The Hero's Forsaken Princess
Chapter 146: Spitting Image

Chapter 146: Spitting Image

The shopkeeper who met Eve and Alaric earlier quickly closed his store. He was in a hurry to leave while avoiding the patrolling guards in the town.

He headed to a secret hideout of Alucard Winslow’s army. There was an isolated worn-down house near the town.

"Commander Kevin! Commander Kevin! Rolando, the shopkeeper, is here!" a guard on duty notified their commander.

Commander Kevin, the second in command, frowned the moment he heard that. Something urgent might have happened that’s why the shopkeeper came to visit them in person.

"Let him in!" Commander Kevin instructed.

The guard quickly escorted Rolando inside the old house.

"Rolando, what brings you here? It’s dangerous. The Zephyra’s knights might have seen you heading here. It might compromise the safety of the group." Kevin tried to lecture him.

But Rolando shook his head. "Don’t worry. I am very cautious. No one had seen me."

"I have important information to share. Has Captain Alucard returned?" he asked Kevin.

"He will be back in a few days. Why?"

Rolando heaved a frustrated sigh. He wanted to share the news with Alucard first, however, he was not around.

"Commander Kevin, you won’t believe me. But I saw a lady who resembled Princess Esmeralda. She was looking for Captain Alucard!" Rolando said with urgency.

Kevin’s eyes widened in shock. "Are you sure she looks like Princess Esmeralda?! Where is she now?"

"She is staying in an Inn with her companion. She asked me to relay a message to Captain Alucard." Rolando immediately picked up the folded paper containing Eve’s letter.

"Have you read it?" Kevin asked curiously.

"No. I didn’t dare." Rolando promptly responded, handing the folded paper over to him.

Kevin frowned again as he accepted the paper.

"What if this is just a trap to lure us? King Zaraki is hunting us down." Kevin had his doubts.

"Should we wait for Captain Alucard to be back?" Rolando asked.

"No. I’m going to read the message now," Kevin said, unfolding the paper.

Rolando looked at him in anticipation. He was also curious about the content of Eve’s letter.

Kevin read her message aloud so that Rolando could hear the content.

[ Captain Alucard, I’m Eve, Princess Esmeralda’s daughter. I heard you were still searching for my mother. I regret to inform you that my mother passed away when I was ten. It wasn’t long before I found out my mother’s real identity. Before my friend Annie died, she told me about you, the loyal guard of my grandfather, King Arthur. ]

[ I came here to Zephyra for an important task. I want to reclaim the throne. I hope you can support me. I know you might doubt my words, but I assure you. I brought proof of my identity– my late mother’s jade pendant. If you want to verify it, you can see me personally– Crestforest Inn. I will be staying in this town in the meantime. ]

Kevin and Rolando had mixed feelings after reading the content of Eve’s letter.

"Princess Esmeralda is gone... We failed to protect her. We didn’t get a chance to see her again..." Rolando uttered with regret.

Commander Kevin clenched his fists tightly. "No wonder we couldn’t find her. Our princess is gone. However, we need to verify if she’s telling the truth! I won’t forgive her if this is just a part of their evil scheme. I will refuse to believe that Princess Esmeralda is dead."

Rolando nodded in agreement. "If this is true, we need to find out what happened to Princess Esmeralda. How did she die? Only Lady Eve can give us an answer."

"I’m coming with you tonight. I will observe her first before approaching her. We need to be careful. This might be a trap," Commander Kevin said.

"Once I verify her identity, I will inform our comrades about the existence of Princess Esmeralda’s daughter. We will support and protect her. We will help her reclaim the throne!" he added with conviction.

"I am happy to hear that. Let’s go back to town. Let’s observe and monitor Lady Eve. I’m certain you will be shocked once you see her face. She looks like Princess Esmeralda who doesn’t get older," Rolando said with his dreamy eyes. He could still vividly remember his chance encounter with Eve.

After their discussion, Commander Kevin left his post, assigning someone to take charge of the hideout while he was gone. He was dying to see Eve.

The night had already fallen the moment they were back in town. Kevin booked a room in Crestforest Inn, hoping to bump into Eve.

"Let’s eat in the tavern first. Who knows Lady Eve is also there, having dinner," Rolando suggested.

"Alright. Let’s go."

Kevin and Rolando headed to the nearby tavern. They chose a table near the entrance door so that they could see the people coming in and out of the tavern.

The two of them ordered food. It did not take long before Rolando saw two familiar figures. He immediately nudged Kevin’s shoulder.

"Commander, I think they are here!" Rolando whispered, pointing his finger at the entrance door. He recognized Alaric instantly.

Kevin followed his line of sight. He saw two people– a woman wearing a veiled hat and a man in his ordinary clothes. He couldn’t see Eve’s face because of the veil and the black mask covering her face.

"The man beside her is a warrior. He has a great physique," Kevin said as he shared his first impression of Alaric.

"I believe you. I can also feel an extraordinary aura from that man. However, he doesn’t look like a Zephyra’s warrior." Rolando whispered back.

The two men continued watching Eve and Alaric until they settled in one of the tables. They came there to eat. When the food was served, Eve finally removed her veil hat and her black mask.

Commander Kevin had the same reaction as Rolando the moment he saw Eve’s face.

"Oh my God! You were right! She really looks like Princess Esmeralda... a spitting image of her. She might be telling the truth... she must be Princess Esmeralda’s daughter," Kevin uttered in awe.