Chapter Sixty Six
1356 Words
"You look happy," said the Crown Prince while we walk back to the private snow carriage from the campsite of the Royal Guards here in the border. My brother accompanied us back to the tunnel and he became talkative even if he was still shy around Prince Kao. Garreth promised me that he will visit me soon at the Palace, and that he will do his best in searching for Aunt.
"Well, everything turned out to be okay, so I have every reason to be okay. Garreth and I had renewed our promise with each other, so I feel better now." That was true. Before coming here at the border I had always known that a gap between Garreth and I rose up like a wall and before I know it, we don't even talk to each other anymore as often as when we were younger. That was the most painful part of the last years without him, it felt like he left me. Being a Royal Guard stationed at the border sure seemed tough, but it was also tough for the family left behind.
"I am glad to hear that. I thought that the two of you were arguing. I could hear your raised voices." It was only from what the Crown Prince said that I felt ashamed of what I did back at the campsite. All of the Royal Guards must have heard Garreth and I yelling at each other. "But I guess it can't be helped. At least now, things had been cleared between the two of you."
I nodded. We have now reached the snow carriage and we did not waste any time. As soon as we were able to go inside, the snow carriage moved as per the Crown Prince's instructions. He wanted to get back to the Palace as fast as he could for word had just arrived from there that the man in comatose that we sent there with Harvey's help (the handsome young doctor we met at the hills just outside of Plumba who had an owner of an inn as his father) was now awake. When he read that express letter from Harvey, the Crown Prince suddenly wanted to go back there as soon as possible and I know why. He wanted to talk to that man as soon as he can, and even myself was getting excited and anxious about that. I have never seen the Crown Prince as excited as he is now. It was infectious. I cannot stay put in my seat too now that I know that there might be a huge chance that our questions might get answered by that mysterious man.
"I am also happy about everything that is happening," he shared. "Everything is falling into place. "This is it, Rainha. I think we will soon be able to know if your mother was indeed part of the Luria. If she is indeed a Snow Gypsy, you and your brother might not need to work as hard as you have."
I almost forgot that part. "Oh. That. But Prince Kao, that would be unnecessary. It's fine if we remain what we are even if our dear mother was indeed part of that tribe. All I wanted to know is her origin."
"But I want you to be in a better place, Rainha," he argued softly. "I want you and your brother to no longer have this setup. I know that you want him to quit becoming a Royal Guard, right? I know that you fear that it might take a toll on him. And you also. I am aware that if your brother only had the choice, he did not want you to become a full-time court servant at the castle anymore."
"But you don't have to do that, Prince Kao. It is not your obligation anymore to lift us from where we are now."
"I know. But in a way, I feel responsible for the two of you. And don't contradict it, Rainha. You know that I am right." He was serious with what he was saying that I stopped arguing back. I know that he meant well, even if in other people's eyes what he plans to do was already too much. Because if he's going to ask me, I am not sure that I wanted the life that would be presented to me once my mother is confirmed to be one of the Snow Gypsies. Even now, I could already see a lot of eyebrows raising from that possibility. And that is the least of my concerns right now.
"I'm sorry, Prince Kao. I'm just not comfortable with that idea yet."
"It's fine," he said gently. Prince Kao went on explaining why he wanted me and my brother to have the good life in exchange for my mother's true identity. "But you know that I right. It may not be directly my fault but it is. You are a citizen of Aure. And so is your brother. I have told you before that people like you who have been struggling with money should have been assisted by the Royal Family more. It's not an accident that there is a huge gap between the rich and the poor and the working class who is struggling every day just to gather enough coalstones. This scenario exists because the Royal Family is not doing its job. And that's why I feel so responsible."
I nodded at that. "I know you mean well, Prince Kao. So thank you for thinking about us. But like you said, our situation is not caused by an accident. So I think I will be more happy if you just use your time in making the situation a little harder maybe? I know that I am not in the position to tell you that, but if the working class like me feels like we are heard then that would make everything a little bit better."
"I know," he said with his head bowing. "This is why I like talking to you. I know that you will always understand."
Again, I was not able to reply to that as my heart just fluttered and disappeared and flew out of this snow carriage's window. Prince Kao seriously needs to stop doing this to me. This is already getting out of hand. What is he even saying? He likes talking to me? But of course, as right now he doesn't have anyone else to talk with!
I could feel my whole face burning but the Crown Prince was already rummaging his coat's pockets and he pulled out something from the depths of it. It was a big parchment that had been written all over the place. And when he showed it to me, I just realized something. It was the symbols in the back of the shield back at Millicent's mansion.
"You drew it there?" I asked him, impressed. "You were able to copy it?"
"Yes. I have to. I don't have the time to wait for the actual shield as getting it to the Palace is a tedious process. And it's pure gold. It's bound to get some attention."
"I agree. But why would you bring a copy with you?" I asked again as it confused me. He could just have waited for the actual shield to be brought to the Palace. from what I know, the Forresters had already agreed to that and is now preparing to send it to the castle.
"I am not yet going back to the castle. We have to go somewhere."
I pointed at myself. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"We have to go to the person who can decipher this coded map. And he is in Aurville."
"Oh, is that so? Then who is this person that you are talking about?'
"His name is Artholdt. He is an enthusiast about this kind of things," the Crown Prince revealed and I was so shocked because I already heard that name before. That Artholdt is someone I know's relative! If I am not mistaken, he is Calyx's father!
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