After Dunha and her mother left the room, they were heading towards the large garden that was outside of the castle. They were being followed by 2 guards, much to Dunha's mother's annoyance.
"Good morning, your highness," said a maid as she politely bowed to Dunha and her mother.
"Morning, my queen," said a guard.
Dunha and her mother were being greeted with respect by numerous servants as they walked to the garden. However, Dunha was not paying attention because she was busy feeling the sunlight's warmth through the window of the building.
"I almost forgot how warm the sun felt... I used to hate the heat... But after being in the dark for years... Not anymore..." Dunha thought.
"Hm?" (Dunha's mother)
Dunha's mother then noticed Dunha looking sad.
"Aw~ Why is my little Dunha making such a sad face?" Dunha's mother asked as she suddenly let go of her daughter's hand to hug her from behind instead. This surprised Dunha.
"Uwa?!" (Dunha)
Dunha was able to regain her composure very quickly.
"I'm not sad. I am happy to see mama safe and sound," said Dunha in a childish tone.
Dunha was then able to change the subject.
"Mama, where's papa?" Dunha asked.
This question made her mother pause for a second.
"Hmm... He's on a hunting trip." Dunha's mother answered.
"Ah-ha... Ok..." said Dunha. "Papa..."
Dunha then remembered how her father died shortly after their argument. Her decision to leave the castle that night caused her to be filled with regret for many years. However, she suddenly felt hopeful.
"If mother is still alive right now, then would that mean my father is alive as well?" she wondered.
Dunha's mother noticed Dunha making a sad face again so she quickly tried to cheer Dunha up.
"Don't worry! He should come back before noon!" said Dunha's mother in a cheerful tone.
"Okay! Mama look!" said Dunha.
Dunha realized she was making her mother worry about her sad faces so she quickly tried to change the mood by pointing at a butterfly that was flying around outside the window.
"Ooh, it's a blue butterfly! They're pretty rare and hard to find during the cold months. Let's take a walk through the garden to see if there are more of them," said Dunha's mother. "However... Let's go pick a warm coat for you first! You'll catch a cold if you go outside in your pajamas~"
Dunha realized she was only wearing her pajamas instead of regular clothes.
"Oh..." said Dunha as she blushed.
Before exiting the castle, they headed to the dressing room first.
"Hm?" (Dunha)
As they walked through the hallway, a door on the left opened and 3 people came out of it.
"Tch, I just had to bump into him of all people..." Dunha's mother murmured.
Dunha was surprised when she heard her mother click her tongue.
"Did I just hear my mother click her tongue?" she wondered. "No, no... I must be hearing things. Yes... I am just hearing things."
"..." (The guards)
The two guards behind them pretended to not hear the clicking noise as well.
When Dunha took a closer look at the 3 people exiting the room, her eyes opened wide. She recognized the first man who left the room.
"That's the royal head-doctor!" she thought.
She then remembered when the head-doctor would constantly sneer at her and her younger brother every time they meet. Although he never physically harmed her or her brother, he would constantly insult them every time he gets a chance.
"Just looking at his face is pissing me off..." she thought.
Suddenly, an idea popped up inside of Dunha's head. She then slightly grinned before changing her expression from a devilish smirk to a frightened face. She proceeded to slightly shake her whole body while hiding behind her mother's back.
"Dunha! What's wrong?" said Dunha's worried mother.
The guards were also surprised at Dunha's sudden shaking.
"Heh, it worked," Dunha thought. "M-Mama... T-That's the scary monster in my dream!" she said as she shook even harder.
"What?! Is that true?!" Dunha's mother asked in a surprised tone.
Dunha quickly nodded several times.
"Y-Yes... U-Uwa..." said Dunha as she acted even further by making some fake crying noises.
Luck was on her side today because, by pure coincidence, one of the soldiers behind her was able to solidify her claim.
"Coming to think of it, I remember seeing the head-doctor talking to the princess yesterday when I was guarding one of the storehouses. She did not look happy after he left," said one of the guards.
"Thank you, luck!" Dunha rejoiced internally.
"I see..." Dunha's mother asked. "I'll keep that in mind."
Dunha's mother then let out a frightening aura towards the head-doctor as she remembered the vice head doctor's words.
"...Sometimes the monsters in their dreams could be a certain somebody that she met that day..." was what the vice-head doctor's said earlier.
"You got this paperwork wrong!" the head doctor shouted. "How did I end up with such imbeciles as my assistan--!"
The head doctor, who was complaining at the two people that were behind him, suddenly felt a chill up his spine.
"Huh? What th--" (Head-doctor)
Before he could turn around to see what was causing the shivers, he suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed with foam coming out of his mouth.
"Head doctor Mason!" one of the assistants shouted.
"What's going on?!" the other assistant shouted.
While the two trainee doctors were panicking after witnessing the head doctor passing out, Dunha's mother made a "Hmph" noise before holding Dunha's hand.
"Don't worry Dunha~ Mama will take care of him later," said Dunha's mother as she smiled. "Come on, let's go to the dressing room."
The queen let out a smirk before reverting back to her calm self. Dunha and her mother proceeded to walk by the three doctors. The two trainees bowed their heads at Dunha's mother while the head doctor was still unconscious.
The two guards were expressionless while Dunha was internally laughing at the sight.
🔸🔸🔸
Once they reached the dressing room, they were greeted by two maids.
"Good morning, your Highness. How may we assist you?" the two maids asked.
"Me and Dunha are going to take a walk in the garden. But I can't let her go outside in her pajamas," said Dunha's mother.
"Understood, we'll prepare a warm coat right away," said one of the maids.
The maids opened the door to the dressing room and waited for Dunha to enter the room first.
"Dunha, can you go in first? Mama is going to talk with these guards first and then I will come in, okay?" said Dunha's mother.
"Okay, mama!" said Dunha.
After seeing the head doctor faint, Dunha was in a good mood.
Once Dunha went inside, her mother turned around.
"Guards, go find Charles and tell him to investigate the head doctor," said Dunha's mother.
The guards were about to argue about leaving the queen without a guard but they did not want to anger her so they just nodded and walked away.
"I never liked him anyway. This is the perfect opportunity to find a reason to kick him out of the capital." Dunha's mother thought. "Fufufu... He dares to harm my only daughter... I will never forgive him..."
Each time she chuckled, the future for the head doctor was getting darker and darker.
(To Be Continued)
2020/02/21