Chapter 56: Return of the Traitor

"Queen?"

"You are my Queen..."

"...Did you return to the past, Dolton?" I asked.

"I take it that you as well then...I returned to the past around fifteen years ago. My memories were just as fresh as the day I lost my life," Dolton said.

"When did you die?" I asked.

"Not long after Your Highness died with His Majesty, I was arrested for high treason. It was not until I was thrown into prison did I learn that Lady Kaya had attacked you and His Majesty with a dagger she snuck in. The Chancellor quickly took over matters concerning the state and reissued the previous King to take back his position as ruler," Dolton said.

"They put a grieving King who lost both his only son and daughter-in-law back on the throne?" I asked.

"It was an emergency situation...I do not have much knowledge of what happened afterwards since I was sent to execution along with Kaya Ouchi and her fellow perpetrators that allowed her to sneak into the castle back then...I already confirmed that she is not a returner like us, but she is oddly aware of details pertaining to several people whom are higher up in power. I never noticed it in the first life before because I was madly infatuated with her, but I believe that she has the tendencies similar to that of a spy," Dolton explained.

A spy... She is a terrible one at that.

"...Why did you betray her now?" I asked.

"...As you may have guessed, I was once in love with her. I cut off my relationship with her when I chose to serve Prince Erik for the rest of my life. She came to me one day asking for help to make amends with you before her wedding. I truly thought she had changed her ways...Never did I think that she would side with rebels and try to take your life, My Queen," Dolton said.

"...I thought you hated me," I said.

"I never hated you. I was once blinded by love and chose a side based on emotions. I saw the err of my ways when I became assigned to you. You were a far more Noble person who always lived justly. The tragedy that occurred was my fault," Dolton said as he held his forehead. "I hate myself for being so blind. If you want to exact your revenge on me, I would not blame you."

My hands twitched by my side.

I felt an incredible urge to choke him to death but held the urge in when I saw his truly remorseful face.

He came after me all this way and saved me, putting his own body in mortal peril...How could I betray those feelings now?

I helped Dolton lay down on the bed as I added on more dressings to his wounds. He was in pain and running a fever.

Thankfully, there was a facet with clean cool running water and fresh rags.

However, we were far from any signs of civilization and we were trapped inside without any way to escape.

"Can I ask why you are no longer with His Highness?" Dolton asked.

"Kaya Ouchi was aiming for my life. Prince Erik...His Highness got in the way of the blade and saved me from dying even though it was for naught. I gave into my emotions and ended myself," I said.

"That is what happened..."

"Since all of Kaya Ouchi's resentment was aimed towards me, I thought the best way to protect His Highness was separating myself from him...Do not misunderstand anything. I still love Prince Erik very dearly. I created a false relationship with my friend in order to make him give up on me. Sadly, it has yet to stop him entirely," I explained.

"...Your friend...do you love him?" Dolton asked.

"I do," I answered him as I changed the rag over his forehead.

"I thought that you looked the happiest beside His Highness and nothing could change your feelings," he said as he sat up.

The next day, I was greeted by a warm sunlight and a large hand caressing my head.

"Dolton?" I said as I opened my eyes to see Dolton sitting upright.

"Good morning, My Queen."

Dolton had made it through the most dangerous night. I hugged him out of sheer happiness.

The room we were staying in had a broken lock. With some rough handling, I was able to force it open.

"My Queen, your way of handling things is quite frightening," Dolton said.

"The lock was already broken..."

"Sure it was..."

The room happened to be one section of what appeared to be a large cabin. Dolton and I checked several rooms and found a boiler room, a small bathroom with a bathtub and toilet, a small kitchen, a fireplace, and some extra blankets and clothes. Outside, there were places for hanging laundry, some wash bins, and an outdoor shower.

"This is quite the cabin..." I said to myself.

"If it were not for being used for locking us up in, it would be a nice retreat," Dolton said from behind me.

I quickly turned towards him and glared at him.

"You should be in bed," I said as I tried pushing him back into the room.

He stood still like an unmovable wall.

He suddenly pushed my head in his broad chest.

"It is dangerous leaving you alone," Dolton said.

I pushed on his chest until he decided to release me.

"I am safe here. There is no one here but us, so take off your clothes so that I can do laundry," I said.

"Can I refuse?"

"No."

I won in the end and forced him to get some

bed rest. While I made sure that he was sleeping, I did laundry and made my way around the premises.

In the distance, I found that there was a suspension bridge that had been cut from the other side. We were on a high cliffside with no way out or down and the only way across the long rift was through the suspension bridge...

I cannot go far with Dolton injured either. The only thing I can do now is salvage some food for Dolton and I to survive for the next few days.

After doing the laundry, I took a short shower and changed into the clothes I found earlier.

I wore a beige buttoned up shirt with a long brown skirt. I had Dolton change into a peasant top with some brown pants.

I came back with some herbs and potatoes I found beside the house.

"How is your wound?" I asked Dolton.

"Quite well. It is not festering. I am surprised to know that you are well versed with herbal medicine. Who knew lavender could be used as disinfectant as well?"

"I can make alcohol from potatoes too," I said.

"...Should I go hunt a boar for food?"

"I caught a wandering cow, a few chickens, and gathered some fresh eggs. I also found some spices and some cooking utensils in the cupboards. There are also some canned preserves, but I do not think they would be very healthy for you to eat."

"My presence is useless..."

"If you could tell me that my cooking is tasty, I would be very happy," I told Dolton with a smile.

I later made some stew with chicken, milk and some fresh herbs.

"Everything is delicious," Dolton said with an elated heartfelt expression.

"It tastes pretty good even though it has been awhile since I made it."

"Did your servants teach you how to cook?" Dolton asked.

"My mother had taught my father and I ways to survive in the forest just in case we lost all of our fortune or somehow end up on a deserted island. Cooking was just part of it..."

Mother became more outgoing and shared her hobbies about commoner life with me and taught me various things just in case Father and I would lose our titles or wealth.

"What a resourceful person..."

I think he meant to say paranoid...

"I am lucky to have a parent like her," I told Dolton.

"I heard that your mother passed away in our first lives," Dolton said as he placed down his spoon.

"I was able to save her with the knowledge I gained from our time when I became an adult. I am glad that I never gave up finding a cure for her disease...It just goes to show that the future can be changed. The two of us will not die easily this time around," I said as I gathered his empty bowl. "Seconds?"

"...Yes, please."