The Royal Quest

CHAPTER 24. The Horses

“Are you okay there, Moss?” Dahlia inquired, checking out for the vampire who was inside the wagon to keep him away from the sunlight while Dahlia was seated beside Baron who was coaching the horses.

However, Dahlia didn’t get any response as her new companion was already snoring soundly. She smiled.

“We need to find a safe place where we can stay for the night,” suddenly Baron said.

“You don’t have to worry about those things anymore, Baron. We have Moss, and he will look out for us during the nighttime.” The princess confidently said.

“I don’t need him to look after me,” Baron bluntly responded.

“Then I will.” The lady quickly uttered with a smile, looking up to him.

“I would love that,” Baron answered.

“I miss my parents.” Suddenly Dahlia opens up.

“I wonder how they are, especially my father.”

“Yeah, and Tala too,” Baron also added.

 “Yeah.”

“Uhmm, Princess. About what I said earlier this morning, have you thought about it?” Baron suddenly asked, which made the princess feel uncomfortable.

“Baron. I am already burned out with everything that is happening to us right now and I can’t comprehend it yet. Maybe after we claim our victory and get back to Haru then we will see, okay?” Dahlia said in a polite way, as much as possible to avoid hurting her friend’s feelings. However, deep inside, she can’t probe further the emotion she has for the man aside from just being a friend. 

“I understand. But honestly, even if you don’t feel the same way as I do, I will always be here beside you no matter what,” Baron said with his smile.

“Thank you, Baron.” Dahlia said and tilted her head to rest on his shoulder.

The sun starts to set down as the darkness is about to take over the world. Dahlia and Baron decided to set a fire in the forest to keep them warm while Massimo had just woke up from his morning slumber.

“Moss, finally you’re up. How’s your sleep?” Dahlia excitedly inquired.

“Good, I just keep hearing voices,” he bluntly responded, and sat on a rock beside the fire.

“Those are the horses, I suppose,” Baron retorted.

“Yeah, the horses. Talking about their feelings towards each other. Very annoying,” the vampire countered.

“So, you’re eavesdropping on the horse's conversation now?” Baron did not let Massimo dominate the scene.

“The male horse is just too loud, you know.” 

“Gentlemen, could you please leave the horses alone? Besides, I don’t see any problem with that and it is not impossible if the two horses fall for each other. They’ve been together since this journey and maybe, after this, they could give each other a chance.” Dahlia also speaks up, shrugging her shoulders as she doesn't want Baron to feel embarrassed in front of the vampire. However, Massimo didn’t like what she said and stubbornly vanished in thin air, leaving them in the middle of the forest.

“I don’t really like him,” Baron annoyingly muttered.

“He just can’t keep his temper aside, just let him be.” Dahlia said, but feeling worried about the vampire’s sudden disappearance.

“Uh Baron, I need to do something private.”

“Sure, don’t forget to bring your sword just in case.”

“Yeah, I have it already.” 

“And don’t go too far.”

“I won't.” She said before turning her heels.

But what Baron didn’t know is that the princess has another motive as she heads straight into the deep forest, trying to find the vampire's location around the woods.

“Why are you strolling alone around here, Your Highness?” Suddenly Massimo appeared from behind, which made the princess startled. She gasped.

“Thank goodness you found me.” she said, holding on to her chest as her heart suddenly throbbed loudly.

“What do you mean? Are you lost? Why did you get too far from the site when you didn’t know how to go back? Is it really your thing to always put yourself in danger?” Massimo scolded the lady.

“You’re always mean to me.” The lady frowned playfully but Massimo’s expression didn’t change as he only kept her cold stares down at her.

“And you have no idea what you are doing to me,” he retorted.

“How will I know if you’re not telling me anything?” Dahlia also countered.

“Do you really want to know?” Massimo asked as he started stepping forward and the lady backwards until her back hit the trunk of a tree.

“I-I was actually looking for you.” She confessed, stammering. 

“Why?” Massimo asked, leaning his head forward towards the lady.

“You’re not going to bite me, are you?” She suddenly asked with furrowed eyebrows.

“And what if I want to?” 

“Then just kill me because I don’t want to become one of you. Also spare Baron and Jamie. If you hurt them, I will haunt you in your dreams every time you close your eyes.” She warned him fearlessly without diverting her eyes away from his.

“Seriously? Do you really think I am going to do that? And why do you always think about others, especially that weak soldier? Tell me, Dahlia. Do you have feelings for him too?” Massimo couldn’t resist asking, as the jealousy he felt earlier still hadn’t faded yet.

“What?” Dahlia was confused.

“Is he the reason why you don’t want to get married?” 

“No. What are you talking about? And by the way, I am looking for you to ask if you could take it easy with Baron. I know that you can’t stand each other but, at least try to behave and stop annoying him. You are both important to me on this journey and I can’t lose any of you.”

“Fine,” Massimo stepped backwards to give more space for the lady.

“As long as you keep your distance from him,” the vampire demanded.

“Come on, he’s just like a brother to me. You silly vampire, stop thinking nonsense. I was really talking about the horses earlier.” 

“Good. Besides, those horses look better together than you two.” Massimo playfully mocked the princess, who only rolled her eyes at him and started walking away but suddenly halted.

“What’s the matter, Princess?”

“Uh, uhm… can you lead the way? Please? I-I forgot the way back.” She timidly said, that made the vampire drop his head and sigh, followed by soft chuckles.

“Is there anything that the heir of Haru is good at?”

“Are you underestimating the princess?” Dahlia retorted, raising an eyebrow at the vampire.

“She is good at telling people what to do, including vampires. So don’t just stand there, immortal, and start leading the way.” She playfully added with a smirk.

“I don’t think you can make the vampire submit your order, Your Highness,” Massimo said as he abruptly grabbed the lady by her waist and leapt to the nearest highest tree.

“You’ll be punished for disobeying the royal command,” Dahlia said with a smile as she held onto the branch of the tree, steadying her balance.

“But I'm starting to love this view. I will never get tired of watching the world from above here, it’s so beautiful.” She dreamily commented as they watched the wonderful sunset together.

“By the way, I just wonder.” Suddenly Dahlia thought of something.

“What is it?”

“Can you go to the north immediately using your speed?”

“I uh, yes, but,” Massimo suddenly stuttered.

“It’s alright, besides you can’t carry me and Baron at the same time,” Dahlia said, while Massimo took a deep breath of relief.

“What does the vampire king look like? Is he as scary as what people describe him? Is he stronger than you?” Dahlia couldn’t help asking.

“Dahlia, stop worrying about the vampire king. Take each thing one at a time. Just like this, we’ll never know if tomorrow’s sunset will be as beautiful as this, so let’s seize every moment.”

“You’re right. Besides, you’ve been living for so many years, that’s why there’s no doubt that you are an expert at a lot of stuff.” Dahlia teased him.

“Is that a compliment, or what?”

“A compliment for sure. That’s why I’m thinking about whether I should be calling you grandfather or sort of. What do you think?” The lady continued.

“Come on, that’s gross.”

They both chuckled.

“Moss, do you still remember your life before you turned?” Another question popped up in Dahlia’s head.

“Sweetblood, can we not talk about it?” But the vampire turned her down.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” She apologized, looking down.

“Let’s go, I’m taking you back to the site before Baron goes crazy looking out for you.”

“Oh, yeah! ahh!!!” Dahlia abruptly stood up, causing her balance to go off. Luckily, Massimo caught her on time before she fell.

“I told you, You will always be safe with me, sweetblood.” He whispered as their faces were only inches apart from each other.

“Yeah, that was a close one.” Dahlia responded while her hands gripped his arms tightly, breathing heavily.

*****

“Princess! Where have you been!? I am so worried about you. I thought something bad happened to you. Are you hurt?” Baron worriedly asked the lady when he saw her walking with Massimo closer to their site, while he also took a sharp glance at the vampire.

“No, I’m fine, Baron. I got lost and didn’t realize that I was getting too far already. Thank goodness Moss found me in the forest.” Dahlia explained with a forced smile,

“Anyway, this has been a long day. Let’s get some rest already.”  Dahlia added to ease the tension that was forming again between the two men.

“I’ll just be around,” 

“Alright, be careful and avoid any trouble, Mister Vampire.” the princess reminded him, which Massimo only responded with a nod before he left the area.