The Royal Quest

CHAPTER 27. Vampire Returns

Dahlia couldn't sleep as she was filled with worries about the men who made their sacrifices just for her to be safe. Baron is fighting for his life because of the poison, while Massimo still has no appearance. She sighed.

Dahlia walks to where Baron is sleeping and touches his forehead.

"Pri-princess?" Baron whimpered and flickered his eyes to see the lady.

"Yes, it's me. How are you feeling now?" She inquired.

"Never been better, I love the touch of your hand on my skin." He smiled.

"Seriously?" 

"I'm just telling the truth, Your Highness."

"I'm sorry." Suddenly the princess muttered, looking down.

"There is nothing to apologize for. I just did what I do best and love to do, and that is protecting you. I'm just thankful that you don't get hurt." He said, raising his hand to reach Dahlia's face.

"I will never regret dying for you," he added, as he started caressing the lady's face.

"Don't say that. You will live, Baron."  Dahlia couldn't suppress the emotions she hid as she suddenly broke down. Tears streamed down her face.

Baron moved and sat on the couch, gently pulling the lady in his arms, giving her a loving embrace while Dahlia continued her cries on his chest.

"Hush now, my princess. Everything will be fine." He whispered.

"I was just worried about those bandits and how did they know about you being inside the wagon? Are they following us? And about the poisoned arrow."

"Do they want me to die?" Dahlia suddenly uttered as she withdrew herself from the embrace, wiping her tears off.

"Do you think it was Mr. Sullivan's men? Did he really loathe me that much for ruining his tax collection day?" She unbelievably said. 

"I'm sure, and you have to be careful," Baron said, and suddenly looked around, wondering.

"Where is that blood sucker man?" 

"You mean, Moss? He hasn't returned yet and I'm getting worried about him as well." 

"He wouldn't let himself melt under the sun, would he?" 

Dahlia sighed deeply.

"I'm not that stupid." Suddenly someone interrupted them, crouching to enter through the window.

"Moss!" Dahlia immediately tossed herself at the vampire and caged him in her arms.

"Ugh!" Massimo winced when the lady accidentally pressed hard on his wound on the side of his torso.

"I'm sorry." Dahlia quickly stepped back and apologized.

"You look like a living rotten body." Baron mocked the vampire because of the patches on his skin.

"And you look like dying, mortal." Massimo retorted.

"Congratulations, you guessed it right," Baron responded with soft chuckles.

Massimo was confused and turned to Dahlia, whose head was bent down.

"The arrow that hit Baron is poisoned." Dahlia explained.

"Poisoned? What about you? Are you alright?" Massimo was more worried about the princess than the man.

"I don't think I am. You both are hurt because of me." She sadly uttered.

"Can't you guys let me slee-'' Suddenly Savanna walked out of her room.

"Da-Dahlia?" She looked at her cousin, waiting for an explanation. 

"Who is he?"

"Oh! I'm sorry, Savanna. By the way, this is Moss. He's one of my friends and he is accompanying us to the north. And Moss, she is Savanna, my cousin." She introduced them.

"You didn't mention that you have a cousin here in Northriver."

"It surprised me too when I saw her here." 

"A vampire?" Savanna interrupted.

"Ye-yes?" Dahlia stammered anxiously.

Savanna starts stepping backwards and grabs something at her side inside her room.

"How did you manage to get in? I put a garlic ring on my door and salt around this place." Savanna unbelievably announced.

But Massimo suddenly chuckled softly at her, which brought irritation to the lady, and looked at Dahlia with her piercing stares.

"Uhmm,  Savanna. Those things didn't really work against them and he didn't walk from the door. He came in through the window." Dahlia nervously explained.

"Oh, is that so? What about this?" Savanna suddenly pulled a silver sword and pointed it to the vampire. 

Dahlia quickly moved in between.

"Savanna, please. He's with me. He saved my life and Baron's. Just look at him, he got all of these wounds because he fought the bandits under the sunlight so we could escape." Dahlia tried to explain.

"Fine, but whatever he has done to you, I don't want him to stay here. I just don't feel comfortable about it. And you, little girl. We have a lot to talk about tomorrow, again. Understand?" 

"But-"

"It's alright, princess." Massimo interrupted.

"It's night time and I have a lot of things to do too, you know. But don't worry, I'll just be around if you need me. Okay?" 

Dahlia nodded in response.

"I apologize for interrupting your sweet slumber, my lady. It will never happen again, I swear. I just hope you don't scold this little girl, you know. Troubles are always on the chase for her and it's already too much for her to handle. Be gentle on her. Please", Massimo pleaded politely, as he also bowed in front of her in respect.

"No one will tell me what to do." Savanna retorted bluntly, still pointing the sharp weapon in his direction.

"Sav-" Dahlia was about to speak but her cousin didn't let her speak again. 

"Shut up." She cut her off.

"Now, leave." She demanded.

"I'll see you later, sweetblood." Massimo whispered, while Dahlia couldn't erase the frown on her face until Massimo disappeared.

"That's it? He's gone already?" Savanna was stunned and wanted to make sure.

"He always does that vanishing thing. We are already used to it, but yeah. He has left already." Baron answered.

"You're so mean," Dahlia suddenly said to her cousin.

"Ughh! Dahlia please. I want to take a rest already. Also, and don't bother Baron, he needs to have a lot of energy, you know." Savanna said with irritation before she turned and entered her room again. 

The next morning during their morning meal,

"So, tell me how you met that ugly night creature." Savanna suddenly asked while sipping her tea.

"He saved us when we got attacked." Dahlia started and every detail followed, after including the information that the vampire refused to consume human blood, that he was way different from the others.

"Show me your mark." Savanna demanded her scar to see.

Dahlia slowly moved from her seat and loosened her corset, pulling her sleeves.

"A royal princess should be flawless and perfect in every way, including her physical image. A scar like this is a sin." Savanna said, tracing her finger to Dahlia's long scar.

"The Queen will disown you after seeing this." Savanna added, mocking her cousin.

"You know that's impossible to happen, right?" Dahlia countered while putting her clothes back properly with a frowning face.

"Maybe, maybe not." The healer said in a serious tone, shrugging her shoulders.

"You think so?" Dahlia sadly asked, but Savanna suddenly laughed.

"Come on, I'm only teasing you! Silly." 

But Dahlia sighed frustratedly.

"What's with that sigh?"

"I just can't believe that many things have happened recently in my life, only because of the crown. If only I could choose my own path, I wish I could be just an ordinary person, strolling around the market square of Haru with other people who only enjoy simple things with no worries." She said, trying hard to prevent her tears from falling.

"You know, when I learned that my father was supposed to be the king and that I should be the next in line to the throne, I felt envious of you. But when I saw how you obey everything they demanded politely without arguing even though it is against your will, I suddenly had a change of heart. I learned things and realized it is not what makes me happy, but that. Caring for people, curing their sickness, seeing their family's faces after they recover." Savanna confessed, dreamily.

"Dahlia, you're too young yet you have come this far already. You are courageous for standing up for what you think is right for you, for not letting them control your life like before. You have already made a choice and chosen the path you want by doing this. Always keep in mind that you're the only heir and your people are counting on you, princess. Don't give up and believe in yourself." She added, trying to cheer up the young lady.

"You are right, but I have sacrificed a lot already and even put my friends in danger because of this." 

"That's fine, we all have sacrifices in this life. What is important is the aftermath, bad or good it may be, at least you tried. And if you fail, for sure there is always another way to victory. Just keep going."

"Thank you, Savanna. I don't know what to say, but I'll keep your words. For now, I just want to make sure that Baron will survive. I can't lose him." 

"Oh, yes! I almost forgot." Savanna chuckled unbelievably to herself and got up from her seat.

"Stay here and once Baron wakes up, feed him with the soup I made. I already need to go to find the antidote. I just hope I can as soon as possible." She said, wrapping the poisoned arrow that pierced Baron's skin.

"And lastly, I still don't feel comfortable with that vampire friend of yours. Keep him out of my place, is that clear, princess?"

“Yes” Dahlia answered, rolling her eyes unbelievably at her older cousin who had already left the place to seek the cure for Baron.

“I thought she’d never leave.” Suddenly Massimo said, that made Dahlia almost jump in surprise.

“Have you been here the whole time?” Dahlia unbelievably inquired.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t see anything when she asked to see your scar.” 

“Wait what!? You are such a pervert vampire, Moss!”

But Massimo only responded with a mocking smirk.

“Anyway, I’m sorry about my cousin’s behaviour, but I can assure you, Savanna is one of the kindest people I know.” Dahlia apologized.

“That was nothing, sweetblood. I’m just glad to see you safe.”

“And I’m glad to see you alive. I thought you were already burned to ashes.” Dahlia muttered, looking down.

“I promised to return to you, didn’t I?” 

“Yes and you’re here now.” Dahlia couldn't help the happiness of seeing the vampire safe and embracing him.

“You’re making me used to this, princess.” Massimo whispered above her head as he also wrapped his arms around her body.

“I don’t mind,”