The Royal Quest

CHAPTER 40. Gorgax's King

Dahlia moved and put her feet on the ground. However, she suddenly felt hesitant as her surroundings were unfamiliar. She roams her eyes around the chamber, almost nothing inside aside from the massive bed in the center, empty walls and windows that are covered with dark-coloured and thick curtains. She looked down at herself, she was only in her chemise undergarment and noticed her wound's bandage had changed as well.

"What happened?" She muttered, asking herself.

The princess finally decided to stand and start her steps towards the window where a few rays of sunlight slit through. She stretched her hand forward and reached the curtain and slid it to the side, letting the huge amount of sunlight enter the room. Her hand immediately covered her eyes as she got irritated by the brightness and when she adjusted, a beautiful sight was revealed in front of her. The heaviness that she felt in her chest a moment ago because of uncertainty suddenly disappeared after seeing the marvellous garden full of flowers and thick vines. It felt like paradise. She smiled. However, the incredible sight still didn't provide the answer to her question about where she was and so she decided to walk towards the huge double door located at the bottom part of the bed in the middle, where she also saw her silver blade leaning on the wall beside it. She picks up her sword and slowly twists the knob and pulls the door carefully. Dahlia roamed her eyes on the wide corridor left and right, making sure that no one was around before stepping out of the room. She also realises that she is not just in a regular house or mansion because of the high ceiling and elegant decorations that hang on the walls. 

'What is this place? Who brought me here?' She asked herself.

Every window she passed along was covered with the same curtain as was in the chamber she came from, every door was huge, like the same door as well. She went up to the staircase at the end of the corridor and continued her trip around the place.

"I feel like I'm inside a castle." She told herself.

Though she has no idea about the place, she continues her stroll and trusts wherever her feet are bringing her, until she stands in front of a grand door, different from the others, decorated with beautiful carvings with touches of gold in it. Dahlia got curious and decided to have a glimpse inside.

Pushing one side of the heavy door until she could fit herself through.

"I'm definitely in a castle." She whispers when discovering what's behind the door. A throne hall, without a throne, but the paintings that are displayed on each side of the wall, the gigantic chandelier hanging in the middle that was made of gold and diamonds and other decorations and emblems tells it all. However, she found no one around yet.

She kept her sword steady in her hand while pushing some curtains aside to let the light enter the enormous hall, which also gave further magnificence to the entire chamber. She looked around, taking a look at each portrait, trying to analyze if she knew one, but failed. 

"Who are they?" She wonders as she recognizes none of the people in the paintings. 

She continued to roam around until her sight darted onto another curtain placed on the elevated platform at the middle edge of the hall. She walked closer to it and pushed half of the heavy fabric aside, but behind the curtain was not a window but another portrait of a lady. As she wanted to see the face in the painting, she pushed the other half of the curtain, but because of its size, she couldn't see the face clearly, so she took a few steps backwards.

'She looked familiar.' She told herself with furrowed eyebrows while her head was tilted sideways, trying to remember where she first saw the face.

"Dahlia." But suddenly, before she could recall the answer, a man's voice appeared from behind. 

She got startled and immediately turned, raising her weapon to defend herself.

"Moss?" She was confused seeing the man in the same place. But suddenly, everything flashes back through her memories about what happened the night when she was in the vampire's tavern.

"Yo-you're a monster." She muttered, while her eyes started to well up looking at the vampire, remembering his chilling features that night while killing the other vampires.

"Dahlia, we need to talk." Massimo said as he started to take some steps closer to the princess.

"Why did you do that? Why did you kill them?" Dahlia asked while taking backward steps.

"I'm at lost, I couldn't control myself.. I'm just trying to protect you," he reasoned.

"Protect me? By killing innocents?" 

"They are not innocent, they wanted to attack you."

"I told you to stay away from me."

"I can't."

But as Dahlia continued her steps backwards, her back suddenly hit the portrait of the lady on the wall and realization hit her. Once again, she turned to take another glance at the face of the lady and finally got certain of what was on her mind.

"Amaia." She muttered as she swallowed several times, trying to get rid of the lumps that were aching in her throat.

"Dahlia." Massimo called her, but when Dahlia turned to face him again she abruptly swung her sword in front of him, making the man halt on his spot.

Dahlia's chest throbbed heavily as well as her breathing, while her eyes stared at the man fiercely. Her hands were trembling but she tried hard to keep her posture firm.

"Dahlia," 

"Stop calling my name!"  Dahlia demanded with a heavy tone.

"You make a fool of me. All this time, you lied to me. Does it give you satisfaction, huh?" Dahlia hissed while her tears started to roll down her cheek.

"Let me explain first. It is not what you think." 

"Stop!" Dahlia yelled at him.

"You killed my people," she muttered with her shaky voice.

"I told you, it wasn't me." Massimo stayed calm while trying to ease the lady from anger.

"I said stop! Stop lying to my face! I hate you." Dahlia couldn't resist her emotions as she suddenly burst into tears in front of the vampire but kept her weapon facing the tip to him.

"Dahlia, I'm telling you the truth. First, I have never been to Haru before as I have no reason to. Believe me, I never lied to you except for this one only." 

"Lies!" Dahlia screamed and charged her sword forward but Massimo dodged it and quickly caught her wrist to stop her.

"Let me go!" 

"You certainly know you have no match against the vampire king, princess." Massimo said, looking down at her, but her words only brought additional pain to the lady.

"But I believed that if we were together, we could. You made me feel confident to continue my journey but everything was just a lie. Why did you do this to me?" Dahlia said while giving the vampire weak punches on his chest with her wounded hand, but Massimo also took her other wrist to prevent her wound from opening again.

"I'm sorry." He apologized.

"Let go of me! You monster!" Dahlia hissed, wagging her arms as she tried to free herself.

"Dahlia, please stop."

"No! Not until you pay for your crimes!" 

"It wasn't me, sweetblood. Believe me." Massimo said again, as he could also feel himself getting weak because of the lady's fury.

"I tried to find some evidence to clear my name but I failed. I was supposed to tell you everything about my identity before arriving in Gorgax but I never had a chance because you ran away and this happened." 

"Stop, please stop!" Dahlia felt agitated at the moment as she hardly pulled her hands from his grip, which Massimo just let go as well, because he didn't want to hurt the lady. 

The blade dropped on the ground but Massimo bent down and picked it up, returning it to the lady.

"Dahlia, I know it is hard for you to understand, but I have had this feeling for you ever since that night I saw you. That's why I convinced you at first to return to your kingdom, because I don't want you getting hurt on the journey. However, when I learned that you were about to be betrothed to someone, I felt envious and that urged me to make you avoid it. I come with you to make sure you are safe to prevent what happened to Amaia before." He explained, waiting for Dahlia to get the blade from his hand.

"Kill me, if you must. I know this is what you have wanted ever since, to bring victory to your kingdom. To prove yourself and acquire the throne, without marrying a stranger." Massimo said,

"I won't let you down, sweetblood." He added with a smile.

Slowly, Dahlia's hand moved forward to receive the sword. She holds it tightly while staring at it. While Massimo took a step backwards to give the princess enough space.

"Do it." He urged her, extending his hand, inviting her.

Dahlia's tears couldn't stop from falling but with Massimo's words, her mind travels back to Haru and the future that awaits for her if she can bring the vampire king. Dahlia held the sword with her two hands and, without thinking twice, she pierced the blade into the vampire's abdomen, absentmindedly.

"Ugh!" Massimo groaned while Dahlia's eyes widened when she saw what she did and quickly released the blade, stepping backwards with her eyes widened in shock. She could feel her heart pounding loudly like it was trying to get out of her body.

But suddenly, Massimo chuckles softly as he pulls the blade out of his body.

"Do it again, love." He said, handing back the bloody sword to the princess.

Dahlia looked up at his face and saw blood dripping from his mouth.

"Stab it right here." He told her, pointing to the spot on his chest where his heart lies.

"Again." He said while his eyes started to well up as well, confirming that the princess never had a bit of emotion for him. But Dahlia never moved again from her spot.

"It's alright. Don't feel bad. You know, living for hundreds of years alone is kind of tiring. Since I guess I have already redeemed myself for everything that I have done before, I think it's time for me to settle in hell." 

"I told you to stop making me responsible every time you get hurt." Suddenly Dahlia muttered and ran away.

"Dahlia!" Massimo called to her, but the lady just ignored the vampire.

However, Massimo is worried that the princess will sneak out of the palace and so he immediately follows her.

"Where are you going?" He asked, blocking her way.

But Dahlia's eyes darted at the vampire's wound that she caused and she stepped back, feeling terrified.

"Dahlia." Massimo is starting to feel worried about the princess as her face is turning pale and her body continuously quivering.

"I-I can't." She stammered.

"Sweetblood, it's alright. Let me just take you back to your room."

"Moss?" Finally, Dahlia looked up at him, meeting his eyes.

"M-my ha-hands," she said, showing her trembling hands.

Massimo immediately took her hands, cupping them with his.

"It's alright, everything will be fine." He said, and pulled the lady to his body, caging her with his embrace while he caressed her hair.