Alastair rode back on his carriage, his eyes wandering outside through the window. Wherever his procession passed, the people stopped and bowed, allowing him to go peacefully. Even though he was sitting inside his carriage, he could sense their fear from where he was. It was as strong as the smell of flowers in the air which had been spreading the mesmerizing fragrance as it moved swiftly since the time fate had changed.
He sighed wondering if the angel was actually born in his kingdom and if so, where she was, not that he cared about her. No. He was mainly worried that if other people, other sources found out about her then they would try to use her for her advantage, one of them including making him lose his throne. Angels were meant to have extraordinary powers, powers that could defeat creatures who were stronger than human beings. But angels had a weakness too, they were too soft-hearted.
Alastair did not want those creatures to get their hands on her before he did. He needed her safe and by his side to keep his throne safe. So, he was using all possible methods to track her down at all costs. He smiled mysteriously as he thought about all those who were plotting against him. They were under an illusion when they thought they could scheme against him in secret. Oh, how wrong were they! Alastair knew everything, everything about their plans as well as all those who were involved in it. He was not blind, nor was he dumb to not know about things happening around him.
Nobody around him except Kenneth was trustworthy. They were all power-hungry wolves and would do anything in their capacity to achieve their goals, but that did not mean Alastair would allow them to achieve it. If they were a master at planning, he was a master at ruining their plans.
Alastair was deep in his thoughts when the carriage jerked all of a sudden and came to a stop. "What happened?" He questioned his coachman from inside.
"My Lord. I apologize for the trouble. A little cat came in our way and I had to stop in order to not run over it." The coachman said, fearing the consequences of his actions.
"Be careful then," Alastair said and went back to staring outside the window. What he saw next made his eyes blink for a second. He had never seen such beautiful green eyes. They were crystal clear and just amazing. The owner of those eyes was a girl who turned her face away from him before he could see her thoroughly. All he could catch was a glimpse of her blonde hair that flew with the wind as she disappeared around the corner.
Alastair chuckled to himself when he missed seeing her face. He wondered how she looked and damn those eyes! They were the most beautiful and strikingly green eyes he had ever seen. His thoughts ran wild and the next second, he made a decision.
Alastair reached his castle after some time and directly went to have dinner. His parents were waiting for him as they sat in their respective seats. Also, there was another woman who he was all-time familiar with, Lady Eleanor.
"Good evening, Father. Mother." He greeted his parents before he sat on his chair towards his father's left who was sitting at the head of the table.
"Good evening, my Lord." The lady who was sitting beside his mother spoke when she did not receive any greeting from Alastair.
"Good evening, Lady Eleanor. It's quite surprising to see you here. Is everything alright at Duke Zale's house?" Alastair asked as the maids served the dinner.
"Yes my Lord. Everything is fine at home and my father wishes for your good health and prosperity." The woman said not detecting the sarcasm in Alastair's words.
"I never knew I was sick for the Duke to wish me good health."
Alastair's words rendered Lady Eleanor speechless. She tried to speak, but nothing came out of her mouth. Seeing the situation, Alastair's mother, Queen Daphne came to her rescue.
"Alastair, I called Lady Eleanor here to give me some company. I was bored of being alone."
"I wonder how much of a company she is. I hope she is entertaining you well and your boredom is cured. If not, tell me. I'll hire some troupe artists to perform something for you, Mother." Alastair said, not sparing the poor woman's feelings who right now did not know what to say.
Alastair's words brought a small smile to his father's face. He had guessed what his son was up to and why, unlike his wife who was still oblivious to it. His wife, Daphne was an innocent woman who found everybody else to be just like her. She was pure and naive and it was easy to trick her. But that was not the case with Alastair and his father, Ragnor. They had seen more of the world and they knew what kind of people resided there. Not everybody had good intentions at heart and one of them was Lady Eleanor and her family.
Halfway through the dinner, Alastair's father stopped suddenly. "Alastair, I have something to tell you." His words gained everybody's attention and he gave one look which made all the servants and the head butler depart from the dining hall.
"Yes, Father," Alastair asked as he chugged down a glass of water.
"Your Mother and I will be leaving the castle the day after tomorrow."
"Yes, Father. I know. Is it necessary?"
"Yes, son. It's time we move out and give you some privacy in life. Anyway, we will only be shifting to the castle behind the falls, not like we will be moving away from the kingdom."
"I know Father. But I'll miss you."
"You can come to visit us whenever you are free son," Queen Daphne added and gave her son an assuring smile.
"Yes, Mother. I understand."
"I will miss you too, my Queen." Lady Elanor added trying to appear filial before them. Although she looked sad outside, secretly she was very happy about getting rid of the old couple without her doing anything. In their absence, she could have the castle to her own and it would be easy for her to attract the young king's attention.
"You can go and stay with them if you are going to miss them, Lady Eleanor. The fall castle has a shortage of maids and my mother, the Queen would not mind your addition to the group." Alastair stated with a straight face.
"No, my King. That was not what I meant." Eleanor tried to defend herself only to be interrupted by Alastair.
"Is it? My bad that I took your words the other way. You can consider this exclusive offer anytime and the castle doors will be open for you."
Alastair's mother tried to intervene in the ridiculous conversation that was taking place before her. But her husband stopped her by holding her hand under the table and gestured her not to interfere.
"I am fine the way I am, my King." Eleanor huffed as she took another bite of her food.
"I am glad to know that. How is the Duke lately? Is he still breathing or did his soul escape his body already?"
Alastair's words made his father chuckle lightly while Eleanor looked at them in horror. If Alastair was not the king and not the man she loved dearly, she would have broken his limbs. How dare he curse her father who, in her eyes, was the greatest man ever to grace the kingdom, after Alastair of course.
"He is well and breathing, my King."
"That's sad to hear. I hope to meet him sometime along with your brother."
Eleanor missed his initial words in his statement and concentrated on the latter words. 'The king wants to meet my father. Why? Could it be...? Does the king feel the same way I do for him?' Eleanor thought secretly and her eyes twinkled in happiness, thinking about what she assumed to be the reason. "I'll make sure to let them know about it."
"That would be great," Alastair said. Though he had finished his dinner, he waited until his parents left the room before he too got up. He did not miss the cryptic smile his father gave him before he disappeared along the dark corridor.