Chapter X

Every day since that night, the doctor has been caring for the young soldier. She also bathes him and changes his clothes because she is envious of the nurses' ability to do so. She also cleans his nails, combs his hair, and even brushes his teeth. Then he kissed her very lovingly, and the young princess's heart was full of joy for two weeks. The young man could only leave the hospital after a few days; he was strong and could walk around the room, therefore he was struggling to go.

Before Ronn's scheduled departure from the hospital, an unexpected guest arrives Datu, the hospital's owner and the father of the princess doctor. His staff informed Datu that his daughter Princess was an unusual case. His daughter handles all patients with kindness, but the informant claims she treats the patient soldier differently. So, he wanted to meet this particular individual in person. Most people were shocked at the hospital because the owner rarely came there. Datu went straight to the young soldier's room, opened it, and went inside, leaving the stunned soldier dumbfounded. He is already acquainted with Datu, therefore he is hesitant to court the princess doctor. He rose to pay his respects to Datu. Datu entered quietly, observing his aura as well as his behaviors.

"Do you realize my only child is the Princess?" Datu's opening query to him.

“And do you also realize that we are looked up to everywhere? And my hope for my daughter is to be able to marry someone like our race, the lineage of the ROYALS”, said Datu. He insists to look like he is not appropriate for the princess.

"I appreciate your courage and valor as a soldier, but I do not agree that you should be a part of my daughter's life", he said honestly.

"I don't have a problem if they treat you preferentially here, it's worth your courage, you won't pay even a single cent, but those advantages are only up to that", Datu said, turning around and departing the room.

He understands what Datu means as a father, and he also knows where he will position when Datu says, he is not suited for the Princess. The princess always arranges his clothes in the bag, they are always clean and fragrant. He took his possessions as well as the completed release paper and delivered it to the medical staff. He left the hospital without looking back after being cleared. He can't go back to Base right away because the princess will surely follow him, so he travels outside of town and seeks a room to rent. There he will mend and re-repair the wound in his heart.

When her phone rang, the princess was resting on her bed, smiling since her best friend was calling. Maybe she'll ask about the two of them and Ronn again. She is overjoyed with what is occurring in her love story, therefore they are constantly eager to discuss what is going on with Ronn.

"Hello Best! your morning will be a nuisance," she teased her pal.

"Hello Best! horrible news!" says the voice on the other end of the call.

"What horrible news, what makes the morning is bad news right away," she pretended, but she was suddenly anxious.

"Your father came here to the hospital," her friend said.

"Oh, what's the problem there, he's the owner of it," she feigned to jest with her companion, but her true feelings were much different.

"He went to Ronn's room, then we talked in your office, looked at Ronn's record but didn't say anything, maybe half an hour inside the office, but he didn't say anything and said goodbye and departed," a buddy stated.

"So, what's the issue there?" So, what's the bad news? ", she inquired, her voice trembling.

"When your father came out, I went to Ronn's room; he was no longer there, nor was his stuff," the friend stated. She was nervous previously because she was motionless.

She hung up the phone without even saying goodbye to her buddy; she was just startled as she sat on the bed, tears welling up in her eyes. She heard two automobiles arrive and made sure her father did as well. She cleaned her face, changed her clothes, and exited the room to speak with her father. When she asked their helper about her father, he replied he was in the library and sent him there. They always talk there, especially when it comes to personal things.

She knocked and went inside, her father facing the door and staring at her as she entered. She always kisses her on the cheek as she enters or exits the house.

"Sit down, Ellih," her father said quietly. She sat close to his chair, keeping her voice low in case she burst into tears.

"We are the family of the Noble, therefore I dream for you that you can marry our fellow man, you are suited for the prince of the Busdak tribe, he is gorgeous and also highly educated, the son of the governor who is now a famous lawyer, Prince Lireo of the Gumatong tribe. Why do you ignore and openly detest them all? ", her father continued.

"You want them for me, Papa." Did you ask if I liked them as well? the princess retorted bitterly. "Everything you wanted for me, you didn't hear anything from me; you wanted me to be a doctor, therefore I became a doctor despite the fact that my passion was to teach children; I wanted to be a teacher. All I want is a simple existence with simple people. The men you mentioned wanting for me are arrogant and disrespectful of the teachers who helped them learn in school." The princess added.

Datu's heart was already breaking from the princess's cries; he didn't want to see her daughter suffer, but their reputation was on the line now. Not only does his dear princess like the lowly soldier. But the young soldier was wise and principled; he didn't push him away immediately, but it understood what he meant and what he had in mind.

"I only discovered in Ronn what I was searching for in a man, with determination, principle, and courage that none of the men you claim are for me, when I first saw him, I told myself that he was what I'm seeking for even if I'm not sure if we're looking for the same thing," said the princess.

"I'm sure Pa, just like you, I take care of our family and I'm not a child anymore, so I investigated him before I eventually fell for him, and I know you also investigated him," the girl said in a long statement.

"They come from a respectable family, he is also the son of the Chief of Police in their area who did not use the position to get rich, that's one of the things I admired about him, material wealth is not important to them but the goodness of hearts is dominant for both that not even one of the men you want for me," the princess sobbed as she hurried out of the library, leaving the father stunned and unable to respond the words of the princess.

She grieved all day, and she couldn't blame the young soldier for leaving without saying goodbye. She was certain that because of his fundamental stance, he would not approach her at all. Her caring and loving mother was concerned since she had not eaten lunch.

"My Princess, please eat something, you could become sick of it," her mother reassured her. "Please understand your father first, that distaste with your boyfriend will pass, surely he's very handsome?", her mother patted her back, making her cry, but she was still sobbing as she leaned on her mother's chest.

"What am I going to do, Mom? I have no idea where to go for Ronn, and I'm sure he won't return to their Base since he knows I'm going to take him there," she wailed to her mother.

"My Princess, you can't think properly if you don't eat, so eat first and then we'll speak about what to do," the mother said. Her mother was really sweet and lovely even though she was in her fifties, therefore his father didn't go insane because he was very fortunate with his wife. The mother stood up and requested the maid to fetch the princess food. They served a favorite cuisine, but the princess ate very little because she didn't feel like eating since Ronn was on her mind. She thought about where she could find the young soldier, who was most likely far from here in their town.

The princess left early the next day, without accompanying her driver. She wants to find the young man by herself, to show him that he is the one she wants and that she will fight even if her father rejects her. They can live without the luxury they desired. She is a doctor, and her partner is the military, therefore she is not concerned about their future. She virtually mentioned the rents in their community, ranging from low to high. But, after a long day of searching, she arrived home in the dark. She went straight to her room and wept herself to sleep.

When her father entered her room, he was saddened by what he saw. He instructed him to follow the princess to his staff since he knew she was looking for her boyfriend. He also directed the other to go in search of the young soldier. He couldn't stomach seeing the princess in pain, so he invited the young man to speak with him in depth. He'll find out how far he'll go for his beloved princess.

After more than a week of hunting for the young soldier, the princess still failed despite the Datu personnel who were solely focused on the quest. The doctor princess does not go to the hospital because she is looking; instead, she asks her companion to select what she requires. She also sobbed every night and rarely ate at the appropriate times, causing her body to lose weight. Her mother also sobs every time she enters the room because of the princess's condition. So, she admonished her husband and told him not to meddle in their child's love life. That's why he's on the hunt for the young soldier.

Ronn had no intentions to return to their base, so he called his CO and requested a month's sick leave because his wounds had not healed. He might have gone home to them, but he still believes that he lacks what he has given to his family. He promised himself that he would only return home once they had constructed their house in his father's place, rather than in town. He's been out of the hospital for two weeks, and he's heard from a buddy in the NBI that the princess and Datu's crew are hunting for him. As a result, whenever he leaves the house to buy wound cleansing medicine and other necessities, he is cautious about his every move in the surrounding town.