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9. SAFE PLACE TO HIDE

In her stupor for an unknown amount of time, Crysta heard the whinnying of horses. Not just one, but quite a number of them. Her body was lying on a fairly soft mat. The dark ceiling became Crysta's view when she opened her eyes slightly. Then the darkness pulled her away all over again.

The fragrant scent of fresh flowers wafted into Crysta's nose. She could tell this was the fragrance of gardenias. It was a favorite flower of her mother- Queen Ophelia. It grew in luxurious abundance in the palace gardens. Closely competing with her red roses.

Did she return to Orva?

That question made Crysta wake up from her long sleep. Her body was a little sore because she had fallen asleep more than she should be.

''Princess!''

A person dressed like a servant was surprised to see Crysta wake up. But it wasn't Monic. Where the hell had her maid gone?

''Wh-who are you?" she asked. Sitting on the bed holding her head which was quite sore. ''Where is Monic? Where am I?"

Crysta's persistent questions were answered with a small laugh. The red-haired maid was standing in the center of a spacious and beautiful room like in the kingdom of Orva. Her heart was a little sad as she thought that she had reached Lucard safely.

''My name is Natasha, Your Highness. I will be your head butler while you are here,'' the woman concluded.

''Monic is inspecting the food as well as the drinks that will be served to you. I must admit that your maid is very overprotective of her princess,'' she continued.

Crysta smiled faintly. Monic had really gone too far. She shouldn't have to behave like that in someone else's kingdom where they were the guests. It was a very disrespectful act.

''Forgive her. In Orva she was like that too.''

Natasha nodded in understanding. ''Since you're awake, may I open the window curtains, Princess?''

Crysta was a little surprised. Why was Natasha still asking? Wasn't that how it was supposed to be? The maids open the curtains as soon as the royal prince or princess wakes up? But Crysta didn't ask. Maybe that was the tradition in Lucard.

A half-dozen servants entered to take over Natasha's duties. Preparing everything Crysta needed.

The girl in the white dress then approached the large window that had been opened wide. Since Lucard's kingdom was on top of a mountain, Crysta was sure she would see green fields from there. But when she brought her body closer to the shutters, it wasn't the scene she had envisioned in front of her eyes.

Was the kingdom of Lucard being flooded? Down there, Crysta only saw water as far as the eye could see.

''Is there some kind of disaster going on here?''

''What do you mean disaster, Your Highness?'' Natasha was confused by Crysta's question.

''I've learned many things about the disasters that have occurred on earth. One of them is storms. What's in front of me is quite high water, Natasha. It even reaches the palace building. But why is the water bright blue? Shouldn't the water be brown if it's flooding considering that Lucard is surrounded by land with no plants?''

The servants' stifled laughter made Crysta turn to them. Is there something funny?

''Your Highness, you are in...''

''Valliant, Princess. Not in Lucard,'' confirmed a woman in a luxurious blue dress at the doors. Cutting off Natasha's sentence. Everyone bowed respectfully as the woman walked slowly towards Crysta.

''Queen Ruby?"

''Princess Crysta. Apparently the rumors didn't lie. You are truly beautiful.''

Crysta's cheeks flushed. Oh, God... was she really in Valliant? But the woman with the pink pearl necklace in front of her had already proven that she was indeed in the kingdom with the symbol of a shell. But how could that be?

''Your Majesty,'' he bowed. Bowing to Queen Ruby who was known to be deeply loved by King Lumiere. How could she not? Among all the kings in the seven kingdoms of the eastern region, King Lumiere was the only one without a concubine. Even her father had five but all of them had already died. His mother- Queen Ophelia killed them all. The jealous queen did match the king who liked to play with women.

Queen Ruby put her arm around Crysta's shoulders. ''You must not have eaten anything since yesterday. Let's just-''

Wait! What?

''Yesterday, Your Majesty?''

''Yes. You've been unconscious for quite some time, little princess. It's already nine in the morning. You have missed the lunch and dinner.''

Really? ''Oh, God.''

Queen Ruby laughed at Crysta's innocent look.

''Did I faint for that long?''

''Long enough to make the Valliant soldiers think that you were dying. You'll want to hear the chronology, won't you? Come, my dear. The royal garden is the best place for us to do story telling. Your maid... what's her name? Monac? Moric? Malvic?"

''Monic, Your Majesty.''

''Oh, right. She is already there.''

With a curious yet slightly excited heart accompanied Crysta to the place Queen Ruby was referring to. A large gazebo at the edge of the palace that directly faced out into the ocean. Precisely on the west side of the palace. It also has a flower garden that is no less beautiful than the gardens in Orva.

There were two things that made Crysta's mind cool down a little. One, she was already in a safe place. Two, she would be able to meet Pascal. An unexpected fate and made Crysta happy.

''What happened to you in the forest, Princess? I heard that you were attacked by rebels.''

''That's the truth,'' Crysta swallowed the piece of cake with difficulty as she imagined the faces of the people who wanted to rape her.

She looked down. Neutralizing her emotions to keep her blue eyes from watering. And a gentle touch on her finger made Crysta look up. Queen Ruby understood the feelings of Crysta. The girl was still traumatized.

In the middle of the breakfast, Monic also told her what happened. The figure dressed in black did not have time to finish off all the rebels because he fled after seeing the patrolling Valliant soldiers.

All the rebels were also captured and are now in the dungeon.

You could say that the two of them were really lucky. Instead of wanting to enter the Lucard area, they ended up entering the Valliant area.

But looking at the cut hand that made her fall unconscious, Crysta was sure that it was the figure that attacked Prince Axa and Prince Logan. The hand-piece was really similar.

''Thank you for helping me, Your Majesty,'' Crysta looked at her softly. I wouldn't have survived if it were not for the Valliant soldiers who were accidentally passing through the forest.''

''How should I explain it, huh? You should be thanking to Pascal. It was because of him that the soldiers patrolled far enough. Even though he had been told that the rebels were no longer roaming Valliant. But he insisted on making sure by ordering soldiers to comb the forests, rivers and outer areas of the kingdom. Even King Lumiere himself could not stop his son's request.'' Queen Ruby chuckled. Also the palace maids who already understood what Pascal was like also enjoyed the queen's laughter.

Monic smiled. This was a good opportunity to meet the tyrant prince. Crysta also didn't seem to waste it because the girl had prepared a good question for Queen Ruby.

''If that's truly what it is, where should I go to see Prince Pascal, Your Majesty? Since passing through the palace halls that brought me here, I haven't seen him at all.'' Crsyta looked around. Hoping to find Pascal who was walking in the royal hallways for instance.

''It's unfortunate that you won't be able to meet him in the nearest time, Princess. That son of mine is away in the West. Inspecting the kingdom he conquered. Argorn was going to attack Calvard. So Pascal is taking his entire army there.''

''You mean the prince went to war?'' she asked despite her doubts.

Queen Ruby's head nod made Crysta let out a long sigh. It was a waste that she had come to Valliant then.

''But don't worry, you'll still be able to meet him, Princess.''

Crysta gazed at the distant blue sea ahead. Feeling the wind blowing through her long wavy hair.

''Is it possible, Your Majesty? Considering that the Prince of Lucard will surely pick me up here and my parents will want me to continue the journey to Lucard and then return to Orva as soon as possible,'' Crysta said lightly.

''Of course you can. I've sent letters to Orva and also to Lucard. You won't be able to return by ground because King Lumiere has ordered all Valliant people to not leave the kingdom for seven days. It seems my husband is very concerned about what happened to you. Perhaps the rule will be lifted when Pascal returns.''

A happy hue spread across Crysta's face. ''Is that so, Your Majesty? Then when will the prince return?"

''Perhaps in a few days. But definitely less than seven days.''

Crysta and Monic exchanged glances. Smiling at each other.

If the queen said that Crysta would be isolated there for even seven years, she really wouldn't mind.

Monic finally managed to wipe away the princess's tears. She and Christian were going to take Crysta to Valliant. But after finishing Crysta's business in Lucard, it was over. Pretending to be on the wrong road and getting lost to Valliant. That was the plan. But unexpectedly she really got lost.

As Crysta and the queen were enjoying the various dishes brought by the maids, there was a maid carrying a scroll of white paper. She handed it to the queen, and then walked away.

Queen Ruby read it carefully. Occasionally her forehead wrinkled until Crysta was a little curious about the contents.

''Is everything alright?"

Then she lowered the scroll to the table. ''Everything is fine,'' Queen Ruby forced a faint smile. ''The letter was from Pascal's men in Argorn.''

Suddenly Crysta felt something was wrong. It showed in Queen Ruby's eyes and the lackluster way she said it.

''Did something happen to the prince, Your Majesty?''

''He's very good. Pascal conquered Argorn,'' she replied with no change in expression.

''Isn't that great news? Then why do you look sad?"

Queen Ruby let out a long sigh. Noticing Crysta who was so curious about her next answer.

''The kingdom of Argorn... or rather the king of Argorn, asked Pascal to marry Princess Cassava.''

For the sake of the heavens that sheltered Crysta and the earth that she walked on, it seemed that nothing had ever made her so angry than hearing this news directly from Queen Ruby herself.

In her silence, Crysta wondered to herself. Would Pascal accept the king of Argorn's request?

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