The Prince's Runaway Bride

Redivo told Verone that Vaughn and Zenia had urgent business to attend to at the Anisen Manor, but the Crown Prince asked her to embroider a cape for him. Verone was elated when she heard it. Redivo delivered all the materials that she might need. He told her that she could choose whatever she wanted to use. 

She ordered her maids to find the finest fabric for a cape and various colors of embroidery threads. The boredom that she felt seemed to vanish in thin air. She was busy thinking of the most appropriate design of a cape.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince seems to be shifting his attention on you."

"Maybe he is returning the Crown Princess to her maternal home."

"It is possible that the Crown Prince has decided to let you live in the main residence, and the Crown Princess opposed it."

"If the Crown Prince has decided to choose you, we don't need to worry about the right time to take advantage of the effects of Lotharia, which you have given the Crown Prince. He will surely be willing to let you give him an heir."

Everything that Verone's maids had told her was like music to her ears. She smirked and imagined herself being pampered by Vaughn as he fulfilled her every whim. She could finally free herself and her family from the clutches of the Left Minister and the Ninth Prince.

'I may no longer need the King's help.'

Verone did not waste anymore time and drew the pattern that she would follow for the Crown Prince's cape. She had decided to hold on to the Crown Prince's leg until she was strong enough to deal with her enemies on her own. Who knows when she could meet that man again? If he would ask her to elope with him, she might probably agree.

Redivo was glad that it went well. It would keep Verone busy for a long, long time.

* * * * *

The journey to Ishelon had been smooth. The Ninth Prince did not make any trouble for Vaughn and Zenia. Ruvin enjoyed the food that Zenia had prepared for them. He did not complain even once. In fact, he liked the speed of the carriage horses.

Zander and Zekiah trained night and day to make up for the days when Zekiah would not be able to train. They were expecting Zenia's arrival at any time within the day. Zander's men had reported that an unknown carriage was traveling at high speed and it seemed that one of the horses was Thunderbolt.

On the fourth day, they finally touched Ishelon's soil. Ruvin stopped the carriage and got down. Vaughn and Zenia thought that something had happened.

Ruvin took a deep breath and exhaled. He did it five times and the Royal Couple looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders.

"Sister-in-law, I never thought that the Ishelon air could be this pure. I have never inhaled anything like this before. I like the smell of the verdant grass and light-scented flowers. I think I'm going to like it here."

"Oh please don't. Spare us! Ishelon is not yet ready for someone like you." Zenia could no longer take it.

Ruvin gave Zenia a pitiful look, "You're too cruel sister-in-law. I just want to show you my heart."

Vaughn did not like the sound of that, "Don't show your heart to my wife or do you want me to carve it out for you?"

"You're too much brother Vaughn. I'll stop now. Let us be on our way." Ruvin walked back to the carriage as if he did not cause any disturbance.

Vaughn and Zenia shook their heads and returned as well. The coachman nudged the horses to go.

"Take the road to the left and you will never miss it," Vaughn instructed the coachman. 

Ruvin liked the scenery and the smell of verdant grass along the way. He looked at the road, and he could tell that many horses and carriages trod that path.

'Does this lead to the capital? Are there many beauties? I'd like to see some fresh, new faces.' Ruvin was getting more excited.

When they reached the gates of the Anisen Manor, Thunderbolt neighed once, and the guards opened the gates right away. Vaughn was puzzled. They never did that the last time he went there.

"Everyone who works with the Anisens can recognize Thunderbolt right away. He's one of the Anisens after all." Zenia whispered in Vaughn's ear.

Ovid did not go to the palace because he was already expecting Zenia's return. He waited with Renaria in the garden. When they heard the sound of the gates opening, they immediately went to the front to welcome Zenia back home.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Zenia did not wait for Vaughn to help her and jumped out of the carriage. She ran to Renaria and Ovid who were waiting for her in the front door.

"Mother, Father, I'm home," Zenia gave them a big hug just like she used to whenever she went on a long journey.

"Welcome home Zenzen." Ovid and Renaria hugged their daughter back.

Vaughn and Ruvin were speechless when they saw it. Vaughn knew that Zenia was close to her family, but never imagined that she could be that close. He somewhat felt guilty for marrying her too soon. Looking at Ovid, he seemed not yet ready to let go of his darling baby daughter. He agreed to the political marriage because he thought that Vaughn would divorce Zenia after the problem was solved.

Renaria turned to Vaughn and greeted them, "Son-in-law, welcome home and…this is?"

"Hello, Mother and Father," Vaughn removed his mask that surprised Ruvin. "This is Ruvin, my good friend and one of my stand-ins."

"Hello, Madam Anisen and Great Ovid Anisen. It's good to see and meet you both," Ruvin was beaming as he shook the hand of Ovid.

Ruvin had always admired Ovid ever since he was young. He was the reason why Redivo had able to convince him to enroll in the academy that followed strict military rules. He went there together with Vaughn and became his good friend.

"Likewise, young soldier."

Ruvin was surprised that Ovid could tell that he was a military man.

"H-how did you know, sir?"

"I can tell by the way you gripped my hand."

"Do I have a strong grip, sir?" Ruvin was getting excited at Ovid's reply.

Zenia sneered and did not let that rare chance to torment Ruvin to slip through her fingers.

"He could tell because someone with a calloused hand like yours only means that you have been wielding a sword for a long time. Only military men can have that kind of hand." Zenia knew that her last remark dampened Ruvin's spirit.

Ovid shook his head and knew that his daughter was being naughty again. He looked at Ruvin and remembered how he was when he was still young. He had the same reaction when he met the man he looked up to.

"Don't mind Zenzen. You really have a good grip. If you want, I can give you some pointers tomorrow."

Zenia couldn't believe that her father uttered such a thing.

"R-really, sir? It will be my honor," Ruvin stood up straight and placed his right hand near his heart.

"Come, you're all tired. Lunch will be served soon," Renaria took Ovid's hand and led the group inside the house.

Vaughn held Zenia's hand and Ruvin followed behind. Zenia turned her head to look at Ruvin and mouthed the words, 'I WILL BE WATCHING YOU.'

Ruvin shuddered and finally realized how frightening Zenia Anisen was.

'Did she just hold a grudge against me just because her father promised to train me?'

Ruvin knew that his better days would soon be over than expected. 

While eating lunch, Zenia remembered that she still did not tell her mother and father about Doctor Hugo. 

"Mother, I forgot to tell you that I've met Doctor Hugo!"

"Doctor Hugo?"

"Doctor Hugo Mion, the one who gave me the artificial skin."

Renaria was almost teary-eyed when she heard it. She knew that the artificial skin was beginning to peel off and should've been replaced a long time ago.

"That's great! He can replace the skin."

The smile on Zenia's lips slowly disappeared. Renaria knew that something was wrong.

"Mother, Doctor Hugo is currently very ill and must be treated immediately. It is also one of the reasons I decided to come back. I need to ask for help from Brother Gustof."

"Gustof? What do you need from him?"

"He knows where to find the Mortelium plant in Lunaria where we got them."

Ruvin was listening to the ongoing conversation and couldn't believe that Zenia had already explored most of Tissuria. She even knew where to find the very rare Mortelium plant.

"But, we have the Mortelium plant here."

"Here? In our manor?"

"Yes!"

"How?"

"Oh, Gustof brought some with him when they first arrived here. He asked for permission to plant the Mortelium in our garden. He told me that he knows how to propagate it. He also said that you might still need it for your poisoned needles." Renaria gave her daughter a stern look.

*Cough, cough*

Zenia pretended to clear her throat. Renaria had always been against her hobby of developing different kinds of weapons. Ovid looked somewhere and avoided Renaria's gaze. She specifically told Ovid not to allow Zenia to design and create weapons.

"So…it's a good thing that we have Mortelium here. They don't need to go to Lunaria, ha-ha," Zenia's forced laughter sounded awkward and Ovid would like to hide somewhere.

The father and daughter refused to look at Renaria. Ruvin found it interesting. He rubbed his chin as he thought of something. He only needed to please Madam Anisen to avoid the trouble that Zenia might give him.

Vaughn saw the expression on Ruvin's face and rolled his eyes. He was almost certain that Ruvin would soon learn the meaning of utter defeat.