Chapter 272 - Start of Peaceful Days

Odette nearly stumbled when she walked backward after hearing what the man had said, "What did you say?"

King Odhran sighed, 'I guess father-in-law still failed to tell my daughter the truth.'

He looked lovingly at his daughter whom he had never seen in person. He knew her through the portraits that the Left Minister had brought him. Odette looked like Concubine Jayda, but her temperament and her eyes resembled his. King Odhran felt a piercing pain in his heart when he remembered Jayda.

When he heard that Jayda died from a mysterious disease, he ordered some of his men to investigate properly. He found out later that his beloved Jayda was murdered. He suspected that King Tarendino learned of their betrayal and ordered her assassination. But, the report told him otherwise. 

King Tarendino did not know that Odette was not his biological daughter. King Odhran's investigation led him to a dead end. He later suspected that it was the Left Minister who ordered the assassination, but he dropped the whole idea in the end. 

He was relying on the Left Minister to safeguard his daughter. He could not bring the dead back to life, but he could use the Left Minister to protect his daughter in Tissuria. 

It was not yet the proper time to bring Odette back to Prazia. But, he had no other choice. Each of his concubines belonged to a powerful family. Each of them was looking forward to obtaining the title of Queen of Prazia. They wanted to bear the King's rightful heir.

If King Tarendino's concubines were all vicious schemers, King Odhran's women were no better. In the past, new concubines were found dead on their second day in the palace. The culprit was caught and such an incident did not happen again. 

King Odhran asked the Left Minister to help him concoct an elixir that would prevent his concubines from getting pregnant. The Left Minister complied, and none of the women in the harem got pregnant even at present. 

Odette's presence in Prazia was only known by a few of King Odhran's most trusted men. He knew that the vicious concubines might pull some strings to prevent him from presenting his daughter as his rightful heir once they learned of her existence.

King Odhran looked affectionately at Odette, who looked like a trapped rabbit that did not know where to go. 

"I know that I should've let you know that I'm your father a long time ago, but there were things that must be taken care of first. I hope you understand."

"D-Does that mean that you have already taken care of them? Is that the reason why I'm here now?"

Odette looked at King Odhran directly into his eyes. It was too much for him to bear. She should not be there, but he couldn't just let his daughter suffer in Tissuria.

King Odhran looked away and walked toward the window. He did not answer his daughter's questions. 

"I already prepared a villa for you outside of this palace. There are people there who will attend to your needs. You have capable guards surrounding you, and I will make sure that you will continue to live in luxury. You will lead a life befitting the First Princess of Prazia – my only heir."

Odette should feel elated upon hearing those words, but she felt like something was piercing her heart. He said she was his daughter, but his words and his actions were polar opposites.

There were many occasions where she had acted foolishly, but she was not stupid. She knew that her own father was powerless against the ones he depended on. She was fully aware of the schemes in the harem as well as the power struggle.

"I understand. I thank the King of Prazia for his generosity and welcoming me in his kingdom when I have nowhere else to go and no one to rely on. I accept your generous offer and wish to be transported to that villa at once."

King Odhran did not expect that Odette would utter such words. He wanted to be with her a bit more. To hug her tightly within his arms and to know more about her. He wanted her to stay for a while before sending her to her villa.

"Why don't you go there tomorrow and stay here for a while. I just want to spend some time…"

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I think I shouldn't linger a minute longer in your palace. Walls have ears, and you can never tell if it's really safe to talk here. I also want to familiarize myself with this kingdom as fast as I can. That way, I won't disgrace you when the time comes that its safe to let your people know about my identity."

King Odhran felt sad, but he knew that Odette's decision was right.

"Malik!" He called his most trusted soldier, who was just waiting by the door.    

"Your Majesty, what is your command?"

"Take the First Princess to her villa and tell the servants to serve her well. Anyone who makes her angry will be offered as a sacrifice."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Odette bowed her head and bent her knees slightly and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will take my leave now."

"I will send you a letter every now and then, and I hope that you will answer each one of them."

Odette nodded her head and walked out of the room. Sir Malik could not read what she was thinking, but he could feel the sadness that she was not able to conceal. He felt sorry for her, but King Odhran had more important things to prioritize. At that moment, she had the least priority.

Odette was quiet inside the carriage, and Sir Malik did not bother with her. He was there to carry out the orders given to him, and it did not include consoling a young lady.  

* * * * *

Redivo told his subordinates to inform him at once when Verone had awakened. Verone and her maids woke up after three days. They too were taken to the dungeon in the Main Palace as soon as they opened their eyes. Redivo did not bother giving them breakfast. Vaughn already told Redivo that he could decide what to do with Verone. He wanted her out of his palace as soon as possible.   

"What are you doing? I'm the Second Wife of the Crown Prince! You can't do this to me."

She refused to be taken out of Vaughn's Palace and demanded to see him. Redivo did not give her that opportunity and ordered his subordinates to take her away. 

Verone kept protesting even when the guards of the Main Palace threw here to the dungeon where her family had been waiting for her. 

"Young Miss," her mother's personal maid went to console Verone but received a slap instead.

Pak! Pak!

"Don't call me Young Miss. I'm the future Crown Princess! Why are you all doing this to me? Mother, why are we here?"

The Matriarch of the House of Rocca could no longer tolerate it and slapped Verone.

Pak! 

Verone slumped to the ground after receiving an ear-deafening slap. 

"I hope this slap brings you back to your senses. We have been here for days now, and you don't even know? What an unfilial child."

"Y-You said days?"

Verone could not believe that so many things had happened, and she did not even know any of it. Pearls of tears fell from her eyes. She remembered waiting patiently for Vaughn's return and being locked up in the dungeon of the Palace of the Crown Prince. How come she couldn't remember anything after that? It was like she had been sleeping through it all.

She had mixed emotions. She did not know whether to cry or laugh for her stupidity. The people in the Palace of the Crown Prince had played her for a fool. She did not want to accept that even Vaughn toyed with her feelings.

'No! It must be Zenia Anisen who orchestrated everything. I must let the King know of the things that I've been through. I'm sure he will give me justice.'

She wiped her tears and got up. She shouted at the guards, "Hey! Tell the King that Verone Rocca is asking for an audience. There must be a misunderstanding. I should not be here."

None of the guards paid attention to her, and they all chose to ignore her plea. Her family shook their heads and decided that it would be best to not get involved with her.

The Palace of the Crown Prince was quiet once more after Verone and her maids were dragged out of the palace that morning. Zander, Zekiah, and the rest of the party that teleported fromIshelon had decided to sleep a little more. They were very tired. They did not expect that the teleportation spell had a side effect. After they finished everything, their bodies became heavy, and they were very tired. Their bodies felt like they were sleep-deprived. Their tiredness was similar to traveling non-stop to reach their destination.

Zenia did not wake them up and let them sleep a bit more. The King and Queen of Tissuria were expecting them to attend the dinner banquet later. Every worker in the entire Palace of the Crown Prince, including the soldiers, did their duties as usual. Everyone was glad, especially Zenia's maids, that Verone was no longer there. They hoped that no one would dare use unscrupulous means again to be Vaughn's concubine.

Vaughn was looking at Zenia while they were having breakfast and thought that it was about time for them to travel to Shadora Kingdom.