30 Dear Home

Prince Forest's POV

I thought I'll be able to spend the days with Amy peacefully after she won the first trial. It has only been a couple of days since I found her.

If I didn't hear her voice while we were on patrol while searching for her, I wouldn't have found her.

The moment she ran away when she saw me, I promised myself that I won't let her disappear again.

That's why, even if she is three times faster than me, I didn't let her out of my sight.

The moment she told me why she ran away, and that she was starting to grow adoration for me, I wasn't able to handle the truth.

I had to go out of the shack that moment, or else she might see my flustered reaction.

Now that I know that I have a chance to claim her heart, I had my priorities rearranged.

As a Prince, my first responsibility is to keep my kingdom safe and satisfied, followed by Amy's happiness and comfort.

But, I cannot deny that the messages we've been receiving about the dangers that may befall the kingdom is starting to get serious.

Sia's kidnapping was not connected to the threats, instead, it is another set of problems.

The captured ex-residencia member told us everything, starting from Sia's experiments that caused her maid to die, until to their banishment because of the gossip that says they are cursed.

I was wary of their stay in the forest near the field, but I cannot overlook that one of them might be the one who threatens the kingdom and they may not know it. But that person can also be hiding amongst my people, that is why we have to be careful from now on.

I sighed as I rest my head on my hands while the sixty-seven letters of threats are all on my desk.

Each of them says the same thing, "Gathrin Kingdom wasn't supposed to exist."

It was already in the past, that we weren't a kingdom that was supposed to reign over its own people with our own land.

We were only here because of Lodel Lorcan, my ancestor, if he didn't create a group of mixed breed people who are looking for a home for themselves, Gathrin Kingdom wouldn't have existed.

They fought for our land, for our people, for our home, and I can't let anyone harm this kingdom.

I closed my eyes as I dig deeper into what these continuous warnings mean.

If this insists that we weren't supposed to exist, that means, those who are from another kingdom sent this. One of the six kingdoms are telling us to surrender our land and our people... or maybe it's not only one kingdom, what if there are leaders who are working together to annihilate my kingdom?

My ancestors have established enough alliances within each of the kingdoms, and it has already been known that not everyone accepts us, that's why some already tried to pull us down, luckily, they failed.

Now that my father and I are the only ones with a level A power, except the knight, we are now seen as the most powerful kingdom.

Everyone knows that no one can defeat us. But why would they still threaten us?

Even if all six kings work together, we can destroy them in one second.

"Your highness," I heard a soft knock that brought me back to reality.

I took a deep breath then I shook my head to wake my mind, "Yes, come in."

One of the senior knights entered and bowed before speaking, "The Delta Kingdom's Princess Tellusia is now safe. She's back to the mansion, what do you want us to do?"

"If she wants to go back to her kingdom, assist her. We cannot hide the truth that she was harmed while staying here," I said as I take the letters and hid them inside a folder. "And tell the Delta's King that we are welcome for any negotiations that he will ask as an apology."

The knight nodded and left to fulfill his orders.

I know this is a crack that can fully harm the kingdom. I don't know if this is all planned, but we have to be ready.

"Fisher," I called my knight, "Check on Amy, tell me what she is doing." I glanced over my knight who nodded behind the shadows.

I missed two straight meetings with her because of this. I miss her already.

She did well during the first trial and she even helped the farmers and gave them food.

And she's right about our actions about the mistreatment of the field masters. We should also look more into that crime.

I smiled whenever I think that her actions are already showing that she will be a magnificent Queen in the future.

Mother loved staying out in the village to hear people's concerns which she will turn to my father for action.

Both of them were working very well to keep our kingdom well.

If only father would stop leaving and passing his job to me and continue what he and mother used to do, these types of abuses amongst the high ranked people will finally put to an end.

I know the village captains are doing their best to respond to everyone's pleading, but with our growing community, one working leader cannot finish every job in a day.

I looked around my cold office. This four-walled place has been my home since I was able to handle parliament issues. I had to spend my whole day here before the bride trial began.

Yet, even though there are hours I have to visit the brides, I still have to go back here and work.

Only the mornings gave me peace and bliss.

Whenever the sun starts to greet the sky, I know I'll be able to see Amy. I'll get to see her beautiful face and hear her laugh.

It has only been a few meetings, but those hours began to be my haven.

I only feel guilty about hiding her identity.

Whenever I caught her looking as if she was lost and alone, even though there are people around her, I am dying to tell her that she's home.

I only wonder why the knight hid the truth from her, why he left, and what happened to Amy's mother.

They left our world in pursuit of a normal life for Amy.

After my mother was assassinated, everything in the kingdom went spiraling down, starting from the King.

The knight was afraid for his family's safety, which is why they decided to start a new life in a new world.

But, when my father decided to bring Amy back here, I knew in the back of my mind that she wasn't supposed to be here.

I knew the knight as my mother's guard, but aside from that, I have never seen his wife or Amy before when she was still a child.

Mother will sometimes tell me stories about them whenever she gets to meet the family, and all I can remember was that the knight's one and only daughter was adorable, but there was a secret she once whispered in my ear. Unfortunately, I cannot decipher what she said before. I was too young to pay attention to secrets that may one day be useful.

She loved children too much, that is why when I heard the reason why she was assassinated, my head burst in resentment.

I also blamed myself for her death, because, if I wasn't as powerful as my father, she wouldn't have died.

If only I had a normal power, no one will be afraid of a potential next child she may bear.

"Your Highness," Fisher suddenly appeared before me in a flash. Having a knight from the Foxtrot Kingdom like Amy's father is really useful especially in urgent situations, and luckily, one of his specialties is making himself almost invisible by moving too fast in different directions, "Miss Amelia is sketching weirdly drawn people. She was calling them names with frustrating backstories."

I saw the confused and weirded out expression of Fisher as he discusses what Amy was doing. I have a strong intuition that he is talking about the anime that she loves too much.

"I see," I laughed as I nod, "Don't worry, if we can have a chance, you might want to ask her what she was doing."

Fisher nodded and in an instant, he's back into hiding behind the shadows.

I took the letter from the folder and carefully examined them again.

I already called the Tracers, unfortunately, they can't even take a glimpse of who sent or written the letter.

If there was only one thing I noticed, aside from the idea that this might be from another kingdom, the letters started to increase when the bride trial began.

Before, we only receive one letter every other day, but we suddenly receive multiple letters each day until they started leaving the papers around the kingdom almost two times a day.

"You're thinking too much about those letters, son."

I didn't even bother looking at the door, this old man will just appear whenever he pleases, might as well pretend that he's not here.

It's been days since he last went back to the castle.

He completely left all his work to me.

The door closed behind him as he walked towards my desk.

"It's obvious who sent those. You know who was completely against our reign, don't you?"

I furrowed my brows while trying to remember the kingdom's history, while he took his seat and poured tea on a cup.

"Alpha, Beta, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot... and Gathrin. A, B, C, D, E, F, G. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7."

He mumbles while stirring the hot beverage he shamelessly took.

"Stop talking, old man," I greeted my teeth.

I can't remember what he said about who was against us. From what I know every kingdom didn't want our kingdom during its start, but they all soon accepted us.

"What?" He raised both his thick brows with his round majestic eyes staring at me with enjoyment. He sure loves annoying me. "You still can't remember who almost burnt the village, son?"

My jaw suddenly lowered as my breathing automatically paused, "Burn?" I whispered.

I stare and watch my nonchalant father drinking his cup of tea, while I was stuck in the idea who is threatening us.

"Alpha Kingdom? But, why would they do that? When did they try to burn our kingdom?"

I shook my head in denial, they are one of our close friends. My father can't blame them just because he wants to. He doesn't have any proof!

"A long time ago, and I already counted, son. We are the most powerful kingdom, number 1 in this world, they are the following kingdom. But before we existed, they rule over this world."

My brows were beginning to join as one as I furrowed even more, "No, you're joking."

He wrinkled his nose at me, "No," he mumbles, "I'm not joking, I'm your father, son."

Shit.

My seriousness and uncertainty were changed into irritation and hatred towards my bloodline. I can' believe he's my father.

My face went completely blank as my gaze shifted back to the letters.

Why is he even here?

"Oh, come on!" He let out a full, loud, jolly laughter while even hitting my desk, "You're too serious, son! That's why I had to collect brides for you, or else you won't get married!"

Now that he said that, I looked back at him and cleared my throat, "Why did you kidnap Amy, old man? She's not supposed to be here."

His eyes glanced at me then he looked away as his laughter subsides, "Uh, I need to go." He said as he pushes himself upwards.

"Answer me," I demanded as I froze him on his seat.

I can't believe I have to use my power on my own father.

But he can't run away without telling me his plans.

"Tell me, I command you," I whispered.

"I..." he stuttered as I force the words off his mouth, "...want to bring back her father... I know... that he's here. I need to know who... killed your... mother." He struggled to answer with his resisting voice.

The second I heard the word 'mother,' I released him.

He took a couple of deep breaths, then he beamed a proud smile to me, "You're stronger now, son! This is wonderful, you've proven yourself to be worthy to be the king!"

I darted my glare to him.

I can't comprehend what he's really thinking at times.

"You mean, the knight is in our world? But, why would he come back?"

My father shrugged as he stands up, "I heard Amy's mother died, but there was something more. When I sent one of the messengers during the day I received the message, there was no burial that happened." He fixed his suit then he turned towards the door, "I know something happened to Amy's mother, but she's not yet dead. And..." He turned his head back to me with his black beautiful eyes shining from the lights coming from the outside, "... Amy has to be protected, that's also why I took her here."

I took a deep breath as the doors closed.

He only appears once in a blue moon, but he will always bring surprisingly useful pieces of information that may either shock or help me.

My office once again buried itself into the grave of silence and coldness. I know Fisher heard everything, that's why he knows what he has to do.

"I'll tell Regin about this information, Your Highness." I heard Fisher whispered.

Now that I know Amy is under my father's protection, everything has to be perfectly done to keep her safe.

Letting her run away before was a grave danger that none of us recognized, but my father knew that there was nothing to worry about that is why he didn't even do something.

And using Amy to bring out his best knight only shows how much danger we are in at this moment. But the secret behind Amy's mother can either help or jeopardize us.

We have to be wary, not only about the other kingdoms but also here, inside this very dear home we have.