Custard and I rode on Viex’s back as we ran into the woods. “Hold on tight, Custard.” I said and fought off the strands of my hair whipping my face as I looked ahead and grinned.
“Kellar, I am going to catch up. Control your magic!” I called out to him. Upon hearing my voice, I saw that he and Javi immediately quickened their pace.
Viex smirked arrogantly. ‘Amateurs. Think they would outrun me.’ He says. His tails immediately surrounded us as he ran faster. In no time, we were already running side by side with Kellar.
“Hi!” I waved at him.
Kellar let out a joyous laugh. He was clearly having too much fun that he began to lose his concentration. Javi let out a strangled noise as soon as she felt that her supply of magic has been broken. She got so distracted by it that she tripped on her own foot that sent Kellar and her flying.
“Viex!” I panicked and ordered Viex to grab them. Viex managed to secure Kellar with one of his tails but Javi was still in the air.
‘Mutt, go grab the cat.’ Viex yelled at Custard and threw the poor wolf in the direction of Javi. Custard was so surprised that he let out a yelp as he was thrown in the air. I morph him instantly as he bounced off a tree to maneuver himself and grab Javi by her neck.
‘You could have warned me!’ Custard, now an overgrown white wolf, glowered at Viex while Javi was still in his mouth.
“Javi!” Kellar yelled out worriedly and ran towards Custard to grab his partner. “I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
‘No harm done.’ Javi shook his fur before looking at us. ‘Thank you, princess.’
I nodded at her before looking at Kellar. “I have to say that I am impressed. It’s our third day and you can already keep your supply of magic at a steady pace.” I couldn’t help but sound a bit bitter that Kellar seemed like a better tamer compared to me.
“Really?” He blinked like it was the first-ever compliment that he ever received in his entire life. “I-I’m very happy, princess. Thank you so much. Truly…” He sounded bashful and hugged Javi in delight. This kid is so humble that I am starting to question just what type of environment he grew up in.
“Yeah.” I told him. “You progressed better than I had. I believe that being a tamer really is your true calling. But...maybe we should also polish your sword skill as you need to be able to protect yourself when Javi can’t. What do you say we return and train with Terrence? But...let’s ride Viex instead. So we won’t be late.”
Kellar grinned and nodded. I unmorphed Custard just before he came to sit on the space in front of me. Then I gesture for Kellar to ride at the space behind me.
“Princess?” Kellar asked as soon as he was seated.
“Hmm?”
“I’m o-only the tamer that I am right now because of your teachings.” He says and hid his face as he blushed in embarrassment.
I smiled. This child is so sweet and humble for his age. Not to mention for a 12-year-old kid, his attitude was way better than the other young royals that I met.
Which makes him very dangerous. This child is a prince charming in the making. And I am not the least bit comfortable with the fact that he’s friends with my sister!
“Kellar? How are Chace and Stella? Any...progress?”
“Um...yeah.” He nodded. At that moment, I almost fainted, but Kellar immediately said, “Prince Chace is getting better at making shapes out of ice.”
I immediately relax and internally facepalmed. I should know better than to think of using Kellar to spy on my younger sister. This child is clueless and dense!
“Thanks, Kellar.” I said ordered Viex to take us back.
Kellar and I were the only ones taking Terrence’s classes these days. Ace was still pretending that he can’t remember anything. It would just be too weird if a person with amnesia suddenly excels in sword fighting and would curse when we can’t keep up with him. Nate, on the other hand, was purposely avoiding him and using his new title as an excuse to ditch training. Even though we still weren’t certain about Terrence being the spy, we felt like Nate was just preparing himself for the worse.
Kellar and I were standing at the training ground and were waiting for Terrence. “It’s odd. He’s a bit late.” I wondered out loud as I looked around us. No sign of Terrence.
Where could that guy be?
‘Custard, can you search for him?’
‘He’s over there, master. I can smell him.’ Custard started running towards a hidden corner of the castle.
I looked at Kellar and asked him to stay behind for a bit as I followed Viex. With Terrence as one of the prime suspects of the attack on the king, I don’t think I want a child to get involved when I find something about Terrence.
‘Princess, be careful.’ Viex says cautiously.
‘I know.’
‘Oops.’ We heard Custard gulp and began to back away with a look of horror on his face. ‘Master….I think we should not go in there.’
‘Why…?’ I frowned.
‘It’s...um…’ Custard was avoiding our gazes.
‘Damn this useless wolf. I swear, I sometimes wonder how the two of you managed your lives without me for so long.’ Viex jumped down from my shoulder and took a peek at what Custard was looking at. A second later and Viex jumped back on my shoulder with a stunned look on his face. ‘Yeah, I agree with the wolf, Princess. Let’s go. Nothing to see there.’
‘You guys are really acting suspiciously. Just what-’
“Terrence, let’s just talk.” I heard a woman’s voice.
My eyes widened when I recognized who it was. No waaay. I covered my mouth and snickered inwardly as I carefully made my way to the edge and took a peak.
‘Master, don’t! Come on…!’ Custard tried to pull my slacks while Viex tried covering my eyes.
But all of their struggles were futile as I was too persistent to see what the commotion was all about. What I saw from the other side made me cover my mouth in a silent gasp.
I knew it!
It was Queen Anya and Terrence. Both of Nate’s real parents. And by the looks of it, it seems like they were in the middle of an argument.
Queen Anya was wearing a cloak around her. But even though she was wearing that, I could still tell that it’s her because of her voice. She was grabbing Sir Terrence’s hand as she tried to stop him from leaving.
“Talk about what?” Terrence’s voice was hard as if he was trying to keep himself from yelling at her.
‘Guys! This is gold. A real-life drama!’ I squealed. I wish Ace was here so we can watch this together. Unfortunately, he has to hide in the library and discuss with Nate about strategies and theories. Boring stuff.
I wonder if I could ask either Custard or Viex to come and get him? Not Nate of course because it would be too awkward for him. These are his parents after all.
“Terrence, I-” Anya started to say.
“You what?!” Terrence whirled around to face her. “You left our son alone! You let your...your HUSBAND abuse him! How could you!?” He was almost screaming now.
“You don’t understand, there was nothing I could do!”
“There’s always something that you could do!” He screamed. “You could have run away. You could have hidden with them. If not, you should have let your parents took care of our child!” Terrence then shook his head as if he made a mistake. “Wait, no. MY child. He’s no longer yours. Don’t ever come here again or I will personally throw you out myself.” And with that, I watched in horror as Terrence started to make his way towards us.
Oh shit. Oh shit.
I began to panic and was about to turn around to leave. Unfortunately, I tripped on my foot and fell face-first to the ground. I immediately got to my feet and began to run away in a haste.
“Princess?” I stopped dead in y tracks when I heard Sir Terrence calling for me. Darn it, and I was just a few meters away from Kellar and Javi!
‘Tried to warn you.’ Viex sighed.
‘Master, you never listen! I’ll tell, Master Ace about this!’
I turned to glare at Custard. ‘Don’t you DARE!’ I warned him before I turned to Terrence with a big and bright smile. “He-Hey, sir Terrence!” I waved awkwardly at him.
Sir Terrence was raising a brow at me in question. Then his eyes darted to me and then to where he previously was before. “Did...Did you-”
“I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING I SWEAR!” I screamed loud enough to make Sir Terrence flinch.
“A-Alright.” He says before making his way towards me. He started looking around the area before his eyes flashed in disappointment. “He’s still not here, isn’t he?”
I didn’t need to ask who he was referring to, because I already know.
“No.” I confirmed for him. It was devastating for us to watch Nate in pain like this. That was why we haven’t told anyone yet until we find enough proof. And that is also what Ace is currently doing in the library aside from reading books. He was waiting for the plant to awaken and ask it for information.
Terrence sighed. “I guess he’s still busy about his duties as the new king.” Even though he was sad he was smiling proudly. “At least he’s doing it for his future. And I-” Terrence looked like he was in a lot of stress lately that he can’t even focus on what he was going to say. “So...um...how is Prince Ace? Any progress with his memory?”
“Still nothing.” I said.
“But I see that you and the young elf prince are getting along really well.” Terrence smirked when he saw that I was starting to get uncomfortable under his gaze. Then he laughed. “Don’t worry, even if he lost his memories, he still won’t lose his feelings. The heart is different from the mind after all.”
I stared at him before I crossed my arms over my chest. “Really? Then what happened back there with Queen Anya?” I gave him a teaching grin as it was my turn to tease him. “Heart is different from the mind? Seems to me that your heart and heart were in agreement back there.”
Terrence sighed. “That was...I just can’t face her yet after knowing what my son has been through. As a spirit wandering around in that house, nothing is more painful than seeing your child suffer and not being able to do anything about it.”
Looking at Terrence and hearing how much he loves his son, I was having second thoughts about him being our prime suspect. But then again, he can never be too careful these days because it may cost us our life.
I watched as Terrence walked past me and paused. “Princess, let’s go and train. I need to make sure that you are fully prepared for the incoming raid in Tereau a few weeks from now.”