Note:
This chapter is dedicated to Maude Fluckiger, for gifting spacecraft to this book earlier. THANK YOU so much!! I am very grateful for your generosity and support. xx
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The royal butler returned ten minutes later with the wizard. Renwyck took the seat before the king and motioned Horatio to leave them alone.
He knew the king so well and understood Maxim must have a lot in his mind right now. So, Renwyck didn't want the butler to bother the king.
"You are back, Renywck." Maxim forced a smile and tilted his chin toward the cup. "Drink sothing. You look parched. The journey must be exhausting."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," said Renwyck. He took the cup and started sipping his wine. It was indeed an exhausting journey.
"Did you co with Raphael or Margueritte?" Maxim asked Renwyck. His gaze looked hopeful. "Where are they?"
The wizard shook his head. "I am sorry, Your Majesty. When I reached Mount Tempest, the ice prince was gone. Margueritte told Princess Elise ca before us and begged Raphael to co to Myreen and heal her father, King Alexander. Raphael couldn't say no because the princess begged on her knees for three days."
"What???" Maxim clenched his cup so tightly when he heard Renwyck's explanation.
Shit! What were the odds that Elise was also getting Raphael to help her father? How did she know about the man?
Jeez... why was he always so unlucky? Maxim complained inwardly.
Had he waited with Emlyn in Myreen, maybe Raphael would have arrived by now and he could revive Emlyn when he ca for King Alexander.
Oh, Elise... Why was she ruining his plan? Maxim wanted to curse his fiancee for this unexpected problem.
Now, how was he going to get Emlyn to wake up? Should he wait for Rapahel to return from Myreen? It would take such a long ti.
"So.. can Raphael really help heal King Alexander?" Maxim asked Renwyck to confirm. "What did Margueritte say? Why can't she go?"
Renwyck shook his head. "Margueritte said she is not a healer. Only Raphael can do it, and it looks like he can heal King Alexander. Margueritte refused to elaborate, but it seems Princess Elise promised sothing to repay Raphael. That's why Raphael went with her to Myreen."
"Oh... I wonder what he wanted," Maxim furrowed his brows.
He rembered Emlyn gave Raphael the snake pendant which was said to have magical properties inside it in exchange for the scarf to revive her mother-in-law. Did Elise also promise the sa thing?
She must have, he thought again.
Myreen was a country run by magic. They must have sothing valuable to offer Raphael, like Emlyn's snake pendant. Maxim rembered Myrcella had that crystal ball, which was now broken.
Did Elise offer that as paynt to Raphael? What would his reaction be if Raphael ca and found the crystal ball was now broken? Would he refuse to heal King Alexander?
"Hmm.. that's unfortunate," Maxim muttered to himself. He felt bad for the Leoraleis, if that was the case. The crystal broke because of Emlyn. So, Maxim felt partly responsible too.
Maybe... he could help them pay back Raphael if they really didn't have anything to offer.
Sumria was such a big country. Raphael could ask for anything in exchange for his help to heal King Alexander.? No matter what, Elise would beco Maxim's wife soon, and so, her debt would be his debt too.
That's what being a family ant.
"I'm sorry, I failed to bring Raphael to Castilse," Renwyck said apologetically. "However, Margueritte said that there is another way to help Lady Emlyn."
"She said that?" Maxim's interest piqued. "What is it? How can we get it?"
"It's the scarf that Raphael gifted to Lady Emlyn," Renwyck replied. "If we can get it... Lady Emlyn can wake up."
"Oh..." Maxim rubbed his hair in frustration.
The scarf was sent to Draec months ago and it was probably still there. He downed his wine and put the cup on the table.
The king said, "Then, I will send soone to get it from Draec. We can send the third dragon to Draec, while the other two take us to the frontline."
Renwyck coughed softly and nodded. "That won't be necessary, Your Majesty. Margueritte said the scarf is nearby. It looks like the king of Draec is bringing the scarf with him."
"Oh.. is that so?" Maxim still didn't like Mars, but he slowly developed so respect for the other man. He thought Mars Strongmoor was quite smart.
If the scarf really worked to revive his mother, it would only make sense to bring it with him to the battlefield. It would serve a much greater purpose if he was injured in a fight.
"Yes." Renwyck replied solemnly. "Actually, I heard that the king of Draec also brought his little daughter with him."
"Really??" Maxim was so surprised to hear this information. Nobody in the throne room earlier ntioned anything about it. Maybe they didn't know? Or they just didn't think it was important? "Are you sure? Isn't Harlow still a baby?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Renwyck was glad he convey this information to his king because he knew Emlyn's plight and the fact that she badly wanted to be reunited with her daughter. Renwyck thought it was important to let King Loriel know.
Those ministers and army commanders didn't care if their enemy was bringing a young child because they didn't see the relevance, but Renwyck cared.
"So, it's true..." Maxim sighed.
He knew the only thing that Emlyn wanted was to see her daughter... but she was worried that being close to Harlow would bring calamity to her daughter.
She didn't know that she shouldn't worry anymore. Maxim had freed her from all the bad luck by taking his responsibility to marry his fiancee.
Maybe... Emlyn would feel better if she saw Harlow when she woke up?
Maxim was silent for a long ti. He knew he must do the right thing this ti, but his heart was unwilling.
"I heard from Lysander that Your Majesty planned to leave tomorrow to the frontline. Is that true?" Renwyck asked the king after they were drinking in silence for a long ti. "Should we take the dragons tomorrow?"
Maxim nodded. He finally spoke. "Yes. I need to teach so people a lesson."
"What should we do with Lady Emlyn?" Renwyck asked again. "The scarf is with her husband."
"We have no choice but to invite the man here," Maxim replied bitterly.
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From Missrealitybites:
I am so excited!
Mars and Maxim will et today (in the next chapter, I think). I am writing the next chapter already and will publish more in the next hours.
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