The Royal Quest

CHAPTER 32. Old Love

"So, this is what makes you occupied, that's why you never visit the palace again." Duncan said as he watched the lady, preparing the antidote.

"Yes, I realized I am only wasting my time roaming around the palace which will never be mine. So I decided to make myself productive.* 

"Is that the reason why you also forget about us?" Suddenly Duncan uttered that made the lady stop and took a deep breath before she turned and faced the man.

"Us? I never thought that you would still remember us, Duncan.” She scoffed unbelievably.

“If I may have taken a distance from you it is because you've changed. This thing about politics changed you, Dahlia changed you." Savanna spoke up while resisting the rising emotions inside her.

"You are so ambitious. I thought whatever we had before was strong, I felt so confident that you would not let me down, but you did and I hate you for that. Now, I am just glad that you have shown your true self already before I let myself drown in you." Savanna firmly said, which made the man succumb to silence.

"I don't think your presence here is needed, Lord Duncan. So if you may, you know where the exit is," Savanna said, as she couldn't stand the man around her. She thought that her heart had become numb already, but seeing the first man who she used to adore before, brought back the memories and pain. 

*****

The Past,

Young and carefree, that's how Duncan and Savanna's life was during their teenage lives. They grow up together, raised in the castle. Studied under the same schoolmaster and both have the attention of the people because of their status. Savanna is a member of the royal relatives, while Baron is the son of the chief minister of the palace. 

Growing up, they always thought of each other as siblings until they came to the right age and understood that their feelings towards each other were much stronger than they thought.

"Where are you taking me?" Savanna inquired, chuckling as Duncan put a blindfold on her while guiding her to a chamber.

"Just be patient and you'll see." Duncan said, as he finally opened the door and carefully led the lady inside before he closed and locked it. 

"Are we here yet?" Savanna asked again, feeling impatient.

"Yes, we're here." Duncan whispered closely to her, which brought shivers down her spine.

"Can I take this off now?" Savanna asked and was about to reach the blindfold, but Duncan stopped her.

"Let me." He said and walked behind her while tracing her arms upward gently with his fingers.

"You're shaking, are you nervous?" Duncan teases her with a tiny kiss on the ear.

"Ye-yes?" She answered. Duncan chuckled as she felt satisfaction while teasing the lady and finally moved his hands to untie the fabric.

"Now, see." 

Savanna gasped in surprise the moment Duncan took off her blindfold, seeing a massive masterpiece in front of her in the middle of a chamber.

"Did you make it?" She asked, gawking at her own portrait.

"Uh huh, do you like it?"

"I do. It's beautiful. Thank you."

"I love you." Duncan whispers in her ear from behind while encircling his arms around her waist.

"I wish we could be like this forever," 

"We can. That is, if you marry me," Duncan responded, which made Savanna giggle.

"Silly, we're too young to think about marriage."

"I know, but, you know I can't live without you. I can't even imagine life if I didn't have you. It will always be you, Savanna, until the future." Duncan said as he turned the lady to face him.

"When my father returns from his expedition in the south, I will ask him to help me ask for your hand from your parents." He announced.

"What? Are you sure about that? Isn't it too early?" Savanna asked worriedly.

"You'll see, trust me." 

The wait was over after several months when Zafiro Wick finally arrived home. However, it wasn't as expected because the father had his own plan. 

"Savanna isn't the woman for you. Instead of wasting your time with her, why don't you come with me and I'll introduce you to someone who could give you a greater opportunity in this society, especially to our family? Make us proud, Duncan." Zafiro told his son. 

Savanna waited for the entire night for the man to come. She made sure to dress up beautifully to impress his parents but no one came. Even the shadows failed to show up. 

Feeling disappointed, Savanna goes to the palace with her young cousin Dahlia to release the sadness she has that causes Duncan. However, when she arrived to see her at the Palace's Garden, where she always spends most of the time, she was shocked to see the man with her.

"Du-Duncan?" She speaks to get their attention, which makes the two turn to see her.

"Savanna!" Dahlia cried, welcoming her with an embrace.

"So, you knew each other?" Dahlia asked, looking between the two who didn't utter an answer.

"Minister Zafiro introduced me to his son just earlier and I'm glad to have someone to walk with me. Duncan has a lot of stories, there is never a dull moment with him." Dahlia gladly said, but Savanna didn't feel comfortable with the sight and just ran away.

" What happened? Isn't she feeling well?" Dahlia innocently wondered.

"Uhhh, Princess, if I may excuse myself for a while?" Duncan asked.

"Sure, take your time." 

Duncan made his way rapidly to follow Savanna.

"Savanna, wait. Let me explain, please." He begged while following the lady from behind.

"You have nothing to explain, just go back to Dahlia." Savanna said without turning to face him.

"I am doing this for my family. I hope you understand that. I didn't mean to break my promise, but I have a responsibility to my family too and it is my duty to comply and make them proud." He tried to reason, 

Savanna suddenly halted and turned to finally face the man.

"Of course I understand. I can see that you chose my twelve-year-old princess cousin over me." 

"But I love you."

"But words aren't enough. I thought I knew you already after all these years, I never thought you would let me down. You crashed me into pieces and I hate you for that." She is about to walk away but Duncan pulls her back, caging her between his arms.

"Please, don't give up on us with just a single mistake. Just give me more time to fix everything and I promise I won't hurt you again. Please, I can't lose you, Savanna, all my life revolves around you."

"Is your father planning to betroth you to the princess?" Savanna suddenly asked.

"No, and even if he does, I won't let him. Savanna, it is you that I want to marry, just keep on holding on to us, will you?" Duncan implored and nodded in response.

"Can I see you tonight?" He asked, whispering.

"Will you really show up?" Savanna inquired, as she was afraid after what happened the last time.

"Yes, curse me if I don't. I won't let my beautiful angel slip through my fingers again." He said and kissed the lady on the forehead.

Days passed, and Duncan kept his presence beside the princess to get her trust, to make her feel comfortable with him. Though he had known Savanna for years and was aware that she and the princess were cousins, he never had a chance to meet the royal heiress, not until his father introduced her to him. Slowly he learned how wonderful the princess is, just like Savanna, and that made him obsessed with her and he didn't realize he was hurting someone. Until that person decides to avoid what's the cause of the pain and never let him have a chance to fool her again.