The Royal Quest

CHAPTER 19. Extraordinary

"Thank you so much for this wonderful dress, doctor. Moss told me it was from you." Dahlia gratefully told Gilbert, who was also amazed seeing the lady wearing the blue gown.

The princess had just finished taking a bath and was strolling around the house when she saw Gilbert on the balcony standing alone.

"You look beautiful, dear." He commented with a wide smile and flashing eyes.

"You are reminding me of my beloved wife, she is as wonderful and graceful as you." He added with evidence of sadness in his voice.

"Where is she now? I haven't noticed any women around. Is she out somewhere?" The princess inquired.

Gilbert smiled and looked down. 

"She passed away. Just a few days ago," he confessed.

Dahlia gasped at the awful information and an urge for sympathy suddenly rose inside her.

"I'm sorry to hear that." She said, but Gilbert just looked at her and smiled.

"No. Don't be sorry," he said.

"I'm actually happy that she is now in a haven with no more pain. Though I'm not saying that I am not sad, of course. I miss her every day but I need to go on with my life, you know. I have my purpose in this world and pledged to serve it until my last breath."

"I'm sure she is very proud of you," Dahlia said with her sweet smile.

"Yes. But since she is gone, I can't help but feel alone. Living in this ridge with no one else aside from animals and plants around is lonely."

"Alone? But I thought Moss was living with you? Isn't he?" 

"No, dear. Moss has his own place. He only got here after hearing the sad news about my wife. However, I'm glad he is staying a bit longer because of you," Gilbert let out.

"Because of me?" 

"Yes. Anyways, you know vampires have sharp hearing. I'm afraid he would scold me if I talked too much about him." Gilbert cut off with chuckles.

"I'm curious how you two ended up as friends. You look so close and know each other very well. I never thought that humans could have such a relationship with vampires. It just sounds strange to me." Dahlia honestly commented.

"Is that so?" 

"Uh huh. I had never met a vampire like him before. He just acts so natural, like a human. Of course, except whenever he shows his vampires moves and fangs." She dramatically said, rolling her eyes unbelievably.

Gilbert chuckles at her words.

"He was once a human, you know. He just didn't let darkness embrace his entire entity."

Dahlia was stunned to learn new information about vampires. Her whole life was stuck being cautious because of their disastrous description, but everything is starting to change after meeting her saviour.

"Anyways, I have a surprise for you in the dining room. Let's go." Gilbert invited her as he stretched his arm.

"Really? What is it?" She excitedly asked and held onto the man's arm.

*****

Baron? Jamie!?" Dahlia cried their names excitedly after seeing her friends sitting in front of the table when Moss walked her to the dining area for dinner.

"Princess!" Baron immediately rose from his seat and kneeled, showing his respect to the royal lady, while Jamie almost jumped in happiness seeing Dahlia safe and embracing her tightly on the waist.

"Baron, stop doing that. You're making me feel embarrassed." Dahlia muttered shyly, while Gilbert chuckled at his side.

Baron stood up and roamed his eyes at the princess and noticed her treated wound covered with a bandage and turned to the doctor.

"Doctor, I apologize if I acted rude earlier. I don't mean any trouble, I was just worried and-” Baron apologized, but was cut off when Gilbert raised his hand and stopped him.

“It’s alright, young man. I understand, you are tired and trying your best to protect your princess. Anyways, let me serve the food so we can dig in already.”

“Thank you, sir. Also for letting us stay for the night,” Baron answered.

“Can I help serve the food?” Dahlia offered.

“Sure, Your highness.” 

Gilbert and Dahlia head to the kitchen counter while Jamie has already claimed his spot on the table and Baron still can’t take his eyes away from the princess. Feeling that he almost put the princess in danger, he still couldn't accept the fact that a vampire had just helped them.

“By the way, where is Moss?” Dahlia inquired while scoping the vegetable stew from the pan.

“Probably out in the woods again, chasing his kind who let themselves succumb to the darkness of being an immortal.” Gilbert let out.

“What do you mean?” 

“You are very curious, lady. Let's just finish this already so your friend and us can fill our bellies.” 

Dahlia smiled and turned, holding the bowl with two hands when, suddenly, she got startled when Moss came in front of her.

“You were looking for me?” He asked, showing his mischievous grin while Dahlia hitched a breath with shock and almost dropped the bowl of soup. Luckily, Massimo caught the back of her hands in time to steady them to avoid dropping the food.

“Clumsy.” the vampire muttered, looking down at the lady as he slid his hands and took the bowl from her shaky ones.

“Clumsy!? You suddenly just appeared in front of me from out of nowhere and I almost had a heart attack because of you. Are you crazy!?” Dahlia irritatingly hissed to the playful vampire, breathing heavily.

Massimo put the bowl down on the table and faced the lady again.

“I’m not but you are. Why are you already using your arm? It just got treated.” He retorted calmly.

“My bones aren’t broken, Mister.”

“I’m sorry, brother. It was my fault. You know I’m old and starting to forget some things, including that she is my patient. I was just excited and overwhelmed to have guests in my house again that I could have dinner with,” Gilbert interrupted.

While Baron starts to feel annoyed again by the sight of the vampire and stands beside the princess. 

“It’s alright, Your Highness. Don’t worry because we are leaving first thing tomorrow morning.” He told the princess.

“She is not leaving until she is fully healed,” Massimo firmly announced.

“You have no right to demand nor to decide what’s best for the princess,” Baron said, gazing at the vampire.

“And so are you.” Massimo countered, fighting the soldier’s stares.

“I’m hungry.” Jamie suddenly interrupted, looking in their direction.

Gilbert laughed as he continued serving the food.

“Stop it you two, I’m already starving as well.” Dahlia said and sat beside the boy.

“How are you, little man?” Dahlia asked with her gentle tone and sweet smile.

“I’m okay, Princess. Don’t worry about me.” He answered, showing his weak smile as well, while deep inside Dahlia was worried about the boy being with them on their dangerous quest.

“You are such a brave young man,” she commented.

“By the way, I want to return this.” Jamie said as he pulled out the necklace with a silver crucifix pendant.

Dahlia took it and smirked and thought of something about how she could take her revenge against the vampire for always making fun of her.

After properly serving the food, everyone settles on the dining table. Gilbert sat ahead of the table while Massimo on his right, Dahlia on the left, followed by Jamie and Baron. 

Dahlia smirked playfully as she thought of her plan.

“Moss.” She called for his attention.

The man looked in her direction just across the table when Dahlia suddenly stretched her hand forward with the crucifix, grinning. 

“It is beautiful,” Massimo commented as he started munching his food.

“Wait, what!?” Dahlia was confused as to why nothing was happening to the vampire while Gilbert laughed at her.

“I think I know what you are trying to do,” he said.

“Yeah, she thought she could scare me out of a silver crucifix.” Massimo added, chuckling, looking at the lady while chewing his food.

“You weren’t scared?” Dahlia unbelievably said with furrowed eyebrows, but the vampire smirked at her.

“Not a bit, sweetblood.” He said, which also made Baron stop from swallowing after hearing his words and the fact the vampire didn’t budge a bit after seeing Dahlia’s pendant.

“You’re truly not a normal vampire, Moss.” Dahlia commented annoyingly as she started to dig into her plater as well.

“I am extraordinary,” Massimo countered proudly.

“Of course, eating dinner like a normal being is such an unusual thing for a vampire, yet here you are, enjoying every bite.” 

“Just can’t deny that human food is way more delicious than blood.” He said.

Dahlia just rolled her eyes at him and stopped arguing as she couldn’t find a way to win over the vampire. While Gilbert couldn’t stop himself reacting to the silly conversation between the princess and the vampire. But on the other hand, Baron wasn’t happy at all about seeing how comfortable Dahlia was in front of the vampire.

*****

After their dinner, Gilbert shows Baron and Jamie’s room while Dahlia is in search for the vampire for further questions that keeps on disturbing her mind. She went outside looking around, assuming she could find him, but Massimo found her instead.

“What are you looking for out here? Why are you still up? You should be in bed by now, you are still recovering.” He continuously inquired when he suddenly appeared behind the lady, who jumped in surprise and turned around.

“Would you please, please, please stop doing that.” She begged with a bit of annoyance in her voice.

“Doing what?” He innocently asked.

“I mean that, popping out from nowhere. I feel like I’m dying so soon because of you.” 

“Don’t say such an awful word, sweetblood. You are safe as long as I am here.” He said as he walked closer to the lady while his eyes glimmered against the brightness of the moon.

“Why are you calling me that?”

“Because I just want to.” 

“You want to go somewhere?” Massimo asked, standing in front of the lady.

“To where?”

“Don’t you trust your hero?” He playfully retorted.

“Come on, don’t you know that it was like a nightmare when you beheaded that vampire in front of me? That was the most disgusting event that ever happened in my life. As ever.” Dahlia said dramatically, but Massimo just smiled and stretched his hand forward. Dahlia hesitates but slowly she receives and puts her soft hand above his.

For a few seconds, they felt like everything surrounding them froze magically. Like there is something that connects between them.

“Did you feel that?” Massimo suddenly asked, staring at her eyes as he gently squeezed her hand.

“Huh? Uh… wha-what do you mean?” Dahlia anxiously asked, but the vampire only smiled at her and pulled her closer to his body.

“Uhh, Moss. What are you doing?” She nervously inquired, feeling a bit uncomfortable with their position, especially when the vampire encircled his hand around her slender waist. While Dahlia’s hands were on his chest, keeping a distance in between their bodies.

“Don’t tell me you've never been close to a man like this?” he teasingly asked as he gripped her waist tighter while smirking playfully. 

And before the princess could speak again, Massimo abruptly leapt from tree to tree with the lady on his arm who also couldn’t help embracing his torso tightly, afraid of falling down.