Rift

The journey from Holland Kingdom to the frontline was rather an uneventful journey, I asked my dames to accompany me and along the way, my nervousness after receiving the news about our young general kept my heart pounding with worry and self-reflecting blame.

I would likely drown in my own mind's blames if ever something bad were to happen to the young prince because of my plan.

Damn, I played too deep without minding the risk and end up risking something that worth more than that I would gain with this gamble. It's not worth it, triggering Katrina and Ezra and pushing them to the edge is not worth it of the young prince's life.

Our acting general was almost assassinated if it weren't for the knights around him who had heard his shout and shielded him, they managed to bring him to safety, however, he is still unconscious and was brought to the medical tent to have his wounds treated.

I couldn't help but pace back and forth inside the tent, the tent across the tent where his wounds is currently being treated, the time slipping by is agonizing, it's like watching the cold snow melt on a glass table near the fire place, time seems to be moving too slowly and my worry is rising as each moment pass.

Another thing bothering me right now is that his king is not helping him at all! He is even refusing my suggestion to bring him to their kingdom saying that he cannot leave the frontline. He is being completely unreasonable to argue with, as he does not seem to give even an inch of care for the person who plays a major trigger for our opponent after he had served his purpose for now.

"He's alright," I glared at Zairo because of his tone

"Aren't even a little bit of worried?" I asked in disbelief

"We've briefed him of the possible danger to come his way, he chose to continue." He replied and I shook my head

This guy… he's unbelievable!

"What is wrong with you, Zachary?" I asked him seriously

"I am alright, Queen." He replied

"No, I refuse to believe that. You're not this heartless." I said and shook my head

"He took on the job, Patrice," for the second time, I glared at him

"Why are you being so unreasonable, Zachary? Can't you see he needs all the medical attention he could get?" I asked him in irritation

"Yes, he took on the job, he accepted the role but please do keep in mind that I dragged into this, this may mean that you are not at fault – neither are you, Patrice." He cut me off as I try to elaborate the situation

"Zairo, he almost got assassinated because of the position I put him in so the least I could do right now is to ensure that he will be okay." I told him in frustration

"Why can't you understand that?" I asked him with annoyance

"That kid knew what he was doing." He replied in an indifferent manner

"Did you just refer to him as 'that kid'?" I asked exasperatedly

"Zairo, the kid we're talking about now, the kid you've just referred to as 'that kid' is Malika, Jacquiss Malika Reagan Zanier Idris, your kingdom's youngest prince." I reminded him as he seem to forget that fact

"You know I never agreed and ever were delighted with such idea of making that kid a prince in the first place." He muttered in annoyance while looking down darkly

"What did you say?" I asked cynically

"Your majesties," we looked at the physician who kneeled as soon as he entered the ten

"How is he?" I asked and threw a glare at Zairo when I heard him sigh

"He is alright now, your majesty, his wounds are not fatal for him but they are indeed deep." He reported and I nodded

"I see, may I visit him now?" I asked

"Yes, your majesty," he replied and stood up

"Stay here if you don't want to see him, don't make him feel like you don't want him alive." I muttered seriously, as I walked pass him

I followed the physician and when we arrived at the tent, I saw the young prince lying on the cotton covers that are placed in a makeshift bed, he should've been treated in Arcadia to be able to recover quickly but his king… never mind… I just hope for his recovery.

"Leave us," I ordered and sat on the side of the bed

I held the young prince's bed and couldn't help but blame myself as I see his pale lips, his skin Still has some slight warm color but his lips are pale, indicating that he's not in a good state of health.

"How is the young prince?" I glanced at the King of Holland when he arrived and stared at the young prince again

"His wounds are not fatal but they're deep, that's what the physician had said." I answered

"Will you be pulling him out of the frontline now?" he asked and sat on the chair in the room

"Of course, he had played his part, however, I did not foresee such pain and circumstance to befall on him." I said and gently caressed the young prince's cheek

"He's a fighter," I looked at the king of Holland when he spoke

"Even in face of a threat, he stood his ground," he said with his eyes directed to the unconscious prince lying on the makeshift bed

"The knights may have not known and have responded to his aid immediately if he did not fight back and alerted them of the attempted assassination." He said and I sighed

"Indeed, he has a resolve not fit for a four-year-old." I muttered

Wonder where he got that from… He's definitely not like Zairo, I bet.

"I see her majesty in him, actually." He said and I eyed him confusedly

The young prince is far from me, he is innocent and smart, unlike me when I was his age, I was a mess, and I almost brought Astrae down to its knees with my uncontrolled gift.

"You and him, you both don't stand down even when your life is being threatened, that is a remarkable similarity." He said and I couldn't help but smile

"The young prince had always been a fighter." I mumbled and caressed the young prince's cheek then looked at the King of Holland when he became silent

"What is it? You seem to have a query, your majesty." I said and glanced at him, I noticed his prying eyes on the young prince

"He's not just Arcadia's prince, is he?" he asked suddenly

"He is a prince, with or without a kingdom of his own." I replied