Chapter 117 - Declaring a Rematch

Zander helped Vaughn to his room. Renaria already called a physician to check Vaughn's wounds. Although she had already applied the medication, she wanted to make sure that her son-in-law was fine. It took her so long to find a suitable husband for her daughter and there was no way in hell would she allow him to slip through her fingers.

Vaughn was sleeping deeply when the physician came. Renaria gave him a sedative, and it made him fall asleep. The physician examined Vaughn thoroughly while he was sleeping. Renaria was there when the physician was conducting the examination. She had a hunch that there might be deep injuries aside from superficial wounds.

"How is it, Doctor Zhung?" There was anxiousness in Renaria's tone.

"There are two broken ribs. Luckily, I have bone rejuvenating elixir with me. He just needs to take one bottle a day for three days." The physician handed the bottles of elixir to Renaria.

"Thank you, doctor."

" *Sigh*  is this Zenia's work again? Where is that brat? That girl never came back for her lessons. I developed the bone rejuvenating elixir because of her. She's way too strong, and she doesn't even know it. All the patients that she handled before ended up having fractured wrist or arm because she did not know how to be gentle. I thought she won't be able to learn how to handle patients in a gentle manner. It's a good thing that she did after trying for so many months."

Renaria knew what happened back then. Ovid and Zander wanted to conceal Zenia's identity and made her a member of the medical team. But, it did not go well at first. She was transferred to the apothecary of Ishelon. The plants that must be used in concocting the medicines must be handled gently. 

The Head Pharmacist was a strict old man. He would never hesitate to punish Zenia whenever she failed to handle the ingredients gently. With the Head Pharmacist's  proper guidance , Zenia learned to be gentle when handling patients. She became one of the most important members of the medical team.

Vaughn was already awake and heard everything. He tried his best to keep pretending that he was still sleeping. 

'What did that little devil do during those times?'

"Thank you for your help doctor. I will follow your instructions."

"I will go now and make sure to tell your daughter to come to see me. She needs to do additional work as punishment for her long absence."

Renaria sighed. Although Doctor Zhung was a highly proficient medical genius, he lacked social skills. He was not even interested in the recent things that had been happening all around him. Renaria knew that he did not know that Zenia got married, and he was not interested in knowing. All he cared about was the work that Zenia must finish. 

Renaria had always hated Doctor Zhung for giving Zenia lots of unworthy tasks. She could not understand why her daughter wanted to do them. If she was to choose, she already stopped Zenia from being his student. She hated the doctor but could not deny his medical skills.

"Son-in-law, no need to pretend. I will go get your meal so you can take the bone rejuvenating elixir. Taking it on an empty stomach will give you the opposite effect."

Renaria left the room, but she did not close the door. Vaughn heard a rumor before that Ishelon had the best doctors in the entire continent, and their elixirs were uncomparable. However, one should take proper caution because they could give the opposite effect when not taken the right way.

Zenia went to see Vaughn. She knew that her mother had to prepare Vaughn's meal and would take long before she could return. 

"I've won Young Master Vaughn. I will be staying for a few weeks."

Vaughn smirked, "My dear wife, you are quite a schemer. I believe you really plan to stay here for a few weeks to complete the task that your teacher, Doctor Zhung, had handed to you. I can help you complete them so we can return to our honeymoon right away."

"The deal is a deal. We forget about our past disputes, but you need to fulfill my wish. After you have recovered you need to be on your way."

"Ask for a rematch, son-in-law," Renaria spoke in a commanding tone.

Zenia turned around and was surprised that her mother suddenly came back. Wasn't she supposed to prepare the meal?

"Mother!"

"Don't look at me like that. I just need to order the maids. Everything has been prepared ahead of time. Is it true that you still want to complete the task that your teacher gave you? You know that I always hate that teacher of yours, even if he had been helping us too many times."

Zenia started to sweat profusely. She deliberately hid it from her mother because she knew how much her mother hated her teacher. She was against the things that her teacher made her do.

Vaughn grinned as he asked his mother-in-law, "Mother-in-law, what is this rematch?"

"Oh, after the duel, the party who had lost can ask for a rematch. The same rules apply."

"But mother-in-law, even if I ask for a rematch I may still lose in the end. What's the point of having a rematch?"

"Don't look down on yourself too much son-in-law. I know someone who can help you with training so you can match Zenzen's abilities."

"Mother, I'm your daughter. Why are you helping him?"

"He is also my son now, is he not? Besides, I don't want you to return to your teacher. I will do any means possible to stop you."

Vaughn gave Renaria a meaningful smile and said, "I leave my fate to you Mother."

"That's right, son, you should be calling me mother from now on. You are my daughter's husband after all."

The maid brought Vaughn's meal, and Renaria personally helped Vaughn. The scene irritated Zenia even more. Vaughn looked at her and caught her glaring at him. He gave her a warm smile and returned to eating.

Renaria turned to Zenia, "Go on, you need to begin your training for the rematch if you want to stay with your teacher and finish the task that he gave you."

Zenia stomped her foot and walked out of the room. 

'Jealousy is sometimes good too. I gained another son.'

* * * * *

Zekiah's entourage finally arrived at Solaria in the middle of the night. They settled quickly, and Zekiah received a message from Zander telling him that Zenia and Vaughn were currently in the Anisen Manor due to some personal issues. The encrypted message was left under the care of the inn manage a day before their arrival. Zekiah was able to decode it and even praised his Big Brother for thinking of such a means to deliver the message to him.

No one suspected a thing, not even Vaughn's people. The secret guards that the Ninth Prince had scattered all around Solaria did not detect a thing. Zekiah was able to feel at ease knowing that Zenia was fine. How he wished he could sneak out and be with his family in Ishelon. 

"Crown Princess, we will search for the Crown Prince tomorrow," Ruvin informed Zekiah when he entered their room.

"No need, he is fine. My Big Brother sent me a secret message that he is alright."

"How did your brother know?" 

"Just trust me on this."

"When will he return?"

"Soon."

Zekiah did not say anything more. He knew that it wouldn't be good to divulge more information than necessary.

From the kitchen, the newly hired staff took a peek at the newly arrived visitors. If the old man went together with Zekiah's team, he would easily recognize the new kitchen staff.