Midnight Royale

Chapter 38: Ways to Take my Heart

What is his game? Why does he tell too much flattery these days? Does he need some blood already?

Then he must've told me so! No need to tell me irrelevant things! Is he playing with my feelings?

After an hour of another travel back to Oliverio's village, Lazarus handed Olivia to his father.

"Father!" The child squealed, crying towards his father.

"O-Olivia?" His father seems cannot believe that he is seeing his own daughter.

"Father!" Olivia finally give a hug to his father. "I thought you were... gone! They said you are gone that's why you left me! I am so glad that you are alive, father!"

His father stilled—looked like he realize something. Mr. Oliverio wanted to take his life because he lost his daughter.

But what if he really tried?

"I am so glad... I am alive too, Olivia."

I smiled with what I heard because what I witness before is different from this.

Words can really make or break people. One can feel so low, weak, and hallow—then a sudden swift shift of feelings will run through and turn what you feel into yellow, butterflies–and make you realize you are important. You are worthy of love and life.

"Did you have a hard time there, Olivia? I am so sorry father cannot do something immediately."

Olivia shook her head. "It's okay, father. I was glad when you suddenly stop coming from me because they won't harm you anymore... I hate seeing you getting hurt, father." Olivia explained. "I was about to escape but they told me you're already... But they were lying!"

"Oh Olivia–you are too precious for the world!" Oliverio hugged his daughter. "I am so glad... that you're brave."

"You're brave, father!"

"Oh, you don't know that!" He chuckled.

"Thank you for bringing back my daughter," Oliverio thank us after having his time with his daughter.

I smiled. "Please don't sign any documents without a trusted person beside you."

Oliverio nodded his head. "Yes, young lady. Thank you for reminding me that. I won't do it again."

"And do not make any decision with your emotions alone. Problems always come with a solution—always think before you do actions. In that way, everything will went well. Encountering a problem at first seems endless. Like there is no solution for that. But please do try to think one at a time, ask for help... and don't get yourself drown along with the problem. If you cannot handle it Mister—then scream for help."

I looked at Lazarus while he was saying his words of wisdom to that man. I cannot help but to smile a little because I am sure–he is not a great prince to his princess... but again, he will be a great king to his people.

"You sound like Master Elizar. Have you ever heard about him?"

I stilled with Oliverio's question and tilt my head to Lazarus.

He just laughed and shook his head. "Well, I heard a lot about him. I am flattered that I sound like him!"

My lips twitched and cannot help but to push away my suspicious thought.

Obviously, Master Elizar is against the government. To call in my language–he is an activist who wanted a change to his people.

The way lazarus talk is... sounds like that.

What if he is Master Elizar?

I couldn't help but to chuckle. Nah. That's impossible. I mean... Lazarus do what he wants...

Oh god. What if he is really Elizar?!

No–I mean that is too much!? A prince who is against with his own kingdom!? He can just talk to his father if he wanted a big change?

"Are you alright, wife?"

I was stunned when Lazarus pull me lightly towards him—as if he was waking me up.

"H-Huh? Wife?"

Lazarus chuckled and pull me closer. "Yes, you're my wife. You can't even imagine now that you are my wife?" He said, joking.

What a bland humor. I don't like what he is saying, but I just smiled anyway.

What if he is really Elizar? Then that would be wild! The Aristocrats and palace itself will get chaotic!

But that's just impossible. I should stop thinking about it.

"I guess you two are newly married?" Oliverio asked. "if you won't mind if I ask, how did you manage to get back my daughter?" He shifted the topic.

I looked at Lazarus because I don't have any idea what to say about his question.

"Well, we just convinced them," Lazarus told a joke. "My wife is really good at convincing people. And with a little amount of money—"

"You... paid for my daughter?" He couldn't help but to ask.

"Well... yes." Lazarus said. "It's just a small amount of money. No need to be thankful—"

Lazarus was surprised when Oliverio jumped for a hug—Lazarus immediately hugged him back.

"The two of you should fix yourself first!"

His secretary started shouting at us again when we came back to the carousel.

"Why did you even paint yourself with dirt again!?"

"Bring us to any hostel. We will fix ourselves before coming to the kingdom," Lazarus respond.

I feel a little sad because we will come back to the castle again.

In a short period of time, I've learned a lot outside. Life in the castle is easy–but everything is in routine. I felt bored and lifeless. Plus the fact that Aristocrats will just make my day hard because of their death glares...

But outside? I felt free!

Lazarus and I fix ourselves in a separate room. While fixing my royal outfit back—I am thinking when am I could go back to the village and act like a normal person again?

"Why do you look so blue?" Lazarus asked me after a few minutes of sighing inside the carousel.

"I am going back to the castle," I told him.

He chuckled. "Why? Don't you want to come back?"

"The two of you... stop thinking." The secretary stopped us. Sadly I think we need to go back for the sake of Lazarus' secretary.

"No. I learned a lot outside in a short period of time." I shared to him. "Coming back to the castle makes me remember of how I just greet every royal members every morning, wear heavy accessories and dress..."

"Then let's go back outside again, princess." Lazarus told me. "I will push to the king about what we witness outside and try to offer a report of how we can fix it."

I sighed. "How unfortunate... how about those other people who is oppressed by power?"

"In the first place, no one should be oppressed anyway..." Lazarus sighed. "This is because of the poor actions of the kingdom to its people."

I couldn't help but to raise a brow with what I heard. Is he... blaming the castle right now?

Is he Elizar?

Nah. I should stop thinking about it.

"Why would you blame your own castle?"

Lazarus raise his brows. "Why not? They are really who are to blame."

"Prince Lazarus, you should never talk that way to your own kingdom." His secretary stopped him. "Seriously, you should really stop talking bad about it!" He seems so frustrated!

So Lazarus is really bad mouthing them before...

"How so?" I couldn't help but to feel curious. I didn't expect that he loathes his own kingdom this way.

"You saw it yourself," Lazarus told me. "If the kingdom is taking care of his people properly—if everyone is heard—then naturally everything is fair."

I felt something kick in in my heart again. There is... really something about my heart everytime Lazarus is talking this way.

I mean the way he talks like this sounds elegant and intellectual! Who wouldn't feel something when a very fine person in front of you knows how to talk well?!