006. Princess Hyacinth, Part II.

"Do you think the princess will wake up today?" Chancellor Von Reich asked. The doctor sighed and glanced at the princess.

"Hopefully, Her Highness will," the doctor answered.

"How do we tell her the situation of His Majesty?" The Chancellor asked once again.

Ludwig fixed his glasses and shrugged. Their attention was diverted to the door when they heard it opening. A man clad in a blue robe entered. He was the same man who brought the princess in the palace.

"Sir Giovanni. What brings you here?" Ludwig asked.

"I'm here to check the princess," he answered, not even bothering to show some curtsy to the King's personal aide and the Chancellor. The two didn't bother pointing that out knowing that the three of them has the same rankings as a King's servant.

They were all silent for a few seconds as they watched the princess. Ludwig was the first one to open the topic. "Let's discuss the plan while the princess is asleep."

"We should tell the princess what happened to His Majesty first before telling the plan to her," the Chancellor suggested.

The man, who was called Giovanni, shook his head as he completely entered the room. He approached the couch near the bed and slumped on there. "The faction of the first prince and the first princess are now preparing for the war. A few of their soldiers are already camping outside the forest of the mainland." He crossed his legs as he informed them.

Ludwig heaved another sigh. He's been sighing for the nth time today because of the building stress inside his head. They couldn't move a single soldier because the princess was still unconscious. The King himself couldn't place an order as well since he was too weak to move or even think of a plan to counter his children.

Fortunately, the princess was slowly gaining consciousness.

Princess Hyacinth could hear a familiar and an unfamiliar voice exchanging a few words near her. A soft grunt escaped her lips and her hand slowly reached for her head when she felt a soft pang of pain rubbing against her skull.

Hyacinth exhaled gently as she calmed herself down. Her heart was beating rapidly, making her stomach churn. It must have been her anxiousness clouding her whole system.

She was starting to be aware of her surrounding. She was in the midst of recalling what happened to her when she remembered Angelico. Her eyes sprung open and she jolted upwards, sitting on her bed. The soft pang of pain swiftly rushes through her system, giving her a painful ache throughout her body.

"Your Highness! Calm down. You haven't recovered yet," she heard the familiar voice spoke beside her.

The man went closer to her to assist her, but the princess shook her head and brushed his hand away. Her eyes shut for a moment, clearing her head. When she felt her heart calming down a little, she slowly opens her eyes. The first one she noticed was the man in a blue robe sitting on the couch near her bed. A frown formed on her delicate forehead as she couldn't recognize him then her attention turned to Ludwig and to the Chancellor standing beside her.

"Where is Sir Angelico?" She asked, her voice sounded raspy and choked out.

The two glanced at one another, unaware of what to answer, then they threw their gazes to Giovanni, who stood from his seat.

"I'm sorry, princess. But there was no sign of him when I came back to the forest." His fists clenched as he looked at her.

The princess swallowed a lump on her throat as she remembered what happened before she left and run away. "He... He didn't die, right?" There was a small hope lingering on her tone as she asked him.

Giovanni had clenched his jaw, staring at her for a moment before he answered. "We didn't find the knight's body."

There was a cold voice inside of her, telling her not to belive his words. But she felt hopeless. She knew that she wouldn't be able to forgive herself if her knight did die because of her.

"I see," she answered, a small smile filling the uneasiness on her face.

Giovanni felt a pang of guilt on his chest. He wanted to tell her the truth, but he couldn't bring himself to do so. There was a part of him saying that the princess would definitely lose her mind if she knew that someone died for her sake.

"My father... Where is he?"

It was now time for Ludwig and the Chancellor to speak. Ludwig and the Chancellor both fell on the ground, their knees kissing the carpeted floor of the room. It was so sudden, but Hyacinth knew better. It was a sign of a deep regret they've been carrying. "I apologize, Your Highness. His Majesty is not in his right condition. And he might not be able to recover anymore."

Hyacinth's hands formed into a fist as she held onto her blanket. She stared at them then nodded her head, allowing for them to continue. Ludwig was the one who explained what happened. "He's in his chambers... resting. It was the tea that he drank the day after your departure. His Majesty couldn't move anymore." He told her of the King's plan. The King actually knew that his life would be in danger if he stays in the palace and not shows up in the meeting.

He knew that he was going to be poisoned, yet he still took the poisoned tea, it was as if, he was offering his life already. Hyacinth also found out that it was one of her siblings who ordered to kill her. And the one who harmed Angelico.

"Bring me to His Majesty's chambers," she ordered.

The two trusted servants of the King carried themselves up and helped the princess. The princess wore her coat to cover her night dress. She didn't have time to prepare as she wishes to speak to her father this instant.

And it was all going according to the King's plan.

Ludwig led the way to the King's chambers while Giovanni and the Chancellor followed behind them. There were a set of guards standing in the front door and a couple of attendants in the King's room.

The King was conscious, but he looked too ill to move.

"Leave us," he ordered when the princess entered his room.

Everyone, including his trusted servants, left the room.

"What are you planning, father?" She asked as she slowly approached his bed.

The King couldn't help but smile. It was a small change, but the princess' tone sounded firmer than the last time they spoke.

"My child. It seems that I made a mistake," the King started. "I thought that my children, your siblings, would be satisfied if I'll divide the Kingdom and give each land for the six of you to rule."

Hyacinth sighed softly as she took the seat beside his bed. "What was your reason for doing that, father?"

The King stared at the ceiling of his bed, a few things running in his head. He was rethinking if he should tell her everything. Then he sighed. "I should at least be honest with you. After all, you are my most trusted child."

Hyacinth looked at him with worry dancing on her pair of blue eyes. She gently held his huge hand and squeezed it a little, assuring him that she won't leave him. And somehow, that gave him the strength to tell her everything.

"Our Kingdom was believed to be the favorite Kingdom of the god Aoife. You've heard the legend behind that, right?"

She gave him a nod, her mind recalling the legend that her nanny would always tell her. The Legend of the first King Fleur and his loyalty to the god Aoife, their Kingdom's god.

"Those are only a legend. A fake legend. The truth is that our ancestor, the great King Fleur, was the supporter of the king of darkness, Aoife's twin brother." Hyacinth frowned, her hand flinching at her father's words. He knew how her reaction would be, but he continued. "When the darkness first came to the world, Fleur was the first one to discover it. He was tempted by the dark lord because of the great deal he offered. He would become the most powerful human, and he will be able to build his own Kingdom that no one can destroy. Accepting that temptation lead to the god Aoife abandoning us."

"But what about the temples built for Aoife?" Hyacinth asked, confused. If their god really abandoned them, then what's the use of the temples build in their Kingdom?

"It was built to prevent Aoife from destroying this Kingdom. Do you remember those unusual statues inside the temples, those were blessed by the dark lord's powers. Every new ruler will be educated about this, and they are required to form a deal with the dark lord. One of their wishes will come true, and the Kingdom will be protected until the next ruler rise to the throne. And it comes with a great price."

Hyacinth fell silent. She was slowly understanding the reason why her father wanted to stop the flow of rulership with their bloodline.

"The dark lord feeds on the greed of the people. After finding out the truth, I raised my concern about this to my father, your grandfather, the late king. But he denied my concerns and threatened me. He said that a great conflict would fall on the Kingdom if I stop the flow of our rulership. And I guess that's what's happening right now."

"But why are you telling me this?" Hyacinth stared at him sadly. She was already thinking of a few reasons why her father was telling her the truth.

The King used his remaining strength to lift his arm. He placed his hand on top of her head and caressed her hair. "I want you to reunite the five dukedoms once again and rule over them. If it's you... this incompetent father of yours will be at peace."

Hyacinth bit her molars. Right at this moment, she was being crowned as the new successor for the throne. And she couldn't think of a way to oppose his father. She knew that if she won't step out and stop them, the conflict between her siblings will only burn brighter and everyone in their Kingdom will be affected.

She reaches for his hand and clasps it between her hands. "What do I need to do, father?"

The King smiled a little and he squeezed her hand. "In the underground floor in this palace, there's a lower room. Go alone. The dark lord is sealed in there. The price to call for him is already being paid, so once you open the door, the seal will be instantly broken."

Hyacinth understood what she needed to do. It was her desire to protect her people, but if she couldn't do it on her own peaceful way, then all she could do now is fight.

"And the price after my wish has been granted?" She asked, remembering the payment he mentioned earlier.

"It will depend on what the dark lord will ask of you. You have to be prepared."

She spent a couple more minutes with her father. She wanted to secure his health before she does her job.

Once she left, Ludwig, the Chancellor and Giovanni were summoned as audiences to the King's chambers. They were given the instructions to proclaim Hyacinth as the successor of the King.

"Protect my daughter. Protect the new Queen," was his last words before he fell in a deep slumber. He succumbs to the darkness without his beloved daughter knowing.