The Lost Heir: Battle Of Royalties - Chapter 124

“Patar? Do you know where exactly?” Prince Veziron asked while sitting at the diner’s porch. He was in disguise to avoid catching up attention to himself since there are a lot of bandits everywhere. Who knows what they will encounter along the way while on a journey.

“No one knows even the governor here in Rouen. But I heard they stayed in a specific residence while in town.”

“Ask the head of that household. I’m sure he knew something.”

“My prince…” His personal guard was hesitating.

“What? Is there a problem?”

“I don’t think it would be easy for me to talk to the head of that household.”

“Why?”

“That’s because the Shadow Knights stayed at the residence owned by the Nahshon’s tribe. It won’t be easy to get an audience with them unless��.”

The prince understood his main point. He was right, it won’t be easy to see the Nahshon tribe’s chief due to his policies. Guess he doesn’t have a choice but to reveal his identity to them. For sure, the chief won’t reject him.

He then sent his personal guard to the Nahshon’s residence to request an audience.

“What did you say? The first prince wants an audience with me?” Daniel, who was playing with little Lily faced Drake who informed him about the recent request he received. “Do you know why?”

“His personal guard said its confidential.”

Daniel held his chin and was in deep thought. Why did the prince want to see him? Hmmm, for the first time, someone from the royal blood was requesting an audience to him.

“Isn’t it suspicious to see the first prince coming here personally?” He voiced his thoughts.

“Did you say a prince came to visit us, father?” Little Lily’s eyes lit up in excitement.

“Do you like the prince that much?” Daniel softened up when he looked at the innocent child.

The little girl nodded in response.

“Ehm!” She was beaming wide. “I’ve been wanting to see a real prince after hearing miss Diana’s bedtime stories. She said they’re kind and handsome!” She giggled but Drake chuckled mockingly.

“Then do you think I am suited to be a prince since I am kind and handsome?” Drake teased the little kid.

“Ehm!” She agreed without a second thought.

“Ah! That’s why you are my favorite because you’re so sweet and adorable!” He stooped down and tickles the girl’s tummy.

She was cackling nonstop.

“Big brother, stop it! It’s ticklish, I can’t breathe.” She was breaking as she speaks.

“That’s enough.” Daniel buŧŧed in. Drake stopped. “Lily, sweetheart, can you find your mother for me?”

“Okay!” She beamed and run upstairs in haste.

“Do you want to face the prince in my stead?” Daniel looked at the young man.

“Eh? Me? The prince? Are you serious?”

“Yes. You. Do you see another Drake in the room?” The old man joked. “I think it’s time for you take my position.” He smiled.

“But grandfather….”

“I will call a general ȧssembly this week so you better condition yourself to take the responsibility of being the next chief. And the first prince is your first ȧssignment.”

“Are you sure about this?”

The old man smiled at he stared at the young man in front of him.

“Ehm. Your more than ready.”

Drake heaved a sigh. He was not expecting to take the position so soon.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be by your side as you face the first prince. I also wanted to know why he visited all of a sudden.”

“O-okay…” Drake hesitantly agreed before leaving the old man’s presence.

MEANWHILE, the sun was scorching hot therefore prince Leo, Sarah and Lemuel searched for a place to rest. Continuing the journey while the sun was blazing is a suicide to them. They might die due to heatstroke.

They also run out of water therefore prince Leo volunteered to look for a stream somewhere while the two took shade under a mango tree. Also, seeing the winged messenger flying around the area, he knew that he got a new message from the palace.

“Stay here while I search for a brook to fill our water bottles.” He voiced.

“I’ll go with you.” Lemuel was about to stand up but Leo stopped him.

“I can go alone. Besides, we can’t leave the young lady alone.”

“Ah, yeah. I almost forgot, we have a lady with us.” Lemuel laughed with his joke but not Sarah.

“Tsk!” She hissed.

“I gotta go.” Leo smiled and went on his way.

“Don’t you find him a little weird?” Lemuel suddenly asked.

“Weird? I don’t think so; Because I find you creepier than him.” She chuckled.

“Aist! This lady!” He gritted his teeth. “I am serious!”

“Me too.” She laughed.

“Tsk!” He hissed as his eyes landed at the path the man hiked a while ago. They cannot see his shadow now. “I don’t think we can trust him though.” He added.

Sarah furrowed her brows as soon as she heard him.

Lemuel doesn’t trust him? She suddenly twitched her lips teasingly.

“What? Did I say something funny?”

“Ehm.” Sarah made a mocking face. “If you don’t trust him then why did you even come?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I care about you!” He made a face but Sarah was rendered speechless upon hearing him?

Did he say he cares for her? She doesn’t know what to feel but she chose to ignore the sudden warmth she felt in her heart at that very moment. Lemuel doesn’t even look flustered about his words.

“He won’t hurt me.”

“How are you so sure?”

“I just know.” Her smile tells Lemuel that she knew something he doesn’t.

He raised his brow shadily. Seeing how calm and composed Sarah while with that stranger alarmed him greatly.

“Don’t tell me you like that guy, huh?”

“Ha-ha!” He heard the lady laughed like a mad girl. “What’s wrong with liking him? He’s kind and a good looking man.”

“You don’t know if his real personality. Besides, I’m sure he’s keeping something from us. I can feel it.”

“Everyone has their own secrets.” She nonchalantly replied. “And whether it’s a dark secret or what not, I believe there was a reason behind it.”

Lemuel stared at the lady whose eyes were on the sky. Does she really like that guy? He doesn’t understand why he suddenly got upset knowing how Sarah felt about the man.

“Miss Diana taught me that.” She chuckled as she met the man’s piercing gaze.

Lemuel frowned.

“Diana… Tsk.” He jeered.

That woman seemed to have a great influence. Not sure why but she’s not an ordinary woman either. She’s a stranger that’s given but there is something odd about her and Lemuel knew he wasn’t the only person who felt that mysteriousness in her.

“Do you idolized her that much?”

“No, I don’t. I only know how to appreciate a good person. I love her principles too.”

“So what’s the difference of idolizing her versus loving her when both words mean you admired her so much?”

“There is… for me.” She grinned. “I prefer loving her than idolizing her.”

“Ah! You’re such a complicated person.” The man stood up. “I don’t know what’s taking him so long but I’ll search for Leo. He might be lost in the forest.”

The lady seer smirked while watching the man followed the path Leo took a while ago. His suspicions don’t jive with his actions.

What a bittersweet friendship. Ha-ha!

*****************

He filled the water bottles with fresh water before calling the winged messenger to come to him. As soon as the bird landed on his arm, he took the rolled paper attached to it.

It was prince Zyrie.

He sent a reply about his recent question about the great herald.

Indeed, Sarah’s premonitions were true. Her grandmother will definitely die after a week but she still doesn’t know that she will be publicly executed in the center plaza.

‘I’ve got a lot of information to tell but I decided to send Selah to you.’ Prince Zyrie stated on his last words.

Selah? He was about to look around him when a man in disguise came to him and knelt on the ground.

“My prince.” He kowtowed in respect. “Prince Zyrie sent me to inform you that prince Veziron is on the move to search for the Shadow knight group.”

“Prince Veziron? Did the king send him?” He was troubled all of a sudden.

“No, my prince. It was totally a personal mission.”

A personal mission? The prince was in deep thought.

“Prince Leo, your brother wanted to inform you that he will stop sending messages though the winged messenger. The opposition group was on the move about something and they have killed one of the messenger lurking around the palace. Looked like they already knew about your ȧssignment therefore they sent prince Veziron to look for the Shadow Knights personally.”

“I understand. No winged messenger starting today so I expect you to relay my message to him moving forward then.”

“Yes, my prince.” The man replied and was about to say more when they suddenly heard a movement from one of the trees.

A spy?! Prince Leo immediately motioned Selah to hide himself as he searches the trees. He pulled his sword on its sheath and viciously searches the surrounding. As soon as he saw a little hamster climbing a certain tree, he put his guard down and sighed.

Phew! It’s just an animal. He then turned his heel and was about to walk towards the rock where the water bottles are when he suddenly halted in surprise.

Someone pointed a sword on his back.

“For how long do you intend to deceive us?” It was Lemuel’s voiced.

Dang it! Looked like he was busted!

“No one whoever pointed a sword against the prince lived a long life.” Selah was standing behind Lemuel, pointing his sword at his neck.

“Selah, it’s okay. Lemuel, put down your sword. I’ll explain everything.” The prince calmly uttered. “Let’s talk.”

Lemuel sneered in disdain. “What’s there to talk about? You’re a spy, that I’m sure of.”

“Stop it, guys! Put down your swords this instant!”

They all heard a familiar voice from a distance. It was Sarah running to their location.

“Stay where you are, Sarah. This man is a traitor!”

“Lemuel, put down your sword and give him a chance to explain, okay?”

“But he was a spy sent by the palace!”

“He was sent by the palace, yes. But he is not a spy. Trust me.”

Lemuel looked at her eyes. Does Sarah know about the man’s real identity?

Her eyes…. She totally knew everything!