Chapter 963: Return To Ashland

Initially, Rowena had hoped that meeting her mother's side of the family would give her the love and family she was longing for. However, she was quick to realize that it might not be the case. They actually saw her as a stranger. 

The only other family she had was her father, but being with him was suffocating.

Maybe it was better to just live alone. Rowena clenched the hem of her dress and murmured, "Uncle, I want to go home."

"Home? Where? THIS is your home," Prince Jadeith said in surprise.

Rowena didn't know where was home. She had come to realize that home was not a place, but a person, and none of the people who were dear to her were there anymore. She was alone and lonely and didn't have a home.

Where should she go?

Tears slowly started rolling down her cheeks. Rowena wiped her tears roughly and pursed her lips. She stubbornly said, "Please take me back to my hut. That's my home. That's where Julian and I build our home."

"Julian?" Prince Jadeith raised his brows, trying to remember something. "Your friend Julian?"

Rowena nodded. "Yeah."

"I just remember that your father is waiting for you to come to him for Julian."

Rowena furrowed her brows at the mention of her dear friend.

"Why would I come to him?" she asked her uncle. "Julian is in Verona."

"No, he isn't." Prince Jadeith looked at Rowena deeply.

"I thought Julian was already buried," Rowena whispered underneath her breath as she looked up at her uncle, horrified. "I… there was supposed to be a place for Queen Gabrielle and Julian would–"

"Your father, King Draco took the opportunity to take the body away from Verona and back to Ashland." Prince Jadeith explained. "After the mess that occurred all over in that country, your father thought it wise to take it himself and wait for you."

"What? Wait for me…? What for?"

"I believed he said that you would like to see Julian one last time, and that is why he located an ice cave for him to dwell in." Prince Jadeith admitted.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Rowena looked up at her uncle, feeling hurt. "I know that you wanted me to be here in the elven realm to meet my family, but Julian is…"

"My apologies, I did not think that you were ready for it yet and thought that bringing you here first would make you happy," Prince Jadeith said. "Whether you come back after a couple of months or even years–your friend will remain the same. If anything, it is your father that you need to visit as well."

"Fine, I need to talk with him anyway," Rowena said. "Take me back to Ashland, uncle."

"Do you really wish to return?"   &

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"Yes." Rowena had seen her family in the elven kingdom and they didn't feel any attachment to them. She wanted to leave as soon as possible.

"Well, maybe after a couple of months—" Prince Jadeith tried to bargain, but Rowena was more stubborn.

"I mean now. I wish to return back to Ashland now so I could speak with my father."

Prince Jadeith's eyes widened. "You've barely stayed here for so long–"

"I know, uncle," Rowena said earnestly. "I know that you and perhaps my grandparents are eager to get to know me, to see if I'm just like your sister or their daughter. However, I need to go back to my real home."

Gosh... what did her father do to Julian? Why couldn't he let him rest in peace? Rowena felt like she wanted to kill Draco Roseland.

Prince Jadeith looked at his niece.  He remembered the interactions earlier, realized how unhappy she was, and then he slowly nodded.

"Very well, I will take you back — as long as you try to make time to visit us again… well at least if you are ready," Prince Jadeith smiled briefly.

"Thank you."

***

A portal opened up in the Ashland royal palace while King Draco was dealing with nobility from his land. The sudden appearance of magic stirred the noblemen from their discussion, but even more so, of who came out.

Rowena Roseland stepped out of the portal and bade her uncle goodbye. After three long years of not being in Ashland, she was finally back.

Rowena's gaze lifted up to meet her father, she curtsied down among the nobility and cleared her throat to apologize for her intrusion—

"You're finally back, at last, my child." A smile formed on King Draco's face.

It was an expression that surprised many, especially because they've known that he grew temperamental when Rowena left.  However, it was Rowena who was most surprised.

"Father… I came here to talk about Julian–"

King Draco stepped down from his throne and walked over to her. He gently clasped a hand over her face and looked her in the eye.

"Hush now, young one, it's been so long and you've finally returned. You must be exhausted–so I will let you go to your room. Once you are well-rested, then we shall celebrate your return… and then discuss whatever it is that is on your mind."

The way that King Draco kindly addressed Rowena stunned her, it was pretty effective and absolute that she couldn't help but follow his orders and made her way out.

Rowena was going to speak with him later, but as she went out of the throne hall, she was met with familiar faces. Seeing them suddenly brought back so many memories in Rowena's heart.

Knight Jarvis s

tood by the entrance, accompanied by several other guards who took watch over the meeting.  A smile curled on Rowena's lips, and slight happiness stirred within her.

This man was distant and aloof toward Rowena when he was still working as her bodyguard, but it was much better for Rowena to see a familiar face.  This was the man who protected her when she was a child and also turned a blind eye when they found her in one of the port cities of Ashland.

Without Knight Jarvis, Julian and Rowena may not have experienced their adventure.  It was why Rowena was happy to see him.  However, she noticed something amiss. Contrary to the other guards, there was a woman who was with Knight Jarvis.