32: Back Home

I have spent the next days traveling back to the secret house, it wasn't easy, I always have to wait until dusk and dawn then I needed to rest for a few hours before I could cover another farther distance through drifting. It was exhausting, the next three days was exhausting but I can't give up, I have to go back and proceed to the second step, I can't give up now that I have begun.

I mentally chuckled when I realized that Ezra and Katrina are not even aware that I, who they have announced dead, have gone in and out of Astrae's territory without their knowledge. It wasn't easy, I always have to keep my guard up because this is my birthplace, however it is currently also the home of the people who wants me dead.

Every time I hear footsteps, I have to hide and lean flatly to avoid taking unwanted attention, it's nerve-wracking and it's making my heart beat fast but it's also thrilling.

I can't help but smile at the feeling of being thrilled, my heart beats fast not just because of nervousness but also because of excitement.

There are several scenarios running in my head whenever I lean to keep my presence unnoticed. Like, what if they see me accidentally, will they get scared? I mean I was announced dead by my cousin and known mother. Or, will they tell Ezra and Katrina about seeing me? I'm sure those two won't like it and I can't help but imagine what their reaction would be like.

I was panting heavily while leaning on a wall, I started running after I depleted my stamina in the middle of drifting, I don't know where exactly I am, all I know that I am back in Astrae, err well technically I had just been back from Astrae now.

I just continued closing the distance to the secret house by walking, I'm not even sure how the heavens I am not getting lost especially that I'm wondering in the outskirts I've never even stepped foot in even from before as I wonder around the kingdom. I had always believed back then that I am a princess, Katrina had imprinted in my mind, that I am a princess and such place is not suitable for someone with a noble blood to step foot into.

"Queen!" I smiled and opened my arms when I saw the young prince running towards me coming from the direction where Arcadia is located

"You're back, you're finally back!" he said and I can't help but chuckle when he suddenly burst into tears

"You missed me that much, Malika?" I asked gently and bent my knee down to reach his level

"I… I thought you won't come back." He sobbed and I caressed his cheek

"Why won't I come back? This is my home, Malika, no matter what, I will always go back home." I said and smiled at him

He hugged me tighter and it seems he had no plan of letting me go anymore, I guess I must've given the young prince quite the fright.

The painful ray of the sun is hitting my back as he hug me tight but I do not mind it as long as I ease the fear I unintentionally had brought upon this young one.

"Pam…" I looked up and I saw Zairo's stormy gray eyes

"Zai…" I smiled at him

The young prince released me from the hug only for me to be squished again in Zairo's arms.

"I missed you." He whispered and I couldn't help but chuckle

He missed me too much, I had only been gone for a couple of weeks though. He then released me from the bone-squishing hug and held my shoulder.

"Where have you been?" he asked and I smiled

"I did the first step of the plan, Zai," I said and he hugged me again

"Don't run off like that again, Patrice." He said in a low voice almost inaudible

"It was for the plan, Zairo," I chuckled

"I don't care, I don't know what I'll do if you do that again." He said and I smiled

"Alright then, I'll tell you next time." I said and he released me from the hug

The young prince held on to my cloak while Zairo wrapped his arms on my waist. I couldn't help but chuckled as we walk up to the secret house, we're already within the barrier, I guess that's why these two had the courage to hug me like that.

These two really are unbelievable, they act as if they don't like each other but they're acting almost the same way.

"Your majesty!" My knights all stood up and bowed when they saw me

"Hello, knights, how have you been?" I asked smiling

"We've been very worried, Queen Avery, we had thought something had happened to her majesty." Sir Charles answered

"I gave you quite the headache, didn't I?" I asked

"How are you, your majesty?" Dame Therese asked

"I'm alright, I have completed the first step of the plan for retaliation." I answered truthfully

"May we request to be part of the plan?" Knight Stephen asked

"Of course, you're part of it since the beginning." I chuckled before answering

"How about me, Queen? What part will I play?" I looked at the young prince who tugged my cloak while asking

I bent down before answering and said, "You, my little prince will be watching me play chess." I smiled and tapped his shoulder

"Watch you play chess?" He seem utterly confused making me chuckle and stand up

"I'll go upstairs to rest, I'm exhausted from my travel." I said

"As you wish, your majesty," the knights answered while bowing

"Zairo, Malika," I tapped their hands and they removed it from holding

"I'll just take a rest then I shall give you a briefing of the plan." I said and went up the stairs

I took out some of my clothes and went to the bathroom to take a bath, I haven't bathed in a week, I'm sure I'm smelling, good thing I was able to make myself look presentable while discussing what I wish to happen to the King Skylark. Now that he had signed a contract of allegiance with me, I can stop worrying that he my tell on me as that wasn't any ordinary contract. It's a magic contract that will ensure that everything that has been agreed upon shall be upheld at all times. It's a fool-proof step.

I went out wearing a new pair of clean clothes, my hair is dripping wet as I had to make sure that I had washed off all the hair spray dye that stick on my hair because of how long it was on my hair to cover my real hair color and the prominent gold streaks.

"Zairo, do you have anything to ask me?" I asked Zairo when I saw him seated on the bed

"Oh," I nodded my head when I saw that he's holding the allegiance contract with Holland's king, King Skylark.

"You plotted and pulled something like this all by yourself?" he asked and looked up to meet my eyes

"It wasn't the whole plan, it was just the first step that I could do on my own." I answered and he stood up

"You should've told me." He sighed exasperatedly

"I couldn't tell you because I know you." I explained

"I could've helped you." He looked at me and I gave him a smile

"This is exactly why I didn't tell you, Zairo, you won't allow me to move by myself if I told you." I said and caressed his cheek and he looked away

"Zai…" I called him and he glanced at me shortly before averting his gaze again

"Zachary Iverone Ruiz Olivier Arcadia…" I called him and he sighed

"Just when did you become this quick, huh?" he held my hand taking me a bit aback

"I learned from my teacher…" I mumbled getting a bit lost to his gray eyes

"Your teacher must be so proud to have such a clever student as you then." He smiled

"Are you?" I asked and he chuckled before running his hand through his black hair

"I guess I am, only that I am frustrated on myself on teaching you how to move discreetly." He muttered the last part almost inaudible and I couldn't help but chuckle

"Oh, Zairo, I only applied what I had learned from you." I said and he sighed

"I guess I should refrain from teaching you too much." He said and I looked at him with wide eyes

"Zai!" I complained

"Just to make sure you won't leave me out of your plan again." He said with a smile and I shook my head

He's really unbelievable at times but… never mind.

"You're part of my plan, Zairo, you always are." I said truthfully and he smiled

"Well then, I'd like to hear the adventures my queen did on her journey to achieve such valuable souvenir." He said and he let go of my hand

I leaned my back on a pillow after sitting on the bed while he sat on the foot of the bed and just leaned on another pillow. I started telling of everything I did, from escaping to meeting Tariq along the way.

"I want to meet that guy, Vielle's actually a good name." He said and I nodded my head

"I know, I definitely loved that name though I also love my name, it just sound so unique." I said and he chuckled

"Then what happened next?" he asked

I told him about the lies Tariq made to cover up for me and he wouldn't stop laughing while holding his stomach, he couldn't believe I was able to act as a mute the whole day on our first day on travelling to Holland because we're with other traders.

"I can't believe you actually were able to suppress yourself from speaking." He said in between his laughs

"Cut it out, Zai, I still have more to tell you." I said frowning and crossed my arms

He coughed a bit before being able to stop himself from laughing.

"Okay, you can continue now," he said so I sighed and continued telling him what I did

I told him everything and I can't help but feel a smile proudly when I saw the look of his eyes. It's as if he's telling that he's proud of how I managed to act on every situation and he's proud of what I've became.

"Well, congratulations, Queen Patrice, you've done a great job my queen." He said and leaned forward to tap my head

"Now go to sleep, hearing those stories, I know you need a lot of rest." He said and I nodded

I lay on the bed and I felt him covering me with the blanket then closing the curtains and turning off the lights.

"Sleep well, queen, you've done well." He said before exiting the room