The Scarlet Phoenix and the Prince of Winter

Chapter Forty Two

We arrived at Plumba as a convoy of snow carriages that were used by the Royal Family since time immemorial. At first, I did not think of it as a big deal, but when we arrived at the sleepy town I suddenly heard the cheers and giggles of people coming out from their houses to welcome us.

Of course, the people could not see which snow carriage was the Crown Prince in but it did not matter as most of the townspeople were waving each of the carriages. We were in the third of the six carriages, only the two of us (as his request) while the rest were the Royal Guards assigned to guard him while he is here and a cook, a spokesperson, and other servants that will take care of his other needs.

My role here was originally Madame Morris's role and that is to be at his side all the time so that he can tell me what he wants and what he needs and relay it to the others. As the court servant accompanying him on this official trip, my job is to take care of him and I feel so nervous because this was the first time that the Crown Prince would be depending on me while other people will be around us.

"You look pale. Please don't get too nervous, okay? You don't have to do anything extra for me. If I can do a thing on my own, then I will do it. No need to guard my every move."

"B-But Madame Morris told me---"

He smiled his best smiled and I just melted again. "I know that she told you to always be on the lookout for me but you can relax, okay? There are a lot of people around us. You don't need to be wary and panicky all the time, alright?"

"A-Alright," I just said even though I was hesitating because if Madame Morris finds out that I relaxed for even one second she would kill me with her stares. She had clearly warned me about what I should do before we traveled here and here I am listening to the Crown's Prince's orders to not be too serious about a very serious job.

"Good. Just enjoy this trip too. I know that this is your first time to be here and I think you'll enjoy this trio more than you expect."

I nodded and smiled because the Crown Prince actually thought of my welfare while we were here and that just blows my mind that he can be so gentlemanly without him realizing it. However, I don't think I would actually enjoy it here when I still have some mess to fix. I could no longer wait for the moment Garreth and I will talk face to face. That is what I am most anxious for, to be honest, and I could tell that the Crown Prince knows it so he tried to unload the weight in my stomach by reassuring me that I don't have to focus on him while we are here in Plumba.

"I told Millicent to not make any celebrations," I heard him mumbling as he took a peek outside of the window. People were lining up on the pavement and all of them were waving and cheering as the convoy passed by them and their houses. "It's cold outside at this hour. They just should be inside the warmth of their homes."

"Let them cheer your arrival," I contradicted him softly. "Of course, they would want you to feel welcomed once you arrive. They are just being loyal subjects."

He smiled again at me. The convoy was still going as the house of the Forresters was still far because they live on top of a hill a couple of miles away from the town proper so we were actually leaving the town. "I feel so guilty that we are just passing by the town. They have waited for us here in the cold and we are just passing by."

"It is okay, Prince Kao. We will come back later in the morning so you don't have to worry. And I think they will come back to their houses once our convoy passes them so don't worry too much."

He sighed and nodded at me. "I just feel bad that they have to wait for me in the cold. I gave Millicent clear instructions to not let the townspeople do that."

"You're so thoughtful," I said because I could not help feeling so awed by his actions and reactions. The Crown Prince is not only kind and gentleman, he genuinely cares for his subjects as if they were people he personally knew. "Thank you for that, Prince Kao. I know that it should be the norm for the Royal Family to care for us, but to actually be concerned about them is so comforting. I hope that you won't change. That's my only wish."

"You are right. What I do is not special. It is just the bare minimum for a member of the Royal Family like me. I should not be admired just because I am doing what I am supposed to do in the first place."

"I agree. But I'm sorry if I will still admire you for doing what you should do," I told him frankly. "It's just so refreshing to witness that someone like you actually cares for the common people..." I then gasped because I just realized what I said. "Oh no, I'm sorry, Prince Kao! I think I just indirectly told you that your father---"

"That my father is not doing what I am doing?" he said chuckling. "Don't worry, I am already used to that thinking. And in fact, I do think that way too."

"But he is still your father," I said. "It's not good to talk about him that way, especially with you."

"I don't care about that," he told me frankly too. "Everyone knows that my father is not the best King that Aure had so you don't have to worry because I won't be offended."

"Thank you," I said finally feeling more comfortable now that he doesn't get offended every time that we would talk about how his father is doing as the current king. "I get scared every time I would talk about King Luander because I don't want to lie to you about how I think about your father. I really don't like him as a king."

He nodded. "I am deeply sorry that you feel that way, Rainha. I really do."

I felt ashamed that I just made him feel guilty about something that he did not do. "Oh no, no... I'm sorry, Prince Kao! I don't want you to feel bad! I just don't really like the King, but you don't have to feel so bad about it!"

"But I have to feel bad about it, Rainha," he explained softly and I could see in his eyes that this was a topic that is crucial and important to him. "I'm sorry that you feel like that. And I could not blame you because you have all the right to feel that way about how my father does his job. He is a mediocre king, to be honest with you. I am also disappointed in him, especially that he seems to be blind when it comes to a lot of issues just like the plight of a lot of our people when it comes to fair distribution and supply of the coalstones. He would not act on certain issues if the wealthy clans are not involved and that infuriates me. I could not tell how many times that I have argued with him on issues like that already. But of course, he would not listen to me because I am just his 'inexperienced' son."

"I'm sorry that you have to argue with your father," I told him. "I hope that your relationship with him will not crumble, Prince Kao. He is still your parent and you ought to stick with each other. If you still can, please be kind to him even if you don't agree with a lot of things."

"Don't worry, despite our rocky relationship, I still care for him. I won't throw our relationship away just because I don't agree with how he acts as the king. I am not that shallow."

"Thank you," I just said because I could no longer tell him anything that would not give my adoration for him away. "I am happy that you are the Crown Prince. It feels so reassuring that the next King is down-to-earth and puts the public's interest at first."

"Thank you too, Rainha. Ever since I got to know you, I came to appreciate my position more. I have learned a lot from being with you in the past weeks that we became friends and I promise you that I will be better and that I will be the greatest king that Aure will ever have." I smiled widely at his statement and if I was just allowed to dream a little more, I wanted to say to him that I still want to be at his side when that time comes because I am sure that it will eventually happen.