The Royal Quest

CHAPTER 7. Guilty Soldier

Now, the relationship between the Princess and her parents also got stained because of the sudden conflict of the throne.

"Princess, don't feel hatred for your father." Holding Princess Dahlia's hand.

"He only wants you to be safe when the time comes, and he's not around to save you. I hope you understand that everything that the King decides is best for you." Queen Olive tried to explain.

"Mother, I thought you don't agree to the marriage as well? But why are you saying this to me?" With teary eyes, Dahlia asked.

"Because I can't let you get out of there and kill yourself!" With a deep and shaky voice, Queen Olive scolded the Princess.

"And it's okay to live like dying with someone I don't love just to please those officials?" Princess Dahlia can't stop her tears, as they are already streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry, baby." Queen Olive also whimpers softly, feeling worthless to protect her only child. 

"Don't worry about me, mom. I’ll be fine. Besides, Brandon will accompany me. I am safe as long as he is with me." But her words did not convince the Queen and just sighed.

*****

Late in the afternoon, Brandon and Princess Dahlia are on the field, practicing some fighting techniques to help the Princess with her mission. Though she knew some moves, it wasn't enough to defeat the Vampire King. 

"Aside from the strength and sharpness of your sword, you also have to learn the weakness of the enemy," Brandon announced as he sat in front of the Princess under the shade of the wooden arbor while wiping the sweat that formed on his forehead.

"Weakness? Do you mean like what the villagers do? Like hanging some garlic and a blessed crucifix on their houses? Should I ask the palace dressmaker to make me a garlic gown too?" She playfully asks as she chuckles at her own words, but the man only looks at her with a severe gaze. 

"Ehem! I'm sorry." She apologized.

Baron smiled and placed the crater with the silver weapons on the center table. 

"That might help, but with these, you have a big chance to defeat the monster successfully." He smirked and took the silver sword, swinging it in front of the Princess gracefully.

"That's beautiful." The Princess commented.

“The former general when they battled against the west invaders who happened to be allied to the vampires, and this sword is one of the fighters,” Baron explained and handed the sharp weapon to the princess.

“It is easy to carry,” she remarks, and the man only smiles, feeling proud of his courageous princess.

“From now on, this will be my buddy.” She added.

“Also, these are silver bullets. It will surely weaken the vampire’s body once it pierces through him,” he added, and the lady also took the gun, placing the sword aside.

“I don’t think I can point this to the vampire. I never used to hold a weapon like this before.”

“Here.” Baron handed her a miniature version of the revolver. 

“It’s pretty!” The princess giggles playfully. That made Baron chuckle softly.

“Also, don’t forget that greatest weapon you have against the monster.” 

The Princess looked up at him.

“The sunlight,” she uttered, and the man nodded as a response.

“But you know what? I shouldn't be worrying about this.” suddenly the princess said enthusiastically.

“What do you mean? You need to know about this to keep yourself safe. Massimo Gor is not just an ordinary vampire. He is the one who started his kind and has no mercy, even to his own family. That's why he chose to be a monster, to conquer the throne. And now, spreading his blood to the world.” Baron thoughtfully explains, while the princess only smiles at him the whole time. He frowned.

“Your Highness, this mission is so dangerous. If only I may stop you from doing this, then I surely won’t let you.” He told her, sounding a bit annoyed by the naughty princess.

“I’m just glad I have you,” Suddenly the Princess told him with her sweet smile and eyes.

“I’m actually not afraid of this quest because you’re with me. Like what I have told the Queen, I know I am safe as long as I have you beside me.” the man blushed with her words and looked down. He swallowed several times, as he didn’t expect his beloved princess to say such a thing in front of him.

“Tha-thank yo-you, My Princess.” He stammered as his heart kept on throbbing hysterically.

“Anyway, come on! Let’s keep this up already because we have to catch up with the sunset!” Princess Dahlia stood up from the seat and carelessly put the weapons back inside the wooden crate.

“Princess, be careful!” The soldier cried when the small silver dagger slipped from her hand accidentally. Luckily, Baron quickly caught the sharp weapon before it dropped to her foot. 

Baron winced in pain while the scene shocked the Princess.

“Oh, God! I’m sorry!” She apologized, staring at the dripping blood from his palm with widened eyes.

“It’s alright, Your Highness. Good thing that I am not a vampire.” Baron tried to soothe the Princess’s guilt as he also smiled tenderly.

Princess Dahlia immediately pulled out her scarf and about to wrap it on the soldier’s wound, but he refused it.

“No need, Princess Dahlia. My blood would surely stain your scarf.” But the Princess stubbornly grabs his hand and starts wrapping the scarf around his wound.

"We must cover it to avoid getting any infection." Princess Dahlia announced as she gently covered the injury.

The incautious action by the princess hurt Baron, but he smiled, looking down at her delightedly. 

‘If being wounded because of her clumsiness could be this fortunate, I would be glad to be her victim every day.' He thought with a smile glued on his face.

"How could you still smile even if you got hurt?" Suddenly, the Princess interrupted his daydreaming, looking up at him.

"I just can't help." He responded as their warm eyes met in between. The Princess smiled.

"I told you. I was never mistaken when I said, ``I'm always safe with you." 

Baron can't explain the joy that is overwhelming inside him with the Princess's every word. However, the soldier understands that the feeling he has for the royal daughter will always stay inside him, as he can’t win her heart as long as he is only Baron Frigg. The soldier has nothing but loyalty to the royal family, especially to his beloved Princess Dahlia.

"Come on. We have to go to the infirmary before you die from losing blood!" She exclaimed, which made the man grin delightedly.

*****

"Don't tell me the Princess has overcome your fighting skills?" Doctor Orio asked, teasing the soldier.

"Exactly, doctor. He was too slow and didn't notice my rapid attack. That's why he lost his defense and caught my blade with his hand." The Princess playfully responds as she keeps on exaggerating the untrue event. The men just laughed at her, as they knew how far her fighting skill could go.

"Or maybe he was just too distracted for something. Aren’t you, soldier?" Doctor remarks, grinning.

"But that's not the point! What if he's in an actual battle? He'll be dead for sure." The Princess did not stop from countering.

"As long as you're not around, Your Highness. He'll survive."

"What do you mean?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at the doctor.

"Oh! Don't get me wrong, Your Highness. What I mean is…" he can't get any reasonable response as he is also busy attending to Baron's wound. And now, the doctor was defeated. That also made the soldier laugh at him in return.

"Alright, done! Be careful, or you might get worse next time." The doctor announced and winked at him.

"Yes! Let's go. We’re already late for the sunset!" The Princess impatiently pulled the man from the bed by his wounded hand.

"Thank you so much, doctor," Brandon said.

"Thank you, doctor Orio." The princess also shows her gratitude by bending her head down in front of the most reliable medic.

They race like kids towards the palace's highest tower, not minding that the Princess has already lost her grace. They gasped for air when they arrived at the peak and slumped their bodies down on the cold floor, sitting side by side.

“It’s so incredible. Thank goodness we just arrived in time." Princess Dahlia said as she gazed beyond the sky with a perfect blend of colors. 

Ever since she was a child, Dahlia has loved to see the sun from the same spot. She was always with her father back then, but when the King became busy with his duty, he started to refuse the lovely Princess. Also, Tala has a fear of heights that's why Princesarboria can’t ask her to come. But when Baron came, she got a new companion.

Baron just smiles, staring at her features instead of the beautiful view, wishing they could spend life like this together, forever.

'I don't mind being just a soldier who only stands beside you as long as you are with me, my Princess.' He thought and was startled when suddenly the lady leaned her head on his shoulder. Baron froze as he felt his heart skipped a beat with her action.

"How I wish we could stay like this forever." She suddenly whispers. 

"I always have this feeling that everyone only treats me nice because of the place I have in the society, and this suspicion got stronger when I saw them standing in front of me as they waited to be chosen as the future king." Her voice quivers.

"They betrayed me." She added as she sniffs.

Baron slightly turned to look at her face as he felt guilty for hoping that he was one of the suitors.