Nate, Fred, Serena, and I headed for the library since none of the other royals would even think about looking for us here. I have asked Stella and Kellar to keep a lookout as well just to be safe.
Meanwhile, Nate and I brought Fred up to speed on what was going on.
“So you can break curses/spells with the chalice?” Fred asked as he examined the chalice on the table. “That’s a strong magic. Probably the strongest there is.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “Which is why I have to keep it safe.” I looked at Nate. “What happened with King Meruem? Is he going to stay as well?”
Nate shook his head. “No. He was brought here so suddenly that he left his kingdom without prior notice. But he has agreed to help. His kingdom can provide us with food. Not to mention safe passageways when trading. The land is no longer safe for us to travel afterall. With what happened in Atla, he and his people are more than willing to join the fight. I have to say that it was a good idea for you to bring him here. And I was getting troubled with the budgeting.”
“That wasn’t my idea. It was theirs.” I deadpanned and pointed at Custard, who was currently being chased by Serena. “I only wanted information on whether or not we can cure Ace with the chalice.”
“YOU’RE WELCOME!” Serena screamed somewhere in the background. I don’t even want to know what she’s trying to chew on now.
And here I was, thinking that the Nymph has been cured of her constant babbling when her fellow nymphs have been restored. I guess I was wrong. Terribly wrong.
“In any case, the more allies, the better.” Fred says while laughing.
The library door suddenly burst open and in came Ren and Dan carrying a terrified elf prince. “W-Wait! What’s going on? What did I do?!” Ace seemed troubled as he looked at both Ren and Dan. The twins were grinning wickedly like they were enjoying the work. I guess that they were probably enjoying this moment while they still can.
They sat him on a chair that was facing the rest of us and the chalice. Then they stood on either side of him as they pinned him down.
I frowned at the twins. “You guys do know that there’s a chance that he will remember this when he wakes up, right?”
The twins flinched as they looked at each other, then at the frightened elf prince, before looking back at me.
“Rose?” Ace looked up at me. “What’s going on? Why am I here?”
Great. Not only did the twins not tell him anything, but they probably took him in such a way that he thought that he was being kidnapped or something.
I went towards Ace as I tried to comfort him. “Hey, Ace. I’m sorry about this. But you’re actually here because I found a way that may be able to help restore your memory.”
Ace raised a brow at me. “If that is the case then shouldn’t you guys just tell me instead of chasing me across the hallway, tackle me, and then carry me to this….secluded library?” He suggested.
I glanced at the twins, who were both avoiding my gazes at the moment. “Yeah. Why didn’t they thought of that? I wonder?”
Dan raised a hand in excitement. “Oh...OH! I just wanted to see the face of Eltur and Darem panicking while we took their dear beloved baby bro-” Dan met Ren’s glare and he suddenly gulped. Then he turned to me with a very serious look. “Forget I ever said anything.”
“Is it true?” Ace asked. When I looked down at him, I saw both fear and relief coming from them. “Will my memories be restored because-” Ace paused when he noticed that there was a Nymph at his side, watching him very closely with wide eyes. “Um...hi?”
“Wow, you sound so domesticated.” Serena says as she narrowed her eyes at Ace. Then she suddenly let out a feral growl making Ace jump on his seat. Serena laughed at his reaction. “HA! He became a wimp!” The Nymph cackled and fell on the ground as she laughs at him.
Ace frowned at her but didn’t do anything. Instead, he focused his attention on me instead. “If I regain my memories, you’ll still talk to me, right?”
“Of course. What kind of question is that?”
“Well...it’s because I feel like I am such a maniac whenever people react to my current...behavior these days. I guess I wasn’t the ideal prince.” He mumbled. “I guess, I am just scared that people would start avoiding me again once I turn back to normal.”
“Yeah, you were such a jerk before.” Dan commented and earned a slap at the back of his head from Ren.
“It’s true that people fear you.” I said. “But deep down we all know what kind of person you are. If we didn’t think the old you is the better version of yourself then we wouldn’t have troubled ourselves just to get you back.” I assured him. “Trust me. The old you? He’s way better even if he is rude. Plus, we need our PRINCE.”
Ace’s gaze darted towards all of us. Everyone is here. Just for him. We all gave him encouraging smiles. Very slowly, Ace returned the gesture. “Alright.”
I grabbed the chalice from the table. It already has water and a bit of my blood in it. All I need to do now is to utter the word. I tried to hide the blush and moved a few paces away to whisper the word to the chalice as low as possible. “Nachos.”
When I turned back, I saw that Ren, Dan, and Nate were trying so hard not to laugh at me.
Great. I almost forgot that they have super hearing as well.
I ignored them as I walked towards Ace and poured the contents over his head. As I did, my knees began to buckle and I fell to the ground as I felt my magic leaving me. Fred was at my side and caught me instantly. “What’s wrong?”
Viex and Custard were immediately at my side and pawing at my foot worriedly.
Serena whistled as she came to my side. “I have never seen this reaction before. That curse must have been a tough cookie to crack.” Then she looked at Fred. “What are you standing there for? Give her magic to help free your friend!” She scolded him.
“Right.” Fred nodded and held my hand. Instantly, I felt the flow of his magic transferring to me before I felt it leaving again.
Ace looked like he was in pain has he kept biting his lips until they bled.
I looked at Serena. “I thought you said that this was safe?”
“I never said that. You only asked me if it would work. And it will. But it is going to cost a lot of magic out of you just to restore all of his memories.” Serena simply said. It was the first time that I ever saw her acting this serious.
I looked back apologetically at Fred. “Sorry that you have to bear this with me. How’s your supply of magic?”
Fred simply smiled. “It’s not a big deal. I am the King of Hazel. My magic is enough to provide for my Kingdom.” He assured me.
Finally, it stopped as Ace slumped in his chair. All of us were immediately at his side as we tried to shook him awake.
“Did it work?” Nate asked.
“I don’t know?” I answered.
All of us held our breaths when Ace began to raise his head and open his eyes. He started rubbing the side of his head like he has just recovered from a migraine. Then his eyes darted towards all of us, who were all huddled together as we fixed him with our gazes.
“Well?” I smiled hopefully at Ace. “Can you say something? Anything?”
Ace simply sat back and pursed his lips. “Hi….?” He says.
It was one word. One damn word and we already knew that it didn’t work. All of us moved back disappointedly. We know that there is no way that it would be Ace’s first words that he would say once he regains his memories.
I looked at Serena. I don’t want to blame her but I was mad. She was so sure that this would work and implanted some false hope in us.
“Why?” I demanded. “Why didn’t it work?!” My voice was rising again, but the nymph simply ignored me and was looking at Ace instead.
It was like losing him all over again!
I set the chalice on the table and started to calm my breath. I felt Fred placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. I looked at Ace, who was equally as disappointed as we all were.
“I wonder…” Fred says.
I looked up at him. He looked like he was in the middle of thinking as he watched as closely. “Wonder what?” I asked.
“I felt that magic taking its effect. And one thing I know about magic is that it can never be one to play with. The chalice amplified your magic and I felt that it was more powerful than the curse that was placed on him.”
“Then why didn’t it work?” I said it bitterly.
“I wouldn’t say that it didn’t.” Fred looked down at me and grinned. “I have some theories. Do you mind if I try it?”
If the King of a powerful and magical Kingdom says it, then, of course, I would believe him. “Yes.” I nodded.
Fred bit his lower lips like he was trying not to laugh. He looked at Ace and grinned smugly before looking back at me. “Princess Rosalie, now that I have become king of Hazel, I can finally bend the rules about whom I have to marry.”
I heard a chair skidding on a tiled floor, but when I was about to see what it was about, Fred placed a finger on my cheek and moved my head so I was looking at him instead. He was trying hard not to laugh that his face was getting red.
“Um...Fred?” I questioned him.
Fred moved back and began to bend on one in front of me while still holding my hand. “Princess, will you do me the honor of becoming my queen? Will you marry m-”
“Oh, fucking shit!” Ren and Dan cursed before there was a crash that made us all look back in the direction of Ace. His head was cast down and he has the chair smashed into pieces in his hands. Judging by the scratch marks on the table, I can only assume that he used the chair and hammered it to the table.
By now, Fred was shaking in laughter as he got to his feet. Even Nate could not help but laugh as well.
“Welcome back, Ace.” Nate says.
When Ace looked at him, you could see all the anger in his eyes as he gritted his teeth. “I told you countless times already! It’s PRINCE! Is your half bastard blood rotting your brain already!?” He yelled.
I saw Nate flinch but laughed in the end instead. “Wow. Now I am sure that it really is him.”
“A-Ace?” I stuttered and held my breath when our gazes met. “It that really you? Are you rude and obnoxious again?”
At my words, he frowned. “Of course it is! And it’s PRINCE-” I threw myself at him as I breathed out a sigh of relief.
“Welcome back then, PRINCE.” I whispered.
I felt Ace returning the hug as well. “Yeah. And this time, I did keep that promise and there is no way for you to tell me that -”
The door suddenly burst open. Eltur and Darem came running inside and tackled Ace into a hug. Immediately, all of us moved back on instinct as we watched the horror unfolding before us.
“My cute baby brother! I finally found you.” Darem cooed and pinched his cheeks. Then he glared at Ren and Dan.
“Did the other royals scare you?” Eltur added and laughed while he kissed his cheek. A gesture that made us all panic.
Once we were at a safer distance did we look back at the elf brothers. Eltur and Darem were looking at us in wonder. But their answer finally came when Ace grabbed both of his brothers by their collars and has this very crazy and sadistic smile on his face. “My DEAR, brothers. Tell me, did you enjoy treating me like a baby when I lost my memories? Don’t lie to me because I remember every single one of the times you both insisted on spoon-feeding me.”
“Remember?” Eltur looked confused at first, then the two elven brothers glanced at each other happily before looking back at Ace. “You remem - oh….” He started to sound dreadful when he realized what it meant for them.
“Run run run run!” Nate hissed at us and we all exited the royal library as it was about to get messy.