"Today, I saw something that reminded me of Celia. Tell me if she is here," Erich Winfield asked, his eyes brimming with hope.
"As far as I know, we don't have anyone with that name around here in the palace," King Armen replied.
With this, the hope in Erich Winfield's eyes dimmed. "Is it so?"
"Hmm," King Armen nodded.
"Then how come your Third Princess has those elixir pills?" Erich Winfield asked.
"Elixir pills?" King Armen repeated, puzzled by the strange term.
Erich Winfield nodded and explained, "Those are miraculous medicines that allow anyone who takes them to heal faster. They are enchanted to contain holy energy within."
"Where did you see it? How could you say my daughter has them? You didn't even see her yet."
"That King of Megaris brought it to me and asked me to give it to his personal knight. Upon asking where he got it, he said it belonged to the Third Princess," Erich Winfield explained.
King Armen frowned and thought. 'When did he meet Seren? What is going on, and how come I don't know about it? Did he get them when he entered the tower to save my daughter?'
"Are you sure you heard him right?" King Armen asked.
Erich Winfield nodded. "Yes, that is why I am here to ask you about Celia."
"What happened between you two?" King Armen asked.
"One day, she simply decided to leave, not even telling me where she was going. She requested me not to search for her ever, so I never looked for her," he replied, his eyes showing he was hurt.
"She must have her reasons," King Armen replied to console the old man.
"Hmm." Erich Winfield gave out a helpless sigh. "I thought I could see her finally after so many years, but it seems like I was mistaken."
"Do not lose hope."
"Seems like seventeen years ago, all of our lives have changed," Erich Winfield commented as the memories from the past flooded his mind.
King Armen nodded. "The past cannot be changed, and we can only walk forward."
After a minute of heavy silence, something clicked in Erich's mind. "But from where did your Third Princess get those elixirs? Did she personally make them?"
"I am afraid I cannot answer you. We will know once we ask her when she is better," King Armen replied.
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Since Erich Winfield left the chamber, only his two apprentices remained inside to accompany Drayce and Arlan and look after Slayer. The two young men did not stay long. They soon went to the military barracks to check on the other injured knights who were part of Crown Prince Cian's rescue mission.
When they reached their assigned quarters, it happened to coincide with the time for the knights and soldiers to have a meal and were about to head to the mess hall, but due to the arrival of their king, they all stood in formation to salute.
"Your Majesty King Drayce! Your Highness Prince Arlan!" Everyone bowed to Drayce and Arlan.
Drayce got the leaders of his knight brigades to give him an update about their recuperation and felt relieved to see that they all were doing good.
Drayce raised his hand to signal that everyone was excused and to continue what they were doing. Only the captain of the knights stayed back.
Just then, Dusk flew in from the window and sat on the captain's shoulder. The majestic bird looked at Drayce as if he wished to say something.
"What is it this time?" Drayce asked.
As usual, the poor bird had to search for a way to explain to his master what he wanted to say. In frustration, Dusk could only helplessly fly away, and they watched him go away with the speed of the wind.
"Every time he comes in front of us, he has something to say. Such a busybody," Arlan commented.
Drayce smirked teasingly, "Are you jealous that he is more useful than you?"
Arlan glared at him. "I am a prince of Griven who puts others to use."
Dusk returned, and this time he brought an item with him. Dusk placed it on the wooden bench nearest to them before flying to sit on the captain's shoulder. Dusk looked at Drayce's expression to check if his master got what he meant.
"What is it?" Arlan asked, looking at the square-shaped item wrapped in a blue silk cloth
"Arrangement of food for the Third Princess," Drayce replied.
Arlan had already learned everything about how his friend had helped the Third Princess and said, "Ohh, so this is that food box of fortune! I wonder, when will I get such good treatment from the affectionate King of Megaris?"
"I can always ask Prince Cian to show affection to you," Drayce commented teasingly.
"Alas! When all of your affection is only for his sister, I guess I have no other option but to expect it from him."
Ignoring his friend's drama, Drayce looked at Dusk and asked, "For her?"
Dusk pecked on the captain's head twice to say yes to it.
The captain scratched his head where Dusk pecked and mumbled, "You can do it lightly too."
Hearing his complaint, Dusk pecked on his head again. The pitiful captain had to bear with it as he was the pet of his king, and that king was standing in front of them.
Drayce thought about something for a moment and then talked to the captain of the knights. "Your men are still recuperating. You might get your stomachs upset by eating such heavy meals. Pass the order to the royal kitchen of Abetha to make simple food for you all. Especially the kind that is good for sick people to eat."
It surprised the captain. "Your Majesty, the royal kitchen must have already prepared the meal for today—"
Drayce glared at the captain.
He hastily snapped a salute. "Understood, Your Majesty! I will inform them to change the meals."
"You know what to do," said Drayce, and the Captain nodded.
"I will excuse myself, Your Majesty." The captain hurried to make essential arrangements.
Arlan chuckled at how ridiculous his friend was behaving. "Now you are making them eat bland food for the sake of one person."
"They should be thankful. Because of that one person, they enjoyed a royal meal three times a day," Drayce countered.
He had a point. Normally, the royal kitchen only catered to the meals of the members and guests of the royal family. Only ordinary cooks would be assigned to feed the knights and soldiers.
Arlan sighed, "If you stay here longer, I am sure Abetha's treasury will hit rock bottom soon."
Drayce didn't bother with it, and Arlan called him again. "Dray!"
"Hmm?"
"How long are you planning to stay here? It seems like you don't plan to return, but I don't have any plans to stay here with you. The small affairs here no longer need my presence. I have to return to Griven."
"You are the one to bring me here, so you have to take my responsibility till I am here."
"I brought you here?" Arlan frowned. "You had already planned to be here for the sake of your revenge on Marquis Godfrey Percy."
Drayce was not affected by his whining and replied calmly. "You were a great help."
Arlan frowned. "Crafty!"
"Can't be compared to you." Drayce gave him a mocking gaze. "Do you want me to remind you how crafty you are?"
Arlan cleared his throat and threw a line "I have things to deal with," before leaving.
Drayce smirked as he knew his friend very well. Acting nice and friendly all the time, but behind that smiling face was a mind always busy planning something, treating the people around him as a chess piece.