Chapter 125 - Until We Meet Again

Vaughn would be sleeping by himself in the guest room, and Zenia decided to be together with her mother. Ovid and Zander were summoned once more to the palace and should stay there for the night. They promised Renaria that they would return in the morning.

"Mother, am I really making the right decision? I can stay here forever you know." Zenia asked while Renaria was brushing her hair.

"A married woman should be together with her husband to form a family. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful son-in-law. I can only be reassured if you can bore him some children and create a loving family together. This is the natural course of life."

"Will I always be your daughter?"

Renaria stopped and hugged her daughter. "You will always be my and your father's child no matter where you go or what decision you make. Remember that you will always have a home to return to in case you no longer feel safe outside of our manor."

"Thank you, mother." Zenia hugged her mother tightly as she engraved the sweet scent of her mother to her memory.

Vaughn tossed and turned on his bed. He thought he could finally hug Zenia to sleep, but she pleaded to be with her mother since they would be going to Tissuria the following day. They had decided that they should not waste anymore time, especially when they were uncertain about the Ninth Prince's plan.

Vaughn got up and tried to figure out their current situation. Redivo used to send him reports before. They had means to send the message wherever he might be but everything was quiet in the past few days. He did not want to think the worst-case scenario, now that he and his wife had finally resolved their issue.

They were so close in solving the case and exposing the evil deeds of the Left Minister and the Ninth Prince. Somehow, Vaughn felt that it was just the start. He couldn't put his finger on it, but they could be looking in a different direction.

'Where should we look?'

He decided that the best course of action at the time was to bring down the Left Minister to stop his evil plan. They could think about what to do next after they resolved the problem.

Ishelon and Tissuria may not be at war, but some groups wanted them to start fighting each other. He was still uncertain about the Left Minister's motive for trying to cause a dispute between the two kingdoms, but Vaughn was certain that Damien wanted to usurp the throne.

The Left Minister did seem like he wanted the throne for himself, but Vaughn had a feeling that there was a deeper motive. He had investigated the Left Minister's background and learned that he was his father's legitimate heir. He was the only son that the legal wife gave birth to. He was the Fifth Young Master but tragedy struck their family. Everyone was killed, except him.

The Rocca Family was the one who sheltered him. They were the family of his mother. The Left Minister's mother was a pampered lady who fell deeply in love with his father who already had some concubines at the time. In the past, the Rocca Family was the most influential. Almost everyone wanted to be associated with them. The Left Minister's father took advantage of the opportunity and married the Rocca Family's Young Miss as his main wife to gain a stronger foothold in the society.

They failed to uncover the identity of the Left Minister's father. It was as if he never existed. Someone deliberately erased everything about him. When the Left Minister's father was killed, the Rocca Family fell from glory. Although they retained their status, they were no longer considered as one of the most influential families in Tissuria.

Vaughn thought that the Left Minister could be trying to regain the prestige of the fallen family by marrying Verone Rocca to him.

'Was he trying to pay off a debt of gratitude? It is so unlikely…' Vaughn shook his head and chuckled a bit for thinking absurd thoughts.

The Left Minister did not seem to be someone who would recognize a debt of gratitude. Vaughn's eyes widened when he realized something.

'Could it be? Did the King still issue a Royal Decree?'

Vaughn began to panic when he thought of Zenia. Although it happened while they were away, that little devil of his would surely be furious. Ah, it was truly a shame that he got such an inconsiderate father.

* * * * *

Ovid and Zander returned at dawn. They knew that Vaughn and Zenia would be on their way.

"Big Brother, just do the thing that you suggested and we will rely on you for this."

Zander ruffled Zenia's hair like he used to when she was still a little girl. Vaughn did not like it, but he kept quiet. Zander was smiling, but Zenia could see the sadness in his eyes. She knew what he was feeling at that moment.

Zenia tiptoed and whispered in his ears, "You will always be my one and only Big Brother, and I will always be your little Zenzen."

Zander hugged Zenia as he subtly wiped his tears. If he was to choose, he would like to keep the little girl by his side forever. But, he knew that it was a farfetched idea. He had to admit that she had already fallen in love with her husband.

"Father," Zenia hugged Ovid who hugged her more tightly.

Ovid burrowed his face on Zenia's hair. Renaria knew that her husband was trying to conceal the tears that were already rolling down his cheeks.

Zenia gave her mother a hug and Renaria kissed her daughter's forehead for so many times. Vaughn could not say anything. He felt like he was a villain who was taking away the heroine.

Renaria looked at Vaughn and walked to him. She gave him a hug.

"Please take good care of Zenzen." Renaria held his hands as she said those words.

"I will, Mother. I will never leave her and I will not let anyone or anything to harm her."

Thunderbolt walked toward his master and lowered his head near Zenia's cheek. They did not bring anything when they arrived. Renaria was preparing things for them to bring along, but they insisted that a bag of food was enough for their travel. They bid farewell to everyone as they rode Thunderbolt.

Zenia gave a signal to her horse, and they galloped away. Everyone in the Anisen Manor did not leave their spot until Zenia and Vaughn were out of sight.

Vaughn couldn't believe that Thunderbolt was actually faster than just seeing him go. He felt like his heart was about to escape from him. The excitement was too much for him to handle, but he still managed to hold on.

When they were near the cliff that Zenia jumped before, she suddenly asked him, "Are you ready? Hold on tight."

"What?" Instinct told Vaughn that he should hold on to Zenia like his life was depending on it.

Zenia smiled when she felt that Vaughn had tightened his arms around her waist. She made Thunderbolt run even faster. At the end of the cliff, Thunderbolt jumped and flew in the air.

"Ahhhhh!"