Chapter 164: Chapter 164

KAIST:

“Wait, your majesty, shouldn’t you first talk this out with us,” Tristan Abell said.

“There’s no need to talk about this. I’ve made my decision,” I answered.

I still hadn’t fully accepted the fact that this man might be my brother. My hate for him and what he did to Dahlia and I still loomed fresh in my heart.

“Your majesty, Tristan is right… Please reconsider it,” Dahlia said, holding me gently by the arm.

“What is there to talk about?”

Does Dahlia not know what the Apricus king and Count Jeteris demand me to do? Does she not realize her life is at risk?

“Prince Kaist, Livia is also my sister. I have the right to discuss what needs to be done in order to rescue her!”

I finally snapped. “And what do you propose to do? Do you want to take Dahlia to them?”

“That’s not what I am saying. If we could extract the spirit stone from Dahlia, we could just give the stone to them. There’s no need to give Dahlia in exchange for Livia. We just needed the stone and -”

“Do you know what you are saying, Count Abell? You want to put Dahlia in harm’s way? Are you really his mate?”

“Look, I don’t want Dahlia to be harmed in any way, your majesty. We could perform an extraction ritual at Laudicia. We could remove the stone from Dahlia safely and bring it to the assigned place to free Livia.”

“Is that you plan, Count Abell? Are you still hell bent on taking your revenge against us? Did you not know that Dahlia was chosen by the stone? The ritual will not work on her. Are you asking her to die in Livia’s stead?”

“Enough!” Dahlia, who has been keeping silent during our heated exchange, has finally spoken. “Both of you stop this. We won’t be able to reach a sound decision if we all shout…”

I only needed to look at Dahlia, and I could already guess what was running in her head.

“Lady Samalah, go back in your room, and stay there. This isn’t the place for you to talk.”

I was afraid that what Dahlia would say next will do her more harm than good.

I looked at her eyes. Dahlia had always been someone who never argued if she could. She had followed her father well. However, I couldn’t see a trace of that Dahlia I once knew in her. She had a resolute look in her face just now.

I knew I was in the wrong, but I didn’t want Dahlia to expose herself as the bearer of the red ruby in there. I wanted her to be safe…

I had forgotten it wasn’t my place to shield her from everything to begin with…

“Prince Kaist, I will do as you say, but don’t hide the fact from everyone that the red ruby isn’t with Dahlia Hurst anymore…”

With that, she stomped away from Sir Morland’s house and left to go to Thesla’s house where she and I had been staying.

Both Tristan Abell and Sir Casior’s eyes seemed to have caught up with what Dahlia, in Samalah’s body, had said.

“What does she mean? What do you know of the red ruby, your highness,” Sir Casior asked.

I was frightened to the core… If anyone in the village would know that Dahlia has the red ruby, she would be in grave danger!

“It’s nothing,” I said, feigning innocence. I moved towards the door, intending to come after Dahlly, but Thesla came in presently.

“Your highness, the council is ready for the meeting.”

“Alright.” I gritted my teeth in frustration. “Let’s go.”

I wanted to come right away to Dahlia’s side, but the meeting I was about to hold was of utmost importance.

I would rather wage war than hand over Dahlia to them without a fight!

Of course, that goes the same for Livia. There’s no guarantee those bastards are going to fulfill their promise even if we hand them the red ruby without any qualms…

Tristan Abell wanted to join in the meeting and so did Sir Casior. I was still very wary of those two. They had heard what Dahlia said when Sir Casior confessed, and I was afraid they’d tell the council about it in the meeting.

Thankfully, they were both sensible enough not to repeat Dahlly’s words. Maybe it was also because she had someone else’s appearance, which didn’t give her any credibility. Either way, I was glad Dahlia was safe for now.

But the real question though is for how long.

As soon as the council meeting was over, I went back to the room Dahlia was staying at Thesla’s house.

She was playing with Efiro. I can’t help but listen to a part of their conversation before I pulled out the courage to knock.

“Samalah, what happens when there’s a war?”

“A war is an awful thing, Efiro… Many people can lose their homes and go hungry. They could lose people they love…”

“People they love… Does that mean I can lose you and papa?...”

I can’t see it, but I can feel Dahlia countenance starting to get darker.

“Don’t worry… The war won’t happen,” she reassuringly said after a while.

I knocked softly by the door. “May I come in?”

“Okay,” it was Efiro who answered.

The boy was only about four or five years old. I was told he had lost his mother during a small uprising when slave traders tried to force their way into Camdress…

Somehow, he was already a bit of a war survivor, right? Do I really have the stomach to make him go through yet another war?

“Can I talk alone to Samalah, Efiro? There’s something we need to discuss seriously…”

“Alright, but don’t make her cry more, alright,” the little boy said before energetically turning the knob on the door.

Efiro was right. Dahlia was already crying. She hastily wiped away her tears as soon as I came in.

I looked around Dahlia’s room. It seemed like she had been packing some clothes.

“What’s this? Where are you going?”

“Didn’t you come here to tell me I have to go?”

I looked at Dahlia. Despite changing in appearance, she was the same old Dahlia who had been my friend since I was young. She could definitely read my mind way faster than I could hers.

“That’s right… We have to go.”

“We… Aren’t you going to lead this war?”

“I’ll come back after I have seen with my own eyes that you have been sent safely away.”

“And where would ‘away’ be?”

“Dahlia, I wrote a letter to your father. He will be coming to meet you tonight.”