The Royal Quest

Chapter 12. Crisis in Heinzfield

It is almost dark when Dahlia and Baron arrive at Heinzfield Village. The two were exhausted and Baron searched for a place where they could spend the night immediately. The surroundings seem to be quiet and strange as she notices their gloomy expressions.

'Something must have happened here. I wonder what it is.' She thought and saw Baron walking in her direction.

"Dahlia, I found a place where we can stay tonight." He informed her.

"Great. I'm truly glad that you're with me, Baron." She responded with a smile and they started to walk.¹

"By the way, Baron. Do you have any idea why people in this village seem to be… sad? Problematic?" She inquired.

"I guess that is maybe because of the agricultural crisis that happened last month," Baron responded.

"Crisis?"

"The landlord that I have spoken with said that a huge swarm of locusts attacked their land and ruined their crops last month," Baron explained.

"Did the palace know about it?"

"I think so. Well, I can't really answer you directly since this kind of issue is out of my duty, Your Highness. I'm sorry about that." Baron explained, and the princess did not speak again and just walked ahead in silence until they arrived at the place.

"How much did you pay for this lodge? You might have forgotten that we still have miles to go before we reach the north." Dahlia reminded him while her eyes were busy looking around.

"I know, but I want you to be comfortable tonight. You already suffered last night staying in that abandoned cabin in the forest and that's enough."

"But I don't mind," Dahlia countered, and noticed the single bed in the middle.

"Why is there only one bed here?" She wondered.

"Uh, yeah." Scratching the back of his neck.

"It is cheaper than getting two beds. But don't worry, I can take the couch." The shoulder explained shyly and the princess just nodded her head in response.

"Anyway, have a rest while I get us dinner. I will be back soon." Baron said before he turned on his heels to leave.

Dahlia wandered around the chamber and thought that she definitely agreed with the man that this place was much better than the cabin. However, she understands what she is into after deciding to leave the kingdom and so sleeping on a bed with dirt doesn't bother her. 

She walked to the window and looked down, watching the people walking around left and right under the flaming sunset. Unlike the towns and villages near the Haru Kingdom, the residents of Heinzfield seemed not bothered about the coming darkness.

While surveying around, Dahlia noticed a closed door on her left. She walked to it and twisted the knob and her eyes widened with delight after discovering the bath full of water. She grinned widely and closed the door behind her. Without a second thought, she quickly got rid of her clothes and dipped her body in the water.

She closes her eyes, visualizing her parents' faces as she misses them, especially her sick father. Hoping they are doing fine and the ministers don't pressure her parents too much about dethroning her father.

'Wait for me, father.' She thought.

After almost an hour, Dahlia walked out of the bath chamber wearing only her chemise when Baron suddenly burst in with a tray of food in his hands.

"A.apologies, Your Highness!" He quickly turned to avoid having a further look at the lady who immediately covered herself with the thick blanket. 

"It's alright. You can turn now." She said and settled herself on one of the chairs at the small round table.

Baron turned but when he saw that the lady was still not properly dressed he turned around again. Dahlia sighed.

"I know this is inappropriate for you, but I washed my clothes. I did not intend to pack all of Tala's clothing so I only brought what I wore. I hope you understand, soldier. Also, I am already starving so, please. Put yourself together and come closer with the food." Dahlia demanded with a bit of annoyance in her voice because of the way Baron reacted.

However, Dahlia is naive to notice that Baron is affected by how she behaves and blind for not seeing how the man blushed after having a glimpse of her body under her damped fabric.

Baron set the food on the table as he tried hard to get his sight away from the lady and just acted like he didn't see anything earlier. While Dahlia started eating, Baron still acted uneasily and kept his distance from the princess.

"Are you not going to eat?" Dahlia asked when she noticed that Baron was only standing up in the corner with his head bent down.

"Uh. Hmm uh maybe later, Princess." He stammered.

"It's Dahlia, soldier." She corrected him and rolled her eyes at him.

The night wasn't easy for the man, sleeping in the same room with the lady he adored, and the memory of what happened when Dahlia came out of the bath with her body dripping wet kept on disturbing his mind.

The next morning, Baron invited the princess to the lobby of the inn where they could have their breakfast before they started their journey again to the next village and sat beside the window.

"Baron? Who is that man?" Dahlia asked in an almost whispering voice of a middle-aged man wearing an elegant coat and glasses in his eyes, sitting in a corner with a pen and paper in his hands. He is also accompanied by two bulky men. While villagers with frowning faces come to him one by one offering their shillings and crops.

"He might be the tax collector of this town, Your Highness." The man forgot about addressing the royal lady who looked up to him with sharp eyes.

"I'm sorry. I forgot again." Baron apologized, looking down.

“I cannot accept it, Mr. Hugh. Until you give me the proper amount.” They heard the collector say.

“I already spared you last time to pay in half and you agreed to pay me double this time, remember?” He added.

“Uh.. ye.yes, sir bu.But because of the locusts last month, I needed to harvest my crops too early and it didn’t go well in the market. I hope you understand, sir.” The poor man implored.

"I did comprehend last time, remember?" He strictly told the man, raising an eyebrow at him with sharp eyes.

"Fine, since I am compassionate." His expression suddenly softened.

"I am giving you until sunset to make up the remaining amount. But if you fail, your son will be paying me through his labor in my plantation." The tax collector proposed.

"Are we clear, Mr. Hugh?"

"B.but yo.you can't do that.  My son is still too young to work. He is only twelve years old, sir. Take me instead." The man protested in his shaky voice.

"No, no, no. Leave now and return with the remaining amount. I have lots of things to do." The collector shoos him away, but when the man refused to leave, the two savage-looking men stepped forward and that made Mr. Hugh had left already.

Dahlia just stays in her seat while listening to the conversation with her face covered with a hood.

"I need to do something." She whispered, staring straight at Baron who was sitting across the table.

"But if you interfere you might only reveal your identity and it could only delay our journey. That is, if we still have the chance to proceed when the palace learns about your whereabouts." Baron warned her in a whispering voice.

Dahlia sighed and balled her fist, feeling worthless for protecting her people from someone like the greedy tax collector. 

'I don't even know about the locusts' attack that happened last month. I should have done something to help the villagers.' She sadly thought.

Suddenly, Dahlia noticed Baron's eyes squinted and became serious. She followed the direction where he was looking and was shocked to see a boy carefully sneaking around the tax collector.

They secretly watched the boy and witnessed how he quickly snatched a pouch from the man's coat’s pocket and ran away without him getting caught by the men.

Dahlia looked up to Baron and the man nodded before they got up and got out of the place.

The boy rapidly ran along the streets with his broad grin, feeling successful for what he had done. He arrived at the farm and entered a stable with a single horse inside, tossing the pouch in the air in his hands.

“Hey, lad!” The boy was startled when the princess suddenly burst in.

“Wh-who are you!?” He stammered with shaky hands.

“I saw what you did.” The princess said with a mocking smirk while panting heavily.

“I-It’s none of your business, lady. Just leave." The boy bluntly said and turned his heels, but suddenly Baron appeared blocking his way.

“You are not going anywhere, young man,” Baron said.

The boy stepped backward until his back hit the wall while Baron and Dahlia were stepping forth. 

“You’re doomed.” Dahlia mocked him playfully.

“What do you want!?”

“Well, I want nothing from you but I guess you have to return that…” gazing at the pouch in his hand.

“...to its owner.”

“No way! Besides, he deserves it. He always charges extra every time he collects taxes and that makes the people here starve to death. This…?” raising the pouch.

“It is just a pinch of his wealth from his illegal work. I doubt if the kingdom knew about what was happening, because if they did, they should have done something. But no, they just let the villagers suffer while they are unwinding around their prosperous palace." He scoffed like a grown-up, looking up at the princess with his fierce eyes.

Dahlia felt guilty, she never thought that there were so many happenings that she was not aware of outside the palace. 

"Jamie!" They jumped in surprise when suddenly the man from the inn earlier burst inside with his mad expression looking directly at the boy. While Baron quickly stepped forward in front of the princess, holding on to the tip of his sword, getting himself ready. 

"Father!" The boy excitedly ran to him but the moment he got close to his father, a loud slap welcomed him.

Dahlia gasped in shock and realized that the boy was the son that the tax collector wanted as payment.

"What have you done!? What were you thinking, huh!?" Mr. Hugh angrily scolded his son.

"Father, look. You don't have to worry anymore, we can pay the remaining amount to Mr. Sullivan." Jamie said, not minding the pain he is enduring.

But instead of receiving the money, Mr. Hugh slumped his body to the ground and whined.

"Why? Why did you do this, son?” He asked again with a shaky voice, holding both of Jamie's shoulders.

“I.I just want to help you, father.” Jamie responded and started sobbing as well.

"Help me? By stealing? Is that what I taught you!? Have you ever thought of the consequences!?"

Jamie couldn't find the words to answer his father and just froze on his spot. While Dahlia couldn't help anymore not to interfere with the scene and step forward.

"Uhm... Excuse me, sir." 

"Pri- I uh, Dahlia!" Baron grabbed her wrist to stop her, but the princess just shoved his hand off and continued her pace.

"Who are you? What are you doing on my property?" Mr. Hugh confusingly asked.

"My name is Dahlia and this is Baron, we are travellers and..." Dahlia started but couldn't finish her words when Jamie interrupted.

"And they saw what I did and followed me here." He said in an almost whispering voice, looking down.

"I see. So, it's not just one person who witnessed my son's crime." Nodding his head, Mr. Hugh faces Dahlia.

"I understand whatever you may think about my son. But I can assure you that he is not a bad person." He tries to convince them and faces his son again. 

"You have to return whatever you took from Mr. Sullivan before anything worse could happen. Let's go." He said and grabbed Jamie's wrist, pulling him out of the stable.

"Father, no!" Jamie cried as he tried hard to withdraw himself.

Everyone thought that Mr. Hugh will surrender Jamie to the tax collector, but instead, he locks him up in a hidden chamber just behind the stable.

"You're safe here. Wait for me until I return." Mr. Hugh told his son.