Caleb was conflicted. He saw dark circles under his Majesty's eyes. He doesn't know if it's okay to tell this terrible news now that the problem with the unbalanced power of the nobles is becoming apparent.
But he needs to know. Besides if his majesty was someone who can't handle everything that's happening he is not someone who deserve the highest position.
"Your Majesty." Caleb started
Nicholas looked at him. "Oh you're there. Where is the Empress?"
"Your Majesty, the thing is..."
--
Alarice was so full. After he cried a river her friends just went up and asked her to go and eat in an eat-all-you-can buffet.
"Alright!! Screw all those men! Let's go and eat! That's the best way to relieve stress!!" Odessa said
And now, wearing disguise they were all walking sluggishly from drowning to all the foods they ate. They actually ate in three restaurants and one dessert shop.
"I feel sick." Olivia said as she covers her mouth to stop herself from vomiting
"I'll never do that again. I feel like I won't be able to eat for the next week. " Amara said
"That feels refreshing! We should do it more! It's been a while since I ate without inhibitions!" Alarice said cheerfully
The three of them just looked at each other and smile. They were glad that they got their friend to cheer up.
"Come one. It's night time already we should go back." Odessa said
Alarice stopped smiling.
"I don't think I wanna go back in there." She whispered
Amara sighed. They were all looking worried.
"You can always go back home." Odessa said
"You know I can't do that."
"We don't mean home country but isn't your family in here. You know you can always run into them."
Alarice smiled. She walked towards the carriage.
"Let's go. I wanna see Mom and Dad." She said
She ordered the carriage to go where her mother and father are staying.
"Just tell His Majesty that I'm going to stay with my parents." She told the servant.
She bid goodbye to her friends. The knights in front of the humble palace where her parents are staying greets her and called her parents.
Her mother saw her and hugged her immediately .
"It took you a while sweetie. Let's go inside." She said
Her mother brings her to a room and prepares hot chocolate for her. She didn't say anything and was just doing the things she used to do when she was a child. And that alone consoles her a lot. Maybe it's true that mothers have magic touches that soothes their children.
Her mother tucked her to bed while humming a song.
"You know I'm too old for these things." She said
"Sweetie, no matter how old you are, you will always be my baby." She said smiling
"You won't ask me?" She softly said
"I won't. You're tired of answering by now, right? For now, you should rest. That's what you need." She said
That night must be the most serene sleep that she'd ever have for the past years. She was sound asleep that she didn't hear the argument outside her room.
--
Came morning. She felt so refreshed and light. Her mood was much better.
Someone knock on her door before entering. There she saw her mother holding a tray of breakfast.
"How's your sleep?" She asked
"It's great. I feel so much better."
Her mother fixes her bed so she can eat breakfast. While eating the door opened and saw his father.
"You doing great?" He asked
"Yeah. I'm fine, dad."
They chat about little things while eating. After she finished her breakfast. The atmosphere began to be serious. Her mother held her hand.
"Sweetie, you always know that we'll support you whatever your decision is. That's how much we love you. And we can't have you being in pain."
Her mother started.
"Where is this going?"
"Alarice, do you want to go home?" His father asked
She looked at her parents' worried faces.
"What's this all of a sudden?"
"We know what happened. And we also know what our daughter might be feeling. If you can no longer handle it, we can take you home with us."her mother said
She shook her head. She really did made her parents worry. She sighed then forced a smile.
"Mom, Dad. I know you're worried but I'm really fine, here. This is not his first child anyway. I've already survived in here for the past years. It's because you raised me this strong that I am fine all these years. And I am still fine now. You know, I've been working on a project of giving further education for children living in poverty and arranging on how they'll get into big universities by scholarships. And it'll take time to convince the nobles and other politicians for this project. I want to help those people. I want this country to be like ours. Where status can be of little hindrance to your dreams. They deserve those things."
"But you don't deserve all these sacrifices!" Her father almost shouted
"I know. But this is our duty as royals, to be of service to those people. I'll go home in two years. I promise you, mom, dad."
"About your health. Using red roots. The one you use for contraception." Her mother was trembling
She now regret it a little. All her life, her parents treat her well like a fine jewel but she let others ruin her. She felt stupid.
"It's okay. I'll still live."
"No. Just please take this medicine. I opened the portal to the spirits and asks for the dragon fruit. It can restore your health little by little." Her mother said and put in her hands some candy like medicines
"Please, just please. If we cannot convince you to come home, just please take care of your health. Please come back to us in one piece." Her mother said holding her hand tightly.
She was a healer. That's the biggest reason this Empire wanted her. But she cannot heal herself. She can only heal others. And when she get sick, herbal medicines cannot heal her, only medicines from the spirit world can heal her. There were times when she wonders if this implies that in this world her sole purpose was to give herself to others without having to receive.
"I promise to take care of myself mother. So please forgive this unfilial and stupid daughter of yours for making a bad decision." She said
Her mother just hugged her and his father just silently watched them.
She stayed for in her parents' villa. They catch up a lot and she get to rest for a long time. After several weeks she bid her parents and friends goodbye as they went to go back to their country.
After that she stays for a day in the villa before returning to the palace. When she was finally Infront of their office she felt like she was about to enter a battlefield.
She knocked on the door. "It's me Your Majesty." She said softly
She jolted when she heard crashing sound and heavy footsteps inside.
What was that?
Then the door was frantically opened. A towering man with golden blonde hair and ocean blue eyes meets her eyes. He looks so stressed and tired as if he haven't sleep properly for months. There were dark circles under her eyes and her blue eyes was a bit dull. And there was a dark bruise on his left cheek. He lost some weight and he isn't even wearing a proper attire befitting of his position.
Although, despite his appearance Alarice still can't help but admire this man's beauty.
"What's wrong Your Ma-" she didn't finished her sentence as she was cut off when Nicholas suddenly hugged her.
"I thought you're never coming back." He said as he tightened his grip that she find it hard to breathe.