The Royal Quest

CHAPTER 26. Royal Relative

Just as night falls, Dahlia and Baron arrive at the Northriver, the final town before they can reach the Gorgax Kingdom.

Dahlia immediately jumped off the wagon when she saw a man on the road, in front of an establishment.

"Excuse me, Mister."

The man turned with a confusing look after seeing Dahlia's anxious condition while breathing heavily.

"What is the problem, lass?" He inquired.

"Where can I find a healer?" She quickly asked.

"We were attacked by unknown bandits in the forest and my friend was shot with an arrow. He is not well." She explained.

"I see. Just walk straight to this side and you will see an apothecary. You can ask there, many healers always go there to buy some herbs."

"Thank you so much, Mister." Dahlia gratefully thanked the man and hurried to the direction he pointed. Running.

She roamed her eyes around and luckily she saw the said store fast. Dahlia didn't waste any seconds as she abruptly burst inside, panting.

"Dahlia?" Suddenly a familiar voice welcomed her.

"Savanna?" She recognized her first cousin.

"Yes, and it's you! You silly little girl! Come here!" The lady said and abruptly grabbed Dahlia from a corner.

"Wait, Savanna. I'm in a hurry now. I really wanted to talk with you but Baron needs immediate attention." She explains.

"Baron? You mean your guard? He's with you?"

"Yes," Dahlia confirmed and already walked passed behind the lady straight to the counter.

"I'm sorry, madam. But I cannot serve you anymore. It is past sunset and the store is about to close. Just come back tomorrow instead." The man refuses to serve Dahlia.

"What? That's unbelievable. I'm looking for a healer. My friend needed to be checked. Please. Tell me where I can find one? I'll pay for any amount you ask just please." Dahlia continuously begged while the servant suddenly just glanced at her back. Dahlia followed her stares and saw Savanna standing behind her.

"Where is he?" Savanna inquired.

"Wait. You're a doctor?" Dahlia was stunned.

"Do you want me to tell a story first before you let me see Baron?" Savanna retorted, raising an eyebrow at her only cousin.

"No. I mean, yes! Let's go." Dahlia said and led the lady to where she parked the wagon.

"Dahlia, what have you done?" Savana suddenly uttered, strolling her eyes at the carrier.

"I'll explain to you later, I swear." Dahlia said and got inside the wagon where Baron was already sitting up.

"Baron!" Dahlia suddenly felt relieved to see the man finally moved.

"W-where have you been?" Baron tried hard to speak up.

"I was looking for help to see your condition and guess who I saw."

Baron's eyes also widen in shock after seeing one of the royal family and about to give some respect.

"It's alright, Baron. Besides, I'm not a princess, you know, like Dahlia. So there's no need really," Savanna said as she climbed up to the wagon as well.

“Hold this,” Savanna ordered Dahlia, and handed her the lamp and got closer to the man, then she touched his skin with her gentle hand.

"You're burning with fever." She said and noticed the bandage part of his shoulder.

"I may see?" She asked permission and the man nodded.

Savanna carefully took the bandage from the wound and pulled his clothes down to his arm.

“Dahlia. The light please.” She asked, which the lady attentively obeyed.

“This does not look good,” she suddenly announced. That made Dahlia even more terrified.

“Wha-what do you mean?” she asked.

“Baron is poisoned.”

“Wait, what!? But there must be an antidote to that, right? Can you heal him?” Dahlia couldn’t help to ask, while Baron didn’t speak a word and just kept his stares down.

“Dahlia, you need to calm down.”

“How could I!?” She bluntly retorted with her welling eyes.

“Don’t raise your voice at me, little girl.” Savanna scolded Dahlia with her sharp eyes before she moved to get out of the wagon.

“Princess, it’s alright.” Baron calmly told her to ease her irritation.

“No, it’s not.” She countered, starting to sniff.

“Baron, needs plenty of water and a warm shelter,” Savanna announced.

“I’m currently staying in a lodge. If you want, you could come, so I can look after Baron way better as well.”

“There’s no need, Lady Savanna, “ Baron timidly refused. But the lady had no intention of listening to him.

"Dalhia, let's go. If you want to save your friend's life, I also cannot let you two stay outside whether you like it or not." She firmly added.

"Baron, please. I can't forgive myself if something bad happens to you. Please. Every is too much already, I can't lose you." Dahlia begged Baron and made him come to Savanna's place.

"Your place is beautiful." Dahlia commented, looking around while heading towards the window covered with heavy curtains.

"Thank you." Savanna shortly responded while putting the medicine on the rack before she turned and attended to Baron who was seated on the couch.

"Take this off." Savanna said, referring to his tunic.

"For now, we need to make sure you are comfortable and to make your fever cool down." Savanna said while preparing her things while Dahlia was gawking outside from the window.

"Dahlia, could you please get water in a basin? It's right there." Savanna asked, which the lady quickly obeyed.

"So, now, tell me. What are you thinking when you decide to sneak out of the palace?" Savanna asked seriously while cleaning the man's wound carefully.

"I don't want to get married, Savanna." Dahlia straightly answered.

"Royal problems." Savanna muttered and chuckled softly.

"Did you know that our house is currently surrounded by the palace's guards? I don't know, but since the day you left, they have never left us alone either. They also keep on following us wherever we go, thinking maybe you will come to us."

"Nonsense, I told them that I was heading north and not west." She rolled her eyes and sighed.

"For sure, your father is very upset with me." She added timidly.

"Not really. However, he is upset with his brother. For letting the ministers overpower him.”

“That’s not true.” Dahlia countered.

“My father is sick. He only thinks about the majority of the kingdom. I know he won't do this but he has no choice.” Dahlia explained, trying to make her cousin understand what was happening.

“Oh well, that’s why father prevented himself from the crown and saved us all.” The lady muttered, shaking his head unbelievably and taking a bottle of medicine.

“Here,” She made Baron take it.

“I hope your fever will cool down overnight, then you'll be good for the meantime. But we still need to find the antidote to the poison. I’ll look for it tomorrow. For now, lie your body on the couch, you need a lot of rest, soldier.” Savanna told Baron before she faced Dahlia again.

“And you. You look messy. Who would ever think you're Haru's heir? Take a bath first while I prepare dinner for you.”

Dahlia nodded with a frown. Looking at Baron's direction, who had closed his eyes already, and her thoughts were diverted to Massimo.

‘Where are you now?’

*****

“What happened to you, Your Majesty?” Alice worriedly asked after seeing the vampire king’s condition. Covered with blood and skin full of blisters.

“I need blood.” Massimo hardly spoke.

“Just a second.” Alice said and immediately rushed to her storage, pouring a glass full of blood for Massimo.

“Here.” She handed it to the vampire, but when Massimo noticed its smell he suddenly tossed it away, which made the glass shatter in pieces and blood scattered on the floor.

“What’s wrong?” Alice unbelievably inquired.

“Where did you get that blood from!?” He furiously inquired the lady vampire.

“I can’t live like you, Massimo. My body needs human blood to survive! Look how pathetic you look as the vampire king. You are making yourself the opposite of who you really are. You are weak! Instead of making the human race as your prey, you are making friends with them! You’re ridiculous!” Alice bluntly countered.

“You started all of this, and now you are cowardly turning away? You have the power to rule the world and make humans, as your slaves, choose to be soft. Look at yourself now, alone. And you will always be, Massimo. For your entire immortal life.” Alice added with a sly smirk.

“Leave the castle.” Massimo ordered, and those words hurt Alice.

“Why? This is the second time you asked me to leave. Why? You’re choosing those humans over me? I can live with you forever. Have you ever thought about that? I am the only one for you and not some short-living human out there. Not Amaia nor Dahlia.” Alice's eyes started to well up, trying to make herself reasonable, to open Massimo’s mind and make him believe they were meant for each other.

“I never needed you in my life, Alice.” Massimo told her and that broke the lady vampire’s heart even more.

“Leave, and don’t ever think of coming back.” He seriously demanded before he flew to his own chamber.