Midnight Royale

Chapter 37: The Wine

I called the man who always follows Lazarus around as the secretary because I don’t know how to address him properly. I never heard how Lazarus called this guy aside from looking and other non-verbal cues.

He obviously wanted to stop the both of us because instead of going back to castle and reported what happened of the information that we have gathered about Elizar—we are both here in front of the market and ready to get the child back.

We are still in our crappy clothes but already remove the dirt in our body.

“The both of you should really stop! Everyone will just laugh because of your looks!” He still tried to convince us.

I looked at Lazarus and I saw his smirk on his lips before he glance at me. As if those eyes were saying if I am ready for this.

I rolled my eyes and took a step forward. “Let’s go! Your secretary is getting anxious because we need to get back in the castle immediately! Let’s finish this!”

“You’re sound too excited for this, my princess,” Lazarus chuckled. “But you’re correct. We should start walking because the person beside me is impatient!”

Lazarus walk and I just followed.

“I didn’t mean it like that!” The secretary hissed in annoyance but cannot do anything. Nah, who would even go against the prince? Lazarus is stubborn—and I felt like nothing can stop him if he settles something within his mind.

He will get what he wants according or beyond going to the means. That is the vibe that I am getting towards him.

According to Mr. Oliverio, his daughter is serving to an old nobleman on a sort of entertainment house. I feel disgust towards the person who can just drag someone young inside of an entertainment house. It is alarming even though his father knows from his observation that his daughter is just serving drinks!

But what if something bad may happened once she is grown up? And this kind of system—is it really existing everywhere? Does one who have power can fool the poor for their cruel intentions? Then what about the others? Who help them? Who saves them?

Why does the king even let this happened? Does no one report about this kind of incidents?

“Why are you so silent? Are you scared now?”

I laughed on him. “Scared of what?”

It’s still early on the afternoon when we reach our destination. This place is also crowded—a lot of house is made of woods and dry leaves tied together. The entertainment house is the only thing I see than made in rock, and huge.

“Because someone may hurt you.”

“Why woud I be scared over that?” I sighed, trying to sound brave. “I tried to jump in water a countless of times. Death will not scare me. People are more… scary.”

“Like the Aristocrats?” Lazarus asked with a smile on his face, teasing me.

My mouth faded and immediately understand what is he trying to say. I took a step backward and glared on him.

“Am I going to be d4ad to Aristocrats once they find out that I am disobeying them?”

Lazarus nodded his head. “Of course. This is not what they are expecting from their princess.”

I gulped and looked at him in disbelief. “Why are you telling me this just now?”

“You didn’t ask,” he told me. “But you can stay here outside. I’ll go with him.”

“Why me!?” His secretary doesn’t like the idea. “I should guard the princess here!”

Lazarus just shook his head.

“No, I’ll just go. I am here so might as well just go with you.” Even I am going to be dead to the Aristocrats.

I was shock when Lazarus hold my hand and smiled on me. “Don’t worry. I will cover you for this. You don’t need to worry about the Aristocrats.”

What he said made my heart wild—but at the same time, calm my mind.

I pouted and looked at him. “You should not take your words back, alright!?”

“Why would I take my word? I am a prince,” he started to brag again.

I rolled my eyes as we walk towards the main entrance to the entertainment house. It’s early and the morning and the facility seems empty. Quiet and peace.

Lazarus was about to push the door when someone just smack his hands using a fan!

“Who told you to touch our door with your filthy hands?!” A woman hissed on Lazarus. “Do you want to end your life? Do you even know how hard it is to clean that do—”

The woman was stunned the moment Lazarus turned his head on her way. With Lazarus’ typical death glare, and stoic face—the lady just fell for him.

“How can a mere door kill someone?” Lazarus said, annoyed.

“Oh my,” the lady in red immediately look at Lazarus face and circle on his body—pushing me away! Wow! This lady seems to be pleased on his face! “What you wear is different from what you look! Are you looking for a place to stay? Or are you going to sell yourself?”

“Silence—”

Before his secretary can talk—Lazarus raised his hand and shook his head.

“No. I want to buy myself a young maid.”

The lady in red looks disappointed after hearing that. “You want to buy? But are you even capable of paying?”

My mouth went straight in line. She was just stunned on his beauty earlier as if she was willing to do anything with him.

Lazarus look at his secretary—and he immediately put out a bag of coins. Obviously heavy and full.

Where did they even have the time to get this? Or they just normally bring this bag of coins around?

They give it to the lady in check and she was so surprised to see that it’s money.

“Oh, this way! We have a new set of young ladies here!” She immediately was a slave of money.

They are disgusting. How can they just casually sell a person’s live!? That easy!?

Lazarus and I knew a specific face because we have the sketch of Oliverio’s daughter. Her one and only child is beautiful.

And I hope she is still here.

The Lady in red let us enter in their facility. The place is awfully clean, hallow, and eerie. She told someone to gather all the children and they immediately oblige.

Everything seems going well. I thought this will be harder than it seems!

The Lord immediately hears my plea because Oliverio’s daughter is second to come—Olivia.

Lazarus and I looked at each other. He didn’t let anything slip for a second the moment he saw Olivia. He pointed on her.

“I want that young girl over there.”

The girl was stunned and so was the lady in red. They both look uncertain. But I hope Olivia can feel her safety towards our stares.

"Oh...This? You know how to look a person huh?" She just chuckled and pull Olvia's shoulder. "She is new... and quite a crowds favorite. I think... this will be worth all of your money?"

I think that's too much—not that I think about of money? People... here are greedy. This is the first time that I saw this kind of side of Kingdom Amadeo.

She pushed Olivia towards me. "I think you can replace your maid now with her. She is more reliable!"

I hold Olivia's shoulder and she immediately flinched. I guess she is having a hard time here.

She looked at me and then I smiled on her.

"Everything will be fine," I lowly muttered on her.

Her eyebrows shot up–intrigued with what I said. I hope Olivia can just trust us for now.

As I thought everything is going well, someone just grab Olivia away from me!

A fat man who is holding a cigarette took her away from me with a grin. "Who are these filthy poor? Why did you let them touch her?"

"Master!" The lady in red seems surprised. "They offered a huge amount of money for that child–"

The fat man just grabbed the bag of coins and looked at it with disbelief.

"This large." He chuckled. "How can these peasant hold this huge amount of gold? Did you steal this?!"

"No!" I hissed in annoyance.

"We cannot let you have the child. Who knows where did you get that money?" He snorted. "You should think carefully Lalaine before letting anyone enter in this place. Tsk."

The lady in red bowed her head. "I am so sorry, Master..."

I cannot believe. We are so close holding Olivia without any problem!

The fat man started to walk away with the bag of money and Olivia!

"Then give us back our money," Lazarus said, annoyed.

"What?" He stilled. "Why would I? You steal this money so I think you don't have any right to have this back..." He laughed then. "Call Lando and Hose. Kick them out."

After a few seconds, someone is pulling us away!

"Hey! Stop holding me!?" I hissed in annoyance, trying to escape from their grip but the man are holding me too tight. "I can walk by myself!"

I can also feel how this man squishing my arms. He is grinning on me.

"Are you a maid? Do you want to come with me instead of being with him–"

Before he could even finish his sentence—he flew away with a punch made by Lazarus!

"Lazarus!" I squealed because of how he just punched the man without any remorse! I mean–it's not a normal punch for a human!

Lalaine shrieked and runaway–Olivia on the other hand looked horrified and runaway from what she saw!

"What are you!?" The fat man hissed.

"How dare all of you touch the royal people of kingdom Amadeo!? Bow to the prince and princess!" His secretary hissed and showed the golden locket.

"Genevierre—are you okay?"

I nodded my head on him. "Yes, I am okay. But how about Olivia?"

"We will find her."

I look at the fat man and he immediately recognize the locket—his face went pale.

"The... prince and princess?!" He sound so nervous and look at us. "But how can a prince... and princess get here!?"

Lazarus looks very angry and let his fangs out. "Do you want to know more? I can show you more of this."

"N-No... Prince... P-Princess... please forgive me for my actions—"

Lazarus shook his head and pull me. "Let's find Olivia."

I nodded my head on him—still stunned for what happened. I guess Lazarus just snapped... as always?

"Prince, we should really stop this now. You just hurted people!"

"I hurt them because they hurt the princess," he defended his actions. "Did you saw how that man touch my princess? No one could ever do that."

"Prince!" The secretary wanted to cry in grief but we just continue in walking. Lazarus seems to know where Olivia did go.

I suddenly feel... someone is pinching me on my stomach again. Is this prince trying to play with my feelings?

"Here she is," Lazarus pointed the drum. "Olivia, don't be scared... You are safe now."

There is no response. It means she is scared.

"Why did you even get so violent earlier?! You should control yourself!" I hissed on him.

Lazarus didn't talk and just looked away from me.

"I... well... Cannot control anything."

I rolled my eyes on him. "What a prince."

I squat in front of the empty drum and tried to called Olivia.

"Olivia? Don't worry about anything. We are... safe. You are safe with us. We know your father and we will try to bring you back to your hometown," I said to convince her.

"Should we just pull her out princess—"

I glared on Lazarus' secretary. He cannot just pull her away!? She will be more scared! She should go according to her own.

"Olivia. We know your father. We are sorry for the violence earlier. We do not meant harm for you," Lazarus repeated.

But there is no response again.

"Prince and princess, the king and aristocrats are both waiting for you—"

"Your father is waiting, Olivia. Don't you want to see him?"

Finally, after a few second after I said that, Olivia raised her head a little.

"My... father is really... alive?" She asked.

Why is she asking this kind of question? Her father was never dead in the first place!

"Yes, Olivia. Your father is alive and waiting for you. Thank you for being strong for your father," Lazarus said and extend his hand for the child.

After that, we immediately went back to the carousel as if we didn't cause any chaos to the entertainment house. I mean... looks like no one noticed.

Lazarus is holding Olivia on his arms—the child is sleeping peacefully on him.

Olivia is a silent child. She just obey and trust people easily like us. I wonder how she feels when she was staying alone on that... cruel place.

"This is so sad. How about the other child, Lazarus?" I couldn't help but to ask him.

He didn't answer—he looks deeply thinking about it.

"The two of you–at least you already save one! The priority is to get back at the castle!" His secretary cut us off.

"I am thinking of reporting what happened to the King."

"Lazarus!"

I looked at his secretary. "Aren't you concerned to the children who is inside jn that entertainment house? You saw the long line of innocent children—"

"But that is not my job about, princess. I will be dead if I didn't send the two of you back safely to the castle!"

I sighed. I look at Lazarus who is I guess, still thinking about the children. I think he is used to his own secretary because Lazarus doesn't have any reaction.

"I will tell the king about it. We need to have an action regarding about it too. This kind of system for children should be break apart." He nodded his head. "And don't worry. After sending this child back, I will go back to the kingdom immediately. There is a lot of problems that is needed to be addressed to the king because of this travel..."

"Travel!?" The secretary shook his head in disbelief. "The two of you should control yourself about what you want to happen. It may put the two of you in danger—"

"I will not let the princess get in danger." Lazarus sighed. "You don't need to do anything, my princess. Just let you be my wine..."