Chapter 131-Arrival
(NATALIE POV)
I followed behind Doctor Kinsley through the hall of the third floor of the main palace. Glancing out of the window, just as the sun had begun to rise, illuminating the hallway. I wondered if those children went to the castle. I thought.
As we approached King Lincoln bed chambers, Doctor Kinsley turned to me, "Do you remember what I told you?" He asked.
"After every visit, Marquess Radisson, the Chancellor comes to visit King Lincoln" I repeated, "But are you sure he has something to do with the poisoning of King Lincoln?" I asked.
Doctor Kinsley nodded, "He's suspicious" he said.
Does Doctor Kinsley not know that Marquess Radisson is Prince Marshall's biological father? I questioned, just as the door opened.
Doctor Kinsley and I walked into the room, just as to my surprise, Queen Malaysia was sitting beside King Lincoln as he lay on the bed asleep.
"Doctor Kinsley" Queen Malaysia spoke, she turned her head towards me. "Natalie?" She questioned, tilting her head to the side.
How did she… Oh right they can see the aura I share with Moises, I thought as I walked towards her. Although I temporarily dyed my hair when I was still at the castle. It's useless against anyone who can see aura.
"Your Majesty," I said, as I approached her.
"Natalie, Doctor Kinsley, is there something we can do about Lincoln's fatigue? The delegation will be arriving soon, I don't want him to pass out during an important meeting" Queen Malaysia said.
"Maybe it's better if he does," I said.
Queen Malaysia looked at me with an appalling expression, "What do you mean?"
"If the King falls ill in front of the delegation, what will the aristocratic faction do?" I asked, "Don't you want to find out?" I smirked.
"But…" Just as I could hear the hesitation in Queen Malaysia's voice.
King Lincoln opened his eyes, turning his head towards me. "Yes, let's find out" he said, "I'll even put Prince Marshall in charge during my absence. He's been using my name in secret, carrying out orders without my knowledge. I want to know what he and Marquess Radisson are planning"
After Queen Malaysia and King Lincoln came to an agreement. I cleared my throat, getting their attention.
"There's something else, I want to report to you. During my travel, I stumbled upon some village children in the western part of the forest and learned their parents have been missing, after seeking work" I said.
King Lincoln raised his body with Doctor Kinsley assistance. "Those children's parents, do you think it has something to do with the auction houses?" He questioned, I could hear the rage in his voice as he glared.
I nodded, "I believe those children and their parents are magic users. I watched a young boy say some kind of chant and suddenly fire appeared out of his palm"
Queen Malaysia stood up, her face turning pale. She mumbled to herself for a moment.
"Those children, where are they?" She asked.
"I told them to go to the Winter Dukedom, I just hope they listened"
(PRINCE MOISES POV)
My head was throbbing, as I rubbed my temple. A blurred image settled in my mind. I sat up, glancing at Natalie's side of the bed. Her scent still lingered, even though she wasn't here. I wondered if she arrived at the palace safely, I thought as I removed the covers off me. After returning to the castle, grandfather suggested that I rest for a while before we have a meeting in his office.
I glanced at the clock, noticing it was 7:30 am. I managed to get three hours of sleep this time. Hearing the bone cracking sound as I stretched felt a little refreshing. Just three months ago, I was still bedridden in a coma—withering away.
I rubbed my temple, just as the sharp ache surfaced again. The memories of what happened during the time I was ambushed was still a blur itself.
I sighed,"Sage and Peyton will be leaving soon to head to the palace. I should visit Sage before she leaves"
After getting dressed, a sudden knock caught my attention. "Prince Moises" I heard Jackson's voice, as I approached the door. When I opened the door, Jackson's expression was alarming, his expression filled with worry.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"Your Highness, His Grace said it's urgent" he said.
Without a second thought, I rushed out the room, hurrying through the hallway until I reached the main area of the castle, hearing whispers amongst the servants as I passed by them.
"What's going on?" I mumbled, "Why did grandfather said it was urgent"
As I reached the stairs, the sight before me, a group of children—-10 of them. My grandfather, Crown Prince Antonio, Duke Benjamin and the sorcerer, Raman, stood around them.
After descending, I rushed by my grandfather, as he motioned his hand towards me. As I approached them, the smaller children hid behind the much taller children.
"Grandfather," I said, standing beside him.
Grandfather turned his head towards me, "Moises, these children said Natalie sent them here. They met her in the forest" he said. "The children informed me that their parents never returned to their villages after seeking work"
When I looked at them, their tattered clothes, their malnourished figures. My heart nearly shattered at the sight.
"Lucy, Jackson, contact the seamstress, prepare some clothing for them, and prepare a meal for them" Grandfather ordered, he gestured to the other maids and butlers that gathered around, "Bathe them, get them some treatment from the medical quarters"
My grandfather turned to me, "The rest of you follow me"
"Jackson, send someone to call for Peyton, Lord Dean, Sir Dell and Masiro" I said, "We'll visit the village of those missing parents"
(PEYTON'S POV)
"Marianna" Lord Dean entered my room, closing the door behind him. I knew the time was coming––the time for us to discuss our problems. I gestured towards the bed, turning to walk away when he suddenly grabbed my left wrist. I turned to face him, "It's been 18 years, have you decided to give us another chance again?" he spoke softly, his eyes gazing into mine. I turned my head away, lowering my gaze to the floor.
18 years ago, when Prince Moises was arrested and thrown into the palace dungeon. Lord Dean and I had broken our engagement. The decision was mutual, I was given the order by Prince Moises to flee the kingdom with the girls, if anything was to happen to him or Natalie. My only purpose at that time was Natalie and the girl's safety.
During the years, Lord Dean and I would contact each other, updating on whatever situation had taken place at the time. The only ones who knew about the arrangements were me, Lord Dean and Sir Dell.
"Marianna", Lord Dean spoke, interrupting my thoughts as I tried to process my feelings. "Does your hesitation have anything to do with Duke Vernon again?"
My head shot up, seeing the pain expression on his face, "No, it was only a moment of weakness" I said, hoping it would convince him.
He reached his hand, lifting up my face to meet his gaze.
"But, you also kept contact with him during the years as well" Lord Dean said.
I grabbed his hand, pulling him towards the bed. "I was only keeping contact with him, so I can know what was going on inside of the kingdom"
Lord Dean grabbed me by the wrist, making me fall on his lap. He placed his head against my chest as he held me. He sighed, "We can worry about our relationship later" he said, Marianna, Prince Moises plans to go to the Mountains of Benoma"
"What?" I exclaimed, nearly jumping off of his lap, "Why would he go to that place? It's filled with evil spirits and those creatures. We went through hell trying to kill those bastards during the great war" my skin crawled just thinking about them.
Lord Dean sighed again, "His Highness doesn't remember anything about those creatures he and the rest of the knights fought, or anything that happened during those first few years of his exile. I followed him as he traveled from kingdom to kingdom, even the barren plains near the southern part of the continent. He hasn't recovered any of his memories since waking up from the coma" Lord Dean lowered his head, "It's my fault, he never would've gotten injured by Prince Marshall. If only I didn't chase after that suspicious person that day." Lord Dean balled up his fist, "I should've revealed myself and helped him."
As I embraced him, those painful memories flooded my thoughts. The sound of Lord Dean sniffing, the wetness of my blouse. I placed my lip against his temple, the regret he held in for all those years finally surfaced. The tears began to fall from my eyes.