Chapter 3: A lost princess

GENERAL GEORGE'S POV

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I am extremely angry. My blood was boiling with rage and my hands twitch continuously with the need to pull out my blade and separate King Patrick's head from his body.

How dare he?

Not only did he walk into the palace court like he owned the place and demanded that the princess be given to him, he also got the guts to threaten our kingdom with war.

What insult!!!

I have heard that the Evergreen kingdom has never lost a war but our kingdom has never lost one as well and I strongly believe that we have a great chance of winning if put against the Evergreen kingdom.

I singlehandedly took down many nations on my own, what gives King Patrick the right to look down on us and challenge us.

The bastard!

We had all gathered at the king's study as he requested. 

I stood loyally beside the king. Prince David and princess Melissa sat on the only two available seat in the study. While David glared continuously at King Patrick who leaned his back against the wall by the door, princess Melissa stared at him in awe and admiration. 

Although I understood her fascination, I didn't like the look she was throwing at him. But I have longed come to realize that princess Melissa was really a weak soul when it comes to capable men whom she deem worthy of her.

It made me a bit scared because no matter how much I hate prince David, I would still prefer him for the princess over this tyrant called a king.

The king cleared his throat loudly. "King Patrick" he began "there is something you must know." King Patrick merely raised a brow. The king sighed loudly before saying "princess Melissa is not the bride you seek" Prince David immediately shot the young king a victorious look but king Patrick wasn't at all fazed by that.

His majesty was not done though. "She is not your bride because she is not my first daughter"

Four pair of eyes stared at the king in shock including mine, although King Patrick did not seem at all shocked by the news.

"What do you mean your majesty?" Prince David asked.

His majesty sighed again. "I had a daughter before Melissa from the first my first queen who everyone thought died along with her mother at child birth"

Melissa spoke next, her words shaky from the unexpected news "but you never said anything about this to me"

"Yes,only a few people from my Royal Court know about her,  she had to be hidden away due to the circumstances surrounding her birth"

I remain silent even though I was still shocked by the news. Why wouldn't I be. I've been by the king side for years and yet knew nothing about this.

"What does that have to do with me King Collins" King Patrick's deep voice spoke through the silence for the first time. "The law says that if the first daughter is no more the second shall be given and if the second is no more the third shall be given. That is how it goes King Collins"

"But the law clearly states that it must be confirmed that the first daughter is indeed gone" Prince David put in angrily "the first princess is 'hidden away' and not dead. Do not pronounce a living person dead"

"The prince is right" his Majesty agreed "and I promise you Kind Patrick that if you give me some time, I shall bring the princess back home"

King Patrick scoff disrespectfully and it took all in me to not walk over to his side and show him how to respect his superior. He may be a king but he still was in our kingdom. 

"Two weeks" he said authoritatively

"What?"

"I can only give you two weeks to find my bethrot or I am taking the available one and if that is also impossible, then we shall face each other in the battle field" He glance at a blushing Melissa ignoring Prince David's glare before walking out of the study.

The kind sighed heavily. "What will you do now father?" Melissa asked. She didn't sound as panicked as she looks.

"I have no choice but to bring your sister back to the palace Melissa" the king sighed "Princess Larissa was hidden away the very moment she was born because of of a mysterious condition during birth"

we kept silent waiting patiently for an explanation

"After the princess was born, there were dark clouds that always seemed to surround her and her health drastically dwindled, she was pale and white like she was drained of blood down to the last drop. There was nothing I did not do to save her life, I consulted many doctors, priests and shamans, but none could heal her" the king exhaled a breath before continuing "it was then, when I had given up all hope that the head priestess of the witches 'covern approached me and offered to help me. Apparently,  what seemed to appear like clouds over the child,  was fragments of demons that showed as they try to take the baby away"

"Demon? Did you say demons father?"

"Yes Melissa,  demons and she's been battling with them up till this moment" he answered "The Evergreen Kingdom, at the time still under the kingship of late king Jordan, took that moment of mine and my court's  weakness and confusion and tried to attack the kingdom,  I was weak hearted and couldn't risk a war at the time, hence why I made such a promise"

The study became eerily silent as we try to digest everything the king just said

It was a lot

"General" the king suddenly called and I straighten my posture and looked down at him

"Yes my lord?"

"You're to travel up the mount Devon to bring home the Princess" he ordered and just as I was about to acknowledge it,  prince David interrupted 

"I will go with him" prince David said quickly "as your future son in law and Melissa's bethrot I ask that you give me this chance to help with this matter. It also involves me anyway"

I was about to protest when the king interrupted "a good idea. You must go with prince David General and be back within a week, king Patrick may be stubborn and bold, but Larissa would have to be cajouled into marriage or else nothing is happening"

"Yes your majesty" I answered through gritted teeth glaring at Prince David.

My eyes found princess Melissa's annoyed expression. She did not look at all happy about everything.