Chapter 36

"I would like to sit inside the cave with you. If you don't mind, that is."

Why am I suddenly feeling nervous when I'm the one who made the ridiculous request first?

"But it's cramped." she responded as she wiped the tears off her cheeks.

"I overheard the maids saying you were afraid of tight spaces, so I don't think it's a good idea to…"

"Here we go. A perfect fit."

While she was busy prattling on, I covertly slipped into the cave. To my surprise, it stretched to fit me. I gently held her face in my hands as she gazed at me with a warm smile, which caused my heart to flutter yet again. 

"Listen. I forbid you to leave this world without my forgiveness. Therefore, I suggest you dispel these suicidal thoughts of yours and live."

"Sounds like a love confession, your highness." She replied while giggling.

"You know that isn't what I meant by that. How could you joke at a time like this? Hm?" I yelled as I playfully pinched and stretched her cheeks.

Just like that, the old Fati had returned. What a relief.

++++++

"Miss Lindina, I don't think it wise to do this…"

"Don't worry, Miss Bettie." She responded in a whimsical tone.

"I'm sure his highness will be so delighted that he'll start thanking me."

She suggested playing a prank on the prince by clasping his hand with the princess' while they were unconscious. She refused to listen, no matter how many times I asked her to stop. Although I was also curious to see his reaction to such a thing, but what if…

"How long I have I been asleep?" he asked while sitting up on the bed.

"Approximately three hours, your highness." I replied nervously.

He let out a yawn while proceeding to step down from the bed. Only then did he notice his hand was stuck on something. When he turned his head around, he finally realized he was holding the princess' hand the whole time. He screamed as he quickly released her hand and tripped on his own foot, resulting in a sudden fall.

"Your highness!" yelled the maids.

"Are you alright, your highness?" I asked as I helped him up.

His right shoulder and wrist were already bruised, which sent everyone into a state of panic. Miss Lindina, however, was chuckling under her breath, with her head facing a corner.

"Lindina…" he called menacingly.

"Y-yes. Your highness?"

In the end, she was too afraid to turn around and face him. He let out a heavy sigh and ignored her as we continued to treat his wounds.

+++++

"Your highness, the council meeting has just ended, and I regret to announce that the result is not in our favor."

His expression grew serious as he drew a loud sigh while biting his lips.

"The elders have made the unanimous decision to postpone your coronation, princess. Some are claiming your highness isn't in the right headspace to run a country. While others argue that the princess merely lacks the qualifications to become queen."

It seems the remnants of my parents' disdain continue to haunt me even after their deaths. I expected some elders to oppose, but for all of them to conspire against me is rather unnerving.

"Your highness, I have another piece of news."

"Raulin!" I called with a sigh.

"I have had enough of your wretched reports for today, so leave…"

"Eleison…" he suddenly blurted.

According to the previous reports, he managed to escape during the attack at Bassup. At first, I thought he had died alongside the king and queen. However, once I found out he was alive, I ordered his execution.

"We cornered him on mount Jagreth's cliff where we finished him off and threw his body into the sea."

"I see…"

Eleison was Charlotte's greatest ally and closest friend. He would follow her everywhere like a shadow, despite her apathetic attitude towards him. However, as time passed, they became close and his feelings for her kept growing. Meanwhile, Charlotte's attention strayed more towards her studies than anything else. For nothing else mattered to her other than making her parents proud.

"Eleison, do you want to marry me?"

She suddenly proposed to him after coming to the knowledge of her ascension to the throne. She presented him with the opportunity to become the most powerful man in the country, yet he played dumb and missed it, only to die in the end.

"Princess, what are you saying?"

"If I'm going to be a queen, I'll need a king to help me rule Ecchelon, and you seem to be the perfect fit. You always follow me around, which means you probably have nothing better to do. Why not just become a king?"

"Your highness, I follow you because it is my duty to do so. How could you suggest something so…"

I couldn't help but laugh at their awkward exchange. It was the most hilarious thing I had ever witnessed.

"Raulin. Announce to the public that during a thorough investigation, the princess discovered that Eleison Degretch was the culprit behind the attack on his royal highnesses. As a result, he was charged with treason for raising his sword against his masters and was executed on sight."

"As you wish, my queen."

That ought to convince these geezers that princess Loraine's competence is nothing to scoff at.

+++++

"You look different, your highness."

"I look the same as I always do. What brings you here, prince Jonathin?" he responded nonchalantly.

This charisma of his must be what's driving these young ladies to the brink of insanity. He is only seventeen years of age, which is three years my junior, yet he looked as though he was already a grown man. The intense glow in his eyes always gives me the chills to the extent of wanting to run away instinctively. Honestly, I don't know what came over me that night. 

"Your highness…"

He sat on the opposite side of the table, holding a newspaper article in front of his face. His legs were elegantly folded, and his gaze was immersed in the paper.

"I am here to present my sincere apologies for the slight I committed the other night. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, your highness." I said in a soft tone.

He was reading the same article that my brothers and I came upon this morning. His portrait was on the front page, right next to the bereaved princess. Interestingly enough, there was no sign of a reaction from him. Oh? Perhaps I spoke too soon. His firm grip crumpled the paper as he slammed it on the table before us.

"Apology accepted, prince Jonathin. If that is all, I would like to return to my abode now."

The anger in his voice was clear as day, however, his face remained as calm and serene as the dead of night. This is one of the few reasons I think he will make a mighty fine emperor. Alkaraz's history will certainly see a new era under his reign.

"Your highness…"

"What is it now?" he replied curtly, while rising from his seat.

"I would like to become one of your personal allies if you'll have me."

"Prince Jonathin, we've been over this already and-"

"I insist, your highness." I interrupted.

"…and I shall continue to do so until his highness changes his mind."

Life became rather dull to me after I lost the love of my life on that fateful day. Hence, I resorted to many kinds of wretched activities in order to numb the pain which weighed heavily on my heart every waking moment. I know that as a deposed prince, there is a considerable limitation to my usefulness. However, I have a feeling if I follow him, I will find what I've been looking for. My intuition tells me so.

"Do as you wish." he said with a sigh as he turned around to walk away. 

He then paused and turned his head around to face me. When our gaze met, I felt like an ant standing in front of a giant. His fluorescent amber eyes were menacingly glaring at me as though they were peeking into my soul. My body froze as streams of sweat rolled down both sides of my face.

"Keep in mind that if you ever betray me, I shall hang your head on the palace walls and sculpt your skull into a footstool of mine. Are we clear?"

"I, Jonathin Herbert Wells, vow to serve crown prince Kazein Nathaniel Von Alkaraz with the utmost loyalty and respect for as long as I shall live. If ever such a vow comes to break, I shall pay the consequences with my life."

I barely managed to get these words out with the amount of shaking I was doing. I can't see the look on his face since I am on my knees, but I hope he felt the sincerity of my words.

"Gabril." He called.

"Your highness." Promptly answered his knight.

"Hand me your sword." 

"Yes, sir."

His voice was clear and concise, the likes of which compels the listener to respond without hesitation. The said sword was drawn and given to his highness in haste.

"From today onward, Jonathin Herbert Wells shall be called one of my own. The whole of you now belongs to me, and in the face of adversities, you must always place my safety and well-being above your own. Do you accept these conditions, Jonathin?"