As the carriage moved forward towards the Palace, the people cleared the way, paying homage and wondering who from the royal family was inside the carriage.
"Is it the princess who is being brought back?" a business man asked his neighbor who sold along side with him.
"I do not know but it can only be the princess because never did I see any of the royal carriage leave out of town this morning" said the other who now watch the royal carriage pass the place where they sold lanterns, and cosmic respectively.
"It must have left for her during the late hours of the night" the one who sold lanterns said emphasizing to the gods for bringing her back if she was ever the one in it.
"I only pray that she returns to the palace because when a twig grows hard, it is difficult to twist it.She can't be running away from the man who gave this nation everything " the man who sold cosmic emphasized then went back to sell his business.
The royal carriage had gone far and was now approaching the Palace gates. Merrick and consultant Jade hadn't said anything to each other.They were like two enemies being put in one cell.
When they were around the palace gates, the guards who guarded the palace doors opened the gates as their carriage approached.
Merrick looked out from the small window to have a view of what the palace looked like while Princess Eden had rested on his shoulders. she was still suffering from the drugs Merrick had given her. Even him wondered why she was still asleep after two good hours had passed but then it favoured him not to be scouted by her if she wakes up when they still travelled to the palace.
Taking a look at the palace was actually something very good to him, he had never been this close to the palace talk more of having to enter inside. It was his first ride to the palace so he had to look around.
"hew" said the guard to the horses as he stopped them at the princess's resident. Merrick went down from the carriage and be hold he saw the golden white palace which was talked about among commoners on the streets of Annapolis.
"The princess's maidens were out to welcome her but then fell to disappointment as she was fast asleep and could only be sent to her chambers while in grimiest niche of vitality.
Merrick on his look around discovered that the princess's den was called " SNOW FALL" as he had seen it boldly written at the top of the entrance of her villa.
"Get back into the carriage, we go to see the king" the King's consult said to Merrick who looked rather lost in the beauty of the Snow fall and didn't yawn to leave anymore.
"Okay," said Merrick who rushed in and paid a goodbye to the guards and princess Eden who he wondered if he was ever going to meet with her while at service in the palace.
He did not care if their next meeting was going to cost his life. He was one step close to his wish and so did not care about what the princess may do to him when she recovers and found herself back in the palace. After all she was going to get married soon and would leave the palace for her husband's house.
It was another long ride from the "SNOW FALL" to the " GRAND HALL " where the king held talks and meetings with his Imperial staff.
Merrick was asked to wait outside while consult Jade went in to report matters to the emperor.
When he entered the hall and faced king Fredrick who had been sitting on his royal throne, reading official reports which had arrived from different Imperialism of the nation.
"Your Majesty, I have brought back Princess Eden safely and recruited the young man that saved her" consultant Jade had taken a bow with his knees on the ground when he said this out to the king.
"Come over here" he instructed and consultant Jade rose from the ground and trudged to the king's table.
"How is my daughter?" he asked not taking a look at consultant Jade who had strutted by his right hand side.
"She is fine your Majesty " he paused." I have just sent her back to Snow fall where she is resting" he explained.
Consultant Jade thought if he should inform his Majesty about the attacks on the Princess then had to come to a conclusion. Merrick had told him all that happened and so he needed to use it to get the king to make Merrick a royal guard.
" Your Majesty she got attacked by some of Leopard's wolves and was saved by a brave young man". Consultant Jade said making the king to become furious.
"Who does Leopard think he is?" he questioned " if he had his hands on my daughter then I wasn't going to spare him anymore" he crush down to a sheet of paper on his table.
"Calm down your Majesty, please calm down" consultant Jade begged with countless bowing, then after the king had calm himself he brought in Merrick's matter.
"Your Majesty the young man wishes to work under you as a guard" Consultant Jade explained bowing his head down before the king.
"He wants to be my guard rather than accept money?" King Fredrick wondered. He had hardly seen anyone reject rewards and gifts from him and optioned to be a guard.
"Where is this young man" he asked and Consultant Jade pointed to the outside of the grand hall, "He's standing outside".
" Call him in" said the king as he prepared to receive Merrick who walked through the hall to the side front where the king was standing. He had received instructions from the guards to go in after consultant Jade had shout out to the guards to let him in.
Once he reached where the king was sited, he puts his knees to the ground and bowed before his royal Highness " It is an honor to stand before you his royal highness " he addressed not used to what to call him or say afterwards.
"You may rise" Said the emperor who took a gaze at Merrick. His dressing of wearing a hanfu wasn't bad and the sword in his hand looked marked.
"What is your name?" he paused " what makes you want to be a royal guard?" asked the emperor who had now removed his attention from his official documents to Merrick.
"My name is Merrick and I want to stand by your side and defend this nation, protect our people and you. I have watched Lord Leopard kill and caused havoc to our people. I want to be there to protect you your highness, please give me a chance to prove my loyalty to this nation" Merrick spoke out with his hands together paying respect to the King as he took a bow several times.
"You are a bold young man and I wouldn't want to waste the talent and determination in you" the emperor appreciated Merrick for the way he talked.
"You shall join the barrack on the east side of the kingdom and prove to me that you are wealthy to stand by me " The emperor declared and Merrick took a bow several times, thanking him for accepting to give him a chance.
"When the time is right I shall summon you and appoint you myself" the emperor declared and Merrick took many more bows to show is gratitude to the King.
"show him out and prepare a carriage to take me to snow fall" ordered the King who wished to visit his daughter after her return and consultant Jade nodded with his head.
Both him and Merrick walked out of the grand hall leaving the king to continue with his work. Merrick felt happy to have succeeded although he was one more step from being a royal guard. Going to the barrack was something else and surviving there was another.
People who lived in these Barracks were trained soldiers or soldiers under training who were all under a commander of the army often called " General".
A small Inc on the out sketch of the city looked dormant like no costumer had arrived there that morning. The busy place where people had meals when going out of town and coming into the town looked more like a graveyard during the early hours of that morning. it was a quite place but yet it looked more quite this morning than any other morning.
A single consumer had taken a sit on the center table and ordered for his meal to be served when few others entered carrying knives and swords.
They had also taken a sit and ordered for their own meals to be served. They talked and laughed together as no one had noticed the man sitting at the center table. It was unnoticed that one of them spotted the guy and showed him to the others.
When he showed him to the others, their laughter all faded away and the hold they had on their swords became stronger.
The waiter served food to them and later noticed the intense atmosphere which had made the place dormant. Everyone was alert that the young man was an enemy.
They didn't take their eyes off the young man who carried with him a sword from the Leopard's family. It was even the sword that had triggered such attention towards him.
The men all prepared to unleash their sword at him and the young man wasn't an exception either, he had noticed the looks from the group of men and so prepared to pick up his own swords which was on his table.
With the room so quite and everyone ready to attack, Adonis push open the door with a shouting " Why is your place so quite, serve two plates of stewed chicken".
He walked in and all attention was now drawn to him. Adonis did not notice these people's glimpse on him as he was more concerned on getting something to eat.
The young girl had observed everything happening in the inc and still walked her way to the canter quietly.
Adonis had took a sit between these people, and now the main target to both the young man and the group of fighters.
The young girl then took a sit by his right hand side and they were served noodles.
"noodles?" shocked he yelled " Didn't he hear me when I said stewed chicken?".
"Do you have any money to pay for stewed chicken?" asked by the young girl, Adonis smiled and began eating his noodles.
"You'd better eat fast because after this you've got a fight to take on" the young girl murmured to him and Adonis expression went awful
" huh ".
***