Chapter 38 – They Returned

When I finally got up, I got a hug from my father, the king. Lucas took me on his knees and repeated the question:

- What happened, Your Highness?
- A few days ago, I received a letter from a servant of yours... - I took the folded paper from the middle of the book that I was carrying and handed it to Luke's father, who gave it to the King, who followed towards the entrance to the palace.
- That bastard! He tried to kill her! - I could hear my father murmuring as he showed the paper to Lucas.
- What? - I asked when Lucas held me standing up in the palace hall.
- Claus's son, before he died, said we'd have a surprise when we returned. Probably, he thought you'd kill yourself. - He said, holding me to prevent me from falling again.

We continued walking to the dining room, where dinner was served. Many of the nobles who were waiting for the wedding congratulated the king on his arrival. We sat in our seats, and for the first time in months, I finally ate. I still missed Phillip, but I was sure he't come until dark.

After dinner, everyone gathered, and the king recommended that I rest, because in three days he would perform the ceremony. In my room, I sat in front of the window thinking if Phillip would come to see me, how would he be? None of the three, my father, Luke's father, or Luke himself, told absolutely nothing about what happened in the Carpathians.

Anxiety was killing me. It was already midnight when I decided to hang out and run through the woods to the cottage. There it was. I entered and quickly got downstairs into the crypt; it was dark, and only a torch lit that frozen chamber. I removed the lid from the coffin, but it was empty.

- Where are you, Phillip? - I whispered low, looking at the empty coffin.

- I kept my promise! - I heard his voice in my ear, behind me. I felt his hands on my shoulders.

- Why didn't Your Highness go to the palace? - I asked, turning around to look him in the eyes.

- Because I knew you would come here. But you're not okay, you shouldn't have come! - he spoke, looking at me with concern.

I took advantage of his proximity to hug him strongly by pressing my face to his chest.

- How are you? What happened? How did you get back? - I asked, holding my head away to look Phillip in the eyes, but without releasing him from my embrace.

- Calm down, I'll answer all your questions. But first, I wanted to apologize for making her sleep for three days. But you needed to rest, and you would still go through so much worry, with no one around to take care of you. - he said, removing a sling of my hair behind my ear.

- I'm fine. - I spoke in Phillip's eyes.

- My princess must have met her father and Lucas, so I know she knows they're all okay. I'm fine, being sure Claus's son is dead, so he can't try to kill you or your friend Lucas anymore. An excellent vampire hunter, by the way. He traced the hiding place where the army sheltered during the day and killed them while they were asleep. I guarded Lucas's father's castle at night. When the vampires tried their best to invade him. It took us many days to get rid of the vampires he enlisted. Now it's my turn to ask. - he took me away from his hug, and I sat down on the stairs behind me.

- When I left, you weren't that pale or that weak. - What happened to you? - he asked, coming towards me.

- A few days ago, I received a letter that looked like a servant of Luke, saying they were all dead. I was frightened, scared, and lost my ground. I didn't know what to do, I thought I'd keep waiting for you to come back, but I was already doing it with no hope. I cried, I didn't sleep, I did not eat, I couldn't... - I spoke with a tear escaping in the corner of my eye – I thought of dying.

- Don't say that. - Phillip spoke, coming very fast to me and taking my hand. 

- What about the wedding, my prince? - I spoke, looking at the floor."

- You know my feelings for you, my fiancé. - he spoke by raising me from the floor and climbing the stairs to the cottage with me.

- But you should have gone to see me sooner than you arrived. Why? Why did you stay here, but didn't come to see me? - I asked, climbing into the cottage with difficulty caused by the weakness that my legs felt.

- I need to tell the truth to my beautiful princess. I wanted to know if you would come to see me. I wanted to know if you still wanted me, as you showed me before my departure.- he spoke by putting his hand on my back, quickly holding me in his arms, and carrying me up the stairs.

- The forest has wolves, Your Highness knows the risks – I spoke with a slight malicious smile in the corner of my mouth.

- I could hear you coming. I heard his restlessness while he was in his room after dinner. But I didn't know if you'd sleep or come to me.

In the cottage, I thought he'd put me in bed, but he didn't. He continued walking, went out the door, and went on walking to the palace.

- What are you doing? - I asked, looking at him, who did not let me go and walked naturally as if I did not weigh in his arms.