Chapter 47 Missing Princess
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” Valtar” His deep voice resonates as he stares ahead of the plains surrounding Nayak’s southern borders. His heavy armor glinted under the bright sunlight clearly inviting the blood of his enemies. He has grown a stubble due to days of riding forward nonstop without the normal palace grooming. Under his heavy armor was a green pendant held by a golden necklace. It represents his Queen’s blessings, he misses her a lot but he is on a mission to fulfill Nati’s assignment. At the thought of her, his right hand went to the necklace and he clutched the pendant for a while. It responded to him and lightened up, it didn’t stir awake like it would have done under her touch but it still responded to him.
” Your majesty, The troops from Minister Li, Lord Ay, Lord Du, and General Koyam never arrived at the Lu fortress. It seems they have deserted us. We are short of close to three thousand men” Valtar reported immediately. He was also clad in heavy armor similar to the king but less grand. He looked a little bit angry at the situation but the King remained oddly calm, he only let out a chuckle before speaking again.
” Valtar, By the time I’m back in Nayak. I will have Seven heads displayed on the spikes at the main market in the capital. Remind me after all this” Throwing his sword on the table, he took a deep breath and poured himself a cup of tea. Valtar was a little bit confused, he knew those traitorous ministers would be among the heads but he didn’t have an idea who the other three would be.
” How many days until we reach the silk plains?” He asked after taking a sip from his tea. The silk plains were located just a few miles away from Nayaki borders and the main fortress of the Aransas. He meant to meet the barbarians there and end the war there, there was a reason why his ancestors never invaded Aransas even though the barbarians were always stirring up wars with them. He plans to keep it like that also, that was the reason why he needed to end the war at the silk plains without stepping on Aransas land at all.
Even though he was short of three thousand men already, and the enemies had the dark magic of Hwaja, he wasn’t fazed. It was a piece of cake for him. He knew of everything they were capable of including their military strength but they didn’t know anything about the Nayak army. Yes, they probably knew he had close to Fifty thousand men but they didn’t know about his secret army or the abilities that Nati gave to him. The king’s abilities are always kept a secret for the same reasons.
” Send word to the chief right now. Tell him, I will be merciful if they surrender and retreat their army now. But if they don’t, I won’t be able to control my wrath” He said to Valtar who bowed immediately. The king of Nayak has spoken.
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” The flowers are so pretty my Queen,” Annalise said immediately after we entered the palace garden. The garden used to belong to Treven’s mother, the late Queen but ever since she died, the former king forbade anyone from ever entering the garden. I loved the garden and the king allowed me to have the garden for myself. Eria’s garden skills have been useful too, she helped me with a lot in the garden. She and some other maids removed the weeds and pruned what needed to be pruned to allow the flowers to grow beautifully.
” It’s all thanks to Eria,” I said softly and took a look at Eria who was still absentminded due to the poison incident. Nobody ever said anything about it and the palace remained the same.
” No wonder, they are as pretty as she is” Annalise teased and Eria covered her face with her hair immediately, she was blushing. Something is going on between both of them.
I saw a weed and I squatted to pick it up but Annalise stopped me immediately.
” Your majesty, you can’t bend down like that. The baby” She said but I laughed, I wasn’t even that big yet. It was just a little bump and she was being dramatic.
” It’s nothing Annalise. I’m allowed a little exercise right?”
” I was wondering who was in my Aunt’s garden” We turned around at the sound of Lord Talin’s voice. He was dressed in a lemon-coloured silk and his hair was tied with a yellow ribbon. He held a hand fan as he strolled into the garden nonchalantly.
” It was just her daughter-in-law… I see” He smirked and gave me a poor bow. I don’t really like him around me, his presence creeps me out.
” How can I help you, Lord Talin?” I asked folding my arms. Thank God I was wearing a Ruqgu dress, Ever since Treven left for war, I haven’t worn the normal Nayak dress outdoors. I always cover myself as much as possible.
” No I was just walking around and I noticed the garden so I wanted to have a look not knowing I would end up finding a unique flower” He winked at me and I felt my insides recoil. What was his deal anyway?
” if you are done seeing the unique flower, can you leave us alone?” I asked politely before catching Eria and Annalise’s expression. Their gaze could mirror each other, it was as hard as steel and if looks could kill, Lord Talin might be petrified instantly.
” I actually want to pluck the beautiful flower, if it will allow me,” He said facing me directly, his lips curled up in a flirty smile and I rolled my eyes.
” You do realize I am a married woman right?” I spat and he mock gasped before bursting into laughter. I gave him a hard glare and he stopped laughing.
” It never stopped you from marrying my cousin” He shrugged his shoulder and my hands curled into a fist in reaction.
” How dare you?!”
” Relax… I was only joking Your Majesty. You are too beautiful for me to resist” He said before turning around, he walked forward and left me speechless. The nerve of that man. I caught the sight of a hornet flying away from the garden and I sighed. Great! Now Treven will know what just happened and it won’t be pretty for the little pompous Lord when the king comes back. Who flirts with a Queen anyway?
” Scum” I heard Annalise muttered under her breath and I let out a chuckle.
” I promise not to stop Treven when he comes back” I smiled evilly, and she and Eria burst into laughter. I may not be into violence that much but I have a man that will gladly decapitate someone for me.
” I bet his majesty will bring his head for you if you want” Eria blurted out which surprised me. She was loosening up finally.
A nurserymaid rushed into the garden with an alarmed look on her face. She knelt down immediately and started panicking.
” Speak,” Annalise said coldly.
” Princess Estella is missing” the maid cried and I felt all blood drained from my face. How can a baby be missing? Did she crawl out of the nursery? I still held the baby in my arms yesterday for crying out loud!
” How did this happen?” I snapped at the maid who looked like she was about to cry. They had just one job, and they failed.
” Amery changed her diapers two hours ago and I wanted to feed her thirty minutes later and then she was gone!”
” Have you searched for her anywhere?” I asked clearly getting distressed by the news.
” Yes we have searched the entire nursery but we couldn’t find her”
” The baby can’t crawl yet, right? How can you let a baby out of your sight?!” Eria almost yelled seeing the look on my face. Only Annalise was oddly calm.
” I think I might have an idea where the little princess is,” Annalise said after a deep sigh.
” What do you mean?”
” The child is with her mother. I can’t believe Meisi would stoop this low” Annalise said with a sneer.