At the time when that conversation was being held at the King's palace, back at Springhill things were unfolding unprecedentedly.
"Yes my Lady. I actually didn't know that I would end up in planet Amarkale. I thought my mission was simple and straightforward. Besides, I was remaining with only three days to accomplish it. Now that I have spent one here I am afraid I might not be able to meet the dead line!" Frank explained and his eyes seemed cloudy at that prospect. He didn't know what will happen if he failed to find Noel on time.
"Wait, three days, is it as per earth time or Amarkale time?" Amila asked.
Frank thought for a while then doubtfully answered.
"Earth time, I think."
"Ana here is an enthusiast of your planet. I think she once said to me something about the time difference between us and you. Ana, what did you say, somehow I can't quite recall," Amila turned to her silent sister.
Frank looked at her hopefully. Ana's huge eyes blinked involuntarily when she looked at him.
"Ana, what's the time difference dear?" Margarita asked her kindly trying to persuade her to speak. Slowly she opened her mouth.
"Amarkale is an old planet and very small compared to earth thus it takes lesser time to complete a rotation round the sun. One complete rotation of Amarkale is roughly three hours on earth," she said and stopped as abruptly as she had started.
"Three hours? You mean one full day here equals to only three hours on earth?"
Ana merely nodded. She didn't see anything strange with that fact which she has known for a long time. But to Frank, suddenly his solemn expression changed.
I have time! I have time! He kept telling himself silently.
"My Lord, that means your three days earth time translates to 15 days here! You have fifteen days to find your mate!" Amila said cheerfully with hopes of making him even happier.
"Indeed. I shall worry no more. Even so, I still have a lot to do since I don't quite know where I am to find her!" gloom started descending again.
"There must be a reason for your mission path leading you to us. I don't think if it's merely a coincidence," the mother said. Frank took some minutes to ponder along this line. He saw the sense in the lady's words and had somehow thought about it so.
"Haven't you met before with this partner of yours?" the elderly lady asked meditatively. Frank could see that they were doing their very best to help him.
"We have. I know her so well. Her image is so vivid in my mind. Even if she is in a multitude of millions I will be able to tell her apart!"
"Bingo! That is it!" Amila shouted and ran off to her chambers.
The others were left baffled by her sudden outburst. They watched as she sprinted to her room. But she soon came back struggling with a drawing board and different tins of paint. Immediately her mother and sister understood what she was up to.
"My daughter is a talented artist. She can draw up whatever you describe. Her mind and fingers are so intricately connected that she can replicate even the remotest thought she gets into a drawing."
Frank understood as well. He watched as Amila set up her apparatus. They all gathered around her.
"Well, describe to me her facial appearance. Be as detailed as you can. Even if she has any birthmarks which you can recall mention them, right?" Amila positioned her self as she spoke. She was excited. Her moods affected all the others and they were all anxious to see this noble lady that has caused a noble Lord to come all the way from earth.
Frank cleared his throat and started describing Noel as well as he could remember. As he spoke, it was as if Noel was standing right there in front of him. His voice trembled as he described the look of her eyes, lips, hairline, eye lashes, shape of the nose, ears, cheekbones and every other detail he could remember. As he went on describing Noel, slowly an image appeared on the drawing board before them.
"What's her skin complexion?" Amila was already through with the sketch and she was now ready to add skin colour. Frank trembled. Right before him an exact copy of Noel was emerging!
"That's her! A hundred percent her!" Frank could not hold in his excitement anymore. He immediately spoke up with a shaky voice. How pleasant it was for him to see an image of Noel again. He realized just them how much he missed her.
"Wait!" Ana shouted, "Look at her Amila, we know her!" she shouted. It was the first time her voice was high.
"What?" Amila asked confused. She stood and looked at the portrait she had just drawn. Then it dawned on her and she screamed and covered her mouth in shock!
Frank was confused. "What is going on here?"
"That's Princess Nila!" The girls said at the same time.
"Princess Nila?" a more baffled Frank asked. What's wrong with these girls? This is Noel! Who the hell is princess Nila. Loudly he asked again, "Princess Nila?"
"Yes! The daughter of the Old One, our ancient king!"
The mention of the name 'daughter of the Old One' confirmed everything to Frank.
"Noel is Nila! Princess Noel, Princess Nila!" Frank confirmed. Indeed they were one and the same person.
He turned and looked at the ladies. The look on the girls faces was memorable. They looked scared and stunned at the same time. The girls looked at one another. Their mother had suddenly left the room.
Margarita headed straight to her chambers and quickly took her secret communication device. This device was meant to be used only between her husband Lord Geosefas and her, only for very urgent matters.
"My dear husband, the prophecy is fulfilled. Prince Folan is here with us!" she spoke into the device with a shaky voice. Then she fell on her bed, suddenly exhausted.
Back in the main chambers, the girls were on their knees and heads bowed. Frank was perturbed at the sight.
"My ladies, what are you doing?"
"Our respect to you, Prince Folan, our rightful ruler!"