“Mint!” the girls shouted, rushing to their coworker’s side.

They knelt beside her and helped her to sit up. She smiled at them with apologetic eyes.

“I am sorry.” she said, quietly. “I was not paying attention.”

“Are you alright?” Sugar asked, urgently.

“Are you hurt?” Candy asked, worriedly.

“Daddy’s a doctor.” Tange said, calmly. “Do you want him to have a look at you?”

“No, no…” Mint said. “I am alright.”

“Are you certain, miss?” a voice said, drawing their attention, followed by their shock and awe.

“Prince Arjuna!” they exclaimed, as he knelt among them. He smiled, kindly and said, “That was a rough fall. Are you certain that you are unharmed?”

With wide eyes, Sugar, Candy, and Tange looked to Mint whose eyes were as wide as theirs. Not a word was spoken among them. Arjuna smiled.

“Here,” he said, reaching beneath Mint to lift her into his arms, “let’s get you to the medic tent and have them take a look at you.” he decided, getting to his feet with her in tow.

Mint gasped when she was suddenly lifted into the arms of the prince, but no words would come to her, much like the absence of speech that had struck the other girls. Smiling kindly, as he always did, Arjuna addressed the speechless girls.

---

✧ PREVIOUS PAGE ✧ FIRST PAGE ✧ NEXT PAGE ✧