Axelle doesn't think much of it while he saves Rheannon. As a result, he's in a lot of trouble.
How to sneak a doctor into his castle. Calls Duke Colton who lives in his ominous duchy. Not to mention the extra need of a woman noble that Axelle knew nothing about.
Then, the most important thing, and only now was he remembering, the fact that Axelle left his fire lamp at the tower yesterday.
"I can go there and clean up the crime scene, Your Highness," offered one of his knights.
"Don't!" stop Axelle quickly. "Believe me, Sir Julius, it's not a good place. Not everyone can get in and out easily."
"But Your Highness came back safely."
Axelle was stunned for a moment. It's true what the knight said. Yesterday how did I get back safely? thought Axelle. "Well, just don't go there. The other day I might have been lucky. We'd better focus on calling the doctor and calling Duke Colton."
"Very well, Your Highness."
Axelle's current hope is that Duke Colton can meet Rheannon before the Palace finds out they have lost a prisoner.
The doctor that Axelle had called arrived at noon. Just as Rheannon coughed roughly from choking.
"What did the Lady just eat?"
"Just a mouthful of porridge, Doctor."
After Rheannon calmed down, the doctor looked at Axelle sharply. So Axelle started to explain Rheannon's situation.
The doctor took a deep breath at the end of Axelle's explanation and started with his work without asking any further questions.
"Malnutrition, dehydration, hypersensitivity, trauma, what else can I say?" said the doctor, almost chuckling. "The Lady is in a very bad condition. Won't be able to return to normal in just a month or two—Your Highness knows that, right?"
Axelle nodded sadly. "Ten years imprisoned is not a short time."
The doctor took off his glasses and rubbed his face. "It takes patience in caring for the Lady. I will write everything down so that Your Highness remembers. Then if possible, I want to come here at least once every two weeks."
"Thank you, Doctor. Sorry to bother you."
"How could the King do such a cruel thing?"
"I also asked the same thing..."
The notes for treating Rheannon were quite long considering the length of time the doctor had written. While writing, occasionally he also said it.
"Right now it's better to give the Lady porridge first—which is smooth and has an appetizing aroma. The portion will be small, but don't force her to eat. Over time, the portion of her meal will increase by itself. If the Lady can't or doesn't want to eat at all, give her warm milk with honey—a sip is fine..."
"Take the Lady to sunbathe, but not in direct sunlight..."
"Train the Lady's voice. Start by telling the latest news out there or what happened while she was imprisoned. Then start by saying vowels…"
"Don't startle her. Slow down and be careful…"
"That's all for now," said the doctor at last while tidying up his equipment. "I hope the Lady gets well soon, really. There are many things I want to ask for further examination."
"Me too," said Axelle.
After the doctor returns, Axelle visits Rheannon. He sat slowly beside her, causing her to open her eyes.
"I warmed the milk for you. Would you like to drink it?" offered Axelle.
After getting a nod from Rheannon, Axelle helped her sit. Slowly and carefully, Axelle repeated in his mind.
"Want some honey?"
Rheannon seemed to like the idea. She nodded her head excitedly and her eyes sparkled.
Luckily this time Rheannon didn't choke. And although she seemed to like warm milk with honey, in fact only half a cup was all she could afford. Even so, Axelle was already happy and satisfied with it. Later Rheannon would be able to eat more.
"It's okay," Axelle said while rubbing Rheannon's head. "After this, everything will be better. Tomorrow we will go out and see the garden, shall we?"
This time, Rheannon answered with a smile.
***
The Duchy of Colton is not far from the Royal Capital Ozera. It only takes about two days to travel by carriage or half to one day by horse.
Led by Duke Ithel Colton, this duchy was a major supplier of weapons, especially swords, the finest to be found across the continent. The alleys of this region are filled with the most talented blacksmith craftsmen; men with big muscles and fierce faces, war veterans who had faced both humans and demons. This area is indeed filled with unusual people.
So that makes some people afraid to go to the Duchy of Colton. Moreover, it is said that this area does not only sell weapons and some gemstone crafts. Call it some of them are drugs, amulets, black objects for forbidden ceremonies, and humans.
Chas Colton wouldn't deny that. The territory his father ruled was as black as his name and as black as his occupation.*
*[Colton means from a dark place]
"What are you doing here, Sir? If you get lost, let me take you to the security post," Chas said to someone who looks confused in one of the narrow alley branching territories led by his father.
That was Chas' day-to-day job: snagging scared stragglers or suspicious people. For him, there were enough slanted rumors circulating about the Duchy of Colton. Please cowards don't add another bad rumor just because they're scared.
But apparently, this person is different. His eyes, the only thing visible from his face, narrowed sharply at him. Does not seem afraid and carries a certain amount of confidence.
"Lord Chas Colton?" said the man.
"Yes?"
"I'm an emissary from Prince Axelle Rexton," he whispered, tucking a letter under Chas' robes. "Please pass it on to Duke Ithel Colton."
"What? Hey—"
The stranger sped away.
A letter from the Outcast Prince. What's more, the letter was sealed with the late King Rexton IV's royal seal.
"This is a surprise," Duke Colton commented as soon as Chas delivered the letter.
"Is Prince Axelle finally intending to claim the throne?" asked Chas doubtfully. He had never met the Outcast Prince before, so he couldn't say much. However, seeing the zero movements from Axelle for almost ten years, made Chas give the Outcast Prince a negative value.
People without ambition. People who only want to live in peace.
It's not about being king. It's about bringing back what should have been and happened. After all, Chas was sure the Rexton kingdom would be much better off under Axelle's leadership than the current king.
"You know very well that Prince Axelle has no interest in power and bloodshed, Chas. He was brought up that way, only to support his older brother," said Duke Colton sensibly.
Chas snorted quietly. He was about to leave his father's study, giving him some privacy as he read the letter when he suddenly gasped.
"What is it?" Chas asked immediately.
"This…" Duke Colton's hands trembled. He looked at his son seriously then. "Rhea has been found."
"What?!"
[For Duke Ithel Colton
the Duke of Colton,
I have found Lady Rheannon Whitley. As proof, here I include a lock of her hair. The Lady current situation is not good, but I'm trying my best for her. I hope that Duke Colton could meet her at my castle—in secret, of course. Please burn this letter along with the Lady's hair after Duke Colton reads it.
Thank you for your attention.
Yours faithfully,
Prince Axelle Rexton]
A short and clear letter written in a hurry. Of course this is urgent business.
"Secretly..." Chas repeated. "That means Rhea is in Prince Axelle's hands right now and The Palace doesn't know about it."
"Or not yet," said Duke Colton. "But you know that's not the case right now."
Chas nodded in understanding.
What reason would a prince go to the trouble of rescuing a palace prisoner? Finding Rheannon must have been difficult, as Duke Colton, who had been searching and trying to save her for almost ten years, had been unsuccessful.
"Let's hope this isn't a trap. We'll make a plan to get into the castle where Prince Axelle lives," Duke Colton decided. "If this is a trap, then there is no other choice."
"Yes." Chas clenched his fists.
Rheannon, his long-lost love...