I reached Mournacha after two days. I was pretty exhausted. My injuries were better but they hadn't healed fully yet. As soon as I entered the city, I walked straight to the Inn where Adam was staying. Fortunately, he was present when I arrived. I joined him at the table and we had a dialogue.
"You look awful Case. Must be one nasty demon." Adam said.
"When is it not," I said.
"Yeah. That is right." Adam said.
"How is the king?" I asked.
"Quite well. He woke up the day after you left. He expects you and so does the princess." Adam said. "She asks me all the time about your whereabouts. Whether I heard something or not."
"I see. Then I guess I should pay a visit. But before that, there is something I need to tell you." I said.
"What is it?" Adam asked.
"Somebody used an innocent man to be a host for a vile parasitic demon," I said. "And later used his innocent daughter, who was completely cornered to curse the king. Because she was told that it was the only option to save her father. Rather what it did was, that it made the demon stronger."
"Damn that is completely insane," Adam said. "But what was the motive, I mean why use innocent people when he had many other options to target the king. Or was the king not the target?"
"I don't know what the motive was. And I sure as hell have no idea who is behind all this" I said. "Dark powers were never this chaotic before."
"What you are going to do?" Adam asked.
"I will find the person behind all of this. And will put an end to it." I answered.
"Well, you can think about that later. The king wants to see you. He wishes to reward you." Adam said.
I was not surprised. So I followed Adam to the castle. When we arrived, princess Sharina greeted us.
"Good to see you back Case. Hope you sorted out the problem." She said.
"Indeed Princess. And I am glad to hear that the king is doing well." I answered.
"Again with the formalities. I told you to quit them." Sharina said.
"My apologies," I answered.
After a while, the king summoned us to his room. He looked much better the last time I saw him. But was still very weak.
"Ah, my boy. It has been such a long time. It is good to see you in good health." The king said.
"Thank you, my lord. It is good to see you in good health as well." I said while bowing at the king.
"Ah. It is all because of you my son. Otherwise, God knows what would have happened?" The king said.
"I wouldn't have allowed it. Not on my watch." I said.
The king gave a warm smile to my comment.
"Please leave us alone." The king asked the princess and the rest of the people.
We were alone in his room.
"Take a seat Case." The king told me.
I sat down and listened to what he wanted to say.
"Has been two years already. Since that unfaithful day." The king said.
"After two months, it will be three," I said.
The king looked at me.
"I heard of your ventures. How you defeated the six fiends of chaos. How you avenged Gerrid." The king said. " But I wish to ask you this. How are you doing Case?"
The king had a stern face when he asked that.
"I am okay my lord. Nothing more nothing less." I answered.
"I see. Case, I wish to give you an offer. But before I present it, I must tell you this. Your master saved my life. Before he settled in that small village, he was one of my cherished generals. A warrior whose might was unmatched. He defeated many adversaries of mankind in his prime. But then one day he asked to be relieved from his duties and isolated himself. Even though he left me, I still carried the same respect and honour for him. As he did for me."
I listened patiently and did not comment. Master was a mystery. Sometimes, I used to get curious about his life and wanted to know more about him. He was my only family after all. But later I learned that there are some secrets that die with a man and it is better not to dig them out. Every man has a right to keep them hidden or share them out of his own consent. If he wanted to tell me, he would have.
"This life of Celibacy that you people follow. I hate to tell you my child but it is a prison. It will rot you from the inside until there is nothing left but an empty corpse." The king said. "I saw darkness break him. There was no life in his eyes. This cursed path followed him everywhere and never let him have peace. And once a noble warrior died such a horrible death. Poisoned, brutally murdered. Nobody knows the sacrifices he made for all of us."
The king's words replenished my guilt. I kept looking at the floor without uttering a single word. But the offer he placed on the table, made me raise my head.
"Case, how would you like to be the king of this country?" The king asked.
I raised my head in shock. I just could not believe what he was saying. But then again the answer popped right into my head. I knew without a doubt what I had to say.
"Marry my daughter. And rule this country. You are worthy of this title and the country needs a king like you." The king said. "These old bones can help me survive for just a few more summers. And while I am gone, I wish to see a worthy successor on the throne."
"My lord, I am deeply honoured that you have considered me worthy of such a prestigious title," I answered. "But a man like me. I don't deserve it. With all due respect my lord, I am not worthy of Princess Sharina. So I must decline."
The king sighed. And looked at me.
"Don't be too hasty to come to a conclusion. Take the night to think. And answer me tomorrow." The king said.
"My lord." I bowed to the king and left the room. While I rested in the room I was given, somebody knocked on the door at night. I opened it and saw Sharina outside.
"Princess," I said. She was in her nightgown. Her eyes were glistening.
"Will you walk with me?" She asked.
I humbly agreed to her offer. We both walked through the palace garden and talked.
"I suppose my father spoke to you already." She asked.
"Indeed. So I was right to think that you were the one who requested me to be the king." I said.
"Actually, the request was to marry you. But he was the one who liked the idea of seeing you as the king." She said. "So what did you say?"
"I declined. But the king gave me the night to think again and answer him tomorrow." I said.
"Why did you say no? Am I that unworthy?" Sharina asked. She showed a little disappointment on her face.
"It is not you who is the unworthy one, princess. People dream of marrying a woman like you. Not because of your status but because of your personality. Radiant, kind and feisty. Your aura is pure and unique. That is all that comes to my mind when I think of you."
"You flatter me." The princess said. Then she turned to me and spoke.
"Then why say no?" She asked.
"It is me. You don't deserve a man like me. I am the unworthy one." I answered. "You and the king are among the few who know my secret. Even then you want me to hold such a prestigious title."
"Case, that is not what I think. Look I know you since we were children. I know your heart. I know who you are. And I think you are worthy." She said. "Is it because of what happened to Gerrid? Case it was not your fault. You were young and naive. You had no hand in his death. Stop blaming yourself."
"How can I? Just denial won't change the past. It was me who killed him. I let my emotions rule my head and refused to see the truth." I answered.
"Case, it is over. You avenged him. You don't have to be in pain." She held my hand and looked into my eyes. I could see her green eyes glistening. She wanted me. But I had different intentions.
"It is over. Come home Case. Come back to me." I freed my hand.
"It is not over. I shall answer you and your father tomorrow. Till then, good night Princess."
The princess lowered her head to my answer. And spoke.
"Very well then. Good night Case." She said and left me alone.