THE Knight's Hidden Princess
Chapter 202: Good Cook

Chapter 202: Good Cook

REAGAN POV

I watched as Dahlia turned in her sleep, restless. It had been going on for two nights now and I realized that it was best to just leave her alone anytime she is going through things like this. To be honest it was what I’ve been expecting after she went through the horrors of that place. When I returned to the ship after I had burn the fortress down to the ground, I saw Dahlia standing with the rest of the prisoners I had stayed back a little bit. I didn’t want to rush her like I did before. But then I had seen the look of recognition on her face and I immediately went to hug her.

Dahlia behaved as if she was fine even though we all could see it. I was grateful Bjorn had brought the healers on board. They attended to her and some of the other prisoners. Everyone was all smiles, Dahlia had joked and laughed with us. Teasing us all as she joked about how we looked like and the fact that we had come here on a ship and why she had not thought of that in the first place.

She had also claimed that she was hungry that she could eat a whole horse. I immediately ordered food to be brought to her. It wasn’t the feast I had wanted but I suppose it would have to do. But even then, she had not eaten anything at all. Barely ate more than two spoonful of the lamb stew before she smiled and bid us all good night. The rest of the prisoners ate, some of them having no shame as they ate like the end was near and this was their last chance.

To be honest, getting the prisoners out wasn’t part of my plan. But I knew Dahlia and seeing how she smiled with them all made me feel good in the end but then the screaming started.

Dahlia started screaming so loud the first night. At first I thought that we were under attack but when I turned, I saw Dahlia laying still on the bed. Her face were contorted with pain but she laid still as if she was frozen. I had immediately sent for the healer but Dahlia had woken up not long, staring at me with a confused look on her face.

I told her what had happened but she just said it was just a nightmare she had. She had called me dramatic after the healers along with Bjorn and the rest of my friends had entered. She assured us all that she was fine.

Fine? What a fucking liar! I thought to myself as I stared at her as she continued to twitch while whimpering softly. It was obvious that whatever ordeal she had faced over there was terrible one and seeing her in this condition made me want to go back there, resurrect those bastards back to life and give them a more painful death other than the quick one that I had given them.

My lips trembled as I helplessly watched Dahlia. She was going to be stopping anytime soon. I already timed it whenever it happens, so she was going to be stopping any second now. Dahlia eventually stopped and then with a gasp she stood up from the bed, her hands flying to her neck as if there were invincible chains wrapped around the,.

I then watched as she frantically inspected every part of her body, trying to look for any harm that might have come to her or she might have committed to her body in the process of trying to escape whatever nightmare she might have been trapped in.

She then heaved out a sigh, her body relaxing as she rested back on the pillows. It took a minute before she realized that I was sitting in the corner of the room on a barrel watching her. Her cheeks colored slightly before she sat up straight.

"I am sorry." She apologize in a small voice and I wanted to shush her up.

She had absolutely nothing to be sorry for!

"Did I wake you, perhaps?"

I shook my head at her as I smiled at her. "It’s alright. I’ve been up for quite some time now." I lied while Dahlia hummed in response.

She didn’t say anything else after that, all that remained was nothing but silence. No other explanation at all, no other sound apart from her heavy breathing.

Not knowing was making me be in pain. Not knowing what was happening to her, the horrors she endures or the demons she fight in her sleep. I have never been so utterly helpless and useless in my life. I wish she would talk to me, I wished she would at least share me some of her pain so I could ease away some of the burden.

Clearing my throat, I stared up at her suddenly feeling nervous. "Do you....Do you want to talk about it?"

"No." She answered.

The same answer, every time that I asked this particular question. It was always the same negative response back. I honestly do not know what to do anymore.

"Okay, whenever you are ready."

Dahlia smiled, but it didn’t quiet reach her eyes. "Sure." She replied with a single nod.

I wanted to say something else, not sure what exactly but I know I would have said anything to keep the conversation flowing. I would have said anything at all, but before I could say anything else. She was already pulling the blanket to her chest, to lay back down on the bed.

I knew she wasn’t asleep though. It was just a way of saying she doesn’t want to talk to me.

It doesn’t matter, either way. I am staying here, right by her side and I’m never leaving her ever again!

***

The next morning, I woke up only to realize that the bed where Dahlia laid was now empty. The bed was made and the quilt was now draped over me. I realized that I must have fallen asleep where I sat. Her side on the bed looked laid so which meant she must have been gone a long time. I am embarrassed to say that I did not even know when such a thing happened.

Feeling frustrated with myself, I dragged myself to the bathroom for a quick freshen up. I splashed some water on my face, brushed my teeth before I decided to step out of my cabin.

Again, I was still amazed at the amount of people that we had on board with us. They moved freely, some of them carrying tray of food while some children just raced around carefree and they almost bumped into me. They didn’t even bother to apologize and I couldn’t blame them much because this was the first time they would be free, so they were simply trying to catch up on all the freedom they’ve missed out on.

Even though I wasn’t in the best mood, I couldn’t stop the smile that stretched across my face. Hearing their laughter and feet slapping on the deck as they ran was strange but it was still warm. Few days ago they had been shackled, caged with no hope of leaving to see another day but now they were here and for the first time in a long time, they were free.

Shaking my head, I decided to go to the kitchen to grab breakfast. I met most of my men already there eating what looked like a feast. Something smelled really amazing in here and I turned to see a very huge woman stirring something inside the pot.

She had her sleeves rolled up, her hair pulled into a tight bun which disappeared inside the hairnet she wore on her head. She was big, had the stature of a man and I’m sure any man who dared to approach her had to have felt intimidated but yet there was a certain gentleness about the way she stirred the pot and even though she barked out orders at other kitchen assistant like she was the captain of the ship, her words lacked the bite in them. I suppose she was just naturally loud.

"Okay this has to be one of the best decisions ever." Nikolai said as he walked forward with a plate of steaming food and I watched as he bit into a lobster chewing with delight as he rolled his eyes with pleasure, "Saving the prisoners was the last call, because damn, this is the best food I’ve had in weeks."

"Yeah, I live in a castle and I’m going to have to agree with Nikolai on this." Bjorn said and Nikolai bumped his fist with the prince.

Chuckling, I grabbed a plate and walked up to the woman. Immediately she saw me, she suddenly straightened and bowed so fast she almost hit her head on the stove. I was startled as she stood up abruptly.

"My lord." She said as she stood up with a small smile on her face.

"Hello, may I have a bit of what you are cooking? Heard from the men you were a good cook?"

"Best in the eastern province my lord." She said before she barked out another order for someone to bring in more ingredients as she collected my plate to serve me.

She turned to look at me with a smile while wrangling her hands together. She was nervous it would seem. Most people are anytime they are in my presence, they fear that I would kill them for breathing too loudly.

"Did the princess tell you anything?" She asked me and I frowned at her, "I fear I might have been unkind to her in the past and I understand if she wants me off the ship. To be honest, I just saw the people escaping and I decided to follow after them because I didn’t want to be left behind again. But after everything, I will understand if you want to throw me off the ship."

I stared at her with a thoughtful expression on my face. She was probably part of those who made Dahlia’s life miserable. But something tells me that it wasn’t intentional. In a place like that, everyone probably did what they had to do to survive.

"What’s your name?’

"Hildegunn my lord, but you can call me Hilde sire."

"Well Hilde, I can’t afford to lose a good cook." I said with a smile on my face before I walked away taking one bite out of the food.

Well damn, she indeed was a good cook!