Chapter 34: Chapter 34

ELOISA

Duchess' tea room, Kingdom of Howard

"Your Grace, I brought in some lovely daffodils from the shop in the village. They would look lovely in your sunroom."

Eloisa, who was gazing at the Palace from the window, looked at what her handmaid June, was carrying in her hand.

"Those look lovely. Thank you, June." Eloisa sighed as she returned her eyes to the window.

June proceeded to the dresser table by the window and started to arrange the newly-bought daffodils in an empty vase. She noted how the Duchess seemed to be forlorn.

She cleared her throat and spoke cheerily, "It's a lovely day out, miss. Would you want to go to the village and try out some hats? I heard Bastille's has some new collections coming in today."

Eloisa sighed. "No, I'd rather stay inside." She was still reeling from what happened the other night at the Palace. Although her cheek had recovered from the assault, Gian's words were the ones that still resonated with her.

“Get dressed and leave. Now."

Suffice to say that the copulation they had was rough. Yes, indeed, it was too rough for Eloisa's liking, but she wanted it. She wanted Gian to consume her whole being. But what was supposedly a sweet moment was ruined by Gian's indifference towards her afterwards.

She felt used.

"Your Grace?" June interrupted her thoughts by pouring more tea on her half-empty cup. "If I may?"

Eloisa nodded. June took the approval and sat down in front of her, pouring herself a fresh cup. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"Oh, June. I don't know where to start!" Eloisa exclaimed. She's feeling all sorts of emotions right now.

"From the beginning, Your Grace." June winked.

Eloisa was grateful for a friend in June. Despite her being her handmaid, she had mostly been a confidant to her. That is why she had no hesitation in discussing her deepest thoughts and insights.

"I guess it's safe to start with who I'm thinking about," Eloisa picked at the mini scone on her plate. "It's Gian."

June nodded, helping herself to one of the eclairs on the table. "I figured as much. If I may be so bold, Your Grace. You seem to be miserable every time you get home from a call in the Palace."

Eloisa took a deep breath and wished the deities listening that she was being reasonable. "And rightfully so! I could not understand how Gian thinks. One moment he's hot and the next he's cold. His temperament is unpredictable. It irks me to death. I could not keep up with how his mood changes so fast. How would you feel if you were in my shoes, June?"

"Hmm," June said thoughtfully. "But You Grace, the prince in question has always been like that. He never takes anyone seriously. I'm even surprised as to why he has not chosen anyone yet as his bride. He should be settling down now that he has come of age. Sooner or later, he would be ascending the throne and it wouldn't ring right to have a wifeless King."

"Can I trouble you with a secret?" Eloisa said, sipping her tea. "Make sure it stays between us."

June nodded in earnest. "When did I ever fail you, Your Grace?"

After much contemplating the past few weeks, Eloisa had made sure that she was confident with her feelings towards Gian. She had assessed what had transpired between them ever since they first met. "I love him, June."

Her handmaid did not seem surprised by her news, rather she seemed sad and was it pity?

"Oh, my dear Duchess." June placed a comforting hand on her friend. "I had a feeling that that was the case ever since you set eyes on each other. You had become completely smitten with the prince. I could see it in your eyes everytime you were out and about with him, during balls, those strolls in the park."

Eloisa never knew that it was that obvious. She felt herself shrinking at that revelation. "You must think I am naive; for someone to fall in love that easily."

"No, no, no! It's not like that. Anyone would be completely the same if they were in your shoes. What I'm trying to say is that Gian could be pretty charming if he wanted to. But what I figured out long ago was he sees love as a game. He's only having a good time."

The Duchess let those words sink in. "You're right."

"But it doesn't mean you're naive. It's not and will never be your fault for feeling that way towards him." June sniffed. "If you ask me, it's his fault for not seeing your worth."

Eloisa was touched by that sentiment. "Thank you, June."

"Although, a fair warning that you should not expect too much from him. Like I said, he still thinks like a boy. What you need is a man, someone who will reciprocate your feelings." June waved her hand in dismissal. "I'd say don't put your eggs in one basket. It won't do you good if you focus all your energy trying to figure out the enigma that is Gian. Try not to think about it too much, Your Grace."

Eloisa could only nod. She kind of regrets being so into Gian, but what can she do? Gian is a gentleman. He knows how to show a girl a good time. She knew that it would take some time to let go of him. But can she really let go of the prince?

"You know what" Eloisa suddenly said, interrupting June in finishing off another eclair. "Let's go to Bastille's and try on those hats."

"Thought you'd never say that." June clapped excitedly. "I've always liked to try on their hats for fun!"

Eloisa could only smile. Nevertheless, she was still firm in her decision of trying to win the prince's heart over.

After all, how hard can it be?

---

KING MALIK

The King's Study, Kingdom of Howard

"You understand that this is a crucial assignment."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After days of searching the Kingdom, Colter has still not been found. It seemed impossible for Colter to keep a profile so low that the Royal Knights could not find him. Worse, the Deity had confirmed the King's hunches that Colter had indeed done the impermissible and crossed the portal. So the King had to take the dangerous measure of searching beyond Howard's realm. He had decided to give the task to Vergil, his most loyal and trusted Royal Guard, to cross the forbidden portal and bring back his wayward son.

"There's no one else I would trust with this task, Vergil." King Malik said.

"I understand." Vergil replied.

"Keep in mind that whatever order I have given you must be in strict confidence. No one should know that you have crossed the portal. You know the implications of this. If one crosses, more Ecanus would be curious and try and cross it too."

Vergil nodded, knowing how the situation must be grave. He had heard wind that some of the Fotia-Ecanus were becoming restless due to the absence of Colter. "I vow to get Colter back."

The King grunted his approval. "I'm counting on you, Vergil."

"I may be speaking out of turn, Your Highness. But when I come back with Colter, what will his fate be?" Vergil wanted to know what would happen to his friend. He had never seen the King so ruthless before. He was persistent in bringing Colter home. And it's not because of a father missing his son, but rather a King waiting to punish a lawbreaker.

King Malik pursed his lips and said tartly, "That is yet to be decided."

With that response, Vergil knew Colter was done for. His friend would never see the light of day as long as he lived, for he would surely be locked in the dungeons as soon as he set foot in Howard soil.

"Very well," the King said loudly, interrupting Vergil in asking more questions. "You may leave whenever you're ready. You may stock up on supplies if needed be. Remember to be discreet but by all means, do everything in your power to bring him home. For now, you are dismissed."

Vergil bowed and left the King's Study.

Before the King could gather his thoughts, the doors to the Study opened once again and this time it was the Queen with her handmaiden in tow.

"What is it this time, Regina?" The King sighed, not wanting to deal with her as of the moment.

"You may leave us for a while," she whispered to her handmaiden.

They both waited for the handmaiden to exit the room. Once the door closed, Regina began to speak.

"Have you heard from Colter?" the Queen asked.

The King shook his head. He was tired of his wife pestering him with news about Colter. It frustrated him that he himself had no idea how to answer those questions. The longer Colter is gone, the more the situation crushes his will.

The Kingdom must not know that his son had broken the law of the land or else it would badly reflect on his name. He would become a joke to the Ecanus and it might start a revolution.

"Malik, how long would it take for them to find Colter? I spoke with Vergil in the hallway but he did not give out any specifics. I need to know if my son is safe."

King Malik sighed and stood up from his high-back chair. "Like you, I still have no idea where he is. I have other matters that I need to attend to and with your son running away, he takes the cherry on top of this whole situation."

The Queen was hurt by the King's regard of their son missing. "He's your son too, Malik. Don't just say like finding him is just another task to be checked off on your to-do list."

"And is he not? I am running a Kingdom here, Regina. I don't need any upstarts to cause me trouble, especially when I need to be focusing on securing the safety of the Kingdom." King Malik said.

"I just hope that when Colter comes home, you will not lay a finger on him." Queen Regina said.

"What did you just say?" King Malik said quietly.

"I said, I hope that you will not lay a finger on him when he comes home."

The King could not believe how imprudent Regina was being. Before he knew it, he was standing in front of the Queen, ready to strike her.

Regina flinched at his advance, waiting for his hand to come in contact with her face, but it never came.

Malik had managed to control himself, preventing him from causing any more problems. "Can you hear yourself, Regina? Being that soft hearted wouldn't help you! If someone breaks the law, they should be prepared to pay for it. Could you not see how Colter's disappearance is causing unrest within our people?"

The King was so mad that he was already spitting in Regina's face. "Of course, you would not know because you are a fool. And wouldn't you love to see me look like a fool in front of the entire Kingdom? My own son breaking the rule that we swore to abide by. What would that make of me? If you don't see the direness of this situation, then you must be an ignoramus, just consumed by your unrealistic views of things."

"How could you say that," Regina said, her heart breaking into a million pieces. "That's not true. I care about the Kingdom and the Ecanus. You must forgot that I am one myself."

King Malik bared his teeth at her. "Then act like it."

Regina gasped at his words. Never in her entire life had she felt so small and insignificant. She had obeyed Malik for the longest time, always agreeing to whatever he said, being the perfect Queen for him. But the fact that he thinks otherwise is a cut that runs so deep not just in her heart but in her entire being.

"All my life, I have served you faithfully. I have stood by your side all these years, even when the people doubted you during your earlier years. I have supported you in anyway that I can. If you don't or won't give the slightest recognition to all my efforts to keep this family together, then I have nothing else to do." She felt angry and silent tears falling down her face. "You may be the greatest King Howard has ever had, but you were never and will never be a good husband and a good father."

With that, Regina turned around and left Malik still seething with anger.