King Manos had just woken up when he started looking for his daughter whom he remembers running out of the palace with the guards. With a miserable expression, Queen Hera reported to him that not everyone from the search party has come back yet, "Most of the guards have returned. They said they split into groups the moment they left the palace. The Princess is said to be with the General."
"And has the General come back yet?" The king followed up.
Queen Hera shook her head, "Not yet, Your Highness. They are the last group expected to return. According to the initial report, they were able to catch up with the culprit."
"Good heavens." The king cried out, "My dear Haleya, please watch over your daughter from there."
Just then, Princess Mayumi entered the King's Chamber and greeted everyone with a bow. Hera immediately stood up and approached her, checking if she was hurt, "Are you alright?"
She nodded, "I am but the General isn't. It seems like someone alerted the culprit's allies that she was being chased."
"What do you mean? Have you seen the culprit's face?" The queen asked, seemingly very worried.
"We almost caught up to her near the borders of Daran. But just as we were about to close her in and see her face, another person shot the general from the side. We had no choice but to stop. When I tried to go after her again, she was nowhere to be found." Mayumi explained, "The royal doctors are attending to the general now."
King Manos suddenly tried to stand up which made everyone worry. They all advised him to continue resting for now. But he remained restless, "How could you do that, Mayumi? Running out of the palace just like that? You made everyone worry!"
Mayumi remained silent as her father scolded her.
He continued reprimanding her with a voice full of authority and worry, "You can't just go running away like that again." His voice cracked, "You are the only thing your mother has left me with."
At that, Mayumi felt hurt. She felt sorry for her father. The idea of losing her too probably killed him inside. But she couldn't stand watching the culprit run away when she knew she could do something.
"You must know that your father worries about you very much, Princess. I do, too. Your kingdom has lost so much already. Don't add to their griefs." Hera added.
She couldn't think of anything to say. She wanted to tell the king and queen how she really felt, how she wanted to personally lead the investigation of the incident. But she was afraid it would hurt everyone who cared for her.
A knock was heard from the door of the chamber. The servant notified King Manos that the royal doctor has come to report about the general's condition. "Invite him in." the king ordered.
"Your Highness," the doctor bowed, paying respect to all the members of the royal family in the room, "The arrow that was used to shoot the general was poisoned." All of the people in the room were shocked, Mayumi at most. The doctor continued, "It is a rare kind of poison that we did not expect to still exist in our times. We do not have the cure as of the moment so, all we could do is give him first-hand treatments until we find the cure."
Mayumi was uneasy and immediately asked, "What cure are you talking about?"
"A rare mountain flower from the North, Your Highness. Its extract will instantly relieve the effects of the poison." The doctor replied.
The princess continued, "And have you sent out someone to find the flower?"
The doctor nodded and told them that the medical team have asked a group of guards to look for the flower. It would take at least three days for them to come back. Until then, the doctors would do their best to keep the general stable.
It was silent when the doctor left. Perhaps everyone was terrified that the leader of their military force was in a critical condition. The servants whispered to each other so the Queen reprimanded them and ordered them out.
When only the three members of the royal family were left in the room, the princess decided that she'd speak to her father about what she wanted to do. She turned to the queen and bowed at her, "I would like to speak to my father if you will allow it, Your Highness."
The queen was surprised at the request but immediately plastered a soft smile on her face. Bowing before the king before stepping out of the chamber.
When the two of them were left alone, the princess walked over to her father and sat beside his bed. She held his hand tightly and started speaking, "Father, I hope you forgive me for what I've done. I know you were worried because of me. But I couldn't have done nothing."
King Manos' face softened as he saw his daughter's face. He felt Haleya's presence from her, even their expression were very similar, "I understand what you mean. But it was the palace guards' duty to chase a criminal. What if it was you and not the general who was shot? Do you know that you could have died from what you did?"
But Mayumi did not show a sign of faltering on her face. She was not scared to die. It was the second time she escaped death. "Father, I was very young when Mother left us. But I did not know she was never coming back until four years later her death." She heaved a deep breath before she continued, "The day she left for that battle, she hugged me for a long time and told me that I will someday be the bravest and the greatest warrior in all of the kingdoms. And I giggled and told her that it was because she was going to teach me how to fight."
The king started tearing up at the memory of the only woman he has ever loved. On the day Haleya died, she asked her to promise that he'd take care of their children, and love them forever. But Prince Akil died under his watch, just moments after Queen Haleya asked the king to take well care of their children. King Manos fell into great depression after this, eventually disregarding his younger child as well.
He cried bitterly as he realized he failed to keep his promise to the deceased Queen.
Mayumi wiped his tears away and continued talking, "But it has been ten years and I have gotten no step closer to being the greatest warrior Mother said I would be." She chuckled bitterly, "I've only read of skills and weapons from books. But I've never even held a sword in my hand."
King Manos grasped how much he overlooked the princess. Unlike the late prince, she was never trained to be anything more than a prince who relied on the palace to protect her.
"I know you worry about me, Father. But please allow me to lead the army that would go after this masked archer. This is the only way I can be what Mother wanted me to be. And this is something I want to do."
The king was very surprised at his daughter's request. He never knew he has such desires hidden within her. She always had been a very fragile princess who stayed in her room for hours until the lights in the palace went off. The only equipment she could hold was her harp. "And how would you that? It already came from you; you don't even know how to hold a sword."
"I can learn. I will do my best to learn. Until I can fight as well as Akil or you, or maybe someday, as well as mother."
Deep in his heart, King Manos was very worried of what could happen to his daughter. But he was also very proud that she grew up to be a strong person, even if she wasn't guided very much by anybody. He couldn't do anything but agree, "It will be settled then. I will ask the high-ranking guards to fix the best group they can to train you and at the same time, be your force in this investigation. This masked archer you are saying must be from a huge group of assailants. She seems very skilled."
A grin was painted on the princess' face as she heard her father's words, "I am very happy that you allowed me to do this, Father! I will not fail you. I promise." She hugged him tightly out of gratitude.
King Manos hugged his daughter back, "You do not have to worry about failing me. I have always been proud of you. Just promise me you will stay alive in this mission."
Princess Mayumi faced her father and looked him in the eyes, "I will. For you, for mother, for Akil, and for Daran."