The chapel was located on the first floor, so they had to descend once more. Ronan and Arielle saw some nobles were praying there. Those who were surprised by the presence of King Ronan immediately stepped aside to make way for the two people to sit on the front bench.
Ronan chose a seat behind Arielle. He noticed how Arielle sat in front of him, praying silently. Arielle's white hair shone brightly in the dim lighting. Ronan took off his mask to join in the prayer. He didn't know how to pray. He just followed Arielle's movement to look down then closed his eyes.
Hearing the sound of sobbing, Ronan lifted his head and saw Arielle's body shaking in front of him. He didn't know if she was shivering or crying. Immediately, Ronan put his mask back on.
Without thinking, he took off his warm coat and then draped it around the girl's back from behind. Arielle, who was surprised, looked up to look back.
Ronan's guess was right, as the girl was sobbing. Her face was wet with tears. Ronan raised his hand and wiped the tears with his thumb, cleaning the girl's face again. But accidentally he touched the red lips again.
"What made you cry?"
Arielle's sad eyes turned to look at the illustration of a painting of a mother holding her child.
"I miss Tania. I hope she's okay… Tania is my only family…"
"Princess, there is no need to worry. I have ordered the soldiers to look for Tania and the group of bandits that attacked you back then…"
Arielle froze. She looked at the eyes behind the mask, but because Ronan had his back to the light, she couldn't see anything. Arielle did not expect that she would be treated like this.
She often heard stories about how brutal King Ronan was when he defeated the dragons. However, in front of her actually stood a really good man. This man treated her much better than her own family.
Arielle touched Ronan's hand, which was still resting on her cheek.
"Thank you," she said with a genuine smile.
Arielle wiped the rest of her tears. She felt ashamed to cry in front of a king. Arielle was not an emotional person. She never cried. No matter how bad the treatment she must endure, she could always find a glimmer of hope to stay happy.
But the emptiness of her heart without Tania was something new. Tania had always been by her side. When her siblings ostracized her, Tania would come with new paints and teach Arielle painting techniques.
One day, on her tenth birthday, Tania invited a painter to teach Arielle to paint. The maid said the painter was an acquaintance of her, so they didn't have to pay. Since then, Arielle spent her spare time sketching on blank papers, or painting if they had the money to buy a canvas and paints.
That sounded weird, didn't it? How could a princess of a great empire like Nieverdell didn't have the money to afford a canvas?
What many people outside the palace didn't know was…. Arielle was just the youngest daughter whose existence was not acknowledged.
She would only get a gift when it's the king's or queen's birthday. Even her own birthday was never celebrated, except at the debutante party because, even if her family hated her, she was still a descendant of royalty who had the right to be introduced to society.
Ah, Arielle's debutante party was a nightmare. The queen half-heartedly organized it. She invited only a few people. The only ones present were lower-class nobles that Arielle didn't even know.
The King and Queen were also absent. Only Prince Alexis attended the event to greet his old friend. Then, after meeting his friend, Alexis immediately disappeared somewhere. Arielle's sisters were busy inciting other guests not to accept Arielle into their circle of friends too.
Sigh.
Arielle got up and took off King Ronan's thick coat.
"Hmm?"
"Ah, I think mine is warm enough," Arielle said politely.
Ronan noticed Arielle's cheeks were getting redder, and steam was starting to emerge from her mouth when she breathed or spoke.
"It's getting late, which means the temperature will slowly drop," said Ronan as he put his coat back on Arielle. He even put on the coat hood on her, so that Arielle got drowned by the big coat.
"Have you finished praying?"
"Yes..."
"Is there anything else you want to do?"
Arielle thought for a moment, as her fingers clasped. She hesitated to convey her request. "Um… maybe I should go back to my room while waiting for news about Tania."
"If that's what you want, then let me escort you."
Arielle walked behind Ronan. The two of them passed several nobles who had just come to pray. The men stood up and then bowed at Ronan. Arielle, who had never received the attention of many people, hid her face with Ronan's coat.
On their way out, the two of them met a priest who was in charge of the afternoon blessing. After Arielle was briefly blessed, Ronan led her to walk towards the west building where the Whitethorn palace was located.
A man seemed to be rushing towards Ronan. This made Arielle have to stop her steps, waiting for Ronan to talk to the man. That man was William, one of the knights and the right-hand man of King Ronan.
"Princess Arielle's maid has been found. Several guards accompanied her resting at the inn near the town square. "
"Tania?" asked Arielle in surprise.
The man turned to Arielle, who suddenly grabbed his arm.
"Yes. The woman said her name was Tania Wilson."
"Tania… where is Tania now? Please take me there."
"Princess…."
"Your Majesty. Please… if it really is Tania, I want to see her right now…." Arielle pleaded with Ronan.
The panicked princess now grabbed Ronan's arm and gripped it tightly. The king held Arielle's hand so that the girl could calm down.
He couldn't let Arielle go out of the palace now. The night was coming soon, and the temperature of Nortendell at night was always below 0 degrees Celsius. People from the sun kingdom certainly wouldn't be able to last long outside in that cold weather.
"Calm yourself first. It's getting dark, and Tania has also been guarded by palace guards, which means you will meet her soon. Now, Princess, you should rest and let us bring her here."
"But… Tania…."
Arielle's eyes started to water. She let go of Ronan's hand and lowered her head sadly. Arielle just wanted to meet Tania as soon as possible. It's not that she didn't believe King Ronan's words, it's just that she's worried sick without knowing what happened to her servant.
Arielle bit her lip to stop herself from crying. She realized that she had to know her place. She was just a prisoner here. She forbade herself from crossing the line after receiving their kindness. Naturally, as a prisoner, she should be grateful for being treated well. She couldn't bother them any further.
She nodded, "I-I'll go back to my room..."
Ronan continued to watch Arielle's back, who was walking away. During the walk with him, Arielle held the bottom of his oversized coat, yet after hearing the news, the girl allowed the bottom of Ronan's coat to sweep the floor.
Ronan turned to William, his personal bodyguard, and assistant.
"Prepare my horse. I'm going to the town square with Princess Arielle."
"Your Majesty, I'm sorry, but today you haven't worked at all. Your study has been piled up with several requests from the dukes regarding their matter. And reports of problems at the Thibes border need your attention."
"William… I don't like repeating orders."
William let out a long sigh then nodded. "Very well, Your Majesty. As you command."
"Good."