Once Upon The Life of The Wise King

The Third Prince

ONCE UPON THE LIFE OF THE WISE KING

Volume 2

The Fall of The Royal Family

Chapter 24 - The Third Prince

The next morning, after breakfast, Prince Colin went to check his mother who had regained her consciousness. Then, as per his father's instruction, he went to deliver a letter to the Holy Priestess, Bhavisha. He rode on his black stallion and went on his way to the residence of the Holy Priestess. Once he arrived, he was greeted by the Holy Priestess' servants. He got off his horse, and said, "I am here to see the Priestess Bhavisha. I have a letter here from His Majesty addressed to the Priestess."

"Priestess is in her room, Your Highness," one of the servants spoke. "Please allow me to inform her of His Highness' arrival first."

"Granted."

The servant quickly curtsied and went inside. She knocked on the door to the Priestess' room, and said, "Priestess, His Highness is here. His Highness has a letter for you. His Highness said it was from His Majesty."

"Tell him that I will see him in the garden," Priestess Bhavisha told her servant.

"Yes, Priestess." The servant turned around and started walking back outside. She stopped in front of the Prince, curtsied, and said, "I already informed Priestess. She said she will meet you in the garden. Please follow me, Your Highness."

"Alright."

Another servant walked forward, asking the Prince to allow her to lead his black stallion to the tables so they can feed it and give it water to drink. The Prince gave the lead rope to the servant and reminded her to take care of his black stallion well.

"As His Highness' wish." And with that, the servant took the horse to the stables.

Prince Colin followed the servant, who lead him around the building and to the back garden. "His Highness may sit here, please," the maid said as she gestured to the bench that was situated by the wall.

"Thanks." Just as the Prince sat down, Priestess Bhavisha appeared.

"Please leave us," the Priestess told her servant who obeyed her order. Turning to the Prince, she asked, "I was told His Highness have a letter for me?"

"Ah, yes! That is right." Prince Colin stood up. He reached inside his coat pocket, took out an envelope, and gave the envelope to the Holy Priestess. "Here it is."

Priestess Bhavisha took the envelope. In front of the First Prince, she opened it and read the letter inside. The letter told Priestess Bhavisha of the Queen's premature labor which brought the young Prince earlier in the world. It also told her that the Queen was currently recuperating and she was safe, but the baby, after passing the 24 hours observation, had to be taken to the incubator for another two months. The King also mentioned that he wanted the Holy Priestess to visit the palace and have a look at their Third Prince and check his majika.

"Okay." The Holy Priestess burned the letter and the envelope. "Your Highness, thank you for bringing me His Majesty's letter."

"Uhm, you are welcome."

The two were silent for a brief moment.

"Is there anything else, Your Highness?" Priestess Bhavisha inquired.

"Uhm... May I know what did father tell you?" Prince Colin asked.

"His Majesty asked me to visit the palace."

"I could have just told you that personally. Why send a letter to you?"

"Because there is a secret that you must not know yet." Priestess Bhavisha smiled playfully.

"Now you made me more curious."

"Don't worry, Your Highness. The King will tell you once everything is settled."

The First Prince did not stay long with the Holy Priestess. He said his goodbye, and followed a maid to the stables where his black stallion was. He rode on his horse and went back to the palace.

Priestess Bhavisha went back to her room. She sat on her table and grabbed a mirror. She cast majika spell on the mirror and it showed the image of the witch, Libra. "Libra, sorry we got disturbed earlier. The King asked me to visit the palace today."

"It's fine."

"Also, I want you to know that the Queen gave birth prematurely due to yesterday's event," the Holy Priestess mentioned.

"What!? Then, the heir..."

"Don't worry about your King because he is alive. But, he has to be placed in an incubator for 2 months."

"And what about the Queen?" Libra asked like an after thought?

Priestess Bhavisha chuckled. "I thought you don't care about Her Majesty," she said.

"It's not that I don't care about the Queen. She is only second to the heir. Everything is second to him." Libra rolled her eyes.

"So, how was your search for Azazel?" the Priestess prompted.

"Still no sight of him, which can be both good and bad news for us. It is good because that would mean there won't be any attacks coming from them. Also, it is bad because we don't know whether or not he was deliberately hiding even from his puppets." Libra sighed heavily.

"Can you not trace him?"

"I tried. But it did work. That's why I have been following his puppets."

"How long do you think this will take?"

"I can not tell precisely. Probably around more or less fifteen years if this goes on."

"Is that so. Well, take care of your self."

Libra hummed as she nodded.

Their communication ended. Libra, who sat behind a boulder, placed her small mirror inside her clothes. She looked over the boulder, watching the puppets digging holes on earth and uprooting the trees. With a sigh, she whispered to herself. "They are going to destroy everything on their wake."

The puppets continued their search for their master without taking a break. Even during the stormy days, they went on. Libra was not able to catch up with the puppets sometimes as she needed rest as well. To make sure that she did not miss anything, she would often cast majika on some puppets to record whatever they see and hear. Only after casting the majika spell was she able to eat and rest.