The Princess' Harem
Chapter 152: Will You Marry Viana?

Chapter 152: Will You Marry Viana?

Viana still huddled, curled close to Prince Rayne, inside the small cottage, finally sleeping soundly. Her hand gripped Rayne’s arm tightly.

Her pale face slowly regained color, thanks to the warm soup, the cloak, and Rayne’s embrace. He looked at Viana with deep affection, his fingers gently combing through her tangled golden hair.

As dawn broke, the fog in the valley began to thin. Rayne decided it was safe enough to continue the journey back to Elysia.

Carefully, he carried the still-weak Viana and lifted her onto the horse. He then mounted behind Viana, ensuring his cloak remained wrapped around her.

Almost everyone kept looking back to see if any pursuers, but the fog seemed to thicken behind them.

Seeing this, Bertina remarked in awe, "Nature is on your side, Princess. They tried to save you." Viana responded only with a weak smile.

The journey to Elysia took several hours, with Rayne galloping his horse in front, Viana held in his arms, and the guards and Bertina following behind. The sunlight, starting to warm them, helped Viana feel stronger, though trauma still gripped her mind and body.

Rayne, who sometimes saw Viana shudder, tightened his embrace, promising himself he would protect her.

***

When Rayne’s group entered the Elysian capital gates, the festival’s commotion still lingered. The celebrations were unaffected because the palace had ordered that the Princess’s disappearance not be exposed.

However, the atmosphere inside the palace was filled with anxiety. King Clive paced his study, anger and worry clearly etched on his face. Queen Isabella sat on the sofa, her hands clasped, her eyes swollen and red from crying too much.

Joel and Reyes had returned to the palace to rest briefly, now in their respective barracks.

Suddenly, a servant burst in, shouting, "Princess Viana has returned! Prince Rayne brought her!" The entire palace immediately became chaotic.

The King, Queen, and everyone else rushed outside. In the palace courtyard, they saw Rayne dismount, carrying a still-weak Viana, her clothes torn, covered by his cloak.

"Viana!" Queen Isabella cried, running to hug her daughter as Rayne set her down. She wept as she embraced her.

The King also hugged Viana from the other side, his face full of relief mixed with anger. "... you are safe," he whispered, his voice trembling.

Joel and Reyes, who had just arrived after hearing the news of Viana’s return, approached her with expressions of deep regret. "Princess... forgive us," Joel said, his voice hoarse. "We failed to protect you..."

Reyes just nodded, adding, "This is our fault; we should have been more vigilant."

Viana shook her head gently, holding their arms. "It’s not your fault. I asked to go to the festival, right?"

Suddenly, Love Percentage bars appeared above their heads, Joel at 83% and Reyes at 84%. Seeing these bars, Viana pretended not to notice, but she smiled a little, pleased their numbers had finally risen after so long.

When she glanced at Rayne, she wondered what his Love Percentage bar would show.

***

After Viana finished cleaning herself and eating, she lay in her bed. Everyone gathered in her room to hear her story.

King Clive, usually so composed, asked heatedly, "Now tell us, Viana, who kidnapped you?"

But the question made her look down. Her expression again showed fear.

Rayne, now sitting on the sofa, drinking warm tea, spoke in a flat tone, though his anger was still clear. "We found her near Count Lazarus Bloodworth’s residence. And from her fearful expression and words, it is true he is the one."

Everyone in the room was immediately shocked. The King clenched his fists, his face instantly enraged. "Lazarus! He will be brought to justice! I will make sure he is punished in the royal court!" he roared.

The King’s words were met with angry cries from everyone present. But Viana spoke softly, faintly.

"We cannot... not yet. There is no strong evidence besides my words. I am the only witness, and that is not enough to prosecute him."

Rayne, now standing near Viana, who was lying down, nodded, confirming her words.

"She is right, Your Majesty. Without physical evidence or another witness, he could escape punishment."

The King sighed deeply. He was still angry, but he knew Viana and Rayne were right.

"Very well," he muttered. "But someday, Lazarus will pay for all his deeds."

Then they all left Viana, except Joel, Reyes, Arden, Sina, and Cooper, her closest people in the palace. Arden stated he would try to help increase Viana’s security.

Sina and Cooper, who had been standing in a corner, immediately ran to Viana. "We were worried sick, Princess," Sina said, her voice on the verge of tears.

Cooper nodded, his eyes welling up, unable to speak. And that day, the palace was relieved because the princess they loved and respected had returned.

***

That night, in King Clive’s study, brightly lit by large lanterns, the King sat on a sofa chair with Prince Rayne sitting respectfully opposite him.

"Prince Rayne," the King said in a low voice. "You saved my daughter. Elysia owes you a great debt."

He looked at Rayne with gratitude, though anxiety still showed on his face. "But I cannot stop thinking that this abduction... it proves that Lazarus will not stop here."

Rayne nodded. "Count Lazarus is a serious threat, Your Majesty. He planned this abduction carefully, leaving no strong evidence. But I swear I will help ensure Viana remains safe."

King Clive’s expression tightened again. "Lazarus once proposed to Viana, did you know? He came last year, bringing various gifts, and a very large sum of money. But I flatly refused him, and since then, I knew he harbored a grudge."

He clenched his hands, resting in his lap. "This abduction must be part of his plan to get revenge on us."

Rayne showed an expression that he finally understood why Lazarus was the mastermind behind the blight and the invasion war that had recently afflicted Elysia.

King Clive sighed deeply again, then looked at the blazing fireplace in one corner of the room.

"Viana... she is Elysia’s greatest treasure. The heir to the throne, and my only child. I cannot imagine losing her."

He paused, then looked at Rayne with a softer expression.

"Rayne, allow me to speak as a father, not a king. I see how you protect Viana, how you have helped her repeatedly. Have you ever considered... marrying my daughter?"

Rayne froze for a moment, surprised by the direct question. His face remained calm, but his heart churned with feelings difficult to describe.

"Your Majesty," he replied carefully, "Viana is an extraordinary woman. If I were permitted to marry her, it would be the greatest honor of my life. But that decision rests with Viana, whether she agrees or not, and also with you."

King Clive smiled faintly, as if appreciating Rayne’s diplomatic stance.

"Elysia is a small kingdom compared to Valendale. If this marriage happens, I would not mind if Elysia became part of Valendale’s territory. The most important thing to me is Viana’s safety and happiness."

Rayne nodded, his heart a mix of relief and blossoming joy. "I promise to always protect Viana, no matter what happens. But for now, we must focus on the threat from Lazarus."

The King looked at him for a moment, then spoke wisely. "Perhaps the best way to protect Viana is for you to become engaged to her soon. That would not only strengthen her protection from two kingdoms but also stop Lazarus’s ambition to marry her."

"Your Majesty," Rayne, surprised again, replied carefully. "I want to hear Viana’s opinion on this first. This is about her life, and I will not force anything without her consent."

Smiling, King Clive replied again, appreciating Rayne’s attitude. "You are a wise man, Rayne. Speak with Viana. If she agrees, Elysia will fully support it, even if it means becoming part of Valendale."

***

Meanwhile, at Lazarus’s residence, he, having learned that the Princess had escaped, was furious. The atmosphere in the castle grew even more oppressive with his rage.

Lazarus now stood before an intricately carved wooden table, his hand gripping a wine goblet so hard that his knuckles turned white. He turned towards his guards, who knelt with bowed heads, terrified.

"What do you mean she escaped?!" he roared loudly.

He slammed the silver wine goblet to the floor, making a loud clinking sound and splashing wine onto his guards.

"You useless guards, letting a weak girl escape my castle?!"

He approached the trembling head guard, then grabbed his hair and bent down until his face was mere inches from the man’s.

"You said everything would be safe and locked, but how did she just disappear?!"

The head guard replied with a trembling voice. "Lord, we do not know how... It was as if nature swallowed her."

Lazarus fell silent, his eyes narrowing. "Nature?" he repeated in a low voice. Then he released the man’s hair and pushed him, causing him to fall to the floor.

"Nature?" Lazarus murmured the word again, remembering that Viana had once gone to the Elf kingdom and received something from there.

And now he suspected that what Viana obtained was the same ability as the elves to control nature.