"What's going on here?"
My attention turned to the newly arrived Prince, Prince Nesh. Prince Arsh looked at him for a moment and immediately took it back because he looked at me seriously again. He did not take his eyes off where I was. It tries to read what I did.
Prince Nesh's gaze landed on me and in a few moments it landed on my hand because of my grip on the King's hand. There he witnessed the good news that I would have liked to mention earlier but did not proceed because of the reaction of Prince Arsh.
"Father?" Prince Nesh quickly passed his brother and went straight to where I was. I also removed my hand holding King Valor's hand and stepped back to give the Prince enough space. "True! You're awake, Father!" The youngest Prince argues about what he has witnessed with his Father.
"N-Nesh," said the King. "My youngest Son," he added.
Prince Nesh greeted his Father with a big hug. I’m happy to see them in that condition. Even the soldiers were overjoyed at what they saw now. Excitement prevailed over all the people who witnessed being in the room except Prince Arsh.
I can’t explain the reaction on his face. There is no painted emotion there.
I didn’t realize it was next to me. There was a look of anger on his face because his forehead was furrowed and his thick eyebrows met. It stared at me sharply.
"We need to talk, Zariya." I was nervous because he was really serious based on the tone of his voice.
"Arsh, won't you say hello to our Father first?" Prince Nesh's groan. Perhaps he also noticed the tension building between the two of us. He wanted to dismiss that first and focus on the good news.
"I'm happy and reassured that our Father King has probably woken up but I have something more important to explore now." He stared at me as he uttered those words. "Nesh, it's up to you to watch over Father first. Keep him safe. Call Ravi to the soldiers to inform him about Father's awakening, as well as Cozen and Dern."
"Alright, I'll follow," Prince Nesh stammered. He could no longer stop his brother from doing what he wanted to do.
Without saying a word, Prince Arsh grabbed my hand and led me out of King Valor's room. The other soldiers outside were also looking on. He didn't even say goodbye to his Father before we left.
Why did he act like this?
Why does he have to drag me now? I'll go with him!
If what troubled his mind was the last scene he saw between me and his Father before he woke up, he was not the only one troubled. I was even more confused by what happened because I had no idea what I had done to wake up their Father King suddenly.
I was even wondering what happened. I don't even know if I'm really the reason how the King woke up. I really have no knowledge!
Maybe it's just a coincidence? It was impossible for me to recover. I don’t have a unique ability like them.
"Prince Arsh, where are we going?"
"You have to admit something to me," he said, tightening his grip on my hand. "Zariya, I want to know the truth."
We went down to the second floor. We stopped opposite the door of the third room. I read the name engraved there.
Arsh.
This is Prince Arsh's room.
Without any effort he opened the door because it opened on its own. The door itself recognized the owner of that room.
He also pulled me inside. The door also closed immediately after we entered.
At the same time as he let go of my hand, he confronted me. The looks he threw at me were serious, it was mixed with anger and confusion. I don’t know if Prince Arsh has yet to meet the one in front of me now.
"Who are you really, Zariya?"
I can't move where I stand. It was as if I was stuck and couldn't even open my mouth because I was so nervous.
“P-Prince Arsh…”
"Don't plan to lie to me anymore. I saw what you did to my Father before. You have the ability to heal him. And no ordinary citizen of Norland possesses that kind of power. Only the family that came from Father and only his friend King Hellion was blessed with power. =" He came even closer to me causing me to step back until I felt like I was leaning against the wall and I had nothing left to do. Our faces are so close to each other. It was still staring at me.
"I don't want to doubt the person I love but I've seen it myself, I've seen it with my own eyes and I don't want to go blind. Even if you don't answer, even if you make excuses, I already know the answer. Now, the I just want to hear from you, Zariya.” I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack with my heart beating so fast. "Are you the daughter of King Hellion, Zariya? Are you Princess Amity?"
I could not find the words my mouth wanted to utter. My knees are shaking too. If I just can’t stick to the wall, I’ll lose my balance.
"I don't know," I replied shortly.
I was confused as well. To this day I still can't believe I have the ability to heal. I also can't answer if King Hellion is really my Father because if I admit it, everything will be ruined. It will have a profound effect on my mission.
I can't keep quiet. I don’t know what to say.
I don't want to speak because I just made a wrong statement, it has a big effect on everyone.
Instead of lying anymore, I would rather just keep quiet. I don’t want to add to my guilt. I was already struggling with a heavy conscience.
"I don't think it hurts more to know that the person you trust lied to you, the very person you love."
Prince Arsh turned his back on me and went to his bed. He sat there while I remained standing near the door. I saw his jaw tighten and for a few moments he bowed at the same time as he ruffled his sea -colored hair.
What I see now seems to pierce my heart.
I hurt him. I am the cause of the pain he is feeling now.
Gradually my secret was revealed.
"Even if you don't answer. I knew then that you were Princess Amity, the Son of the mortal enemy of the Kingdom of Norland. You were here to be a spy, weren't you?" He lifted his head and stared at me again.
"P-Prince Arsh, p-pardon." I can't make excuses anymore. He was too late for me. I can't get through it anymore. I would look even more like a liar if I continued to cover up the truth even though he already knew everything.
"You are a traitor! You have not only betrayed me, but the whole Kingdom. How dare you do this to us, Zariya? How, huh?"
I'm crying now. I kept the tears from dripping from my eyes because it would be even harder for me to speak if I practiced sobbing while crying. I was also caught in the wall because I might not be able to sit up because of the shiver.
"I didn't want to do it, believe me. I have no choice, Prince Arsh. Unwillingly and willingly, I have to end it. My mission depends on it. The mission I have to do."
"Is it also part of your mission to make me fall in love? The night we collided, did you also plan? That way, you could easily fall in love with me? Was the kindness you showed to our brothers and sisters a lie? Answer truthfully because you were fed up. I'm tired of your endless lies!"
I could not answer right away. I could feel the pain in the tone of his voice. "No, Prince Arsh. Even though I am the Son of King Hellion, my Father who is your Father's patron, I still do not view you as enemies. I consider you my true friends. Believe me."
Traces on his face that he still does not believe.
"I know you feel the same way about me. Is that true or is it also a show?"
How did he know? I refrain from expressing how I really feel to him because it is impossible. It will greatly affect my mission. I can't express how much I like him either. I can’t give the Prince any hope that I like him either.
I can’t reciprocate its love.
I want to admit about how I really feel but can’t.
"Prince Arsh, I can't love you."
"Why?"
"Because we can't."
It’s not just my being a Princess that I keep from them all. I was more careful with the secret mission assigned to me. They forgive me all but I really want to get back to my real world and family.
We are not the same of the world. I am not for this in their world. I want to go back to my world so as much as I can, I will prevent it from deepening my feelings for him.
If I had to sacrifice anything to return to the modern world, it would be my love for him.
"But believe me, Prince Arsh. Even if it's just you believe me because it's true that the safety of Norland is important to me. The safety of you five Princes and so on King Valor. I'm willing to prove it by helping you know how to fight the war prepared by Lacandia."
His forehead furrowed even more. "Do you think I will still believe in you? How can you be able to betray your own Kingdom?"
He couldn't understand. Actually it was Lacandia I was betraying in the first place and not Norland. My allegiance was with them before the mission assigned to me by my Queen Mother began.
"Because this is what I have to do."
Because my return to my world also depends on Norland’s safety.
Prince Arsh stood up and turned back to face me. I also struggled to stare at him for a few seconds. With those stares, he wondered if I was telling the truth. He seems to be looking there for the answers to his fears because never, ever, will the eyes lie.
"I will only believe in you again if you can bring my Queen Mother back to me." His eyes staring at me were talking. "Zariya, I feel sorry for you, give us back our Mother."
"Why? What happened to the Queen?"
"I left this morning to visit Mother but I could not find her in her room. I looked for her all over the mountains but I still did not find her. I have a strong suspicion that someone took her and no one else will do it but your Kingdom , the Kingdom of Lacandia."
I was still shocked by what he announced.
I was grabbed by Prince Arsh’s shoulder as it almost fell over. He couldn't stop crying. He was crying in front of me causing me to feel pity and remorse for her.
He had a bigger problem and added what he learned about me. No longer can measure the pain he feels now.
"I can't afford to be separated from my Mother again. Not this time," he said while sobbing. My heart seemed to ache with every sob I heard from him. "Give me back my Mother… I feel sorry for you, Zariya."
What do I do now? Prince Arsh is right. Only Lacandia could possibly arrest the Dear Queen. But how did they find out? I told them nothing. I no longer report to my Queen Mother. One more thing, I will not harm their Mother.
I suddenly remembered my suspicion that Prince Arsh had followed us that night. Couldn't he have followed us to Mount Puhon? Couldn’t he have found out about the hiding of the Mother of Princes?
Could he have been involved in the loss of the Dear Queen?
My suspicion is correct. I can't go wrong.
Someone did follow us that night!
"Where are you going?" I turned to Prince Arsh who was now sitting on the floor.
"I will bring back your Queen Mother, promise."
I turned the doorknob to get out completely. I hurried downstairs. I even met Kharim Celia on the first floor. "You seem to be in a hurry. Where are you going?" he asked me.
"I'll just take something back, Kharim Celia."
I couldn't wait for Kharim Celia to speak because I knew she would just ask me what or who I was referring to. She would not allow me to do anything that would go against my Queen Mother’s plan.
I ran out and immediately went straight to the garden. Fortunately, I didn't find anyone. I stopped opposite the secret tunnel. It also immediately appeared when I recognized the large rock there that seemed to have a life of its own to recognize man.
I immediately entered the tunnel and it immediately spat me into the Kingdom of Lacandia.
"What are you doing here, Princess Amity?" opening question to me by a soldier. He was worried when he saw me. He still seemed to want to stop me and not continue what I wanted to do inside the palace.
I did not answer his question but I threw another question at him. "Where is my Mother?"
I glared at him when I noticed how long he took to answer. He really avoids answering my question. Perhaps my Queen Mother had already instructed them.
He still doesn't answer me so I can't do anything if he doesn't go through the panic. It was immediately frightening. "It's inside the palace, Princess."
I immediately ran inside but I also immediately stopped at the door when I heard some footsteps approaching. I hid in the big plants there so they wouldn't see me.
"Make sure you go back to that woman to watch over her. She can't go back to Norland." It was the voice of my Queen Mother talking to the soldiers.
"Next, Queen Emily."
I heard a faint sigh from the familiar person. "I'm glad we have the Queen of Norland. She's the weakness of the five Princes and because of that, we can easily overthrow Norland without difficulty." That's Haya Kaira! Suddenly my blood boiled because of what he said. No heart really!
My Mother and some soldiers who were with them also joined in the laughter. I heard their heavy steps on the stairs. I waited for them to climb completely to the second floor before entering.
Just a few minutes later, I heard no more noise from them.
When I was sure they had climbed, I peeked inside. No soldier was on guard so I took the opportunity to go immediately to where they had come from earlier. Nervously I was still able to open the only room that was there. It looks like this is where they came from and I’m sure this is where they hid the Queen of Norland.
I was not mistaken.
The Queen of Norland is inside! She was lying on the floor and looked up at me languidly. Her condition was miserable.
"What are you doing here? You're going to make me suffer like your Mother did? Your family really has no mercy!" she whispered to me.
She vented his anger again but I ignored her first. All I have to do now is get her out of here and bring her back to the Kingdom of Norland.
I was about to go to her when someone took my hand.
"It's good and you're here too, Princess Amity."
I turned around and saw my Queen Mother next to Haya Kaira. They both smiled at me, smiled foolishly.
"Take a bite of our trap. It won't be difficult for us to get the other Princes to obey here as well."
If so, they know I've been in the palace lately. They all meant it to happen.
"Did you plan all this?" I asked as the two soldiers held both my shoulders.
"Yes and you are also part of this plan."