Chapter 3 - The Key of Roseman Kingdom

Flori recognized one of the Roseman representatives. Her heart raced. Diego! Thank goodness Diego was still alive. Flori smiled. She felt relieved to see him again, especially after the last time she had seen Diego fighting hard to protect her. I have to meet him!

Flori decided to secretly follow Diego. When he was finally alone, she approached him.

“Diego?” Flori called.

“Your Highness?” Diego was just as surprised to see Flori. He ran to her and embraced her. “Thank goodness you’re safe, Your Highness. I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” Diego said joyfully.

“I’m glad you’re safe too, Diego,” Flori said emotionally. She never thought she would see him again.

Diego let go of her and knelt. “Forgive me for failing to protect you, Your Highness. I promise, from now on, you’ll be safe with me! Let’s return to the Kingdom!” Diego urged.

“Stand up, Diego,” Flori said. Diego obeyed.

“Can you tell me the current situation in the Kingdom?” she asked. She needed to know what had happened since that night. Diego nodded.

“Since that night, the attackers took control of the palace. Now he’s our new king,” Diego explained.

“New king?”

“Yes. Like it or not, we all have to obey him. If we don’t, he’ll kill us all,” he said grimly.

“Then how did you end up here?” Flori asked in confusion.

“I hate to say this, but His Majesty ordered me to form an alliance with the Ezbert Kingdom,” he replied.

Flori was puzzled. Wasn’t the Ezbert Kingdom their enemy? Why offer an alliance? What were they thinking?

“Your Highness...” Diego took Flori’s hand. She gave a bittersweet smile. Your Highness? Do I even deserve to be called that anymore?

“What if you came back? I’ll try to negotiate with the King so he’ll spare your life. We can live together again, like before,” Diego said.

“I don’t think I can return. Right now, I’m hiding my identity as a servant. If King Fred finds out, I’m afraid he’ll kill me,” Flori confessed.

“Don’t give up! I’ll protect you, Your Highness. As long as you still have that key, you can reclaim the throne! I’ll help you,” Diego promised.

The key... right. If only I still had the key...

“I’m sorry, Diego. I couldn’t protect it. When I arrived here, the key was already gone. I don’t even know where it is,” Flori said with tears in her eyes. She was ashamed of herself for failing to guard the key—something so important.

“Your Highness...” Diego was speechless. He simply embraced and comforted her.

“What’s going on here?”

Fred suddenly appeared behind Flori. Diego immediately let go of her.

“Respect to Your Majesty,” Diego said with a bow. Flori wiped her tears and lowered her head.

“Greetings, Your Majesty,” she said.

“What is a Roseman soldier doing with my servant?” Fred asked coldly.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty. I was just happy to see a former servant of Roseman,” Diego replied.

“The carriage is waiting. You can leave now!” Fred ordered.

“If I may, Your Majesty, may I take this servant back to Roseman? She is like family to me,” Diego asked politely.

Flori looked at Diego, surprised. She never knew he saw her as family.

“No.”

“What?”

“I said no! She is a servant of Ezbert. Her life belongs to me. If you understand that, you better leave before I lose my patience and cancel this alliance!” Fred threatened.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Diego bowed respectfully.

Before leaving, Diego gave Flori a look that said I will come back and save you. Flori nodded in understanding. I’ll wait for you, Diego. You’re the only one I have left.

“You! Stop staring at him and come with me!” Fred ordered angrily. He walked ahead, and Flori followed fearfully. What does he want? Why is he so angry? Is he going to kill me?

Fred brought her to his office. No one else was there.

“So you’re very close with the head guard of the Roseman Kingdom?” Fred asked.

Flori nodded.

“Yes, he’s like family to me,” she replied.

“Do you want to go back there?”

Flori nodded again. “If the situation allows, and if Your Majesty permits,” she answered cautiously, still afraid of making him angry.

“Hah! You just waltz into Ezbert, we save you, and now you want to leave without a second thought? You’re unbelievable!” Fred scoffed.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I’m very grateful to you and the Ezbert Kingdom for saving me. I promise I’ll repay your kindness one day,” Flori said sincerely. After all, she owed her life to Fred.

“How can I trust a liar like you?” Fred asked.

Flori looked at him. What did he just say? A liar? Did he already know?

“I overheard your conversation with the guard. You’re not a servant, are you?” Fred guessed.

Ah... so he heard everything. There was no point hiding it anymore. She would face the consequences.

Flori knelt and bowed deeply.

“Forgive me for hiding my identity. I am Flori, princess of the Roseman Kingdom. I’m the last of the royal family,” she confessed.

“If you return, would you try to reclaim the throne?” Fred asked.

Flori shook her head.

“That would be difficult. I’ve lost everything. I’ll return and start a new life,” she said. She had come to terms with her situation—she no longer held power.

“But, as I heard earlier, you could do it if you had the key, right?” Fred asked.

“Yes, but I’ve lost it,” Flori replied.

“Is this the key you’re talking about?”

Flori dared to lift her head. Fred pulled a key from his desk drawer. Her eyes widened in shock.

“That... how?”

She couldn’t finish her sentence. So it was Fred who had taken the key all along.

“This key means a lot to you, doesn’t it?” Fred smirked.

Flori clenched her fists. Yes, it meant everything. She remembered when her father had given it to her.

It was the night after her 17th birthday celebration. Her parents came to her room.

“Flori, this is our gift to you.” King Habel placed the key around her neck.

“This is the key to the Kingdom’s treasure. You must guard it well!” Queen Selly said.

“The Kingdom’s treasure?” Flori asked. Since she was little, her mother had told her stories about the Kingdom’s treasure—a power passed down through the royal bloodline. That power would be dangerous in the wrong hands. Flori had always thought it was just a fairy tale.

“Every royal heir receives a key at the age of 17. It’s our duty to guard the treasure. No one must know about it. We must protect it with our lives!” King Habel instructed.

Flori nodded.

“I promise I’ll protect this key,” she had vowed.

“So... what do you want?” Flori asked bluntly. She knew Fred wouldn’t return the key so easily.

“Would you grant any request I make?” he asked.

“If you return it to me, I’ll do whatever you say,” Flori promised. The key was more important than anything else.

“Alright then. Tomorrow—we’ll get married.”

“Yes, alright. Ehhh... what?!”

Flori stared at Fred, stunned. Fred smiled, walked over to her, and helped her up. “Marry me,” he said again.

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***