Chapter 11: The Heir's Return I
Donald reached and froze unseeing Reina standing there looking unfazed, weak and lost some weight. He couldn't believe his eyes, she was alive! He won't say alive and well but she was alive, he looked at Waylen who also had to rush over when he heard the news.
"Reina? you're here, you're okay? He seemed very concerned and happy that she was. He held her hand to check if it was truly Reina
"Your Highness" She purposefully called him that just to enjoy the look on his face at the moment "Yes I am very much okay," She said moving away from him to look around, Donald stood there puzzled.
"Are you looking for something?"
"My parents" She outright said without batting him an eye "Tell them I'm here, I'm home!" She exclaimed but paused when she saw the looks on their faces.
Rowan stared at her like she had gone crazy, Waylen looked down to avoid her gaze. Donald shook his head in sadness
"My dear," He started, placing his hands on her shoulder "How about you go and settle in, rest, eat, and out of these clothes then we will talk"
"Wh... what do you mean?" She pulled away again from his hold "Where are my parents? King and Queen?"
Donald had an unsettling look on his face but hid it perfectly and motioned for Lydia who was trying hard not to be seen to take Reina in, she came and reached for Reina who glared at her.
"You are not answering my questions, where are they? Mother?!" She started to call out and walk towards their chambers in haste.
Donald and his sons went after her but she didn't stop until she got to the door of her father's chamber.
The guards had stopped her when they initially thought it was some deranged person, but later let her through after they recognized her. The same thought that went through everyone's mind went through theirs, shocked to see the princess who went missing months ago. Reina walked in already knowing what she'll walk into but also internally hoping that, that witch played mind games with her, but he wasn't playing with her as what he had shown her, was what she was seeing right now. They had re-done her fathers' room and his special sword which she remembers usually hung on the wall wasn't there any longer.
She turned towards the door, they were all standing there with troubled looks on their faces. "Th... the sword? the walls? Why is everything different?" She slowly asked, it was clearly an act which they didn't know.
"My lady?" Lydia walked forward and wrapped her arm around her shoulder "Please come with me" She urged and to her joy, Reina followed stiffly.
Reina had to make it look like she had no idea about what was going on. But she had to let Lydia know that she was aware of the situation so she followed.
Lydia took Reina to her room, it was clean and nothing has changed, the windows were open "I clean it every day" Lydia mentioned with a big smile making Reina sit, she went to prepare a bath for her. Reina looked around, it still felt like it's only been twenty-four hours since she left, but her parents' death keep proving her otherwise. Five of being away from home was like closing her eyes and opening them-Literarily- to find Home gone, this is just a castle to her now. She can be thrown out at any moment, but she was not going to let that happen
"My lady" Lydia called out to Reina who was standing by the terrace. Reina turned and walked back into the room.
"The bath is ready. God in while I prepare you something to eat" She said.
"My parents are dead. aren't they?" Reina questioned to see Lydia freeze by the door "Answer me"
"My lady, who told you that?" Lydia asked in a hushed tone, it was still an unbelievable situation for Lydia that the King and Queen vanished or even died, and things are now complicated as Reina is back being the heir to the throne again, she didn't know how Reina found out, neither does she know how to explain to the princess that she has no idea if they were alive or not.
"Yes or No?" Reian questioned ignoring Lydia's own question.
"I... I don't know" she looked at Reina with pity and guilt "They also disappeared months after you did" She explained.
"No trace? like me? Was it during the day?"
Lydia nod, it was hard to explain how a war broke out of nowhere and things started going wrong the castle was invaded, the soldiers were not prepared, and they had no strategy, they had to take the King and Queen to safety but they disappeared never to be found along with the coach. The council had to take an immediate decision on making Donald King since he was the closest relative to King Zeus. Ever since that, life in the kingdom and castle became miserable, they've been through hell, and everything changed. Donald and his sons were cruel, changing and banning some rules that didn't sit well with them.
"I'll get the food" She said and walked out closing the door.
Reina sat quietly inhaling deeply, a tear falling down her cheek, how can everything be gone? Getting up, taking off the clothes she was wearing, she discarded them and walked into the bathroom. Letting her body sink in, as she felt so dirty, she felt a sense of relief, she was physically and mentally exhausted.
----
Gael sat at the edge of a long table, his legs crossed atop each other on the table with a glass at hand, with some men on both sides of the table, looking like they'd piss their pants, terrified but still gaining some courage to speak, taking turns. A servant came beside Gael and lowered himself to his ear whispering. He paused, eyes widening slowly as he listened, he kept his calm and dropped the glass and his legs before walking out without a word, the men heaved a sigh of relief like they'd been holding their breaths not to offend the man. They looked at each other puzzled, what news was brought to him to make him leave the table in such haste? They all wondered but were also happy he left, now they could drink as much as they wanted in peace.
Gael rushed out hoping into the carriage waiting for him "To the palace" He said in haste. The coachman hurriedly head the lead rope and got the horses galloping.
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