The Royal Quest

CHAPTER 4. Tempered Princess

"Princess?" Tala feels so worried after seeing the princess's awful condition when she suddenly came out and ran away from the library. Tala didn't waste any moment as she followed her after.

“Princess Dahlia!” Tala cried, looking around as she lost the princess, who ran straight into the garden. 

“Tala, what happened?” Baron came over when he saw the servant strolling around the garden with her threatening behavior. She is shaking and crumpling both her hands together because of the anxiousness she was feeling.

“Baron!” Tala quickly ran into him.

“Where’s the princess?” He inquired.

“I don’t know. I can’t see the princess. The king and Queen asked for Your Highness this morning. When she came out of the library, she was crying and ran away. I followed her until I got here in the garden, but now I can’t see her around. I am so worried.” She explained as she squeezed her hands together.

“Stop doing that. You might get yourself hurt,” Baron said, parting her hands apart.

“Don’t worry about the Princess, just go back inside. I’ll find her.” He proposed and walked past Tala. The lady felt a bit relaxed as she followed him with her eyes, knowing that the man would surely not stop until he found their princess.

Baron walked straight ahead on the curved bridge that connected to the other part of the garden. Under the bridge is a stream where a lot of fascinating pink lotus is floating. He bent his head down under the bridge while holding on to the railing, steadying his weight, and smiled when he darted a glimpse of silk fabric. He carefully got down to the stream, and there he saw Princess Dahlia hiding in the dark shade.

“Princess,” he called her as he took steps towards her direction, who’s sitting on the rock, holding a stick while poking it into the water.

“Greetings, Your Highness.” he kneeled beside her while making sure not to step onto her spread dress on the ground. But worries came up when he noticed the princess was whimpering.

“Baron, have you heard the news?” She asked between her hiccups.

“Yes, My Princess.” He responded, looking down with his sad and disappointed expression. 

Before he searched for the Princess, the Prime Minister ordered him to summon Princess Dahlia to the assembly chamber where the King congregated her suitors to meet her eligible grooms. He can’t believe what he has heard and feels jealous of the chosen ones but can do nothing to object to the royalty.

He’s not fortunate enough to be born with a high standard of living in society, as he only came from a small town in the south where the primary source of living is farming. Baron only made it to enter the palace when he shows off his intelligence and fights in battles. They once summoned him to fight against the kingdom invaders and came back as one patriot. When the chaos started in the Haru Kingdom during dark hours, the King decided he needed someone to protect the Princess and assigned him to stand beside her, especially when she’s out of the kingdom.

“I don’t want to get married to a person I don’t love. What should I do?” The Princess deplorably uttered as she continued sobbing into her palms.

Baron did not respond to her and just sat beside the lonely Princess. A few minutes later, she moves firmly and stands up, wiping the remaining tears from her face.

"None of this will happen. I will face whoever comes up with this nonsense idea and will prove myself to that person. That I, Dahlia Reese, the sole heiress of Haru Kingdom, will not let no one rule my life nor ruin my future." She dramatically swore and fixed her gown while Baron also got up.

"Come on, soldier. We have a war to rush into." She dramatically said and grabbed Baron's hand, pulling him out from under the dark bridge.

*****

They are wearing their great posture and fierce expression for the thought that it could be an additional point to please Your Highness. Each will undergo a trial wherein they have to use their physical strength and mind, a competition which could help the royal family decide which of them is worthy for the princess. Two of the men were Lord Duncan and Prince Jax.

“To achieve as the Princess’s groom, you shall be bold and loyal. To prove your capability, compete with one another and win the trials to determine whether you can be Princess Dahlia’s companion to rule the entire Kingdom of Haru.” Zafiro, the Prime Minister, started announcing the not-so-friendly competition for the Princess’s suitors.

“Great wealth will not help you in this competition, Prince Jax.” Lord Duncan whispered, mocking the prince who was standing firm in his right. 

Twelve men are standing in the middle of the chamber in front of the King and queen. Some are the princes of their allied kingdoms, while the others are the minister’s sons who have proven their ability and loyalty to the domain.

“And your popularity could only lead you to lose the battle.” The prince countered.

“You know, the Princess will surely not pick someone who has lots of women in the chase,” he added. 

“That’s not my fault. Well, at least you know I look more mighty than you.” the young Wick didn’t let himself down. However, when Prince Jax responds, the messenger interrupts him when the latter announces the Princess’s arrival. 

And not a minute later, the wide double door opens. Escorted by Baron, they let the stunning Princess join the current meeting.  

Meanwhile, everyone noticed the Princess’s gloomy expression as she walked in the middle of the aisle, forward to the throne, and respected her royal parents. She turned to the side and about to step in her seat to her father’s left side when her foot didn’t reach precisely at the elevated part and stumbled, but luckily Baron was on her side who quickly held her to prevent her from falling directly on the floor.

“Thank you.” The Princess whispered. Baron responded with a sweet smile.

“Once the King chooses me, I will immediately summon that Baron to the most dangerous battle and forbid him to get close to the Princess forever,” Lord Duncan whispered while looking sharply in the soldier’s direction.

“I agree. However, it’s not you who’s going to demand that, but me.” Prince Jax responded, who is also jealous of Baron for having the privilege of tailing the Princess around wherever she goes.

Baron assisted the princess until she settled in her seat comfortably before he stepped aside. Everyone greeted her simultaneously as they kneel and bow their heads in respect.

“Good morning, Your Highness.” Zafiro stepped forward and greeted her, but unlike her usual days in which she always replied and greeted everyone back, she stayed still, sitting straight on her throne while her cold eyes were busy staring at the twelve men in front of her, one by one.

Her parents are more anxious than everyone else because they knew their daughter felt betrayed as they decided on her future without her consent.

“Princess Dahlia, these are the selected lucky young men to undergo the last trial to be your eligible future king." Zafiro introduced, but Dahlia ignored what he was saying and stood up, walking past the Prime Minister, and stood in the middle with her fierce face.

“I was very pleased by you all when you joined me in my celebration the day before. However, I never expected that you all planned something against my will.” The Princess said in a hostile manner, which shocked everyone as they never heard the princess in such a tone ever since.

“I beg your pardon, Your Highness. But, I guess you must have misunderstood things.” Zafiro speaks with his head still bent down.

"Shut up!" Dahlia hissed in anger, which made everyone freeze in their position.

“Misunderstood?” Dahlia repeated, looking down at the middle-aged man.

"Or you might have underestimated my capability, Prime Minister, Zafiro." She added with her piercing stares.

Meanwhile, the King cannot stand the impulsive behavior of his daughter and stands up.

"Leave us for a moment, please." He told the young men. 

"Lord Duncan, please lead your fellow men to the library and wait for my word." He demanded.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Duncan heeded, and all the men followed the man as they obeyed the King's order. 

"Now, I know you're upset, but let's calmly talk about the issue, my Princess," Rainier told his daughter as he caressed her face.

Dahlia felt a sudden ache in her throat as she felt her emotion is about to come out again. Her lips are quivering as she looks up to her father. Queen Olive also stands up and steps closer to her daughter to give her an embrace as she tries to ease the gravity that Dahlia has in her heart.