Chapter Thirty Four
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"Woah," I exclaimed at his revelation. "That's a great discovery!"
The Crown Prince nodded. "Yeah, right? That's why I was so busy. I was trying to find a connection between the Snow Gypsies and Millicent's family. I was sure that somehow there is a connection."
"And is there?"
The Crown Prince took a deep breath and from that, I could already tell that he was still in the middle of researching that. "I am still clueless about it," he said. "But I have a strong hunch about it. I think the Forresters are somehow connected to the Snow Gypsies."
"Forresters?"
"Millicent's family. Just like I told you, they are an ancient family just like mine so it is possible that they know something about the Snow Gypsies that we just not aware of."
"Really? Do you really think so? What makes so feel that way?"
"I showed Tyroh the golden bracelet," he said to me in an apologetic kind of way. "He recognized the style and markings on it. he reckons that the same markings and style is also present in that shield."
"Oh, then that's worth checking, alright," I said in a relieved voice. "I was starting to get scared of other wealthy families, you know. After what happened to us Kajos, I was wondering who on earth could be behind those goons that tried to abduct me. I haven't got a clue yet, of course, but I feel like it has to be the doing of someone born in a prominent family. There's no way that a commoner like us is the one behind it."
"You have a point. That is also what I think. But we have no time to get scared or intimidated by any of those. Just like what you said before, the longer that your Aunt is missing the lower the chance of her being safe, That's why we have to act fast."
I nodded and I felt a sudden pang of fear in my stomach. It was as if my stomach dropped into the marble floor of this silent, empty hall. "My Aunt is still alive. S-She has too..."
"Of course, she is still alive," said the Crown Prince who seemed to have been startled by my sudden outburst of emotion. And just like that, I found myself crying again because whether I admit it or not, I terribly miss my Aunt now.
"We will find her," said Prince Kao who immediately enveloped me in his arms, and that just instantly changed my mood. From being down and afraid of what would I find about my Aunt, my whole persona perked up and now I was glorifying how sweet and manly the Crown Prince smells.
I was literally on cloud nine. He towered over me of course, so my head was just on level with his broad shoulders but that was more than fine. These are the moments which I lived for and I am now reaping the reward from all these secret meetings.
"We will be going to find her," he whispered softly on my head while we were still hugging. Of course, I know that he was only doing this because he was trying to comfort me from my sudden outburst. But still, this was more than what I already wished for. "That, I promise you. And not just because I want to repay what you are doing for you, or because I have to talk to her about your mother... I will try to find her because she is important to you. I don't want to see you cry like this. It makes me feel sad too."
I cried on his chest, but not because I was touched by what he just said. It was more of tears of joy. It was utter disbelief that he was telling me what he is telling me right now. These were the words that I only heard from him when I am daydreaming that we are lovers. But right now he is actually saying those words to me.
Did I do something great in my past life to deserve this? I don't know what heroics I did to deserve this but I am extremely grateful for it. And this isn't petty or shallow at all. To someone like me who have liked the Crown Prince for quite some time already, this was something that a mere court servant could only hope for.
"Thank you," I sobbed, but not because of loneliness. "If it wasn't for you I guess I would have broken down already from all the anxiety and worry that my Aunt Milca's disappearance had given me. I mean there's Jang and even Kaylie, but they don't know half of what really happened so I have only you as an ally here."
"I know, I know," he said. "And I'm sorry that I added more unnecessary worry when I just let you become clueless of what was happening to me these past few days. I was trying to protect you but I also forgot that this was also stressful for you especially that you have no one to help you with your Aunt's situation. That alone, I should apologize to you."
"It's okay. Now that I know what you were doing, I have no more right to be angry at you when you are just doing everything to help me find y Aunt too," I said sincerely.
"Thank you for accepting my apology. Don't worry, starting today, I will be more mindful of your feelings. I would update you on what is happening, especially with my research on the Forresters." He now released me from his arms and I felt disappointed that it did not take that long.
That got me interested. "Oh. Then that means that you are going to Plumba?"
He nodded. "Their town is celebrating their thanksgiving feast of a bountiful year. I am invited to those kinds of events as my father's representative. That was what Millicent was talking a while ago. She was making sure that I will come."
"Why? Did you not went there the last time you were invited?"
He shook his head. "I did not go to Plumba last year. But right now I think I have the reason to go there. That would also make the rumors that I am seeing someone go away or at least be in favor of us."
"How will that happen?"
"People would assume that it is Millicent that I am interested with, so that will take you out of the equation," he said and I think it would have made been accurate if not for one thing. Both of us had to look at the door because it just made a sound and we saw someone in there trying to come in.
It was Kaylie and she was petrified when she saw the two of us talking to each other. I gulped.
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