The Royal Quest

CHAPTER 23. Hidden Emotions

The next morning, Dahlia woke up early to prepare for their departure as well as Baron.

“Your Highness,” Baron walked closer to the lady who was currently packing things up inside the wagon.

“You know, it pains me to know that you are sacrificing your future for the sake of the throne.”

“I’ll be fine, soldier.” She insists, even though it's the opposite of her true feelings.

“I did not like the idea of returning but I swore my words to you. However, I also can’t deny that I almost failed to protect you. I felt agitated at this moment, Princess.” Suddenly, he kneeled in front of the lady.

“I knew that whatever path you take there’s always a consequence. If only I could stand in front of the king and ask for hand, I will.” He confessed, looking down.

“Baron,”

“All this time I kept this feeling for you, very hard.And I cannot stand watching you marrying another man, Dahlia.” He then stood up on his feet and bravely reached for the princess’s hand.

“Why not just run away from all of this? Let’s start a new life together without any pressure.” squeezing Dahlia’s hand gently.

“Baron, what are you talking about?” Dahlia asked with furrowed eyebrows, looking up at him.

“I love you.”

“Wha-what?” Dahlia withdrew her hands from his hold.

“I know, I will never get a chance, but at least I took this opportunity to confess my feelings before you get married.” Baron sighed and turned his heels away, leaving the lady, who was dumbfounded by his confession.

Gilbert also went out to bid farewell to his wonderful guest as he offered some fruits and some loaves for their journey. He also packed some bandages and alcohol for Dahlia’s wound.

“This is for cleaning the wound, not for drinking. Clear?” He strictly reminded Dahlia with a smile.

“Yes, doctor.” Dahlia chuckled and embraced the old healer.

“I will always remember your kindness, Gilbert. Thank you so much for taking care of me and my friends.” She gratefully said and pecked on the man’s cheek.

“That was nothing. I am glad to have you in my humble home. Please don’t forget to visit me as well if you have spare time.”

“Of course,” the princess said before she climbed into the wagon where Jamie was already settled.

“Princess,” suddenly he asked for her attention.

“Yes? What is it, young man?” she asked with a smile.

“What about my father?” Dahlia was stunned by the question and the guilt suddenly rose inside her once again, remembering how Mr. Hugh sacrificed just to save them.

She can’t find the words to answer as she only gawks at the boy in front of her for seconds.

“Jamie, I am bringing you to the palace with me. I will protect you and take care of you from now on. I promise.” She said, but the young man wasn’t convinced by her as the frown on his face never faded.

“I don’t want to live in the palace. Just take me back to my home.” He said.

“What? I can’t do that.” Dahlia refused.

“I only joined you because of my father, but now that you are surrendering your purpose, I don’t think I can still stand by your side. I’m doing this for my father. I don’t care what awaits me during the journey to the north as long as I can be part of this and take avenge for him. He died to save us and, unlike you, I will not let his sacrifice come to nothing.” Jamie suddenly burst out and jumped off the wagon, leaving the princess alone.

“Jamie.” Dahlia sadly muttered as tears started to escape from her eyes, feeling so down.

“You’re crying again.” Suddenly Massimo appeared, wearing his thick black cloak to cover his skin from the sunlight, and climbed to the wagon as well.

“Yeah, this is what losers always do.” Dahlia said, wiping her tears with her hands.

“You’re not a loser, sweetblood.” He whispered gently as he wiped his thumb on her damp cheek.

“Moss, everything is too much. I wish I could wake up one day as an ordinary person and can do whatever I want to without carrying any responsibility. To marry a man that I truly adore like other women do. Why do I have to suffer like this? Now Jamie hates me. And later the ministers in the palace will laugh at me. My father would be so disappointed. I wish I hadn't been born at all.” She said, covering her face as she cried.

“Hush now, my sweetblood. Let’s prove them wrong together.” He suddenly said, that made the princess look up to him while sniffing like a child.

“Wha-what? What do you mean?” She was confused.

“Let’s go to the north.”

“You’re coming with me? I thought you wanted me to stay out of danger?”

“Well, maybe if you are accompanied by a handsome and strong vampire, this could be your advantage, right? And danger is nothing if I am with you, I will be your protection.” He said with a smirk.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, sweetblood.”

“But you once told me that it wasn’t the vampire king who attacked the village, right?”

“Then, let’s find the answers together, and catch the real culprit.” He confidently said.

But instead of answering, Dahlia suddenly tossed herself at the vampire and wrapped her arms around his torso.

“There’s no turning back, vampire.” She whispered on his chest with a broad smile.

Massimo felt the rising intensity inside him with the lady’s embrace and responded to her gesture as well. But before his hand touches her back, Dahlia abruptly withdraws from the hug.

“We need to tell everyone.” She excitedly said and pulled the vampire out of the wagon, holding his hand.

“Princess.” Baron noticed her getting out with the vampire, who quickly stood under the shade of a tree.

“What’s happening?” He asked curiously.

“We are going to continue our travels to the north.” She announced.

“Are you sure?” The soldier was delighted with the information.

“Yes! And Moss is coming with us.” Dahlia added, which broke the man’s excitement.

“What!?” Baron and Gilbert reacted, who happened to appear from the entrance of the house and look around to see the vampire, leaning his back on a tree.

“Wait, did I hear you right? Moss is coming with you?” Gilbert inquired, making sure he heard her correctly.

“Yes,” Moss interrupted, who quickly shifted his spot to the porch of the house.

Gilbert looked at the man with so much confusion.

"May I speak with you in private?" He asked and the vampire nodded in response.

Gilbert and Massimo enter the house, while Baron also takes the chance to have a word with the lady as well.

"Princess, what is happening? I want to continue this journey for the sake of your reputation in the kingdom, but I don't understand why that vampire needs to come with us? He is the one who insisted you stop all of this. But now, suddenly, for some reason, he is now part of the crew?" Baron unbelievably said, but Dahlia's smile never left her face as she felt delighted with the presence of the vampire during their adventure.

"He offered to come with us and I agreed. Besides, having Moss with us is a big advantage against whatever enemies we encounter, right?"

"But why? I don't understand, but it seems to me that he is now manipulating you." He said in a hostile tone that made the princess gasp in shock.

"I'm sorry, Princess." He quickly apologized with his head bent down.

"I just can't find a way to trust him." He honestly added.

"It's alright, Baron. But I hope you still trust me, don't you?"

"I do, Your Highness. And I will always be at your side, no matter what."

"Thank you, soldier."

Meanwhile, inside the house…

"Are you out of your mind old man!?" Gilbert scolded Massimo.

"Gilbert, I may be living for more than three hundred years now, but stop calling me that. Those words are irritating to my ears. Besides, it doesn't suit me." He playfully countered.

"Yeah right, and how did you come out of this idea, huh? Have you forgotten that Dahlia is coming for you and planning to cut your head out of your body?"

"But it is only because she thought that I was the one who attacked their village. But if I can prove to her that I am innocent, then she will not loathe me anymore." He explained.

"And how will you prove that?"

"I'm not sure yet, but I will buy us enough time while searching for any proof along the way."

"Okay, but what makes you think that she will not hate you for lying?"

"I haven't thought about that yet." He responded as he looked down.

"Massimo, tell me the truth. Are you still thinking of Dahlia as a reincarnation of Amaia? That's why you suddenly decided to come with her so she could avoid the marriage that is waiting for her in Haru?"

"Yes, no. I don't know, Gilbert. But ever since I met her, my brain can't stop dreaming about her. She is making me forget about Amaia and the image of her takes over." He tried to comprehend what was on his mind.

Gilbert sighed after his confession.

"Brother, Dahlia is a mortal, like me. When will you ever realize that you are not supposed to be bound by short-living creatures like us?"

"Why? Do you regret being part of my life?" Suddenly, Gabriel asked seriously.

"No, but it pains me whenever I think about the fact that I am leaving you soon, like how Amaia left you when she died. You will be alone over and over again and I feel guilty about it," Gilbert said with his cracking voice.

For a few seconds, they were drowned by silence.

"I'm sorry if I make you feel bad. But maybe this is the curse of it, for being an immortal and my punishment for everything I did three hundred years ago." He sadly let out.

"However, I can't stop now. That young lady invades my entire being. If I am meant to be doomed by her, I won't regret it. Besides, it was hundreds of years ago when I used to feel this way and I won't let this chance slip away."

"Alice would be furious if she learned about it," Gilbert responded.

"Don't mind her." He said and walked past the old man, heading straight outside.

"Is everything ready?" He asked excitedly when he stepped out of the door.

"Uh yes, but before we can head north, we have to stop over at the next village first. I need to find a safe place for Jamie," Dahlia said.

"What? But princess, I want to come with you." Jamie stubbornly insisted.

"I can't risk you, little man. Please, just this once and I promise, I won't let you down this time again."

"But-" Jamie wanted to argue, but Massimo quickly cut him off.

"No more buts, Jamie. Listen to the princess. If you really want to avenge your father, you have to be strong and wiser and that will take some time. A lot of time."

"Wait," suddenly Gilbert also interrupted.

"Doesn't the ridge seem to be a safe place? I could use a company around." he kindly offered.

“But isn’t it too much already?” Dahlia hesitated.

“Nothing is too much, Your Highness.”

“Alright, so everything seems to be perfect. I guess it’s time,” Massimo announced.

“Princess, I’m begging you, I want to come with you.” Jamie pleads with his cracking voice.

Dahlia walked closer to the boy and pulled out the necklace from her neck.

“Here, keep this. This will serve as my promise that I will return to you with the victory of this journey. I will prove to you that your father’s death is worth it.”

“Fine. Then I will keep that promise, Your Highness.”