The Royal Quest

CHAPTER 48. Degrading Not

Jonathan felt sorry for his brother's misery and blamed himself for passing the responsibility that was supposed to be his. He promised to get his share of the burden as a family and decided to stay in Haru palace for the meantime, together with his daughter and wife.

"Good morning, My dear King and Queen." Savanna greeted them, bowing in front of her uncle and aunt in respect when she entered their chamber.

"Savanna!" Queen Olive immediately walked closer to the lady and welcomed her with a warm embrace.

"Look at you, you have grown into a fine woman now. I can't believe time goes by at such a fast pace. I can still remember when I used to braid your hair when I was still carrying Dahlia in my belly." She dreamily recalled.

"Yeah, that was a very long time ago."

"By the way, where is your mother? I haven't seen her yet since you arrived." The queen asked while leading the lady to the lounge area of the room and sitting on the couch.

"She's a comforting father," Savanna rolled her eyes playfully.

"Since he was acting like a child after he had the conversation with the king and kept on saying that it was his fault." Savanna let out.

"He's a good man, it will never be his fault. What's happening now in our family is no one's mistake." Olive reaches for the lady's hand and squeezes it gently.

"It is just our fate to have this huge responsibility and we can do nothing but to live with it rather than give up and just let bad luck win."

"Yes, and we will win this over together."

"Definitely, and our family will stand stronger," King Rainier interrupted.

Savanna looked up at the man and stood up with her head bent down.

"Uncle, aunt, I actually want to apologise, that's why I'm here. I didn't mean to hide Dahlia's location, but I thought it was a good decision back then as I also disagreed with her betrothal." Savanna said lowly.

"Silly, you don't have to apologise," Rainier said, and took a seat on the couch beside his wife.

"We are actually glad that you saw her and sent Dahlia's letter to us. Worry is starting to kill us, but when we receive the letter from our daughter our hope thrives and that keeps us going forth." He added and Savanna smiled.

"By the way, Savanna, have you also met the vampire she's with?" Suddenly Queen Olive asked.

"Yes, your highness." She answered shortly.

"He is Moss." She added, and that's also when the door opens and the royal servants come in with food in their hands.

"Please join us for lunch, my dear." Rainer invited and sighed.

"I was supposed to have lunch in the dining area with my family but my stubborn old healer insisted that I should be staying in this jail for days to rest." He added with a bit of annoyance in his voice.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. It's my pleasure to join and have more talks over this delicious foods" Savanna commented as she delightfully stared at the wide centre table while the servants kept on bringing the feast.

"Olivia giggles at the lady's look.

"Will you tell us more about this vampire Moss, dear? Is my daughter safe with him? Olive asked curiously.

"Of course," Savanna answered as she claimed the seat across the table.

"Like everyone, I always believe that all vampires have destructive and harmful spirits, but this Moss is different. He is behaving like a mortal and I bet he would also crave this." Savanna continues.

"He is consuming human food as well?" The King was dumbfounded.

"Yes, he is."

"But I thought a vampire needs human blood to survive? To keep their immortality?"

"Right, but for some reason this vampire consumes animal blood instead, even though it affects his abilities. However, he is just an incredible nature. That's why he can live his lifestyle." Savanna heaved a breath with a smile creeping on her face.

"If only I could dissect his body for examination, I would be extremely glad to." She added dreamily.

"So, that must be him, the friend that Dahlia is talking about in her letter." The princess realised.

"I want to meet this immortal", the King muttered, and suddenly a servant came beside him handing him a cup of something which he gulped at once with no hesitation.

Savanna watched him and suddenly grabbed the empty cup and smelled it. Suddenly, her eyebrows furrowed and sniffed it one more time before putting it back on the servant's tray.

"I'm sorry, I just can't help my curiosity sometimes." She apologised.

"It's alright. I understand, you are just like your mother." The 5t5hh¹k said with a smile.

"Definitely, gladly I didn't inherit her curly hair though." She said, which made everyone giggle.

"Why don't you join the medical campaign of the palace's physicians next week? They will visit each town to provide health assistance for those who need it. I'm sure your skills will be a big help for Haru.

" I would love to. I will tell my parents," Savanna answered.

After visiting the King and Queen, Savanna excitedly heads back to her parent's chamber to ask permission about the medical campaign around the land of Haru, but the moment she opens the door, Duncan welcomes her.

"What are you doing here?" She muttered.

“Oh dear, Duncan helped me carry some stuff I bought from the market,” Sabrina said with a broad grin.

“I see. So I guess he's done giving you a hand now.” She responded bluntly.

“Yes, and I invited him for tea. Why not join us, huh?”

“No, mother. Thank you. I just want to tell you that I am joining a medical campaign with the palace's physician next week.

“No.” Suddenly her father interrupted.

“What? Why not?”

“Because you are a woman, and women can’t be allowed to perform any healing around this land.” He let out.

“Are you kidding me, father? And where did this degrading come from?” Savanna argues.

“I am not degrading you. I am protecting you from any possible harm once you flaunt your healing knowledge around the Haru. Aside from that, Tala is no longer in the castle to look after you. I cannot let you go without someone that I could trust.” Jonathan strictly said, which made Savanna roll her eyes and toss her hands in the air.

“This is unbelievable. How could you do this to me, father? You’re the one who said that I can be whatever I want, do whatever I want to do with all my might, and now you’re stopping me like a little girl.”

“Because your feet are stepping above the land of Haru. You have to understand that the people here still believe the old-fashioned beliefs.I can’t let you experience the same awful event that happened to your mother before.”

“This world is so unfair,” Savanna muttered with irritation in her voice, and turned to leave already but halted when suddenly Duncan spoke up.

“I apologise for interrupting, but whatever happened to the mistress had passed many years ago. There are women outside the palace that are starting to practice healing, especially in the farthest places where medicine and doctors are too seldom to come. I believe that having a woman physician is not that uncommon for people already”. He started and took a glance at Savanna before he continued.

“And if you allow me, I can come with Lady Savanna to the campaign to ease your worries.” He let out.

“Thank you for your kindness, Lord Duncan. But there’s no need, I can take care of myself. I am not a delicate person anymore like you used to know before.” She responded with her cold eyes staring back at the man.

“Alright, I will allow you to go out of the palace only if you agree that Duncan will come with you. But if you resist, it is better if you stay here in the castle or go back to the manor.”

Savanna’s heart is pounding as she badly wants to go with the campaign. However, she doesn't want to be more bothersome to her parents anymore if she keeps on being stubborn. And so, she nodded in response before finally stepping out of the chamber while Duncan smiled secretly.