68: Rafal Spotted Oriana

Rafal Spotted Oriana

After gaining a short audience with his father, the King of Griven, Arlan parted ways with his family, bringing his knights with him to return to the Crown Prince's residence, the Palace of Thistles.0

The prince's carriage soon entered the iron gates of his residence. 

Compared to the luxurious magnificence of the main palace, the style of the Palace of Thistles was more grounded, its appearance more like a garden sanctuary with fountains and statues both inside the core building and the gardens. 

With high ceilings and windows as tall as the limestone walls, natural light could flood in during the day, giving life to the elegant interior designwork and decorations. The palace proper itself featured the finest furniture and furnishings, beautiful ceramic art including porcelain, as well as tapestry art and small-scale bronze sculptures. 

Arlan stepped out of his carriage and took in the familiar sight of his residence. Just like the knights, his servants were lined up to welcome him. 

"Welcome back, Your Highness!" a black-haired man with gentle features, his stature short despite being in his early thirties, bowed towards Arlan, prompting the others to greet him in unison. 

"Welcome back, Your Highness!" they shouted.

The black-haired man was Roman Chadwicke, one of Arlan's personal aides and the head butler of the Palace of Thistle. 

His butler politely continued, "I hope the journey was not troublesome."

Arlan raised a brow at Roman. "I shall make you spend the greater half of the day sitting inside a  carriage, only to be brought out when it's time for sightseeing and merrymaking, meeting nobles whose names I will forget the next day.  Let me know if it was troublesome or not, Roman."

"As you wish, Your Highness. This servant shall obey it. Shall I set my destination or do you have a place in mind?"

Arlan sighed. Roman had no sense of humor. Whatever Arlan says, even if his orders make no sense, this aide of his would perfectly execute it to a fault. "Will you stop being boring?" 

He waved a hand to dismiss the servants and entered the residence. 

"Apologies, Your Highness." Roman immediately followed his master, keeping at least five steps distance between him and Arlan. 

The gentle-looking Roman was extremely efficient and obedient, and anyone would agree he was the perfect butler; however, his personality had the worst combination with Arlan. If teased, his knight Imbert would ignore Arlan's words or give him an unamused look, but if Roman was teased, the butler would treat his sarcasm seriously, making Arlan always feel guilty deep inside.

"I have arranged a hot water bath and your favorite blend of black  tea in order to get rid of His Highness' tiredness," Roman said, while following Arlan. He also began to report the most important things that happened in the prince's absence.

Arlan abruptly stopped in his tracks and so did Roman, almost making him breach the five step distance he set, but the man quickly took a step back, his feathers unruffled.

"Honeysuckles."

Roman did not say a word, waiting for his master's next words.

"Fill all the rooms I frequent with honeysuckle flowers."

The faithful butler could not help but let out a, "Huh?" before regaining his composure. Filling the palace with summer flowers when it was winter? That meant, not only bouquets, they would need to build a new greenhouse and invite experts in order to personally raise the plants.

But in the Palace of Thistle, the words of the Crown Prince were absolute.

"I shall see it done as fast as possible, Your Highness."

—

After escorting the Crown Prince to his residence, Imbert gathered the knights of the Order and began delegating tasks. Half of those that traveled to Abetha requested several days' worth of leave in order to visit their hometowns or go to their family manors within the capital. 

Imbert, along with the knights who chose to stay, went to the knight quarters to rest while the others left on horseback. 

Rafal was one of those who chose to go to their family manors. 

The vice-captain of the Order of Thistle, Rafal Ahren, was the third son of the Count from the first wife, a descendant from the main family of the House of Ahren. Given the nature of his work and his liege's penchant for traveling, Rafal was seldom home within the capital, and even the chances to visit their territory would only come once or twice a year. 

As the head of the household, Count Ahren would normally be in their territory in West Griven and not the capital. The residence in Karlin was being overseen by Rafal's uncle and the branch families, or Rafal's siblings whenever they came to the capital. 

This time, Rafal learned that his father and mother had come to Karlin and would stay for a week. That was why Rafal decided to have a break and spend a few days in the family residence. 

Rafal urged his horse towards one of the biggest mansions in the city that belonged to the Ahrens. 

"Third Young Master, welcome back!"

"Let the Lord know Young Master Rafal came home!"

The young master was warmly welcomed inside the Ahren Residence. He was the pride of the family, after all, the man he served was the future king. Rafal went to greet his parents first and then proceeded to go to the rear of the main mansion. Though he was not the successor of the Count, he had privileges and was granted a side mansion which belonged solely to him. 

"Third Young Master, the Lord ordered the construction of two new buildings when he arrived. Your residence is also put under renovation as per instruction of your mother. That is why your stay has been arranged temporarily in the guest residence next to it. Is this arrangement to your liking, or shall we clean up the former room you used in the main mansion?" 

"I don't mind it." 

Just as they were heading to his temporary abode, Rafal's gaze caught something on his periphery. 

"Are my eyes seeing things?" Rafal shook his head and stared at the black-clothed youth again. "No. That country bumpkin is really here?"

The butler heard his bewilderment and followed his line of sight. "Are you talking about that young boy, Third Young Master?"

Rafal nodded. "What is he doing here? Did we have a need to hire a herbalist?"

"Ah, no, Young Master. That boy is merely waiting for family. His brother is one of the men hired  for the construction."

"Hmm," was all he said and heard the butler ask, "Do you know the boy, Young Master? Do you want me to summon him to meet you?"

"No, no. Do not mention anything about me to him," Rafal instructed. He had to respect Arlan's considerations. Though he guessed they would be future colleagues, at this moment, Oriana had no idea about Arlan's real identity nor his plans for her.

'I cannot let him see me in my knight uniform, or else he will figure out who I am working for. His Highness' identity should not be exposed ahead of time.'

Rafal quietly walked towards the temporary residence arranged for him. 

'I shall let His Highness know that the toy he was playing with in Jerusha, is in the capital.'

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