The Royal Quest

Chapter 10. Alone No More

“Look how lucky I really am. Now I already have shelter for the night.” She gratefully said with a smile and stood up, dusting the dirt away from her clothes.

“I’m just not planning for a sleepover with this current situation here. But, just a little makeover and with my imperial presence, then you’ll be like a royal hut.” she dramatically added, untying her cloak then hanging it on the wall together with her sling pouch.

“First, I need to have a broom to brush off all the unwanted kinds of stuff.” She muttered as she thought of something to use to sweep the place. But not a moment later a resourceful idea pumped into her head and she smirked.

With quick movements, she went out cautiously and looked around to make sure that no one managed to follow her. Once she was sure of her surroundings, she walked to the nearest bushy plant and cut a green leafy stem from it using the small silver dagger she brought with her. Before returning, Dahlia continued to observe her surroundings and went down to the sloppy ground as she heard the sound of the flowing water not far from her direction.

“Water!” she excitedly cried and ran closer to it, putting down the stem she had in her hand.

Dahlia dipped her hand in the clear water as she smiled at the view, remembering her favorite spot in the palace where her favorite flowers were floating above the water. She scoops water with both hands together and drinks from it.

“So refreshing.” She commented with a smile.

Dahlia looked up in the sky and looked around her.

‘It is almost late in the afternoon. I should be getting ready for the night.’ She thought as she noticed the shadows around her were pointing to the east.

She went back inside the cabin and started cleaning. Once done, she took her bag and took out a bottle of holy water and a jar of salt, then sprinkled some around the place. 

“And the ever good-smelling garlic, of course,” she remarks while hanging it on the door. 

Dahlia looked around the place again and smiled, feeling proud of herself.

“I can’t believe I just saved some pennies for a roof tonight. I just have to make sure not to let my guard down until the sun rises again and maybe tomorrow I could rent a chamber in the next valley where I could stay.” She told herself and suddenly felt her belly growl in hunger. She smiled then took a loaf of bread from her bag.

Dahlia spread her cloak on the wooden platform before she sat down and started filling her stomach. However, while munching her food, Dahlia couldn’t help herself to feel sad as she suddenly misses her parents and wonders how worried they are at the moment, especially her mother.

The night had come and Dahlia decided not to light up a torch and let the moon give brightness around her as she intended to keep it dark inside so she could not attract anyone or anything towards the cabin. But just as the night became deeper, Dahlia suddenly awakened when she heard some sound of crashing dry leaves, indicating that there might be someone walking outside. She took her sword and held it tightly with both hands. Slowly she peeked through a hole to see what was out there, but saw nothing. Dahlia sighed, knowing that she couldn’t sleep peacefully in her current situation and needed to keep her senses up from possible danger.

The few rays of the sun have already scattered above the sky as the wind blows the cold morning breeze. Dahlia didn’t notice that she had been sleeping quietly for hours with her sword beside her. She woke up and was startled when she saw the sunlight slipping through the roof of the cabin.

‘Goodness! I’m sleeping like a bairn!’ She scolded herself and immediately got up.

As Dahlia was used to taking a bath first thing in the morning, she thought about the river and smiled.

Once again, she peeks through the cabin’s hole to check if it is safe to get out, and when she is confident, she grabs her cloak and bag. But the moment she opened and took her first step out of the cabin, a man welcomed her.

“Baron!?” Dahlia cried with her widened eyes when she saw the soldier leaning his back on the cabin’s wall. She felt terrified, and slowly, her feet voluntarily took a step backward, getting back inside the chamber while Baron followed her without taking his eyes off her. The princess immediately grabbed the dagger and pointed it at the man.

“How did you find me?” The princess asked with her piercing stares. 

“Princes-” Baron tried to soothe the lady while raising both his hands in the air, but Dahlia did not give him a chance to talk.

“No!” She quickly refused.

“I am not coming with you. I am not going back. Not yet!” She said to him while her eyes started welling up.

“Princess, please hear me out first,” the man pleads while taking his steps slowly forward to the lady.

“Not another step, soldier, or I’ll stab you in the chest with this.” Dahlia bravely warns him, to which Baron only responds with a soft laugh.

“Pardon me, but we clearly both know that you don’t have a match against me, Your Highness.” He playfully mocked the princess.

“You’re making fun of me now, huh? Fine then. I’ll kill myself instead if you get any closer.” She prompted and pointed the sharp weapon close to her neck.

“No!” Baron cried.

“Now go and let me leave. If any of you follow me again, I will not hesitate to end my life in front of you all.” She warned fiercely as her jaw clenched and her eyes glared with blurry sight because of the tears.

“No, Your Highness. I’m not taking you back.” Baron finally let out.

“Liar! Then what are you doing here!? How did you find me!? You can’t fool me, Baron. I know how loyal you are to the palace. I’m sure that you are here to take me back and just let me marry whoever they wanted for me!” She said with quivering lips while she couldn’t suppress the emotions she had inside and burst into tears without withdrawing the blade near her skin.

Baron’s heart was tightened once again at the poor sight of the princess and he suddenly kneeled in front of the royal lady.

“Princess Dahlia, I am your soldier. From this day on, I will only hear your words. I swear to serve and protect you with all my heart, even if it costs my soul. My loyalty will only be yours until my last breath, Your Highness.” Baron pledges and looks up to the princess.

“I came here alone to join your journey, Princess Dahlia. Let’s go to the north together, take down the evil vampire and prove them your worth.” He let out.

“Baron?” Dahlia burst into tears even more.

The soldier got up from the ground and stood closer to the lady. He carefully took the dagger away from her skin and pulled it out of her hand.

“Hush now, Princess.” Baron whispered in his gentle tone.

But instead of wiping her tears off, Dahlia took a step forward and embraced the loyal soldier as she continued to cry on his chest. Baron felt his body melting with the action, but his body seemed to have its own thinking and responded to move. His hands slowly raised and caged the fragile princess in his arms.

“I don’t like seeing you hurt, Princess. If only I can take every weight of sadness you have, then I’m willing to get every bit of it.” He whispered lovingly above her head.

“How did you find me?” Dahlia asked as she withdrew herself from the man and wiped her tears off with her hand.

Baron smirked.

“I helped you pick up the apples, remember?” Baron answered.

“I thought you didn’t recognize me.” frowning playfully.

“Why wouldn’t I? I remember Tala’s cloak you are using because I am the one who gave it to her and there’s no way I couldn't recognize your voice.”

“I see, I wasn’t that careful then, huh?” Dahlia muttered sadly and looked at the cloak that fell on the ground.

She picked it up.

“It is from you?” She asked.

“Yes, Princess.” 

“Tala loves to wear this more than the one that I gave to her. She said that she felt comfortable with it and the one that I gave her was quite eye-catching. I thought that if I took it, she would wear the one that I gave her instead.” The Princess said in a low voice.

“Your Highness, I believe Tala didn’t mean to offend you. You know her, she is just as simple as the sky and not fond of any expensive things.” Baron tried to reason and suddenly became anxious when the princess did not respond and just kept staring at the fabric in her hand.

“A-Apologize, Your Highness. I didn’t mean anything by what I said.” He kneeled with his head bent down.

“Get up, Baron. It's alright. I just missed her. I’m pretty sure that she is worried about me as much as my parents.” She muttered with a forced smile.

“Definitely, Your Highness. She cried hysterically after knowing that you left the palace.” Baron sadly told her.

“Let’s just not talk about her or anyone, Baron. Anyway, you said that you followed me from the town to here? Then where did you sleep last night?” Dahlia was curious.

Baron smiled before he answered.

“I did not sleep, Princess. I watched over the cabin all night to make sure you were safe.” 

“Silly. You should have knocked and gotten inside. What if a vampire sensed you and attacked you?” The princess was concerned.

“Thank you, but I’m good, Your Highness. I can always protect myself from any danger. I’ve been through worse in battles before.” Baron told her with a broad grin.

“Besides, I believe that  it is not appropriate to stay the night in the same room with you.” He added in an almost whispering voice.

Dahlia just heaved a sigh and looked up at the man.

“I can’t drag you on this dangerous mission, Baron. You should leave.”

“No, I’ll stay with you. Besides, we’ve been planning this for days together. You said that I would be your companion, right? Then let me do my part, Your Highness.” The soldier insisted.

Dahlia took a deep breath and turned away before she spoke again.

“I am going to the river just a few distances away from here. You don’t have to come with me, just stay here and have some rest.” Dahlia said and picked up her things.

“No, I am coming with you.” Baron declined.

The princess halts and faces the man again with her cold eyes.

“Well, soldier. Are you rejecting my order?”

“I dare not, Princess. But you can’t just walk around the forest alone. There’s a lot of bandits roaming around and it is not safe for you,” Baron hastily explained.

“We are companions on this journey now and we need to work together,” he insisted.

However, Dahlia just rolled her eyes at the man annoyingly and started walking in the direction of the river.

‘I guess there’s no bath time for me today.’ Dahlia thought with so much disappointment while Baron happily took her things up and carried them.

But on the other side of her mind, she felt relieved, thinking that she would not be alone on her crazy journey anymore.