Zelda was coming back from visiting Saria. She had a small pouch full of herbs that Saria gifted her for the pain. She was told to boil them and drink the tea. The Princess could not wait to get to the castle and try them… her cramps were getting really bad again.
ZELDA POV
Ziel said he would be back before dinner. What really disturbs me is the fact that he left his cellphone. If something where to happen to him, he would be unable to request help from anyone and he KNOWS that. So, why did he leave it?
Once the Princess's carriage arrived to the castle, Zelda thanked the driver and headed to Nana's kitchen as fast as she possibly could. Once she found the cook lady, the Princess handed over the pouch with herbs, told her to boil 2 table spoons and send the tea up to her room. Ivanna smelling the content began to smile and hugged the Princess.
"I will store the rest for later use; you just inform me when you need it"
"I will be informing you, thank you" Zelda said smiling.
Ivanna nods and raises a finger "Do tell your mother that you are riding the crimson wave, I am sure she would hate to miss out on this special occasion"
Oh… yeah, I need to tell her, and also request a new mattress for Link's shake. We should replace my mattress with his though.
Zelda nodded and headed to the throne room, she nocked before entering and both royals stared at her with curiosity, they were in the middle of a discussion with one of the nobles.
The Princess turns red "I am sorry, there were no guards outside, I thought I could… we can talk later" Zelda excuses herself and begins to retreat.
The King stomps on the floor with his scepter, making Zelda stop dead on her tracks. Daphnes whispers something to the Queen. Claire nods smiling, stands up and descends from her throne. The King practically yelled at the noble to draw back his attention from blatantly staring at Claire, the Queen looked beautiful as she appeared to gracefully glide towards the Princess.
"Follow me, let's talk somewhere else" The Queen says without looking at the Princess.
Am I in trouble?
Queen Claire kept walking guiding Zelda to her favorite place in the front garden, where she tended to some lilies.
"Mom, I am sorry I had no idea you both were busy, there were no guards, I thought…"
"Don't mind that, the meeting was… not as important. What happened?" asked Queen Claire.
"Nothing… well, I just wanted to let you know that I started my menstrual cycle"
Claire's eyes shoot open as she covers her mouth with one hand "OH, DEAR GODESSES… then the meeting WAS a little bit important, how are you feeling? do you need more rags?" the Queen asks.
Zelda stares at her mother shocked "I… am actually surprised by your reaction, or lack of it. I thought you were going to cry tears of happiness since this means I am not sterile… so you will eventually be a grandmother"
The Queen gasps in surprise "You… were worried that you were sterile? Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"Because of shame and fear of being a disappointment" Zelda tells staring at the floor.
Claire laughs loudly at that "Sweetie, you are 13… that is a REALLY GOOD AGE given the genes you carry. I started my cycle when I turned 16"
Zelda chokes on her own saliva and begins to cough. The Queen giggles "Yeah… you come from a family of late bloomers. I would have told you had you asked me, but you kind of hated me for the longest time" Claire says lowering her gaze in reminiscence.
Zelda sighs "I realize that not knowing this was completely my fault, I am sorry… But DO know that I love you, and I guess I kind of love Derrick too"
Claire's face suddenly brightens hearing Zelda, after all, she had just admitted to love the King and feels comfortable enough to call him by name.
"I need to head back to the throne room sweetheart" the Queen starts to walk away, but suddenly blurts out. "I AM GOING TO TELL DERRICK WHAT YOU JUST SAID ABOUT HIM BY THE WAY" the Queen turns her head to stare at the Princess smiling malevolently.
Zelda stares back in shock, opens her mouth to yell something but immediately shuts it. Closing her eyes as she nods in defeat. Claire leaves giggling.
Why do I feel shame? I should not feel ashamed of admitting to love my parents.
Daphnes adores my mother and never gave up on me, he always tried to love me even when I refused him. Of course I should love him, and remind him of it every chance I get. I owe it to him.
The Princess hears the hooves of a horse approaching.
That should be Link right? I mean… he actually took measures to make his visit to the other world a secret, even from SWORD since he didn't take his phone with him. So, of course he was not going to use the carriage to get back.
The Princess begins to head back inside the castle herself, as fast as she possibly could to avoid accidentally staining herself. Once she left the garden and got inside, the Princess didn't even get the chance to head to her room. A few seconds later, the Hero was standing in front of her, staring at her clearly confused.
"Hi?" Link says.
"Hi… we need to talk; would you accompany me back to my room please?" Zelda asks.
Link just held out his arm for her to take and they started walking to the stairs. But he felt like he was actually dragging her. When they reached the stairs, he whistled.
"Are you ok? Do you need me to carry you up the stairs?" Ziel asks lifting an eyebrow.
"It's currently just the pain and weakness, Saria prepared me some tea, so I already feel better… but if you don't mind carrying me, I would appreciate it"
Link just nods at that. The Princess actually expected Link to carry her bridal style or on his back like he did in Lost Woods. But Ziel actually swung her over his left shoulder. The shock made her release a yelp as she trapped his left arm between her calves and her thighs. Link actually smiled at that.
"Have you been carried like this before Princess?" Link genuinely asks lifting and eyebrow.
"WHAT? no. Of course, not" she slowly releases his arm dropping her legs "Why? Am I doing it wrong?"
Ziel chuckles "No, you were doing it perfectly a few moments ago" he taps on her legs with his right hand and her immediate response was to fold up her legs up again trapping his arm "There, that should give you more stability, and me more leverage. If I were to run with you like this, you are less likely to fall off" He actually presses down with his trapped arm on her legs jumping a little to adjust her on his shoulder better, then he went up the stairs.
More leverage to adjust me on his shoulder like a potato sack, well… at least I won't fall off. But I should close my eyes before I baptize him in royal puke.
Once up the stairs, Link walked towards the Princess room and opened the door. Zelda tapped on his back to be let down. Once back on the floor she noticed Link hadn't literally entered her room, since he did not cross the door frame. Ziel had just opened the door for her and kept staring down at the floor.
Dude, it's not like you haven't been here before, besides… I sleep with you.
Zelda rolls her eyes and pulls him inside closing the door behind them "You can look around if you want, it's not like I have lingerie dropped around" Zelda says, and turns around to face him "What I wanted to talk about was my brothers… are they ok?"
Link slowly closes the door on Zelda's room, stares straight at her and answers "Yes, why do you ask?"
"Because you left without notify anybody in the castle of your departure. You also abandoned your cellphone, which means SWORD was not aware of your presence there" she sighs "You would never betray Zalatoris like this, unless you or one of our brother's hide was at stake… And since obviously you are not the problem, something must have happened to one of them"
LINK POV
This girl
*Completely your fault, you are kind of dropping your guard with her*
I know… I just can't help it. Both the Engineer and the Pirate love her, and she appears to love them back. I still can't trust her, but I do have to cut her some slack and leave a window halfway open so she can peak in a little.
*So… does that mean you are letting the wench in on Robert's trauma? *
Just a peak. If she wants the whole thing, she will have to get it from Rob himself.
Link closes his eyes and rubs his temples with his fingers, "I never told you what happened to Robert, it was not my place to tell you… it still isn't. But you ought to know since we are family. Just keep this information under wraps for his sake, and I mean no discussing with ANYONE about this, not even Robert himself… he hasn't told you for I reason. Am I crystal clear on this?"
The Princess nods. Link sighs heavily.
"As a toddler he was surrendered to a cartel to be a drug mule, that got him raped"
Zelda opens her eyes wide "Wha…" she starts pacing and pulling at her own hair really hard, eyes staring to fill with unshed tears. She then grabbed a pillow and pressed it on her face to muffle her screams. After a few minutes of waling, she throws the pillow away and walked towards Link with fire on her bloodshot eyes. Once she stood in front of him, she stares up at his grey eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Kill him" she ordered with a disturbing smile plastered on her face.
A PLEASURE MY PRINCESS.
Link smiles sadly "THEM" he says correcting his Princess, when Zelda hears that she wails loudly, approaches the closest wall and throws a punch at it.
Link grabs her fist and starts rubbing it tenderly "Of course I will end them my Princess. That is why I left my cellphone; I can't allow SWORD to know about this… they will target and assassinate them. Death is not punishment enough"
Zelda smiles and nods "I agree but… what else can be done? they are a menace that can't be kept alive" then her whole face lights up "TORTURE, that could be it. Torture them and then kill them. Please tell me you were planning something like that for the bastards" she pleads.
Link starts to chuckle somberly "You would be proud of me" he winks at her "Thing is, I want Blast to witness what I am going to do to them, so I have to wait"
Zelda throws him a questioning glare "Wait? why?"
"What I plan on doing is bad… REALLY BAD, kind of sick actually" Ziel says smirking wickedly "I must at least wait until Rob is considered and adult. I want to respect the law on that regard at least… What I am planning will turn me into a criminal, but I won't rob my brother of his innocence any further" Link stops rubbing Zelda's fist and releases it.
"I understand, and I am on board with that. You should slowly start pulling their intestines out and" she then starts to gag.
Recovering from the nausea she pleads him "Just please make them suffer. And don't ever tell me what you did to them and how... I want them death, but I don't think I can stomach knowing about it. How can I help? what do you need?"
I… honestly though she was going to try to stop me. That I would fight her a little just to make it believable, then she would make me see that Li wouldn't want this cycle of violence to continue.
On the surface I would agree with her. But deep down I would still find a way to avenge my brother, even if I have to lie constantly about my whereabouts.
But she wants them to suffer as much as I do. I am kind of shocked.
"Secrecy, no talking about this with ANYONE, and don't ask me about this again… I will let you know when it's done" Ziel assures her.
"I will be counting the days then" she then walks to her bed and starts taking the pillow off "By the way, would you help me replace your bed with mine? I want to request a new mattress"
"No need Zelda"
"Pff" The Princess crosses her arms "I am not letting you sleep on top of my blood"
"I already cleaned the mattress, its currently drying in hell"
"Wha… but, it will still be stained. The idea of looking at it brings me shame, just let me change it" Zelda wines.
Raziel shakes his head "I don't want to… my mattress IS a good mattress; all it needed was a good scrub" he snickers. "Do you even know WHO you are talking to?"
Link approaches the Princess and extends his hand for a shake.
"I am Kid Saller, SWORD agent. Nice to meet you" he gives Zelda's hand a quick kiss "Given my trade, do you really think I don't know how to rid of a blood stain Princess?"
Zelda opens her mouth fishing for a snarky response, but nothing. She sighs.
"When will it be dry?"
"Tomorrow, I believe. Today we are sleeping on the floor again… unless you actually want to use your own bed."
"Are you sleeping here in my room with me?"
Link shakes his head.
"Then we are sleeping on the floor again" Zelda says happily "Gives me the chance to look at your mattress now that its still wet and tomorrow once it dies. If I find its still stained or smelly I AM GETTING A NEW MATTRESS, AND YOU ARE INHERITING MINE" she says sitting on her bed "And that is not negotiable Saller"