Chapter 3: Frustration

"Edward, where are you going, and what past are you talking about?" 

Vanessa called him, No time to explain so he kept going. “Not now” he murmured to himself.

Finally He was out of the palace, in the cold breeze, he walked together to his car where his driver and his friend Alphonsus were waiting.

Arriving at the park, he scanned the area with his eyes. Everywhere was silent, and kept moving towards the building, his eyes darting from side to side.

"Where are you?" he muttered under his breath, frustration building with each passing moment. He checked the letter again, the words burning into his mind. This was the place, there was no mistake.

“Who is this lady you are looking for again? This is not the almighty Edward of the D.C dynasty I know” Alphonsus asked with curiosity.

Edward turned to Alphonsus with a piercing look “Are you making mockery of my predicaments?” 

“Why would I do that, I am just curious” Alphonsus defended himself.

“This is not the time to be curious man, Help me here” Edward replied him

"Excuse me," Alphonsus approached a group, an older man with a kind face.

"Have you seen a woman with golden hair around here? She was supposed to meet us."

The man shook his head. "Sorry, sir. I haven't seen anyone that matches that description here".

Edward nodded, and continue to look around, he was growing more frustrated with every second that passed by.

He finally stopped by the old building,

"This can't be happening to me," he whispered to himself, he felt betrayed.

"Edward," a voice called softly from behind him. He turned quickly, hope surging through him, but it was just a young girl, not more than ten, holding out a small piece of paper.

"Are you Edward Clark?" she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"Yes," he replied, his voice tense. "Do you have something for me?"

She handed him the paper and ran off before he could ask anything else. Edward unfolded it, his hands trembling. The note was brief, but it brought a sense of hope to him.

"I'm sorry I couldn't meet you today. the plane have changed. I will find you again. Please don't give up."

"Why does this keep happening?" he shouted with anger to the empty park.

Edward stood there for a while, and turned to Alphonsus and said “let's go”

"I won't give up," he whispered to himself. "No matter what it takes, I'll find you.”

It was morning the next day and everyone was gathered, except for Edward.

“This is unacceptable, Damian!" King Harry's booming voice echoed through the palace halls, his face flushed with anger. 

"Your son was meant to be here for the wedding preparations!"

Damian Clark met the king's fury with a steely gaze. "I assure you, Your Majesty, Edward is handling an urgent business matter. He will return shortly."

"Urgent business?" Queen Evelyn interjected, her tone laced with disbelief. "This is meant to be the most important day for our families!"

Vanessa paced nearby, her heart pounding with a mixture of anger and anxiety. Edward's absence only added to the turmoil she felt about this arranged marriage.

"Father, please, Surely you can understand the importance of this occasion?” she pleaded, struggling to keep her voice steady. 

King Harry turned to his daughter, his expression softening ever so slightly. "My dear, I realise this is an immense burden on you. But the Clark family must uphold their end of the bargain."

Damian held up a placating hand. "You have my word, Your Majesties. Edward will be here, and the union will proceed as planned.”

Vanessa was not convinced so she excused herself, she was seriously in need of fresh air. She found herself in the palace gardens, her mind running with different emotions.

“I need to leave this place” 

“Where to my princess” her maid asked 

“Grace I don't need your company, am going out to clear my head” 

But before she could finish, huge palace doors swung open, and Edward stormed in, with anger and determination. All eyes turned to him as he marched towards the assembled families.

"Father," Edward Edward yelled, "we need to talk right now."

Damian narrowed his eyes "Edward, this is not the time for disruptions. We are in the middle of important discussions."

Edward ignored his father and turned to King Harry. "Your Majesty, my apologize, am sorry for my the way am acting right now, but I have some concerns that needs to be addressed because  they directly affect this arrangement."

Vanessa struggle to catch her breath skipped, she stepped forward, searching Edward's face for answers. 

"What is it, Edward? What's happened?"

Edward took a deep breath, and looked at Vanessa. "I received a message a letter from someone who claims to know about my past, the past my parents have been hiding from me."

Queen Evelyne, trying to catch a breath and covered her mouth with her hands 

"Edward, this is not the time nor the right place to bring such matters. We can discuss this as a family."

"No, Father", Edward shook his head, "This affects all of us now, and it cannot wait any longer."

He turned to King Harry and Queen Evelyn. "Your Majesties, with all due respect, I cannot proceed with this arrangements until I know the truth about my past".

"My parents have kept these secrets from me, they are  also tied to this future they are forcing on me."

King Harry looked at Queen Evelyn worriedly before modding his head. "Very well, Edward. Let's hear what you have to say."

After taking a moments to assemble his thoughts he began  

"I was involved in a car accident five years ago, which left me with distorted memories. Ever since, I have always been tormented by dreams and visions of a woman with golden hair, a life I can't fully Any time I confront my parents about these dreams, they termed it as mere fantasies, but I know there's more to it. Yesterday, I received a letter from this woman, who claims to hold the key to my memories."

He showed them the  note and holding it up. "She couldn't meet me as planned, I don't know why"

Damian's rage was very obvious. "Edward, this is very irrational of . You want to risk everything for a stranger?"

"She's not a stranger!" Edward fired back at his father, raising his voice. "She's someone who knows me, someone who might hold the answers to the questions I've been asking for years. Am sorry but I can't commit to this future please?"

Vanessa stepped closer to Edward and whispered to him. "Edward, it's important to get these things right. Do whatever you know is best for you"

Edward looked at her closely, "I will need a little time to figure this out"

King Harry nodded slowly. "That makes sense to me, Edward. We will grant you some time to  get these answers. But keep in mind that the fate of this kingdom and the two families lies with you"

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Edward bowed his head 

Damian added . "You have just one week to come back with an answer".

"Understood." Edward replied 

Edward felt a sense of relief as the tension in the room died down, he wanted to leave but looked at Vanessa who gave him a nod, which gave him hope.

Edward mind pondered on the journey ahead as he left the room.

"I must get to the root of this, don't give up." He said to himself 

Little did he know, someone was watching from afar, someone who had been waiting for this very moment.