"But wait. Bordello?" My brows furrowed when I realized what word was used.
"Oh. Sounds like a good place." Prince Evan smirked. He exactly knows what to expect in that kind of place. Probably because he's a regular or what.
"Take note that we will not go there to have fun," Demitri said with a warning tone.
Great. We will be going to a whorehouse, after all.
"But this man named Orion, why can we only see him there? Perhaps, is he the owner of the bordello or just a customer?"
"That is for we to know yet. The mountain spirit didn't go very specific. So I guess we have to find out ourselves," Prince David answered.
The moment the sun rose over the horizon the following morning, we were already set to get back to our tracks. There was no time to waste considering the Queen's condition. The healers gave us more or less two weeks so we should get back as soon as possible.
We stopped by the small community beyond the woods. And soon
"Blood of the Wise is a very rare wine, Your Highness. It's one of our collection, but we only have one..." Fear was evident on Orion's voice but he sounded like he was implying that he can't give it to us because it's the only one."I'm willing to pay. How much?" Demitri got something on his pocket, a pouch of gold I suppose, and it fell down before Orion's feet."We can give you more if you want. Just give us the wine," Prince David said."We're willing to negotiate in terms of the price, but we don't have lots of patient, Mr. Orion. I hope you understood what I'm implying." Prince Martin was dead serious as he said those words. Gone the playful smiles and smirks. All I can see now is a lethal prince who would not hesitate of killing someone."What is happening here?" I heard a new voice just a second after the door opened.We all turned to see the newcomer.A man probably around Orion's age. Tall, lean, wearing a black cloak and a black h
The sound of birds and insects filled my ears when we entered the dark forest of West Evergreen, one of the few forests in the west that is situated beyond a river, and is not commonly visited by people for two reasons: first, because it's said to be cursed, second, because it is where the dangerous cave of the magical healer is known to be situated.'Now I'm not sure if this decision is right, Raja. This forest literally screams the word: DEATH.''I guess you are right. This forest is indeed scary. But you are already here, are you not? It is too late to back out now.''Don't you have any contingency plan? You know, like some sort of escape plan or something?''My apologies, but I have none, my lady.'I groaned a bit."Are you all right?"I cleared my throat. I forgot that Demitri is very close to me and would notice my every move or reaction."No—I mean yes, I'm all right. I just got irritated with the buzzing bees."
"What an adventure." Prince Evan hissed when a group of bats welcomed us the moment we went inside the cave. The bats were quiet thoughtful, weren't they? "What else should we expect here?" Prince David asked and had his sword ready. "Evan?" "My knowledge is limited, David. I know nothing about that matter. Why didn't you asked the nature spirits since you can talk to them?" "If they have given me answers, do you think I'd ask you?" "If I knew all along, don't you think I wouldn't have told you—" A loud, sudden rumbling made me jump. We all turned back, and there, we saw the entrance of the cave blocked by a wall of stones without even a small hole. "Great! We are trapped." Prince Martin cursed. "Maybe the exit is at the other side," Demitri said. "Or maybe that magical healer is insane and traps anyone who goes inside his cave and then kill him without effort afterwards," Prince Evan said, fingers playing on his
'How?' I asked Raja.'Blue dragons have only one weakness. Fire.'What? You should have told me earlier!'Even if you have the ability to manipulate fire, I don't think you can make an arrow out of fire. One should hit the eyes of the blue dragon with a fire arrow. It won't kill him but it can blind him for moments, then the princes can do something to paralyze him afterwards.'Fire arrow. I had never did that nor I tried. I also don't think I can do that, but...I looked at the Demitri... Prince David... Prince Martin... Prince Evan. They are all struggling to defeat the magical dragon in order to save the queen. Will I just stand aside and do nothing while th
What did you say, Raja? You are only joking, aren't you? You can't be serious. 'My apologies, but I'm serious, my lady.' 'So, what? You are really telling me that he asked me to marry his son? That's ridiculous!' My eyes drifted to the magical healer. He was also looking at me, smiling creepily. He locked himself in this cage for God-knows-how-many-years. It's not impossible that he had lost his mind or there's something like a problem going on his brain. Why would he ask me, a stranger, to marry his son anyway? Plus I don't know anything about that man and even if I would find him, won't it be too weird for us to just marry because his father just said so? 'He has been waiting for you for many years, my lady.' That made me more confused. 'His son is sleeping for decades down the River of Flames. A clairvoyant once told him that only the lady whose ability is fire and is a fire dragon summoner can go into the River of Flames and awaken
"Are you feeling sick, Your Highness?" one of my court ladies asked when I didn't leave my bed yet."No. Just a minute." Truth is, I feel like my body is so heavy that's why I don't want to get up. Probably because of the journey. Or maybe due to the stress I've went through last night thinking of how I would say to Demitri and his family that I will leave. At the end, I couldn't think of a strong alibi."How is the Her Majesty? Did you hear any news?" I asked while I'm in front of the huge mirror and the court ladies are assisting me in wearing all the necessary layers of clothes which is a burden to every living lady."We heard that she is already awake and is now doing well, Your Highness."I sighed in relief. My soul can now finally have its peace knowing that the queen is safe from the dangerous poison. To know that is enough for me even though no one will know what sacrifice I have to make. At least I know that I did what is right and could be
"I-It's the crown princess! She was the one who gave me the command, Y-Your Majesty!"I couldn't move. What… did he just said?When eveyone turned to me, I almost stepped back if only Demitri wasn't holding me at the moment. My lips was parted in both shock and confusion."What the hell did you say? You dare accuse the crown princess?" Demitri's voice was calm but threatening. I could feel the decrease in the room's temperature. I can almost taste the coldness in the air."I-I am telling the truth, Your Highness! It was her!""Don't fucking disrespect her!"The floor of the cell suddenly turned to ice and the lower extremities of the culprit got frozen."Ares," the King stopped him from going further.I swallowed hard, couldn't defend myself. I'm even willing to trade my life just to save the queen, and yet I would be accused of such a big crime? What on earth is happening? There must be something big behind this.
"No… no. This won't work, Demitri. If you dragged me out of there when I'm supposed to be imprisoned, it would only make me more guilty in their eyes," I said."And what do you want me to do, Ophelia? Let you be imprisoned in that dark and filthy cell? I won't let that happen!" His jaw clenched, eyes almost bloodshot in both anger and frustration."But I want to face this head-on, Demitri. Running away will prove nothing. I want to face them and let them see that I'm not guilty at all so I don't have to hide.""Ophelia, you don't understand…""Understand what? The palace will soon be in chaos, and your Father will condemn you for running me away. I don't want that to happen. I don't want to stain your reputation and make you look bad. You think this, running away, will make everything better? No, Demitri. No. It will just make everything worse. What you should do is surrender me–""Surrender you? What the fuck is that?!'
I could not believe it. Marching down the long aisle, with hundreds or even thousands of witnesses, it felt so surreal. I still couldn't believe that I did really reached this point, that I am finally marrying the man I had ever loved and the same man I will love till I die, or even beyond death. I couldn't express how I feel. I am so happy to the point that I can't help my tears. Yeah, tears of joy. Why would someone so happy would cry in sadness in the middle of her wedding anyway? No one would. Especially not me. What I feel is nothing but pure happiness. My father, Orion, Lucia... my whole family was there. And the whole De'beuvor family was also present. King Arthur and Queen Romina had big, genuine smiles as they watched me walked towards their eldest son. Actually, Orion wanted to walk me to the altar but Father said that he should let me walk alone because he believes that I am a strong and independent woman who would shine better
Demitri, his brothers and Prince Evan joined us in our table with Father, Orion, Lucia and her parents, Aunt Amelia and Uncle Benedict. I then started explaining to my newly found family what I had went, how I met Demitri and how I became the crown princess of Solterra. They all were surprised, of course except Orion and Lucia because they had known it all along. Demitri also announced to everyone that we are getting married as soon as possible.Marriage has never been in my mind ever since. It felt like I am too young for it and I still have so many things to do, to discover, to explore, without a man beside me. Before, I always wanted to be independent. Someone who doesn't depend on others. But since the moment I realized how I feel for Demitri, I knew then that I have no chance to turn back the time and avoid meeting Demitri with all my might. I have no chance of unloving him because he is the man who gave me so much hope and love. He sheltered me. He showed me the kind of
I led Demitri to the palace garden where it was only the two of us who were around."What are you doing?" I asked, frowning at him.He gave me a serious and lethal look as though I have something like unpaid debt to him."Aren't I the one supposed to be asking you that? You just disappeared all of a sudden leaving nothing but a fucking farewell letter! Now answer me. What the hell are you doing, Ophelia?"I sighed. I was lost at words. Right. I know it was wrong to just leave like that after all we have went through. After all those moments we shared. But what could I do? It was the best thing to do at that moment! I can do nothing because I knew that if I would stay, he will die. I have no choice but to stand by that decision. Loving Demitri is a poison to me. I know that from the very start. I know that if I would love him, there is no way for me to get over him.He is the kind of man that once you start to love, you will just find yourself drown
With the help of Orion, I finally had broken the agreement between me and the magical healer. It was a relief that I was finally freed from that agreement that bound us at some way. I was relieved too that I had finally said to Lancelot what is the truth even if I knew it was very painful to him. I had no choice and I knew I had to do it or else he would just waste all his efforts and just be hurt at the end. I do not want him to go through such pain. It was already enough that he was frozen for decades and lost the chance to have a life with his beloved. I feel sorry for him but I know that the least thing I could do is to be honest to him, to say everything I know.Lancelot left Rousiana to meet his father. He was glad that I said the truth to him and was hoping to see us again. He also promised that he will try to live by the life he has now and try not to live on his past that he will not be able touch again."You look so beautiful, Ophelia! Before, I thought you w
I didn't thought that just one snap and my whole life would change. I never wanted to have great position nor power. When my mother was still alive, all I ever wanted was for us to be freed and live a simple life outside the palace. When I was left alone and realized that there was something I didn't know about myself, my goals changed and I then wanted to know the truth behind my identity and who my father was.But I never imagined that there is this kind of life waiting for me here. A life I never thought I had nor I ever dreamed of. I only wanted a simple life, away from complexity of the lives of those in the high society. Although I didn't want to be part of a royal family by marriage or by blood, I am happy that I had finally met my father and my brother. It wasn't a dream this time. It's very real and I couldn't ask for more but to be with them."I can't believe it, Ophelia! It must be the reason why I felt like we are connected in some way I can't name. I
"Ophelia!" Orion called my name in horror and immediately went to me.I lifted my head and told him, "I'm okay. Go to Lucia. She fought with Nerissa and probably got worse injuries."His eyes scanned the place at once. We both found Lucia down in the ground, her leg wounded and the way she looks gave me an idea how weak she is at the moment. She forced herself to summon her white snake, and I'm sure that took her so much spiritual power. It must have been hard especially that she is still so young."What happened?" I sighed in relief when I found Lancelot at my side. He is the sole reason why we are here, and thankfully nothing bad had happened to him or else all our efforts will be wasted."I don't know who you are, but please look over her for a moment," Orion said and looked at me once before he went to Lucia."He must be Orion?" Lancelot asked as he helped me sit down."Yes.""You look so weak, Ophelia. You vomited blood which mea
I already expected the worst and one of the possibilities I had thought was what Nerissa had just said. It could be possible that she would opt to kill us all since that is really what she wants, to kill, to inflict harm to others.But even if I had already seen this coming, I still said what was in my mind, I still hoped that I would get a different kind of response wherein it will not be necessary to engage into a fight with her in which our side has only a fair chance of winning, but not really sure. If only I face Nerissa myself, I would not hesitate, but on this case, Lucia, Orion, Lancelot... all their lives will be put at stake.All of them are already friends to me, that is why everything is worth the try."If that is your decision, then, we will have no choice but to force you," I said."Force me?" Nerissa laughed. "How will you be able to force me? I know that you are the mistress of fire because you
The moment the three monster guards saw us approaching, they immediately sauntered forward to attack."Let me handle this. You two go in first. I will follow after I kill these monsters," Lancelot said before he touched the stone near him and made a long and huge axe out of it."You sure?" Lucia asked.Lancelot smirked. "Don't underestimate me, young princess."Lucia's eyes widened. "Young princess? How did you—""Go now," Lancelot cut her off before he leaped to face the monsters head on.I didn't waste any time and pulled Lucia towards the entrance of Nerissa's den. As expected, it was the part of the River of Flames with the most fire. A norma person would surely not take it. But because I can manipulate fire and I'm protecting Lucia, we are able to successfully infiltrate it."Do you feel hot or burning?" I asked Lucia to make sure."No. I feel warmth, but not to the point that I feel burning so you have nothing
I could see that Lancelot loves Dahlia so much. How could I have a heart to fool him and pretend that I am the love of his life? He is so good to me and I know that he is really a kind person. I don't want to fool him but what can I do if that was the agreement I had with the magical healer? If I won't follow what we had agreed with, I'm afraid someone else has to pray the price which is the thing I will never want, especially if it is Demitri's life that will be put at stake."I really wish we could get out of here as soon as possible so that I can go find and save Dahlia," Lancelot said in a hopeful tone."I hope you would be able to find her. You are such a good man, Lancelot. You deserve happiness.""Thank you, Ophelia. If you didn't come, I don't know how long I would be frozen or if I would ever wake up. I owe you my life that is why I will give all I've got to help you and your friends.""Thank you, Lancelot.