22. BAD NEWS

It had been hours since Natasha, Monic and the guards had searched for Crysta. Until the crowds in the center of the city began to quieten down, but the princess was still nowhere to be found.

Not wanting to invite a ruckus, the search was carried out secretly. In every corner of the kingdom, neither Crysta nor Pascal were found.

They believed that Crysta was with the Valliant prince. But considering that Pascal was often patrolling in and out of the kingdom, they were skeptical.

Monic couldn't stop crying for Crysta who never returned. The middle-aged maid had fallen asleep on the sofa due to exhaustion.

In fact, Crysta was sleeping soundly with Pascal who was holding her from behind. Naked, under a thick white blanket.

''Good morning, Sweetheart,'' said Pascal along with a peck. It landed on Crysta's cheek as the girl squirmed in her sleep.

''Hm, morning,'' she replied in a hoarse voice, typical of waking up. But her eyes were still closed.

The morning sun that had shone down on Valliant woke Pascal up first. But that scene was nothing like the one next to him.

My beloved Crysta. You really make me very happy. Pascal said to himself. A satisfied smile hung on his face. He pecked the blushing cheek again before getting up from the bed.

''You're really tired of facing me apparently.'' Pascal smiled looking at Crysta who was still lying down and motionless. He had finished bathing and dressing.

Hugging, fondling and sleeping all night with Crysta, really made his sleep restful. He didn't have trouble sleeping like he had in the previous times. He didn't have trouble sleeping like he had in the previous times. He didn't know what this girl had that made him feel so comfortable.

While Pascal was still looking at Crysta, a raven suddenly landed in the gap of the slightly open window. Along with a roll of paper on one of its legs.

"A letter?''

He hastily approached the raven. It reminded him of the letter Crysta had sent last night to Orva. King Brent had replied so fast as it turned out.

A rose will only produce a rose and it will never become a tulip.

Only those figurative words were written there. Which meant, Crysta's requests would not be obeyed.

''I knew you would say that, Your Majesty,'' he said with a sardonic smile full of anger. Even so, Pascal would not give up on Crysta.

''What are you doing?''

Crysta suddenly appeared, hugging him from the back. Only a blanket was covering her body.

''Thinking,'' he said as he turned around.

''Thinking about what?''

A paper was handed to Crysta, answering the girl's question.

''What will you do? Father is clearly against us having a relationship. I don't want the Eastern kingdoms to attack each other just because of me,'' she concluded worriedly. Crumpling up the paper and throwing it in a random direction.

''Calm down,'' Pascal kissed Crysta's forehead. ''There's nothing for you to worry about.''

''How can I be calm? Maybe you're used to war with kingdoms in other regions. But with kingdoms in your own region? That would be suicide. You will be the reason for the loss of peace in the East and all the kingdoms will attack Valliant.'' King Lumiere's words about the consequences of an arranged marriage that was broken suddenly and unilaterally were seared into her memory. She did not want Pascal to die and Valliant, which was known for its prosperity, to be destroyed.

''I am not afraid. As long as you are always by my side.'' Pascal responded with an amused chuckle.

''Please don't underestimate this matter, my love. Even your father and mother will definitely oppose our relationship if they find out.'' Crysta's beady eyes glazed over. Thinking that everyone in this world was not in favor of her and Pascal's relationship.

"Father and mother already know about it.''

''What?'' Crysta's lips parted. Shocked.

The man nods. Stroking Crysta's arms up and down while looking at the beauty of Crysta's exposed body. Her breasts peeked out. Many red spots were there. Pascal chuckled at the result of his behavior that made Crysta look like a beating victim.

But he hurriedly diverted the view by carrying Crysta bridal style to the sofa. Sitting the girl on his lap.

''Why do you think mother told me about you being saved by the Valliant soldiers, hm? Even though at that time, I was at war. Asking me to attend your birthday party every year. Always presenting you with the same gift every year too. Why do you think?''

Crysta shook her head. ''It's because mother wanted me not to waste the opportunity to meet you. Also, to give me a reason to give you the pink pearls in the end. As a way to express feelings, under the pretext that you already had pearls of various colors at your disposal. And the color with the symbol of love was the color you didn't have yet,'' he said with a laugh. ''And I was a little surprised when you asked for it first. Then I asked mother about it. And she said that you also had the same feeling.''

''Ever since I was a child, I never concealed anything from my parents. I told them, no matter how long it took, I would wait for Crysta.''

At this moment, the girl's heart was filled with happiness.

''Crystabelle. She is the girl who will become my queen one day.''

Without realizing it, tears of emotion welled up. Wetting Crysta's cheeks.

''I was actually angry with you, when you asked me to bring you the pink pearls on the day you declared your marriage to Logan. It was like you were playing a trick on me, where at that time, I was hurting from your arranged marriage,'' he said irritably.

Crysta laughed through her tears. It was nice to see a jealous Pascal.

''But now you're here. With me,'' Pascal wiped Crysta's tears with his big thumb. Unable to bear these beautiful words, Crysta rushed into Pascal's arms. Suddenly it made Pascal laugh.

''Why are you laughing?'' Crysta asked while hitting Pascal's chest.

But Pascal still laughed for a few moments, before deciding to answer. ''You want to tease me, don't you?

Haven't the activities we've been doing until the early hours of the morning satisfied you yet, Sweetheart?''

''Huh?'' Crysta's cheeks turned red. She hurriedly pulled away. Realizing that the blanket had slipped out of her grasp.

''Don't be ashamed of me. I've even seen everything last night,'' he said with a mischievous smile before biting Crysta's lip. And ignorantly, Pascal pulled down the blanket that Crysta had raised back to her breast.

''My love!'' Crysta protested as she glared.

Pascal chuckled in amusement, lowering Crysta from his lap so he could stand up. Pascal walked over to the wooden cabinet in the corner of the room. From Crysta's vision, Pascal was picking through what she thought might be the prince's clothes.

''I really want to see you in this dress, Honey,'' he said as he turned around. With the beautiful dress he showed her.

Crysta was dumbfounded. The pink dress with crystal sprinkles left her at a loss for words.

''Where is Princess Crysta?" King Lumiere asked Natasha. Crysta was supposed to be at the dining table for breakfast.

''It's unusual for Crysta to be late. Is she sick? Her maid is also nowhere to be seen,'' Queen Ruby added when she didn't see Monic.

Natasha looked down. Unsure of how to explain. Crysta was her responsibility. Not being able to provide answers about the princess was a crime. Indicating that Natasha had been derelict in her duties.

''Didn't you go to the city last night? What happened there? Is the princess okay?" the queen questioned.

Still. Natasha could not answer. When asking about Crysta's condition, she only received news from Monic about Prince Pascal making the princess cry. That's all.

Her residence stirred up the king's emotions.

''Answer, Natasha!''

The maid's body jerked in surprise. ''Your Majesty... actually I...''

''Please forgive my tardiness, Your Majesty.''

''Your Highness?'' Natasha couldn't believe Crysta's presence.

Not only with Monic. But what made everyone disbelieve was that Crysta came together with Pascal. Holding the prince's arm. Looks so intimacy.

Plus when Pascal pulled a chair for Crysta. Asking her to sit so politely, made the king and queen suspect that Pascal had already conquered her.

Queen Ruby made eye contact with her only son, which was returned with a nod and a smile. The code was also understood by the king.

''What have you done to the princess to make her late, naughty prince?''

Crysta glanced at Pascal, who was sitting across from her.

''Many things, Father.'' Pascal answered honestly. Which the king and queen thought was a silly answer.

''I mean, the prince took me to visit places I've never traveled to before.'' Crysta hoped that answer would satisfy King Lumiere's curiosity.

But the look on Pascal's face showed disapproval. As if he was about to protest and open his mouth. But Crysta hurriedly silenced him by stepping on Pascal's foot.

''Akhh!''

The unlucky one turned out to be the king's foot. Suddenly it made Pascal laugh with satisfaction.

''I'm sorry, Your Majesty. My dress got caught on something.'' Crysta pleaded guilty.

Damn it. How embarrassing. Crysta grumbled inwardly.

''It's alright, Dear. You don't have to feel embarrassed like that.'' Queen Ophelia soothed the girl.

''Since long ago, we have regarded you as our own daughter. Although the arranged marriage between the two of you was not approved by King Brent,'' she added.

That was new information for Crysta. An arranged marriage? She and Pascal? And when did that conversation happen?

''What do you mean, Your Majesty?''

''Ah, your father didn't tell you apparently,'' the queen replied.

Crysta cast a glance at Pascal, who seemed to be calmly enjoying the meal. It seemed that Pascal already knew this.

The girl shook her head resignedly.

''Our visit to Orva when you were a child was to betroth you to Pascal. But unfortunately, King Brent did not receive it. Even though Queen Ophelia really liked Pascal.''

What?