Chapter 86 - Training, Training, and more Trainining (Part 2)

The Baroness had decided to have their lesson in the huge pavilion near the man-made lake. The place was usually empty and no one would disturb them.

"Ha-ha-ha! Teacher, the Crown Prince really did that? I can't believe he had a naughty side in his younger years." Zenia was laughing hard when she learned how the Crown Prince was like when he was young.

One of King Tarendino's favorite concubines was losing her hair fast for some unknown reason and began wearing faux hair. The young Crown Prince was learning to catch a fish, but his mother did not allow him to go near the water. It was common for a little prince or princess to  accidentally  fall into the water.

The young Crown Prince was bored to death and just happened to see that the concubine put on her faux hair. There were dignitaries from other kingdoms who came to visit. The concubine learned it and prepared to stage an accidental meeting the group. She knew that the King would let her join them. 

While the concubine was making her way to the garden where the King, Queen, and the dignitaries were, the young Crown Prince swung his fishing rod around. His hook got entangled with the concubine's faux hair. The young Crown Prince yanked it hard and pulled off the concubine's faux hair. 

Everyone saw it and the poor concubine yelled and ran back to her quarters. She never went out again and requested the King to let her serve in a monastery to be a monk. After that incident, the young Crown Prince would do something about the unruly concubines every now and then to keep them in place.

"His Highness is very protective of his mother. At his young age, he already knew the hardsh.i.p.s that the Queen must endure. He won't let anyone slight his mother. He became a cold person in the process. He was becoming someone with no human emotions. He chose to shut himself in his dark world. Not even the Queen could persuade him." The Baroness looked at Zenia and was thinking hard whether to continue or not.

Zenia noticed that the Baroness seemed to be having second thoughts on whether to continue the story or not. In the end, the Baroness sighed and decided not to continue. 

Zenia waited, but the Baroness remained silent. The Baroness took out a handkerchief and wiped the tear in the corner of her eyes. Zenia chose to keep quiet as she waited for the Baroness to compose herself. The Baroness must have really loved the Crown Prince. Until now she still thought of him.

"Teacher…" Zenia said softly and waited for the Baroness to respond to her call.

"Your Highness, please forgive this old fool for letting you witness something unsightly."

"Do you want to take a walk for a while?"

The Baroness nodded her head and flashed a faint smile. She was glad that the little girl that the Crown Prince met that day was the Crown Princess. Did she know?

"Bring in some refreshments later. Teacher and I will just take a walk." 

There were maids in a row and ready to do Zenia's bidding. The head maid heard her and quickly ordered the other servants to prepare. Only two maids were left in the pavilion. 

Through his grandfather's incessant nagging, Vaughn decided to visit Zenia at an earlier time and check on her. His grandfather tagged along. A servant informed them that Zenia and the Baroness went to the pavilion near the man-made lake. When they reached their destination, Vaughn did not see Zenia and the Baroness. They heard voices in the garden.

"Teacher, what do you call this plant?"

"Don't touch that! That's called Poison Lily." The Baroness walked to where Zenia was standing.

"What does it do?"

"I am not sure, but my mother told me once that it is extremely lethal."

Zenia's eyes brightened, "Can it be applied on needles, which can be used as a weapon?"

Vaughn and his grandfather almost choked when they heard Zenia's question. Vaughn was more surprised to see that the two women seemed to be enjoying each other's company. Even the old man couldn't believe his eyes. His granddaughter-in-law could really turn anyone into a meek lamb. Just look at that tigress that looked like she was taking care of her own granddaughter.

*Cough, cough, cough*

Grandfather coughed loudly to attract the attention of the two women.

"Your Highness." 

The Baroness curtsied while Zenia just slightly bowed her head. They saw that Vaughn came with someone.

"Why are you here?" Vaughn walked to where Zenia was and took her hand.

"We are just taking a break. This is…" Zenia asked Vaughn in a whisper.

"I am the Old Master that the Crown Prince's group had commissioned to teach the lithe movement technique." The old man did not wait for Vaughn to introduce him.

Zenia's eyes widened when she recognized the old man who noticed her reaction right away.

'Shoot, even my granddaughter-in-law recognized me.'

Vaughn saw the look in Zenia's eyes, and she seemed to know his grandfather. When did they meet?

"You're just in time. I already told the maids to send in some refreshments. Let us go to the pavilion."

Zenia was questioning the old man with her eyes. It did not escape Vaughn. He observed the duo that looked like they were partners in crime.

'Why are you here again?'

'They hired me to be their teacher.'

'For what? Do you even have the skill?'

The old man scrunched his eyebrows. 'You brat! What do you take me for?'

'It's a crime to lie to the Crown Prince.'

The old man held his chin up, 'That brat won't do anything to me.'

"Your Highness, does the Crown Princess know the old man?" The Baroness could no longer take it.

Zenia had been neglecting her ever since the old man arrived. Zenia and the old man both turned their heads toward the Baroness at the same time. 

Vaughn found it funny because his grandfather and his wife had the same expression on their faces. They looked like they committed a crime and had been found out by the master detective.

"Baroness, it was the Crown Princess who recommended the Old Master to me. Maybe she did not expect the Old Master to arrive so soon." Vaughn reasoned for Zenia and the old man.

The duo nodded their heads and kept their mouths shut. They looked at Vaughn at the same time as if waiting for the things that he had to say.

"So it was like that…" The Baroness agreed, but she was still suspicious.

Zenia and the old man nodded their heads at the same time and looked at Vaughn once more. Vaughn wanted to laugh but couldn't. 

"Baroness, may I borrow the Crown Princess for a while? There are just some urgent things that I must discuss with her now."

"Go ahead, Your Highness. We are through for the day. We need to take a trip to a shop tomorrow."

Zenia and the old man looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. They all went to the pavilion to have some refreshments.

* * * * *

When Elida was buried, Zenia let out a sigh of relief. She had finally fulfilled her promise to her. Elida could finally rest in peace.

Deep down the grave, something weird was happening in Elida's body. The single heroza insect had doubled and kept multiplying. It was not certain when it would stop as they kept gnawing the inside of Elida's body. They may stop when nothing was left but the outer shell of the body, and then… what?