Princess of Victory - Guardians of Forewood [1]

Chapter 11: Back in Dustor

Day 13of the Fourth Month, Year 1016, afternoon

Military Base, Dustor City, Grizzle Province

THE FOUR of them started from Andormyne city that afternoon, galloping to Grizzle Province, and arrived at Dustor City's Military Base by the time the moon was out. Dev quickly excused himself once they arrived in the base.

Victoria was a bit at loss seeing him walking away so quickly, but her attention was taken by the sudden appearance of her other friends, Ethan and Alize.

Now they all looked at her, sighing. "Well... Bad news, Victa."

"What bad news?" She looked at Ethan with a frown.

"Your mother arrived this afternoon."

Hearing that, she stared at her friends one by one, but they only winced. She sighed heavily. "This is it," she muttered. "My fate ends here..."

"Stop being dramatic and let's go talk to General Adefine first," Luz suggested.

They walked to the General's office without dawdling any longer. Victoria knocked slowly on the door and sighed when she heard the General went, "Come in."

"I just wish I can explain myself before you say anything," she started before the General even opened his mouth.

Adefine looked at her amusedly. "Your Highness, you don't need to explain yourself to me."

The 'highness' that her former teacher used cut deeper. It was as if he mocked her for being so high that she didn't care about everyone beneath. She knew it was only her being oversensitive, but she still cannot help but felt that way. "Did you notify Mother?"

"Common protocols require me to do so," the General said.

"But did you?"

"I did," he nodded. "She needs to know."

Victoria groaned. She was definitely in trouble. "How did she..."

"'She' is here because of you, Princess, thank you very much," the Queen walked in from the door.

Victoria was startled. "Mother!" She didn't know her mother had been in the room all along.

The Queen narrowed her eyes. "So, do you still know you have a mother? Why didn't you remember that before going out alone near a hostile area?"

She cringed. "Uh... Mother, I just..."

"Victoria, can you once, just once, be mature? Please? Stop being so reckless! Remember that you are the Crown Princess of this kingdom. If you keep being like this, sneaking everywhere, ignoring your own safety, how can you keep everything else safe?!"

Usually, her temper would rise whenever her title was mentioned as a reason. This time, though, Victoria felt ashamed of her own actions. She nodded along as her mother scold her in front of the General of the Army and her friends, knowing it was her fault for putting herself at risk. "I am sorry, Mother," she said, after her mother scolded her until she was out of breath.

"You keep saying sorry," the Queen Regent said while looking at her, then she sighed heavily. "I hope you really know your wrong, for your own sake." She looked at the General then. "How are we doing, General?"

The General nodded respectfully. His composure was calm, as if he didn't just witness the Queen Regent of the Kingdom went off at her daughter, the throne's heiress. "Currently we are preparing well, Your Majesty. But I still wouldn't recommend you, or Her Highness, staying here."

"Don't worry about that, General. As my daughter is found, we will go back as soon as possible."

Victoria was startled. "But Mother—"