The Royal Quest

CHAPTER 46. Precious Possession

Tala took the tea to the King and Queen's chamber. The guard announced her arrival and let her in. Inside the room, the King's physician is there as well, pressing the King's pulse while she carefully puts down the teapot and cups on the center table below the bed where the Queen is sitting on a couch in front of it. She took the teapot and started pouring the cups.

"Thank you, Tala." The Queen said, receiving the cup of tea from her and just after the Queen held the cup already, Tala suddenly kneeled in front of the Queen with her head bent down.

"Your Highness, I deeply apologize for hiding about Baron and I swear I was also broke when the Princess left. I always believe that there is always another way to solve whatever difficulties she has, the royalty have. I will never tolerate her unexpected decision to run away. If punishing me is to make you believe my heart, then I will gladly receive it." She said lowly.

"You did nothing wrong Tala, you just followed her orders and saved Baron's life. I understand and everything is fine. " The Queen said, showing her gentle smile.

"I just want my princess back, that is all I am praying for." She added as her eyes started to tear up.

"Permission, Your Majesty." Suddenly a guard spoke up from outside the door.

"Speak,"

"Lord Jonathan is in the study room and wants to speak privately to the king."

King Rainer heard him and sighed.

"Tell him I'll be there."

"But, Your Majesty, you can't just walk around the palace again after what happened in the hall, you need to stay in bed for the meantime until you regain your energy." The physician strictly said.

"It's alright, I'll just invite him over here so you don't have to stand up, my king." Olive proposed.

"Fine, but I don't want him to see this doctor around here while doing some things on my body." The king demanded which made the Queen and the physician chuckle softly.

"Of course, the Lord wanted a private talk anyway." Queen Olive agreed and turned to Tala again.

"Could you lead Lord Jonathan here, please?"

"Yes, Your Highness," Tala said and made her way out of the chamber already.

Tala immediately headed straight to the study room. While in the corridor, she walked past Duncan, who she noticed staring down at the garden outside while hiding himself behind the pillar. She just ignores him and keeps walking until she reaches the study area.

"Good day, Lord Jonathan." Tala immediately greeted the man when she saw him standing in front of the bookshelf.

"Tala, it is good to see you again." The man greeted the servant politely.

"Same here, my Lord." Tala responded timidly.

"Anyway, the King isn't feeling well today. But he wishes to see you in his chamber instead."

Jonathan sighed with frustration and shook his head negatively.

"Alright, I am going there instead."

"Let me lead the way, sir." Tala proposed, but the man refused as he shook his head negatively.

"Can you find Savanna in the garden instead and give her company while strolling around the palace? You know it's been a long time since the last time we stepped into the palace. Also, I don't trust the people here aside from the royal family and you. I hope you understand what I mean."

"Of course, my Lord. I will go to Lady Savanna this instant."

"Thank you." Jonathan said before they went different ways.

Tala went straight to the garden to look for Savanna and it didn't take long to find her as she immediately saw her sitting on a bench reading a book. She slowly walked to the lady but before she could reach her spot, Tala had a glimpse of Duncan from the hallway on the second floor of the palace and realized that it was Savanna he was staring at. Tala got confused but continued her pace towards the lady.

"Lady Savanna." She greeted her politely, bending her head down.

"Tala!" Savanna stood up quickly.

"Your father asked me to accompany you while you are in Haru. I hope you don't mind my presence."

"Of course not." Savanna said and smiled widely as she roamed her eyes around the beautiful surroundings while remembering a few memories in the palace.

"How is Baron, by the way?" She inquired.

"He is fine, he was just assigned to lead the pursuit of the princess in the north." Tala informed her in a muttering tone.

"And you're sad?" Savanna noticed.

Tala heaved a deep sigh as they started moving their feet.

"I don't know, I feel agitated. First of all, he should have brought the princess back to the palace the moment he found her. But no, instead, he went with her and now the king appointed him to take princess Dahlia back. I don't really know what will happen next, if he will obey the king's order or does he just successfully acquire an excuse to follow the princess to continue their adventure so the princess could avoid her betrothal."

"I don't understand, I thought you also disagreed with the Princess' forced engagement?"

"Yes, I am. I don't want her to marry someone she doesn't love, but I don't want her to risk her life out there as well, just to please the ministers. I know this is hard for her and I feel useless." Tala let out, as she couldn't help herself to keep calm anymore.

"And feel jealous too?" Savanna asserted, smirking playfully.

Tala's eyes widened but immediately avoided the lady's eyes.

"Come on, I notice how you care for him and how your eyes look at him while you are in the manor."

"But he said he already swore his soul to the princess. His heart belongs to the princess ever since."

Savanna halted, and turned to face the servant.

"You know what, Tala. It's alright if the person you desire can't see you as long as you show them how you feel, because it is more hurtful if you keep resisting. It's okay if he keeps on pushing you away, at least you don't regret not doing what your heart wants. Keep loving, don't stop until you reach the point of being numb where you cannot feel pain anymore."

Tala didn't realize her tears started rolling down her cheek while listening to the lady. While on the other hand, Savanna felt ridiculous giving advice to others while she couldn't even fix her own heart problems.

Meanwhile, in the king's chamber, Jonathan is scolding his younger brother while Olive just keeps herself steady while resisting her giggles and pity, looking at her poor husband.

"I swear, I didn't order anyone to lock up your manor with guards." King Rainer insisted after Jonathan told, about the guards surrounding his mansion after the news of the runaway princess.

"See? You are the King but have no idea what is happening around you." Jonathan said unbelievably, tossing his hand in the air.

"You let those greedy ministers rule over you. You should be the most powerful being, more than anyone else in your land." He added.

Rainier deeply sighed with so much frustration.

"Then you should have taken the position in the first place instead of passing it to me," Rainer muttered with his head bent down.

"Because I always believe you are way braver than me, bold and smart. You see? I am not that high spirited as you to obtain the throne." Suddenly Jonathan's voice changed as well as his furious expression.

"I am a coward, that's why I chose to live far from Haru. Because that's the only way I can protect my family, especially my wife. I'm not like you, who can fight the enemy face to face. But even though I am a wimp, I can't stand seeing our family struggle like this, especially Dahlia. How dare those who demand to marry her this early with a person who can just reach their expectations? You should put your interest in your family first before anything else." He added, while Olive could already feel a sting in her throat after hearing his brother-in-law's words.

"But this throne is our family's pride. I can't let anyone have this but my only heiress. You can say all of that because you are not in my place. You don't have the world in your hands where people are relying on you. You are not the one who is sick and pressured. Of course, I love my family, my daughter, but this entire kingdom is my family too. If I fall, we all fall. That's why I needed to turn my heart hard like a rock even if it caused me to hurt my own daughter's heart." Rainier countered.

"You all have no idea how much I am suffering. You don't know that I crumpled my heart and soul first, scattered it to pieces before my daughter's." He added before he finally broke down.

"Rainier," Queen Olive immediately ran to his side, crying, as well as it was the first time she had heard her husband confess like that.

"I love my daughter, she is the most precious possession that I have in this life. You have no idea how much pain I am enduring while trying to be tough in front of everyone."