princess Lirl's maids, approaches them as soon as she sees them far off.
Seeing her, Princess Lirl already knew something was off.
"What's wrong ?"
Jenny greeted General Bale with a bow and then turned to face Princess Lirl.
"Your grace, he's been bleeding."
"He's been what?"
General Bale and Princess Lirl exclaimed exchanging glances.
"But the last time I checked, the heart was missing. How come he's suddenly bleeding?"
Princess Lirl rasped, gathering her gown around her as she ran to the tent.
But General Bale was quick to match her pace.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Bale asked, jogging along with her.
"I don't know, we'll find out when we get there".
Princess Lirl answered gasping for breath.
In no time, the trio of them rushed into the tent.
The dimly lit room exuded an oppressive atmosphere, thick with the metallic, tangy scent of blood that clung to the air, sharp and nauseating.
Revealing a floor that is smeared with uneven marks of blood-soaked and littered with stained bandages, with a wet sheen that suggests recent activity.
The shadows stretched ominously over the tent walls, each crevice seeming to whisper of pain and desperation.
Bale took a deep breath, letting his brain digest what he had just seen.
How could just one person bleed this much?
He wondered.
"Bale?"
Princess Lirl yelped, tossed into the air.
Sensing the urgency and desperation in her, he ran to her, catching her mid-flight from falling.
"Are you okay?"
General Bale asked.
"Yes, thank you."
She confirmed pulling away from his embrace.
"Jenny, get the bathtub ready. I want you to fill it to the brim."
"Yes, Your Grace."
Jenny bowed to Princess Lirl, before vanishing outside the tent to do as she was told.
Lirl instructed Jenny before turning to face Bale, stopping him from making contact with the body on the bed.
"Bale, don't touch him. The degree of his burning temperature is too hot."
She stopped him.
"What do you suggest I do then, this freak is gonna burn this place down if care is not taken."
General Bale yelled, wiping the sweat off his forehead.
"Here, protect your hand with this"
Princess Lirl ran to his side, taking his palms and covering them with a bunch of blankets and towels.
In silence, General Bale continues staring at her.
He was mesmerized by the sweat beads on her forehead. She looked so beautiful when she was worked up.
"Ahem, don't you think we should let your Father know about the situation of things?"
General Bale whispered to her as he watched her tie his hands up.
"No! It will make him feel important. I'm doing this my way."
Princess Lirl refuted.
General Bale had no choice but to succumb, she can be very stubborn at times.
"Your grace, the tub is ready."
Jenny came in a few minutes later.
"Bale, I need you to carry him outside."
The girl turns to Bale after hearing what Jenny says.
General Bale did as he was told, yanking the scorching hot blanket off him.
His gaze was greeted with a stark naked, muscled man.
For some reason, he felt uncomfortable that Princess Lirl had been treating a stark naked being whose body structure was the same as a man.
Aside from that, he couldn't take his eyes off the being's crotch.
Even when it is in its spongy form, it is still somewhat big. Bigger than what Princess Lirl or Jenny could hold with just their hands in his wildest imagination.
Which made him jealous.
He's quite sure that the man in between his leg, even in its spongy state, isn't as big as that.
And Princess Lirl has seen this times without number, since she's been treating this being?....
"Bale! What are you thinking? Have been talking to you for a while now and you're not even answering?"
Princess Lirl yelled. His name gave him a questioning look.