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At The Kingdom Of Glacier |
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"Sire! Sire!" Royal Advisor Curt rushed in through the stable door.
The neighing by the horses caused by the presence of the Royal Advisor. But there was one horse he had wished to avoid at all cost during the past few weeks.
"Why do you interrupt my bonding session?" The King asked, stroking the mane of his Lipizzan horse. The sudden neighing by his horse, hollowing of it's body as it shook it's head from the caressing hands of his master upon sighting the Royal Advisor, the wooden brush falling off the King's grip, causing the King to be weary about his advisor.
"What is going on boy?" The King held onto it's nasal bone, calming it down slightly.
°What is this stupid horse's problem?° Royal Advisor Curt looked on at the horse in contempt.
"Sire, is it safe if I get closer?" Royal Advisor Curt stood at a distance, clearly waiting for the signal that it was safe to do so. "I thought Sir Xander is domesticated."
"As you said before, we have known each other for a long time, you of all should know better." The King answered as he ignored the first question. "I personally trained him since he was a little foal. Horses can read human facial expressions and Xander here has a keen eye for suspicious activities or people." The King emphasised on the latter part
"Sire, are you suggesting I might be against you?" Royal Advisor Curt asked in disbelief.
°I don't know who to trust anymore° He shook his head at the thought.
"So, what brings you here?" The King shut him up coldly.
"Sire, it is note," Royal Advisor Curt advanced towards the King but stopped at the sight of the horse taking a defensive position in front of his master. "Maybe I would just read it out loud, if that is alright with you."
"What is it about? If it's nothing of importance, do attend to-" The King had began.
"It's news about your daughter." Royal Advisor Curt lips went into a thin line as he expected the worst.
"What does it say,?." The King hastenly replied. "Go on, read it."
Clearing his throat, opening the red signet ring seal on the note.
"You should be honoured you could get this note, King Fabian. We would like to send our gratitude for sending in your daughter to us..." Royal Advisor Curt paused.
"How dare he make it seem it is was I who would have thought of their dubious crime. Who does he think he is?" The King raged, "You may continue."
"Your daughter is safely with us in our kingdom, for now! Do not make any funny actions or this might cost her, her life." The tone of Royal Advisor's faded off at the latter part as he reread it with his eyes once again.
°This wasn't part of the arrangements we made!° Royal Advisor Curt thought.
The King's curiosity sparked on the news report. "Where did you get this?" he observed the note which hung loose in his finger.
Yet again the countenance of his Royal Advisor changed, his eyes darting elsewhere.
"I'm listening." The King spoke, curious to listen to the new excuse he might cook up.
"We found it along the path which leads to the Mirage Forest." Royal Advisor Curt replied, never making eye contact.
°The Mirage Forest again?° The King looked on in frustration.
"Any clues on their whereabouts?" The King queried.
"Not yet Sire, we're doing all we can, our skilled men are capable."
"You may excuse me then, I would like to continue with Xander." The King needed some time to think over the loopholes that were lying around.
"As you wish Your Majesty." He bowed, the horse's neighing causing him to hurriedly back away.
°Why was she taken now? I'm so sorry Amelia, I failed you and I failed our daughter also° The king shook his head, bending over to pick up the brush. He began stroking the horse's mane.
"Do you know why I love your mane?" The King whispered to the horse.
In response to his question, it neighed shaking it's head.
"I knew you would be curious too." The King smiled, "Your mane reminds me of my Aria, I remembered the time I would stroke her long silky snow-white hair."
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° Flashback °
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"Father?" Little Aria winced in pain, sitting down on her Royal blue chair decorated with golden spirals at the feet as she looked in the mirror.
"Yes darling?" The King hummed to a melody as he attempted brushing his daughter's hair for the first time.
"You are pulling on it too tight!" she laughed, brushing his hand away from her hair. "Here let me show you."
The King watched as his daughter dug in the comb into her hair, pulling it down slowly in meticulous strokes.
"Do I look old to you?" Aria questioned.
"What makes you think that?" The King put an arm on her shoulder, squeezing reassuringly.
"So why does my hair have this color, father?" Dropping the comb, Princess Aria looked up at the mirror, aiming at his reflection.
"It's just a gift of nature, darling." The King replied.
"I don't know..." Her voice trailed. "Maybe I need a haircut." She held onto hair looking at it in contempt.
"That shouldn't be all the options left in this world." The King tried playing it off.
"You don't, when mother was still alive she didn't also, the only time I see my kind of hue is on aged citizens or some of the servants." She pointed out.
"You've got a keen eye." The King smiled as he ruffled her hair.
"'Hey! You're ruining my hair." She crosses her hands over her hair.
"I thought you didn't care about it just a while ago?" The king mocked, wiggling his brows.
"I don't but I put a lot of hard work to maintain this hair." She replied in her defense.
"Exactly my point, we all put in effort in what we care about. So could you embrace your uniqueness." The King turned her chair so she faces him directly instead of seeing only his reflection.
Squatting to face her directly, he pulled the chair a little closer to himself. "Do you know what really counts?"
"What?" Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"it's what is inside that counts." The King placed his palm on her chest.
"Here?" She did the same for her father, to which he nodded, on the verge of tears.
"Always remember this, I would always love and care for you irrespective of what hair color you have and protect you to the best of my ability." He pulled her into a hug.
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° End of Flashback °
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"I will always protect you, I will always love you." His voice trailed, still in a daze.
Xander nudged him in the chest with it's head as it neighed faintly, pulling him back to reality, causing the King to let out a bit of a chuckle at the antics of his horse.
"I love you too Xander." He placed his forehead against it's nasal bone. "At least I have someone I can trust apart from my daughter."
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