Dahlia sighed softly
"It is precisely that me, Lord Xinhua and there were others who had played a big role to return back here"
She nods only
"But... I apologize as I don't know where we were taken..." she chuckled faintly
King Adelio narrowed his eyes at her
The nobles looked at one another before sneaking quick glances at the king
Valdemar tilted his head
"How so? It is unlike Lady Dahlia to not know anything" Valdemar stated
King Adelio looked towards his son, "Hmm? What you mean exactly son?"
Valdemar looked at his father as he smiled
"Like what I mean father. Lady Dahlia is smart. She can figure things out easily. So, considering all this..." Valdemar chuckled faintly
"I just find it difficult that Lady Dahlia not knows anything"
"This crown prince..." Jhony thought internally as he clenched his hands to fists
But kept a neutral face
King Adelio glanced at Dahlia
Dahlia straightened up as she nods, "Yes, I appreciate that his highness considers me smart. But, I lacked the knowledge to know the place's name. As... the place was dark, barely any light was seen"
"Dark place? Barely any lights?" King Adelio tilted his head slightly
"Yes, your majesty. The place me and everyone were taken to was completely dark. Making us all unable to see properly to identify our surroundings at all" Dahlia replied as her lower lip trembled slightly
"Truly... it was a very terrifying place... it is only a miracle that we were all able to escape..." She glanced away as her eyes glistened slightly
Jhony immediately patted Dahlia's back, "Hey... calm down..."
Dahlia closed her eyes, letting Jhony
Meanwhile King Adelio observed everything as the smile was still plastered on his face
Valdemar couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart
"Lady Dahlia... she must have been scared..." Valdemar thought
While the nobility were completely frozen
Some stared at one another anxiously
"Wait... dark place... your majesty... it almost sounds like... "The forbidden region"" One of the nobles commented
Both Jhony and Dahlia perked up at the comment
KIng Adelio looked towards the noble, "Well it does seem like it..."
"Darkness everywhere... no sunlight... hard to pinpoint the surroundings..." King Adelio mumbled to himself
"That definitely sounds like "The forbidden region"" King Adelio nods
"But how did every missing children ended up there? It is located in north side, clearly on opposite side of region from ours" Another noble pointed out
"It can be possible with teleportation" One of the noble answered
"But, that is not whether they were teleported or not. It matters that how come the children survived there? That region is covered in thick black fog. None can survive there" That noble pointed out
"Right, how can it be possible? Every children would've been long dead if they were there!" Another nodded in agreement with one another
"It is also my question, how can the children be there? And survive?" KIng Adelio looked back up again at Dahlia
Dahlia sighed shakily as she lowered her head
"I don't know how we all ended up there... but whatever happened there... it was dangerous... your majesty" Dahlia stated
King Adelio, Valdemar, along with the nobles stared at Dahlia for a moment in silence
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.
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"From your behavior. I can see that experience must have been terrifying. Then I won't ponder on it any longer" King Adelio added
Both Jhony and Dahlia relaxed slightly
"Then, since your majesty won't be needing my sister. Shall we excuse ourselves?" Jhony asked
King Adelio stayed silent for a moment before he nods
"You both are excused"
Both Jhony and Dahlia nods in response
Before they can turn
"Wait, Lady Dahlia. Since you are here. Will you take the pleasure to have a small walk with me in the garden?" Valdemar asked as he came down from the throne side
"Yes-... a walk?" Dahlia blinked as she looked up at Jhony
Jhony closed his eyes briefly before stepping between both Dahlia and the approaching Valdemar
"Your highness, I am afraid my sister can't have this walk with you. Since she just woke up from sleep" Jhony stated
Valdemar stopped before he looked up at Jhony
"Ah- that's right. But did I asked you that question, Lord Jhony?" Valdemar smiled
"I know that question was directed towards my sister, but as her guardian. And since she isn't in a good state to answer. I answered it" Jhony replied as he maintained eye contact
Valdemar stared at Jhony for a moment, before he casted a slight glance at Dahlia
Dahlia bit her lower lip as she gripped the edge of Jhony's sleeve tightly
She kept her eyes down
Valdemar let out a sigh, "I see, then I won't hold Lady Dahlia any longer"
Jhony's shoulders lowered only faintly but it tensed up again after seeing King Adelio watching them, on how the scene plays out
Meanwhile, Valdemar stepped closer towards Dahlia
Taking her hand gently and kisses her knuckles, "But I hope later you would give me the pleasure of sharing a small amount of your time"
Dahlia's eyes widened at that with Jhony
"Oh?" King Adelio smirked as he found the scene intriguing
Nobles almost chuckled from seeing the scene
"Uhm... yes, of course your highness. Then we shall take our leave" Dahlia gently pulled her hand out from Valdemar's grip
The two nodded towards both King Adelio and Valdemar
Before turning away and exited out from the throne room
Valdemar just simply smiled, as a faint blush appeared on his cheeks
"My son..." King Adelio began
Valdemar looked over
"Seems you favor that child well, don't you?" King Adelio chuckled
Valdemar beamed a smile, "Of course! I adore Lady Dahlia a lot, father!"
KIng Adelio only hummed in response
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- { In the carriage } -
"So, that's what happened there father" Jhony said after explaining everything to his father
The Duke nods in response as he checks on Dahlia
But the Duke narrowed his eyes from seeing Dahlia's wrist being red, clearly from the force of that tower master's grip
"That old man..." The Duke internally thought as he rubbed the spot carefully
As to not make his daughter not feel any pain
Dahlia looked up at her father
"I am fine, father. It will heal up soon" She smiled
The Duke bit his lower lip as he pats Dahlia, mustering up a small smile for her
"Right... it will heal up after the healer heals you up..."
Jhony only watched the interaction for a moment before he looked out from the window
"Dahlia... when did she learned to lie like that?..." Jhony thought internally
"From how she had that small glow in her eyes when she lied..."
Jhony recalled the memory of Dahlia lying to the king
Her eyes hidden beneath her bangs
Yet he noticed the sharpness there, which wasn't present before
"... Just what happened and where was she taken to? Making her change this much..." Jhony tapped on the windowsill
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When the carriage arrived
The Duchess immediately came with the maids and Nanny
The Duke got out from the carriage, then Jhony and lastly Dahlia was carried out
"Call the healer quickly" The Duke ordered
"Yes, immediately sir!" One of the guard went off to fetch the healer
"Darling... what happened there in the palace? Did one of them got hurt?" The Duchess as she scanned both Jhony and Dahlia
Trying to find any injuries they might have
Clearly fussing over them
"Calm down, they aren't injured" The Duke replied
The Duchess still wouldn't calm down
"Jhony, Dahlia... you both are ok? Clearly not injured... right?" The Duchess cupped their faces on her both hands
Dahlia chuckled slightly
While the Duke and Jhony let out a sigh
The Duke casted a glance at the Duchess seriously now
"Calm down, and answer me this. Did you eat lunch?" The Duke asked
The Duchess froze and didn't answer
"The Duchess didn't touch a single meal out of worry for them" The head maid answered instead
The Duchess glared at the head maid
The head maid wisely looked away
Meanwhile the Duke stared at his wife with a neutral expression, "Wife... didn't you hear what the doctor said?"
He began
"Never skip a meal" He stated firmly
The Duchess flinched slightly before looking up at her husband, "How can I eat when my children were gone to "that palace"?!"
Both the Duke and Duchess stared at one another, maintaining eye contact in silence
While both Jhony and Dahlia casted a brief glance to one another
Before the two gone past their parents and inside the estate
The maids and the Nanny followed them behind
Leaving the Duke and the Duchess outside the estate, to have their usual staring contest
Inside, the guard finally arrived with the healer
"The healer is here" The guard announced
"Right, Dahlia. Your hand" Jhony gestured
Dahlia goes forward and extends her hand
The healer steps forward, he lowers himself as he gently takes her wrist
"If you please, my lady. It is a first time I am healing you, I am sure you might feel weird. But stay with me, alright?" The healer began healing her wrist
A soft golden glow appeared on Dahlia's wrist
The small reddened flesh returned back to how it was
As if there wasn't any harm done on there from the very beginning
While Dahlia felt a tingling sensation, as if a balm was put on her wrist, on a spot that had a torn skin
"Eugh... feels weird... why does it feel so stingy?" Dahlia thought internally
"Ok, I am done" The healer gently lets go of her hand
Dahlia nodded, "Yes... thank you, Sir Trev"
The healer- Trev smiled faintly
"It was my duty, my lady. But I advise you to rest for a bit after eating something light" Trev said before getting up
"Now, if you may excuse me. My lady" Trev excused himself as he leaves off
After Trev left
Jhony only stares at Dahlia without a word
Dahlia noticed and looked over
Jhony let's out a sigh before he pats her head, "I know you lied to the king. But... you probably done it for a reason. So, don't worry. I won't tell anyone" he whispered to her
Dahlia wasn't fazed as she looked away
Breaking the eye contact
Meanwhile the maids and the Nanny looked at one another, sharing confused glances
Jhony soon stepped away from Dahlia, "Go to your room. You had a long day"
"... Right brother..." Dahlia replied and walked off towards her room
After Dahlia left, the Nanny came forward
"Uhm... young master... did everything went well in the palace...? Lady Dahlia looked... down..." Jasmine asked
"It's nothing. She is just tired" Jhony began as he straightened up
"And, bring the food to her room. She will eat it there. From how her mood is..."
He stated before going off
"I will be off to my room. Tell father and mother about it"
The head maid shook her head faintly, "I will later ask the Duke to give me a raise. Cause handling everything here has made me age a lot faster"
"How does it makes you age faster?" One of the maids asked with a raised eyebrow
"Idiot! I meant it metaphorically!" The head maid shot back
The nanny chuckled faintly
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- { In Dahlia's room } -
Dahlia closed her door, locking it up
She soon goes towards the drawer, she put the sapphire gem at
She pulled out
She gazed down at it as she traced the patterns on it with her fingertips
"Good thing I didn't take it... or else... who knew who what would've happened if they found out about this..." she thought internally
She soon flopped down on bed
"Lying to the king... acting scared... anxious... it somehow worked out..."
She kept staring at the ceiling
Her eyes narrowed
"I can't tell them about the "Yang Realm"... I know how the king is. For power he would do anything to go there. Putting not himself... but also the others in danger..."
She can't help as flashes of memories appeared before her eyes
The ghouls
The entity who she can't look at
Almost falling into the trap of meeting her guardian... when it wasn't even her guardian to begin with...
Her blood turned cold from remembering it
"I am not afraid of the king... rather... the "Yang Realm's" people... they are dangerous..."
Dahlia closed her eyes
"They already caused this much uproar from kidnapping the children. Who knows what great danger they will bring if the king ever makes contact with their realm..."
She opened her eyes and looks down at the gem
She gazed down at it for sometime
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.
.
"... Hey... can you hear me?" Dahlia tried to telepathically call her guardian
She waited
Yet it didn't answered her call
"Can you at least answer me?" She tried again as her grip on the gem tightened
Still no answer
"Are you mad?" Her voice cracked internally
"Is it cause I left to that realm despite your warning?" Her hand trembled around the gem
"I apologize. I won't ever go to that realm again. I will obey you. I won't question anything you warn me about. I will stay out of things that are dangerous" Tears welled up in her eyes
"Just... please answer me..."
She hiccupped as her cheeks flushed up
"Please... for once only..."
She curled up on her bed as she pressed the gem on her chest
Clenching towards it like it's a lifeline
"I... miss you... please..."
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- { ??? } -
{ { { Do you know what you have done? } } } One being asked
The being narrowed his eyes as he casted a glance towards someone
There was a child that was chained up
The chains were pure white, glowing
Cracks appeared from where the chain bites on that child's skin
Yet the child barely fazed
The child was a boy with long golden like hair
The child's face wasn't visible
{ { { I am aware } } } The child replied
{ { { Do you have anything to say for yourself? } } } The being asked again
{ { { No, I do not. And for my actions on whatever I have done... I will take my punishments without any words } } } The child replied
Being usually calm
The being only stared at the child for a moment before he let out a sigh
{ { { You resonated...I am sure you are aware. Or else...you wouldn't be in this small form } } } The being stated
Before he looked away
{ { { But still, what you did wasn't right. And I can't do anything about it, you will be chained here for a month } } }
He turned away to leave the room
{ { { I hope you learn your lesson through this. And never do something this reckless } } }
The door closes as the being left
The child doesn't says anything
He kept his head lowered
Unmoving