The Royal Quest

CHAPTER 35. True Objective

‘My Dear King and Queen,

First of all, I want to apologize for my reckless decision. I brought so much disturbance to the entire kingdom and made you worry. I learned so much from this adventure and made new friends. They are incredible and extraordinary. I’m sure you’ll freak out when I introduce one of them to you. However, I also experienced failure, a lot of them. It made me feel so down and I almost gave up, but I’m glad that my friends helped me pull up my courage to finish what I have started, and their support gives me the strength to move forward.

Also, please send my sympathy to the people as I heard about the recent attack in the market square. I hope everything else is well.

I miss you both and can’t wait to see you again soon. I love you.

Loving,

Princess Dahlia.’

“I can’t believe our daughter sent us a letter without any hint of her current location.” King Rainer complained, walking back and forth in the middle of the throne hall after reading Dahlia’s letter that was sent together with Savanna's letter to Tala. 

“It doesn’t matter, I just felt relieved that my daughter is doing fine and safe.” Queen Olive muttered, staring at her daughter's handwriting.

“Guard!” Suddenly King Rainer cried.

“Your Majesty,” A man from the outside of the hall rapidly entered and responded, kneeling in front of the King with his head bent down. 

“I need to speak with Tala, I need to know who sent the letter.” He demanded.

“Your Majesty, I regret to tell you that Tala left the castle with Lord Duncan.” The guard announced.

“What? Where are they going?” The king felt something unusual about the news, as Tala never went to anyone aside from his daughter.

“Anyway, is there any progress about the pursuit of my daughter?”

“There still isn’t, Your Majesty.” Suddenly Minister Zafiro came into the hall and interrupted.

“Why? You keep on saying that my daughter is unwieldy and why can't the experienced guard catch her now?” The King bluntly hissed at the minister.

“My men were slaughtered by the vampires in the forest, Your Majesty. We already have casualties because of the princess’s bold action and I cannot afford another life to be wasted. We have to be patient as the journey to the north is like purgatory. Besides, it is really hard to find a person who doesn’t want to be found. I hope you understand,” Zafiro explained.

“Fine, but anyway, we received a letter from Dahlia. Tala gave it to us but she didn’t mention whoever delivered it. I was thinking if we could trace the messenger of this letter we could easily track my daughter.”

“A letter?” Minister Zafiro was surprised.

"But I can't talk to the servant since your son brought her with him."

"Duncan?" Zafiro muttered, wondering the reason for his son taking Tala with him.

"I have no idea about it but I'll work on that and bring Tala back for questioning about the letter."

"I also hope that your son will not bring humility to the palace as he is the first in line to be betrothed to my daughter. I kept my word when you asked me to force my daughter to marry. I trust that you will too, Minister." 

"Of course, I can assure you that," Zafiro said and bowed in respect before he excused himself and left the hall.

"I can't believe you still speak about that ridiculous marriage thing even after everything that happened." Suddenly the Queen spoke up.

"Oh, Olive. Please not again." The king complained and stubbornly sat on his throne.

"I will never get tired of reminding you that that is the reason why our daughter left." Queen Olive said as she folded Dahlia's letter and stood up and was about to leave.

"Of course, and it is my fault. Everything started because of me." The King bitterly countered that made the Queen halt from her step and turned to her husband.

"I'm sorry," She said and gave her husband an embrace.

"I should be the one to apologize. I failed to protect our daughter." 

"Everything will be fine, at least we know that she is safe. That is all that matters now. I just hope we are still able to stop her before she enters the Gorgax."  

*****

After Zafiro's conversation with the king, the prime minister immediately summoned an order to find his son and learned that he had gone to Reese's Manor with Tala. But before he could send an order to bring him back to the palace, Duncan finally arrived.

"So, how's Savanna?" Zafiro suddenly appeared from the shadows before Duncan could enter his room.

"Father, please. I'm not in the mood to argue." Duncan said, and opened the door of his chamber, but his father followed him inside.

"I told you to forget about her, didn't I? Your future lies in this castle and all my plans will be destroyed if you are not being careful."

"I know that, father," Duncan answered, looking down.

"Good. Now where is Tala?" 

"I left her in the manor," Duncan said.

"Wait, what? Why did you do that?"

"Savanna is currently practising medicine now and she needs someone to give her a hand and since I noticed that Tala had been alone after the princess left, I thought that they could give each other company." Duncan explained, hiding the truth to protect Savanna from his father and that follows everyone else, including Baron and Dahlia.

"Really, now? And when did you even learn that she is now a healer?" Zafiro asked, feeling doubt.

Duncan swallowed and made his way to the window before he spoke again.

"Father, I tried believing that the feeling I have inside is for the princess. But everytime I close my eyes I always see her face." He started and turned to face his father again.

"Remember, you made me love Savanna, you always pushed me to be on her side since I was a kid and I fell for it. But you changed your views when Jonathan refused the crown and now drew me to Dahlia. Do you really just see me as bait to the crown?"  Duncan couldn't help himself to pour out.

"I don't have time for this drama, son. I need to speak with Tala to know who sent the letter that came from Dahlia." Zafiro just ignored his son's sentiments.

"Of course, as I expected. You didn't care, just like you didn't care when my mother died." Duncan scoffed bluntly.

"Don't you dare speak again about your mother." Zafiro warned Duncan before he turned to leave.

"It was her choice," Zafiro added.

"But you could have stopped her!" Duncan couldn't help his emotion with the sudden tone of his voice.

Zafiro halted for a moment and swallowed, but didn't let his heart weaken him.

"Fine. I think I have to work on my own again for the meantime, since you've been distracted by your old love." Zafiro muttered instead, diverting the topic.

"Remember, our future is in your hands, son. We are almost there to the goal, everything is perfect as planned. We can't afford any mistakes at this rate or else we have to start all over again. Focus." He reminded his son, before finally making his way out.

Duncan heaved a deep sigh after his father had gone out of the chamber and faced the window again to gawk at the darkness outside as he tried to comprehend what he really wanted in life, as he suddenly felt hesitant about his father's objective after seeing Savanna again and recalled the incredible feeling he used to have before.