In the tranquil stillness of the night, we camped near a shimmering lake, far from any village or town. The gravel road we had been following seemed to stretch endlessly, and the wilderness embraced us with a comforting silence.It has been two days since we left Evergrove. Yesterday night, they took shelter in an inn in the small town of Thornbrook. We arrived quite late. And early in the morning, we already hit the road. Before sunset, we made camp near the lake, not far from the gravel road we had been passing through.Unable to resist the allure of the moonlit scenery and to clear my head, I slipped away from camp, my steps guided by the moon's ethereal glow. The full moon hung like a radiant pearl in the midnight sky, casting a silver sheen over the landscape.I settled on a smooth rock by the water's edge, mesmerized by the moon's reflection dancing on the lake's surface. The cool night air caressed my skin, and I marveled at the beauty of the world around me.As I rubbed my palms together to warm them, my fingers brushed against something around my wrist. It was a delicate bracelet that I distinctly remembered taking off. My heart quickened as I realized it was the same bracelet Lord Ravenscroft had put on me during our unexpected encounter at the jewellry shop.I frowned, trying to make sense of how it had returned to my wrist. My encounter with Lord Ravenscroft had been intriguing yet unsettling. His intense gaze seemed to search my soul, and the bracelet, he had asked me to try it. And I remembered I had already returned it before leaving the shop. Now, realizing it was circling my wrist, the moonstone bracelet had left me grateful and uneasy.Lord Ravenscroft had mentioned something about destiny intertwining our paths, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to our meeting than a mere coincidence. The memory of his parting words lingered in my mind, leaving me with a mystery surrounding our future interactions.My thoughts drifted to the quest that bound me to Alexander. My heart tugged in conflicting directions, torn between the emotions that tied me to him and the need to flee. I have been questioning my feelings and the complexities of our relationship. Sometimes, my heart would betray me as I could no longer summon the hate I once felt for Alexander.As I stared at the moon's reflection on the lake, I found solace in its serene beauty. The moon seemed to hold secrets of its own, a silent witness to the countless tales of love and longing throughout history. Perhaps, like the moon, I, too, had my destiny to fulfil, my own story to embrace. The question is, what? How does my story end here? Alexander seemed busy with his quest and mine while neglecting Seraphina and Ariella. Not once did he mention their name after I've once brought it up. Had he forgotten them so easily?"Princess!"A familiar chirping sound makes me turn away. The furball! I missed him dearly! As Tumblefluff nuzzled against my cheek, I felt a sense of joy and comfort wash over me. I totally forgot that I needed to meet this creature!"Oh, you little rascal! How I've missed you," I said, gently stroking the small monster's soft fur.Tumblefluff made some adorable noises, and I couldn't help but smile. "I'm glad you're doing well, my furry friend," I said, feeling deeply connected with the creature. Tumblefluff could sense my emotions; I hoped it understood how much I cared for it.As we sat by the shimmering lake under the radiant moonlight, I decided to confide in Tumblefluff about Alexander's quest. "Tumblefluff, I need your help," I began, looking into its large, expressive eyes. "You see, Alexander and his knights are on a mission to find the King of Monsters."Tumblefluff tilted its head curiously, and I continued, "I fear that they may encounter harmless monsters along the way and mistake them for threats. I can't bear the thought of innocent creatures being harmed due to a misunderstanding."The small monster made a soft cooing sound as if understanding the gravity of the situation. "I want you to find the King of Monsters and warn him," I said earnestly. "Tell him to avoid Alexander and his men so that they won't cross paths."With a series of chirps and clicks, Tumblefluff responded, "Do not worry, princess. I shall do as you ask. I will find the King of Monsters and deliver your warning. I promise to protect my fellow creatures and ensure they steer clear of the prince and his men."I felt a sense of relief knowing that it would help me protect the forest's creatures. "Thank you, my dear friend," I said, gently patting it on the head. Your assistance means the world to me."As I watched Tumblefluff scamper into the moonlit woods, I hoped my message would reach the King of Monsters and avert any unnecessary conflict. With the little furball on the task, I felt a glimmer of hope that I could make a difference in this world of magic and wonder.Then something hit me. I forgot to ask the furball about those 'memories.' Dang! I was just about to call its name when suddenly Alexander appeared from the shadows."I wish I could understands your conversation with that furball."My face turned white. Luckily, it was dark, and the moonlight made our complexion naturally paler. I tried to act normally, even though my heart skipped a bit at his sudden appearance. Had he been there all along, prying into my conversation with Tumblefluff? If I remember correctly, he always appeared out of nowhere every time I took the midnight stroll in the forest."What were you're talking about? Care to share?" Alexander closed the distance between us.I stood up and faced him, feeling the need to not be intimidated by his towering figure if I were still seated on the hump of cropped grass."You heard us?" I tried to act casually, controlling the tremor in my voice."Heard you, yes but I can't understand the language you're been using. Is it ancient Aldorian?" Alexander was intrigued to know.He did not understand? My eyes almost widened, but I stopped midway and smoothened my expressions."Yes," I admit confidently, even though I myself do not know how ancient Aldorian language sounds. "I was asking the creature about the King's whereabouts." Of course, I lied! It's part of the plan."So where is the wretched King?" Alexander folded his arm in over his sturdy chest.I feigned a disappointed sigh. "He went the opposite way. Far away from our track. Double the distance we have been taking so far since my abduction."Alexander's face hardens. His brows came together in a frown. I sense his disappointment."Like I said earlier, ask Duke Lysander to meet us here, and I will explain everything to him. You could also ask one of your family members or a high-ranking officer to come. We can explain to them to avoid further conflict. The farther we went, the King might be out of reach. Have you ever wondered why we haven't encountered any monster since leaving Evergrove?" I threaded my words into the tapestry of lies and deception carefully.In my gut, somehow, I knew the King of Monsters knew we were looking for him and had warned all monsters to stay away from our path. Therefore, my words to Tumblefluff were just to reinforce the warning.Alexander was deep in thought. After a moment, he heaved a sigh."Come along, princess. The night is getting colder. You were outside for too long. A cold might not be best in our situation." Without giving any answer to my words, he tugged under my arm and escorted me to my tent.I wonder what will be his decision?