The Prince's Runaway Bride

After receiving the Royal Decree, the newlyweds went straight to the carriage that would take them home. Zenia was frowning while Vaughn was grinning.

"Your Highness, don't you think that something is odd about the timing of the Royal Decree?"

"Of course, there's something wrong with the whole set up! But, there's nothing we can do about it. We need to follow it."

"Do you think we will be monitored?"

"The one who suggested this to the King will naturally monitor our every move. What are you planning to do?"

"I would like to use this opportunity to investigate the doc.u.ments regarding the private army that Elida mentioned before she died. I will trouble Your Highness to bring Big Brother Vaughn along in this trip. If my calculations are correct, Zeze will be returning soon. We should also bring him along."

Vaughn had met Zenia once to discuss the plan of going to Lunaria to retrieve the doc.u.ment in Damien's possession. Elida told Zenia that it was being kept in Damien's private quarters in Luna Inn.

"Do you plan to go there together with your Big Brother Vaughn?"

"That is our original plan. I will let Zeze pose as me while I'm gone so no one will suspect anything. I will leave my brother in your care, Your Highness. I also need Thunderbolt to go with us." Zenia was trying to read the Crown Prince's mood, but he remained unaffected.

Sometimes Zenia had doubts about her hunch. However, her intuition had always been spot on. She just needed a good opportunity to let the cat out of the bag. She knew that she had to do something about her patience, which was not one of her virtues.

Vaughn was thinking about how to bring Ruvin along. He should pose as the Crown Prince for a while. He was also thinking whether to tell Ruvin about Zekiah. In the end, he decided not to reveal anything for the meantime.

The trip home was smooth, and the guards did not spot a single enemy or anyone tailing them. It was one of the few trips that Zenia enjoyed. But, sometimes she wanted to unleash her fighting skills too. It had been so long since she last fought. She felt that her muscles were really getting stiff.

"Welcome back, Crown Prince and Crown Princess." The servants in the main residence greeted in unison.

Zenia got used to it already along with Tissuria's numerous customs and traditions.

"Crown Princess," Redivo called out to Zenia, "Young Master Zekiah is waiting for you in the study."

"Zeze is already here?" Zenia gave Vaughn a look that seemed to say, 'See, I told you he will be here soon.'

She ran toward the study and Vaughn only shook his head.

'What happened to the rule of no running in the hallway?'

He followed after his wife and just in time for…

"Zeze, you're here!" Zenia gave her little brother a hug.

"Why does it feel like they have never seen each other in ages?" Redivo whispered to Vaughn.

"They had always been like that for as long as I can remember. They had always been the ones causing trouble in Ishelon."

Redivo shuddered when he heard the proud tone in Vaughn's voice when he replied.

"Zenzen, why are you wearing a face veil?"

"This is a disguise, a D.I.S.G.U.I.S.E. No one should see my face other than those in the main residence."

"My sister's lovely face… It's a shame that people in Tissuria have not seen it."

Redivo and the servants who heard the exchange between brother and sister were dumbfounded. It seemed like they were just having an everyday conversation and did not mind the people around them.

"Have you eaten?"

"I just arrived, although I am quite hungry." Zekiah's stomach grumbled in protest.

"See? It's not just hungry - it's very hungry."

Zenia laughed and turned to Vaughn, "Your Highness, I will take my little brother to the dining area. Is there something that you want to eat?"

"I'm good. Just order the kitchen to prepare something for my brother-in-law."

"Greetings, Your Highness." Zekiah greeted Vaughn politely, but the Crown Prince felt an ominous aura from Zekiah.

"No need to be so formal, brother-in-law. We are family." Vaughn tried to sound at ease.

The two men looked eye to eye.

'What does this brat want? I did not do anything to offend him. Why so hostile?'

'This Crown Prince, just what is so good about him? If he is not the Crown Prince, he has nothing to be proud of.'

'Is this brat looking down on me?'

'What if I am, you useless Crown Prince? I know you use a despicable scheme to make my sister marry you. My Zenzen may look naïve sometimes, but she's not stupid.'

'When did I look down on your sister? You may not believe me, but I truly love her.'

'Bah, hosh posh! You think I believe that? It won't be long before she divorces you.'

"I'm glad you two can get along on your first formal meeting. Why don't we all head to the dining area? I'm starving too." Zenia pulled off her face veil and flashed a dazzling smile.

Vaughn wanted to give in to the invitation, but he also did not want his brother-in-law to hate him more.

"You go ahead, MY WIFE," Vaughn looked at Zekiah before continuing, "I will join you and brother-in-law later."

"Let us go, my sister, if His Highness can't join us. You need to FEED ME like you used to," Zekiah looked at Vaughn and sneered.

"Aw, I miss that too. Come, let Big Sister treat you." Zenia held Zekiah by his hand and pulled him gently out of the room.

Zenia did not even spare Vaughn a glance when she left the room. All she cared about was bringing Zekiah to the dining area to eat.

Zenia ordered the kitchen to prepare Zekiah's favorite dishes as well as Vaughn's. She knew that he might be busy discussing with Redivo the arrangements for their honeymoon trip. They should remain vigilant at all times.

"You're timing is perfect Zeze. I have something for you to do." Zenia flashed her mischievous smile.

Zekiah gulped down his food and felt like he was eating his last meal. He just arrived and Zenia had something for him to do already.

* * * * *

"I need Ruvin to go on this trip. Make arrangements for him and make him join the other guards first."

"What do you plan to do?"

"Zenzen told me that she wants Big Brother Vaughn, Zekiah, and Thunderbolt to come along. We need to visit Lunaria and infiltrate Luna Inn. According to Elida, Damien has a copy of the list of names in the Left Minister's private army. It also includes the abilities of each soldier."

"Does it include the exact location of the private army? We have searched the whole of Tissuria, and we found nothing. I think it's being kept outside of Tissuria."

"We don't know if the doc.u.ment provides the location, but I hope it does. Did you send some men to Venetia? The Left Minister may have put it there."

"I already did and they should return by next week."

"Make the arrangements for our honeymoon trip and take care of things here for me."

"I understand."