The moment Ren, Nate, and I came bursting into the meeting room everyone was already inside. All of them were already seated in their assigned places as they waited for us.
We weren’t late, everyone was just early.
“Where’s the queen?” King Michael asked as his eyes narrowed in suspicion. Then his eyes darted back and forth to the three of us, but still, he did not find my aunt anywhere. “Don’t tell me….” Then he let out a sigh. “This is impossible. Without a representative of Thalia, the main ruler of the realm, this meeting is just a waste of our time.”
“Please...!” I gasped as I tried to catch my breath. I was gasping for air as I leaned on the door frame for support. I was dead tired running here and my legs were killing me! I gulped. “You guys, don’t ever try to run from my aunt’s office, up a fuc-”
“Rose, language!” Ren chastised me.
“-king stairs, and to the meeting room. Not a good experience unless you are fit like these guys.” I glared at Ren and Nate as I finished. It wasn’t fair how none of them were as tired as I was.
And here I thought that my stamina might have improved over these past few days. I guess I was terribly mistaken.
“Princess, without the queen we still can’t-” The Dwarf queen started to say but I cut her off when I raised a rolled-up parchment paper in the air.
When I asked Nate to be king, he was hesitant at first, but when I pointed out his positive traits and with Ren backing me up, Nate agreed.
Just before the meeting started, we all headed to go and look for my aunt. We found her standing in front of the king’s chambers and that’s where I told her of my decision.
My aunt felt relieved and somewhat happy with the news. We headed to her office so she and Nate could sign the papers that he will be the next king of Thalia. The papers were not yet official until he is crown king. But with the royal seal and the Queen’s permission, it was enough for Nate to be the acting king until his official coronation. Therefore, all current endeavors and conflicts that Thalia is facing will also be Nate’s burden to bear.
But I did not worry about this, because I already know that Nate is capable if he set his mind to it.
This now brings us to the current situation.
“My aunt is not coming.” I said and finally stood up straight as I addressed them. Most of them have frowns on their faces at my announcement, while some of them were just disappointed. “But I have the future king of Thalia with me. And I have the papers to prove it. Oh geez, my back is killing me!” I hissed the last part out as I still felt the after-effects of all that running.
I wish I had supernatural stamina as well.
“New...king?” King Rafael, Nate’s evil uncle, looked at us with doubt. Adam, on the other hand, seemed thrilled.
“Yeah, that’s right, old man. You are now obsolete and irreleva-” Before I could finish, Nate covered my mouth with his hand while Ren took the official documents from me and handed them to Fred.
“King Fred, if you don’t mind. Would you like to examine its validity and announce it to everyone?” Ren says with a smirk in Fred’s direction.
“Of course.” Fred took the documents, unrolled them, and began to read their contents. Then he chuckled silently before looking at Nate, who was wiping his hand over his shirt in disgust as I bit his open palm that was covering my mouth. “Well, future King Nathaniel, would you and the princess like to join us so we can finally commence the discussion?”
Nate looked up at him, surprised at the sound of his soon-to-be new title. I nudged his side to bring him back to the present. I smiled at him proudly. “Well? Go on then, King Nate.” I winked as I teased him. It was the first time that I saw Nate looking flushed and nervous at the same time.
He let out a short snort before laughing. “Yes, of course.”
There was something about Fred’s influence that made everyone acknowledge Nate as the future king immediately. Every royal in the room rose to their feet and bowed at Nathaniel as he made his way to the seat where King Luke sat previously before the incident. He did not want to at first because to him, it didn’t feel right with the late king’s current status.
But, as the current head of Thalia, it is his rightful place.
As we all took our seats, King Fred immediately began to plan. He and the Wizards and witches will be placed in every kingdom to cast protective barriers in every kingdom. The trolls, whose abilities are to harden their body, and beastmen will be given a task to guard Fred’s people while they are working.
The faes will alongside the elves and the vampires. Since the Faes’ abilities are dependant on the season of their birth, the elves will teach them how they will be able to utilize it to their advantage when fighting.
Summer can create small flares that can ignite into flames. As for the winter fairies, it was yet to be discussed because both Chace and Stella were too young. But they could help when it comes to defenses.
Fall fairies can manipulate the ground density while Spring fairies can communicate with animals. It was similar to a part of Ace’s magic, but they couldn’t control them as he can.
This is why we badly need the prince to regain his memories back. And he knows this as well.
Nate handled and calculated all the budget that it would cost. Along with the expenses of temporarily opening our gates to other supernatural beings. He wanted to make sure that the changes would not affect the taxes of the people while still providing quality of service exchange with the other kingdoms.
But then comes the tricky part.
“How would we take down Ferius?” One of the royals asked.
It was the end of the lively discussion as no one seemed to know what to do with the king. Just then, the door suddenly burst open and Sir Terrence came in looking flustered. “P-Pardon my intrusion but we have some guests who just arrived.”
“Terrence.” Tanya, Nate’s mother breathed when she saw him. It was the first time that the both of them met since Terrence has been hiding from her and Rafael. As their eyes met, Terrence’s brow drew closer together as he gave her a disappointed look before addressing the rest of us.
“Your highnesses, the King of Atla has just arrived.” He continued his announcement and stepped aside to reveal King Meruem.
“I got a message my participation is needed.” He grinned. “I hope that I am not too late?”
Immediately, murmurs started floating in the room as they laid their eyes upon the current king of Atla. A kingdom that has never been heard from in decades.
“King Meruem?” Nate was surprised to see him here that he got up. “What are you doing here? And how did you get here?”
The king of Atla’s gaze immediately shifted to me. “I was brought here by a black wolf with a horn.”
At the mention of a black wolf, it was now my turn to get back on my feet. A slow smile appearing on my face as I exchanged a look with Viex.
‘Well, no wonder he’s late. He’s been pretty busy.’ Viex says.
I was no looking at Nate pleadingly as I asked him my permission with my eyes. Nate frowned. “No, the meeting still isn’t over.” He says.
“But...but! Oh, come on. It’s Custard, Nate. It’s been days since I saw the guy. Plus, he brought King Mereum. Also, I ask him a favor to fetch me some valuable information! Please?”
Nate looked just about ready to argue, but Fred caught his attention by clearing his throat. “Just trust her. It could be something useful to us.” Fred says.
Nate clicked his tongue as sighed. “Alright, but don’t ru-”
Too late. As soon as I heard him agreeing, I was already out of the room, laughing in excitement. Even Viex jumped down and ran ahead of me.
‘Where is he, Viex?’ I asked him.
‘He’s-’
I screamed the moment something hit one of the glasses of the floor-to-ceiling windows along the hallway. When I looked to check what it was, I saw Custard in his smaller form shaking his head when he collided with the glass.
‘Ow…’ He whimpered.
I laughed at immediately headed for the nearest exit to join him at the other side. “Custard!” I screamed with glee. Custard finally recovered from the impact and jumped into my arms instead. “I missed you so much!” I hugged him.
‘Me too! Me too!’ He was happily wagging his tail at me until I gave him a sinister smile and started pinching his cheeks. ‘Ow! Master, why? I thought you miss me! Why are you hurting me?’
“You little, rascal!” I scolded him. “You could have told me where you’ve gone! You suddenly disappeared after I felt your presence. I was worried sick! What were you doing?!”
“HE CAME TO PICK ME!” Serena suddenly popped out of one of the bushes. Now it was my time to hit the glass as I stumbled back.
“Serena?!” My eyes widened as I saw our old talkative nymph friend in front of us. “What are you doing here?”
Serena scoffed. “Well, I obviously came here to help you because the spirits have been really restless. I heard that the grumpy one lost his memories. And you sent your little boy over there to ask me if the chalice can bring back his lost memories!” Then her eyes started to wander around. “Wow! This place is amazing. I hear and saw lots of people! Do you think they want to be friends with me!?”
“Yes…?” I answered. “So about the chalice...can it help him?”
Serena opened her lips to answer but when she turned to the side and saw Kellar walking peacefully alongside Stella as they talked about something. “CHILDREN!” Serena screamed and started to run after them.
“Serena!” I screamed out her name loud enough that Stella and Kellar turned their heads in our direction.
I ran after them and saw Serena engulfing Kellar in a tight hug while ruffling his hair. “This little guy is so cute! SO CUTE!” She screamed into Kellar’s ears making the poor kid flinch while still trapped in her embrace. Then her eyes drifted to my sister and I heard her taking in a deep breath. “Oh my! WHAT A CUTE FAIRY GIRL! COME HERE!”
“Stella!” I yelled and pulled my sister behind me just before Serena could grab her. The nymph wasn’t happy as she pouted at me.
“Custard?” Stella gasped when my little wolf spirit jumped into her arms and began licking her face. I heard Stella laughing in delight before I addressed Serena.
“Serena, remember what I asked you about? About Ace’s memory and whether or not it can break it?” I heard Stella and Kellar’s surprised gasped at what they just heard. Now, all of us were looking at Serena as we waited for her to answer.
Serena was silent for a moment before she scoffed and rolled her eyes at me. “Well, duh! Of course, it can!”
There was a long pause before all of us breathed out a sigh of relief. Stella and Kellar began to cheer while I dropped to the ground. My legs weakened as all of the stress left my body. Custard and Viex crawled to my lap. Both of them looking delighted at the news as their tails wagged nonstop.
I hugged both of them in my arms as I still replayed Serena’s words over and over in my head.
‘Thank you. Thank you both. Especially you, Custard.’
‘Anything to make you happy, Master.’ Custard began to nuzzle my neck affectionately.
He can come back. PRINCE Ace can finally return.