Chapter 34: Scavenger Hunt


    "The scavenger hunt was created by me after all," His Majesty said. Is he really going to reveal his


    identity to a stranger he just met? I remained quiet as I let him continue speaking. "The scavenger hunt


    for the Blue Tear Jewel was my idea."


    How do I respond to this?


    "...I see."


    "You do not think I may be lying?"


    "You do not seem to be the type to lie to me, kind Sir," I said as I drank my second cup of tea. "Even if I


    asked for a hint, I doubt that you would hand it over to me so easily."


    "You are quite interesting. How about I give you a hint if you are able to urately guess my


    upation?"


    I already know where the jewel is and His Majesty being a King...


    "You are a Noble..."


    "Why do you say that?"


    "Your clothes are of high quality from how the thickness of the fabric that they do not belong to a simple


    merchant..."


    "I would not say that you are wrong...Now, what do I do as a Noble?"


    "Order people around?"


    "...The way you phrase it makes me sound like a tyrant. I am actually the King."


    He revealed it...


    "You are King as much as I am a Duke''s Daughter..."


    His Majesty chuckled softly.


    He really does not look his age. Some might suspect that he is in his early twenties with his looks and


    demeanor. If only he would make gentle looks like this more often, maybe he would not be


    misunderstood so often.


    "Your Majes...Sir Arun!" Father called out.


    I quickly tried to hide under my hat.


    "Oh, Triton..."


    Triton is my father? His name is Triston Fire Maddox...my father being called Triton must be a


    nickname then. They seem very close. Even His Majesty seems rxed in front of my father.


    "Your Majes... Sir Arun, please call me by my name."


    My father fumbled twice.


    "We have known each other for a long time."


    "That is no reason to...May I ask who this individual is?" Father asked.


    I quickly bowed my head towards my father. I felt his hard stare bore a hole through me.


    "A conversationpanion," His Majesty replied.


    "...You cannot keep leaving the premises like this."


    "I created the scavenger hunt in order to have some leisure time. With everyone out and about, most


    seats are free."


    Devious King...


    "You and your whims..."


    My father sighed.


    "I will follow you if you let me borrow some money," His Majesty said. He ced down some money


    onto the table. "Thank you for amodating me."


    When they left, my father looked back once.


    I am really sorry...


    I went home for a bit and left before dawn broke. I wore a short brown wig and had my climbing


    equipment on me before I left in a hurry.


    Just in case anyone would see me, I wore a half face mask.


    I secured a climbing route with the grappling hook and rope and began climbing the statue. After


    climbing to the top of the base, I reached my hand out towards the little bird statue and rubbed one of


    its eyes.


    A natural sparkle came from the beautiful jewel. I tied my waist to the statue and began picking at it


    with the tools I had avable. The jewel into my hand and was ced into a pouch I made earlier. I


    undid the rope and slid down the base of the statue.


    The climb was rather exhausting, so I went back home to rest.


    In the morning, I wiped myself with a washcloth and dressed myself in a long light pink and dress with a


    white ruffled neckline, circr flounce sleeves, and an A-line skirt with ruffles in the back. I added a


    whitece choker and half parted my hair back with arge white ribbon.


    Ste had called me down for breakfast with my family. Seeing my father eat in the morning was a rare


    sight. He usually set off for the castle early in the morning.


    "Good morning, Father and Mother," I said as I delivered a light curtsy.


    I joined my father and my mother at a very quiet table.


    "...Arielle," Father called.


    "Yes, Father?" I answered him.


    "...Do you have hobbies like that?" he asked with a worried expression.


    He did notice...


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "What do you mean by that, Father?" I asked him while ying innocent.


    "Never mind..."


    It is better that we both forget about it.


    "I have business to attend toter today," I told my father. "I will be back before dinner."


    "Be careful then," Father said.


    "Yes, Father."


    I had Ste my maid apanies me to the castle in a horse drawn carriage. She handed a guard my


    letter. We were both brought in immediately and sent to afortable waiting room with tea and


    snacks.


    Within a few minutes, we were greeted by His Majesty. His usual clothes were of a higher upgrade than


    when he snuck out of the castle.


    I quickly did a curtsy and greeted him. His Majesty remained silent.


    When I took a peek at him, he seemed to look very surprised. I wondered if I did anything to offend


    him. His expression soon changed to a gentler tone.


    "Wee, Lady Arielle. It is a beautiful day outside. Would you care to join me in the garden?" His


    Majesty asked.


    "I would be honored to join you, Your Majesty."


    We sat underneath arge tree in the center of the garden.


    "It has been a while since I have seen you..."


    "Yes...I have note to visit you to for some time due to my studies."


    "...You have be much like your mother."


    Mother?


    "Do you know of my mother?" I asked His Majesty.


    His Majesty''s gaze followed a blue butterfly that flew across the table.


    "Your father and mother are good friends of mine," His Majesty said with a mncholic expression.


    "I see..."


    It feels like a topic I should not delve into too much.


    "I hear that you have something?"


    I took out the pouch in my pocket and revealed the light blue tear drop jewel.


    "I found the jewel in the eye of a bird at the Statue of Gis."


    "Gis was a Saint who blessed thend with bountiful fresh water through praying for three days


    straight. Whenever she prayed, a flock of beautiful doves would always gather in front of the church...It


    served a rather good purpose as a good hiding spot."


    "...Is it alright to desecrate such a monument?" I asked worriedly.


    "I only carved out one of the bird''s eyes. It was not like I harmed the saint herself."


    I think that still counts...


    "Your Majesty used several hints from the past few years in order to point it towards one location. In


    reality, Your Majesty never intended it to be found until there were enough hints gathered. Otherwise, it


    would have been impossible to find."


    "I wanted just a few days to be free from obligation of a King...When I was young, it was expected that


    the oldest sibling would be King."


    "Your Majesty was the oldest then?"


    He shook his head.


    "No, I was third in line to the throne. Not many people thought that I would ascend to this position, so I


    was left to my own free reigns without much attention by my parents nor my attendees. I was allowed


    to go wherever I wanted, eat whatever I desired, y to my heart''s content, associate with whoever I


    wanted to, and fall in love with whoever I wanted. My peace eventually ended when my eldest brother


    died from a chronic illness and my second eldest brother let his greed lead to his own downfall."


    "I see..."


    "I do not think I was particrly very close to them because our mothers were all different people, but I


    remember our conversations always being pleasant when were together."


    "Was it difficult bing King?" I asked His Majesty.


    "I had to give up a lot of things such as my freedom, my time, and my love for my duty. The previous


    King forced an engagement on me with a youngdy of a powerful family. At the time, I was already in


    love with a girl my age. I was unable to love her because I needed the use of that other youngdy''s


    help since I grew up without making connections with anyone. I never knew how important such a thing


    was until I suddenly became first in line for the throne...It was due to my ipetence that I had to rely


    on my own wife to get people to gain power and watch the one I loved the most walk into the arms of


    another man."


    "Did you not love your wife, Your Majesty?"


    "I eventually grew to care about her...Our simple feelings for each other evolved and our son was born


    because of that."


    Just like in the case with His Majesty''s marriage, he eventually fell in love with his marriage partner. I


    also fell for Prince Erik until muchter in our engagement.


    I want to support Prince Erik like thete Queen and His Majesty. However, I want to save Prince Erik


    even if it means I have to save him from me.


    "What would you like to wish for?" His Majesty asked.


    I felt as though my throat narrowed as I tried to release the words from my mouth.


    I looked deeply into the eyes of His Majesty.


    "I wish to end my engagement with Prince Erik. It is fine to reduce me back to a marriage candidate in


    order to appease those around us. I just wish to not be engaged any further to Prince Erik," I said as I


    went on my knees.


    "Off your knees, Child..."


    His Majesty helped me up back into my seat.


    "I apologize if this seems rude. I just wish not to be engaged to Prince Erik. He is a wonderful individual


    indeed, but I would like to decide my own husband for myself."


    "I suppose that asking you if you would change your mindter on would be an insult...It is rather


    unfortunate to let you go. If you do not mind me asking, say that you were to fall in love with my son,


    would you give him another chance?"


    "I think considering his personal feelings is the most important matter..."


    His Majesty handed me back the blue jewel.


    "I hope that you will ept it," he said.


    His Majesty is a strange King.


    "I am very grateful, Your Majesty," I said with a smile.


    This time, my heart felt relieved. I no longer felt the need to run away or hide anymore from Erik. Now, I


    can protect him from the sidelines.


    The old Erik told me to abandon him. There is just no way that I could possibly do that. Just like how he


    gave everything to save me, I will do the same.


    I was led out by an escort. Behind us, Prince Erik hade out of a corridor with a group of officials.


    He was discussing various budget issues while turning towards the direction of His Majesty.


    I turned towards him once, bowed my head, and did a curtsy in his direction.


    He probably did not see me, but that is fine...We are officially strangers now.


    When I returned home, my tears naturally fell from my face. I was sad how my engagement ended so


    easily by my own hands.