Chapter 64

Douglas got into his room and closed the door, he had calmed down after his meeting with his mother.

"You look strained."

"How can I not be Douglas, did you find anything?"

Douglas sat down, "Can't even wait for me to sit down." He teased him, and this made him realize that he was free.

"I will after I.........."

"I know Caspian, find Aurora."

"Did you find anything."

Douglas put down a scroll on the table and opened it, it had a lot of writing and drawings on it.

"There are seven possible areas that Aurora could have gone and it happened a while back, so they are not many witnesses. The other matter is that Aurora left wearing a cloak most probable."

Caspian nodded, he would not give up, "Anything else?"

"Aurora seemed to have not taken much, and it seems as if she just disappeared without a trace."

"When did you find out when she was banished?"

"After some moons had passed, I had tried to look into it but those who did would be harshly punished."

"Did you notice anything unusual to the weeks leading up to her being banished?"

"You may not want to hear this but she was being treated as a servant."

Caspian's brows furrowed, "How was she made into a servant when she was a concubine?"

"She only was a concubine by title but in regards to how she was treated, she was demeaned to being a servant."

"What would they do to her?"

"She was made to serve Nadia and the remainder of the other concubines, but the remainder I do not know as she disappeared and nothing was heard of ever since."

Caspian swallowed a lump, "I was too late, I was not here to protect her and be with her when she needed me."

"Don't be too hard on yourself Caspian, it is not as if you didn't want to be here."

"I failed her Douglas."

"There was nothing you could do Caspian, don't punish yourself you have been through so much."

"That does nothing to the guilt eating me up, I should have been more cautious."

"You will find her."

"I have to Douglas, that is not an option. I have to be with her or else I can't go on."

"How are you faring as the king?"

"Everything is different, of course I have not been here for the past four years. I have been adjusting bit by bit to everything."

"You came back with a concubine?"

"Rurina was made a concubine here."

"Nadia?"

"I'm sure you heard that her parents are coming in a few moons."

"Relationship wise, how have you two been as she now is the queen."

"I haven't had time to think of that, I had to take care of my father's duties and I need to search for Aurora."

"How are you going to go search for Aurora? Or will you send guards to find her?"

"I will have to mask the search for Aurora, pretend to go do some hunting but instead search for Aurroa."

"That's risky, what if something happens to you again?"

"I don't care, if it means getting to Aurora."

"Are you going to attend the festival tonight."

"Yes."

"I'm sure you need the break and want to have a bit of fun."

"That's not the reason, Rurina wants to go and I owe her my life so I could not refuse her."

"Makes sense, but enjoy yourself and relax Caspian."

"I will when the time comes but now it is not the time."

"You are already going to be at the festival, you might as well as make most of it. That won't hurt you know."

"I hear you Douglas, I will try."

"I know you well, I know what that means, the words are coming in from one ear to the other ear."

"I will Douglas, I promise when all is in place then I will, now is not the time."

"One thing, I was waiting for you to get adjusted but your father missed you a lot. I used to sit with him and he would talk about you. How you were born and the first time he held you. He loved you very much Caspian and he felt guilty for sending you out there."

Caspian was pained, "I wish I could have been here earlier."

"I told him that when you came back that I would relay any message. And he said to tell you that he was proud of you and couldn't have asked for a better son. His love would be forever watching upon you until you meet again."

"Thank you Douglas for being there for him, I am sure it was all too much for my mother to bear on her own."

"It was, be easy on her Caspian, she thought she had lost her son and soon her husband."

"I understand."

"She might upset you but she does worry and love you immensely."

"I understand Douglas."

"And I know that you are upset at Nadia for the way she treated Aurora but she was here for your mother every step of the way, so have a bit of grace for her."

"I hear you Douglas."

"You still owe me a match of archery, are you game?"

"Of course, select the date and all is set."

"I will search for a date that favours me."

Caspian laughed, "As if a date can determine on how you will play."

"You never know Caspian."

"I do know Douglas, but my skills might need to get sharpened a bit. I mean I have been away so that should work in your advantage."

"If you have it, you have it."

"You still need to introduce me to your wife."

"Of course, we have to set a date when everything has settled down."

"Do you have any children?"

"Not yet, we are trying for a child of course, which is something that you also have to do as having the crown prince is important."

Caspian groaned and Douglas laughed at his response, "You have to be more enthusiastic than that Caspian."

"I forgot all about that,"

"Make sure to start so that your children are friends with my children."

"How touching Douglas, I might shed a tear."

Douglas stopped laughing and he became serious and had a concerned look on his face, "What will happen if you do find Aurora and she has another lover and children at that?"

"I can't allow myself to think like that as I would lose it but I have weighed those options, if she is happy then all is well."

"Will you be able to let her go forever?"

Caspian answered truthfully, "No, I don't think so. I don't know what I will do if I can't have her by my side or if she is no longer here."

"Let's hope for the best."

"That's what I am doing, I don't know if I can forgive if I find out something happened to her."

"I see this is eating you alive, I will go and search for more information, truly there must be someone who must have seen her."

"I hope she did not get harmed or harmed herself, she must have been heartbroken and on her own. She would have lost her lover, friends and anything she has ever known. That is why I have to search for her and get answers."

"She had no relatives that she mentioned to you about?"

"No, I didn't get the chance to learn of her background. She also never mentioned them so she probably didn't as I would have met them."

"This makes it all the more complicated, the only known name is Aurora?"

"Sadly yes."

Caspian was saddened by his own answer, these were the things that he imagined him and Aurora would be talking about whilst she lay in his arms.

"Don't look so gloomed up, we will find her but for now you should be getting ready for the festival."

"I'm assuming you are also attending."

"My wife would kill me if we missed it, she has been raving about it for a while now."

Caspian chuckled, "I'm glad someone is dragging you to these events."

"Are you going with Nadia and the concubines?"

"No just Rurina as far as I am concerned."

"I thought you were going with all of them, how will Nadia take it?"

"I don't know, hopefully we don't bump into her and even if we did there is no harm done as she could always join them if she wanted to."

"You are supposed to be on your best behaviour, he parents are coming after all."

"Nothing can phase me anymore, I am willing to meet her parents and for tonight we will see how it all goes."

"Does Rurina not want to have children of her own and wed to someone who will reciprocate her love back?"

"I told Rurina that she is free to come and go as she pleases. I told her that she did not need to be a concubine if she did not want but Rurina didn't see to mind. If one day she falls for someone, I will grant her a termination from being a concubine and she can have children."

"Why did she agree to be a concubine in the first place."

"She must be thinking that's how she can get full protection from anyone, as she is new here and hasn't met anyone that suits her needs."

"Does she not understand the concept of marriage?"

"I did explain to her about how it works, and how Nadia is my wife and all. Why are you asking? Are you interested in her?"

"No, not that way, I just want to know if you two are on the same page and no misunderstanding."

"She views me more as a brother to her, Rurina doesn't see me in that way that you thinking."

"I was just making sure, you have tons of women and you don't need to be adding any more to the list."

"I know, I thought this would be something I would look forward to, having any women I want but how my luck turned and I fell for one."

"Makes two of us, who knew when we made that pact, that we would have lovers so soon?" Douglas laughed and Caspian could not help but to also follow his pursuit.

How life was full of surprises.....................................

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