Three weeks. I had been stuck in the castle for three weeks and I haven't seen not even a glimpse of the tyrant king, I hadn't caught even a whiff of his scent. So why was I even here? Did he forget my life was put on hold for him?
According to Mirabel and the butler Gilbert, the Dark Lord was well aware of my presence in the castle. So why was he delaying anyway?
I had already gotten used to the routine of the castle so much that it became like a second lifestyle. A much comfortable and yet annoying one.
The previous week, I had explored the royal library and spent my time reading some medical books I had found. I had been cooped up in the library for too long that Mirabel thought it was unhealthy. Mirabel and I decided to spend our afternoon lounging in the garden since we had no better thing to do.
We had gotten some stale bread from the head chef and fed it to the ducks who were swimming in the pond while we chatted about everything and nothing.
"Papa said I should be getting ready for marriage because I was now at a marriageable age. But I haven't found any man that has caught my fancy." Mirabel said with a shake of her head.
"My Papa did talk about marriage once or twice to me. But I told him I was only interested in running the infirmary with him. As you can see, I'm a little past the normal age for a girl to get married." I told her.
"You don't look too far off though. You're still very charming and beautiful." She said to me with a warm smile. Mirabel was too kind when it came to me.
I suddenly blushed. "Don't do that. You'll make me flustered."
"But it's true. With looks like yours, I would have a long line of suitors waiting for me." She lightly shoved me because she thought I was being too modest.
"But you're equally pretty. Don't worry. The man who's meant for you will come by pretty soon. I'm sure of it." I assured her, squeezing her hand gently.
"Thank you milady." She said and we continued to feed the ducks.
"Were there any men that came for you, you know, with marriage in view?" Mirabel asked suddenly.
"You mean if I had any suitors?"
She nodded. I thought for a while, then I shook my head.
"Yes some two of three in my village had tried to become close to me, but I never really had the time to entertain them. Papa always needed my help and there were things to be done around the house."
"But wouldn't you like to get married someday? It would be quite lonely if you grew old without no husband or children to rely on." Mirabel told me. I had never thought of being lonely before. I always liked my space and I was always busy. If I wanted to talk to someone, there was papa.
"I'll think about it." I said to her.
After a while, I exhaled. "I really miss my village."
"Your village must miss you too."
I smiled at that.
"The roses over there are in full bloom. I'm going to pick some and put them in your room.
I rose up to inspect the flowers and from the corner of my eyes, I saw another type of flower I wasn't expecting to see here. The dazing flower.
I went over and plucked a stalk, examining it. It really was the dazing flower.
"Oh no, milady. Those are weeds. They won't do." I heard Mirabel's voice telling me.
"Weeds?" I asked. These were no ordinary flowers. They were potent medicines and she called them weeds?
"Yes. The gardener always tries to get rid of them. He is never completely successful though." She came closer to me to see the plant as well.
"These flowers are native to my village. You know we're closer to the mountains. I'm surprised that these beauties can grow here." I picked some more flowers and made them into a bouquet.
"Well, the flowers have a very pretty color. It is so pink that sometimes it looks purple." Mirabel touched the soft petals.
"Are you done picking the roses?" I asked and she showed me her bouquet.
"Careful now, so you don't get pricked." I cautioned. We walked with light giddy steps back into the castle because it was almost time for dinner and the butler didn't like me staying out late.
At the castle courtyard, we noticed a group of soldiers on their horses trotting out of the castle grounds. I wondered where they were headed to.
Then, my eye caught the familiar shimmer of black velvety fur. It was Twilight. And on Twilight sat its master, someone I had only heard of in tales and in rumors. The Dark Lord himself.
He was unmistakeable. The description matched the person I saw. He had a dark cloak on with a hood to cover his face. I saw his hands as he held the reins. They were as pale as a ghost's and for some reason, fear gripped my heart.
"Did...did you see..." I stuttered.
Mirabel nodded immediately. "Yes, the Dark Lord. This is my second time of seeing him."
I willed my heart to stop beating erratically. Why was I so scared?
"Where is he going to with all these soldiers?"
Mirabel shrugged. "I don't know."
We stopped staring at the soldiers who had passed and can into the castle building. We wanted to turn and take a staircase when we heard hushed voices.
"I just hope the crown prince will be safe." The first person said.
"The Dark Lord will never spare him if he catches him. Where was he last spotted?" Another more worried voice whispered.
"The old physician's village. That's where the Dark Lord is headed right now. He won't stop until he finds him, even if it means burning the village to the ground."
The crown prince came back to Mirideth? Why? Wasn't he supposed to be in Vidiya? Why did he come back?
If he was caught he would be instantly execute or worse, since the Dark Lord was also going, he could be tortured. If he was caught, it would all be over. Our hope for Kerva would be dashed.
I returned to my room but I couldn't calm down, I couldn't stop thinking about Rowland. Why did he come back to Kerva, to the village? After what happened to Papa, I was pretty sure the news would have spread everywhere that Papa and I harbored an outlaw and everyone would be on the lookout.
I just hoped he was safe and wasn't doing anything silly that could endanger him.
Dinner came and I barely touched my food. I had no desire to eat anything. His assurances and promises had been keeping me going, giving me a reason to keep living. My Papa had died because he believed in him. If anything happened to Rowland, there wasn't much of a future to look forward to.
If I was back in the village, I would do anything I could to keep him safe but now that I was stuck in this castle, all I could do was hope and pray that he was safe. But even that wasn't enough.
I put the flowers I had gathered in a vase, separating the roses from the dazing flower. I couldn't wait till he got captured, I had to get out of this place fast and help him.