Chapter 124- Answers
(NASHI'S POV)
It's been two days since the debutante and Princess Sage's succession ceremony, and I still couldn't get over what Crown Prince Antonio had said. They learned that they were destined partners. What exactly does that mean?
“My Lord, what seems to be troubling you?”, one of the maids asked as I sat at the table, awaiting my dinner.
“It's none of your concern.” I stood up, losing my appetite as I thought about Sage holding another man's hand.
As I walked to the door of the dining room, the door opened and my father and Sylvester walked into the dining room.
“Father, you've returned”, I walked towards him. “I need to speak with you about something”
“Very well, follow me to my office,” he replied.
When we arrived at our family's manor in the Capital city. Father and I have been preparing for my succession ceremony and unfortunately, my engagement banquet with Lady Chloé. I followed my father as we approached his office, the one he uses when he is expecting a visitor. As we walked into the office, my father turned towards me.
“Nashi, I am disappointed in your recent behavior. Are you sure you want to be the next Duke of the Synovial Dukedom?” the expression on his face showed me that he was serious.
I lowered my head, “Father, I apologize for my actions,” I looked at him, “I need some answers before I can move on”
My father stepped towards me and placed his hand on my shoulder, “What is it, son?” he asked.
“At the debutante ball, Crown Prince Antonio mentioned that he and Princess Sage learned that they were destined partners.” I noticed the expression on my father's face changed.
“You mean.. she found her destined partner and it's Crown Prince Antonio?”Father looked appalled, he placed one of his hands over his forehead. “I was hoping you were her destined partner” Father sighed, “Well, it's a good thing you are getting married.”
What… I clenched my fist.
“Explain it to me!” I shouted, causing my father to look at me as he lowered his hand.
Father gestured towards the couch.
“Nashi, do you remember what I taught you about the Winter lineage?” Father asked.
I nodded, “You taught me that they are one of the ancient bloodlines.”
“The royal family of the Kalpana Kingdom is also one of the ancient bloodline families. Son, you need to give up on Princess Sage for good. Now that she has found her destined partner, she will never look your way again.”
Never look my way again? I clenched my fist even tighter.
“Nashi, although the bond between destined partners can become estranged, for example, His Majesty and Her Majesty. The bond between them can never be broken.” Father said he looked at me with a serious expression. “Nashi, does Princess Sage have an unusual birthmark?”
A birthmark? I remember I noticed the birthmark on her right shoulder during the time we were intimate. It resembled a crown.
I nodded.
“Of course”, Father sighed as he lowered his head. When he raised his head again. “Nashi, when we return to the northern border, get rid of those paintings of Princess Sage.”
(PRINCE MOISES P.O.V)
We arrived in the town of Cassini after traveling on horseback for the last three hours. I looked up at the sky, noticing the sun was setting. As I got off of the horse, I could hear the gasping throughout the area as the villagers started to surround us.
“Prince Moises,” an elderly man muttered as he fell to the ground and bowed his head.
Suddenly, the villagers fell to their knees, placing their heads on the ground.
“Prince Moises!” they began to cry out. “So, it's true, your exile has been rescinded.” I heard someone say.
“Yes, my exile has been rescinded ”, I replied.
I got off of the horse and walked towards the elderly man and placed my hand on his shoulder as I bent down in front of him.
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“I will become King and restore the kingdom; please endure until then.”
The elderly man wiped the tears from his face as he lifted his head.
I turned my head towards Masiro, Sir Dell, Lord Dean. “Let's head to Viscount Palin's manor.”
Thirty minutes later, we arrived at Viscount Palin's manor. Upon arriving, I noticed a middle-aged man with navy blue hair dressed elegantly. There were two women behind him as they bowed and greeted me.
“Your Highness, I am Viscount Palin”, the middle-aged man said.
After we got off the horses, we followed Viscount Palin's into his manor. Once we were inside, Viscount Palin led me to the room where Macy Livens was currently resting. Upon entry, I noticed Paige às she was attending to Macy, who was sitting upright. Macy looked over at me with a smile. “Your Highness,” she said in a soft tone, pulling the covers off herself.
I walked towards the bed and bent down on the side of it.
“Macy, I learned that my father is suffering from the effects of black magic. The sorcerer that Crown Prince Antonio brought to the Winter castle mentioned that we must find a Saintess or the sorcerer who caused his condition to save him.”
Macy looked at me then turned her head away. She started to mumble to herself, “That explains why Her Majesty and His Majesty's condition has been so complex. Your mother would get better in time if she consumes the Tulsi flower regularly, since the herb was blessed by the Saintess, His Majesty, his body has deteriorated over time” Macy looked back at me, “If I remember correctly, from the stories my mother shared with me. The Saintess disappeared before the second war over 100 years ago. Since then there hasn't been any sign of a Saintess.” Macy said.
Over 100 years?, I thought.
“Prince Moises, there's a place where sorcerers and magic users once gathered after fleeing the Katou Kingdom and the Principality of Giordano. Before my mother came to this kingdom, she mentioned they traveled through the mountains of Benoma.”
What?The mountains of Benoma? But it's a place filled with ancient ruins, I thought to myself.
Macy placed her hand over mine, “Prince Moises, are you aware of how both the powerful Kingdoms of Magic and Sorcery were conquered by mere ordinary humans.”
I shook my head, I always wondered about what started the wars. I remembered my mother was always gone during my childhood, fighting on the battlefield. As soon as I became of age, my father sent me to the battlefield.
“The Principality of Giordano was betrayed by its very own Princess after she was forced to marry the previous King of the Sivanni Kingdom. She became corrupted after practicing black magic, and ended up summoning demons. She's the one who caused the execution of the mages and sorcerers after the former Katou Kingdom came to their aid. The Saintess disappeared after the death of my great-grandfather, the Archmage of the Katou Kingdom.”
The Archmage?I heard stories about him from my grandfather when I was younger. Wait, does that mean. Macy nodded as If she knew what I was thinking.
“Christian? Is he the heir of the Archmage?”
Macy nodded and looked at me with a serious expression, “I believe the Saintess may have been reborn. She just hasn't awakened yet.”
I watched as Macy looked to be deep in thought.
“As for the sorcerer who is creating the poison, you may want to check the slavery trades that Prince Morgan mentioned after he visited me yesterday,” Macy said.
The slavery trades, now that I think about it. Some of Masiro's clan members agreed to work with Morgan, as they are preparing to infiltrate it.
Suddenly, I started to hear voices outside of the room we were in.
"Hey, have you heard from Nathan yet?" I heard a female's voice.
"No, not since he left. His wanted poster is pestered throughout the kingdom. It's only a matter of time before he and his father..." when I opened the door. The two young women eyes widened, "What wanted poster?" I questioned.