Chapter 2 The Quest

"What's wrong with you Cedric? Can't you appreciate the fact that you're a prince?" Queen Rodney scolded as they walked into the throne room.

The king was in deep thought seated on his throne, He jerked up as they arrived in, arguing.

"Mom, all I want is choose my bride, you can't force me" Cedric retorted.

But queen Rodney couldn't give up that easily

"Those princesses you rejected are pretty and nice, what else can you find in a girl?"she pouted. He sighed and then glanced at his father who was glaring.

"Good day, your highness " he made a slight bow and was about to leave when the king stopped him.

"Hold on Cedric!" Cedric stopped almost immediately but did not turn back.

"You said you want to choose your bride?" he asked but it was more of a statement.

"Well, I give you three days to find her if you're not able to bring a decent bride here to present to me, you'll have no choice but to agree to the next princess we bring or else you'll lose the throne" he declared and immediately left the throne room.

Cedric beamed a smile almost jumping in excitement. Queen Rodney gave a slight smile.

"Don't worry mom, my bride will be perfect" he said dashing out. The queen stared at him in disbelief.

"Oh boy, I wonder what he'll bring as a bride".

In the prince's room, he's adoring himself in the mirror.

"This is.. Perfect " he said as he wore a casual clothing - the cloth for commoners which is a brown short that's just above the knee, a high boot with a yellow loose cloth and a brown jacket.

He then carried a scarf and wrapped around his neck. "I don't know why I'll need this scarf, it'll probably be hot" he said and took it off, A knock interrupted him

"Come in" he responded. Diego and Sanjay came in and gasped in surprise

"Oh my eyes!" Diego exclaimed as he saw the princes outrageous dressing. So simple and filthy.

"What's this all about? " he added making him scoff.

"Wait... are you finally protesting that if they don't let you choose your bride you'll cease to be a prince and live with the villagers?! " Diego cracked.

"Yeah seems like it. He finally wants to be a villager so he'll not have to marry a princess" Sanjay added and they laughed derisively, But Cedric didn't mind, they can laugh their hearts out for all he cares.

Seeing he wasn't responding they became silent

"Are you done?" Cedric finally said and they busted into another laughter.

Cedric scoffed and headed for the door.

"Okay, okay we're done, for real this time " Sanjay said as Diego suppressed a laugh.

"So, what's up? " Sanjay asked and Cedric replied immediately

"Well my dad gave me three days to find a perfect, decent bride, so.. "

"So why are you dressed like a commoner.. " Diego interrupted and Cedric snapped

"If you'll just let me finish! " there was an awkward silence in the room. Cedric sighed and continued

"Thank you. I want to take the whole three days to find my bride that likes me for who I am not for what I am and who I'll love" they all nodded still feeling overly confused.

"But why would you ever want to stress yourself, you know girls like rich guys"

"Point of correction, some girls " Cedric retorted quickly. They all scoffed

"Just let him be, Diego, now that's your chance to marry a princess " Sanjay mocked.

"Anyways gotta go "Cedric said rushing out.

Queen Rodney came out of the art room just opposite Cedric's room. She saw him going out dressed so outrageously. She became confused and rushed to his room and met his friends.

"Good morning your highness "they greeted in unison.

"Diego and Sanjay! What are you two doing here" she said strictly that they became puzzled at once.

What's wrong? This isn't their first time here so why the strange question. Before Sanjay could say anything, she continued.

"Cedric is looking so preposterous and you let him go alone?"

"Well, it looked like he didn't need our help" Sanjay answered politely.

"Well, as your queen am sending you two after him and makes sure he doesn't get into trouble, you'll have to spy on him" she commanded and they left in obeisance.

"I hope Cedric knows what's he's doing " she said to no one in particular.

She went to the masters room - hers and the king's. The king was seated in his study table writing a letter.

"So are you replying to the queen of Urtwood? You know she wanted to bring her daughter for Cedric" she said sitting close to him.

"Well, am afraid I can't tell her not to come again" he disclosed rather sadly

"Why? "

"Because they're already here! So they'll wait in the visitors quarters. They'll stay there for three (3) days" he said as he dropped his pen.

Queen Rodney couldn't believe it..

"But Cedric was.. He was going to find his bride "

"Yeah, but there's a possibility he might not"

"But what if he does, then what will you do? Huh?" she said slightly quivering.

King Cecil thought for a while.

"Hmm, I'll host a party for the Prince's girl and the Princess of Urtwood and he'll have to choose who he wants as his bride, I'm sure the queen of Urtwood will understand" he concluded and Queen Rodney nodded

"I just hope they'll not be disappointed"

IN THE TOWN

Cedric moved around the village thinking of how he'll find his girl. Will it be possible?

As he was walking around he noticed that the town was almost empty except for some elderly people and a few kids.

"I've never been to this side of the kingdom, don't we have young people?" he mused as he gazed around.

Then suddenly a carriage passed by him nearly hitting him in the process.

Jeez, he didn't even see it coming. He heaved as he nearly escaped death.

The carriage stopped abruptly and out of curiosity he went to it. What could be inside such a beautiful red and gold carriage. He strained his eyes to see through the slightly opened curtains. Then suddenly a face of a beautiful girl sprang out and grimaced

"What are you looking at!" she yelled sharply and he scoffed, seriously?

"Can't you watch out! You coward " she rasped and closed the curtains at his face.

"Jeez, what a psycho " Cedric scoffed as the carriage moved. He went his way too.

Diego and Sanjay were secretly following him and when they saw the carriage about to hit Cedric, Diego sprang out of his hiding place and was about to save him. But stopped when he saw that he was alright and hid behind a big house.

So they kept on following him till he entered a dark alley. But surprisingly they didn't see him again.

"Where did he go to?" Sanjay asked confused. He can't just vanish into thin air like that, after searching around, they left.

Cedric came out of his hiding spot in a balcony and scoffed. He saw them following him, convinced they were gone he ran out.

He met a group of kids around the town square playing, he approached them smiling

"Hello kids" he greeted as some ignored him while some faced him

"Why are you kids alone where are your elder siblings" he continued and they giggled

"Today is national washing day, so they're at the stream" one replied smartly.

He hit his forehead in frustration, how could he have forgotten? He thanked them as he ran away.

He ran towards the direction where the stream was, so he can meet every girl there and maybe find his lady. Cedric was so determined to reach there that he didn't realize when he passed by Diego and Sanjay. So they finally followed him.

He kept on running getting closer to the stream, excitement flushing through him that he didn't see a ditch in front of him

But his friends did and yelled

"My Prince! Watch out for the ditch!" on hearing the word 'My Prince l' everyone turned to look at his direction and saw prince Cedric fall into the ditch.

"THAT'S PRINCE CEDRIC! " The girls screamed and ran to the ditch.