The King's Mistress

Chapter 192: A King Arrives

She leaned back in her seat to mull it over.

"He always put me first," she lamented.

"He’s really proud of you. Everything you’ve done, he speaks of it with pride."

Sierra could not help but smile when she heard that. With the information she had learned, her resolve to rescue him grew. Leon Bancroft had done so much for her. It was time for her to repay the debt.

Though it was only a drop in the ocean compared to everything he had done, it was a step in the right direction.

"Sierra," Lady Tessi reached her hand out, placing it on Sierra’s, "Bring my brother back to us. You have our support. When the time is right, we will come to your aid."

"You have my word, Lady Tessi. I will bring him back safely, on my honor," Sierra promised as she placed her hand over her heart.

The elderly woman closed the book she was reading in her hand, giving Sierra her full attention. She had another question on her mind, one that she had been pondering over.

"Speak your mind, Lady Tessi," the knightess could tell something was on her mind.

"Pardon me for being blunt on this. I’ve heard about your past with Cedric-"

"Whatever we had," Sierra interjected swiftly, "Is all in the past. I only hold hate and anger for him now."

Lady Tessi nodded, she understood full well what that meant.

"Good to hear. What do you intend to do with him?"

"Do with him?" She looked at Lady Tessi in confusion.

Putting two and two together, Sierra realised what she was asking. In all honesty, she had not thought that far ahead. She only had one goal in mind and that had not changed. Everything else... was pushed to the back of her mind.

"I... have not considered it. But he’s not fit to rule."

"Princess Felicity isn’t either. The last I’ve heard... she’s lost her mind."

Sierra was surprised by the information, but didn’t comment on it any further. She kept silent as she realised what it meant.

"There are worse men out there eager to be king," Lady Tessi hinted as she glanced over to Sierra.

"Are you suggesting..."

"My brother is a loyal fool. But things have changed. Our Kingdom lacks a good leader."

"He would make a great King..."

"That is true... but you would make a great Queen too. Perhaps you should consider your options, Sierra Bancroft." Lady Tessi said as she got up to her feet.

She did not give Sierra any time to keep her. By the time the knightess fully grasp the meaning of the elderly woman’s words, she was already leaving the gazebo.

"All the best on your journey, Sierra. I wish you all the best."

Sierra was left to ponder over their conversation in the gazebo. The sounds of the forest quickly overwhelmed the whispers in her mind. As she leaned back in her seat, Sierra bit her lip.

There was a lot to consider.

A lot that needed to be done.

~

By the time Alistair got to Bardford, Sierra had already left. He headed straight to the Bancroft Estate as soon as he got there. The guards at the estate refused to allow him to enter.

He wasn’t surprised either. After all, he was not dressed in his royal garments nor did he have his crown. To them, he looked like yet another traveler.

"Please, I just need to know if she’s here. Or has she been here?" Alistair pleaded gently with the guards.

"You’re on private property, sir. I suggest you leave before things get ugly," the guard warned.

Alistair smirked as he reached for the weapon on his back, "Ugly you say? I would love to see you try."

Before things could get worse, a voice from behind stopped the guard from speaking. They turned to meet the source of the voice, a young woman rode towards them on a horse. At first, a glimmer of hope sparked in Alistair’s heart.

"Sierra?" He whispered beneath his breath as his excitement grew.

But as soon as the young woman came into view, his hopes were dashed. Alistair rubbed his temples. It felt as if he’d begun to lose his mind. When did every young woman on a horse he met looked like Sierra?

"By the gods... how did you get such a blade, traveler?" The young woman asked as she rode out of the gates to take a closer look.

Alistair realised she was referring to the double-bladed weapon he carried, the one Sierra had forged for her.

"May I?" She asked as she parked her horse right next to his.

Alistair was a little skeptical at first, but from the armor the young woman wore, he recognised the emblems on it. It was the emblem of the Bancroft family, Sierra had the same ones on her armor pieces.

"Only if you provide me with the information I seek," Alistair proposed.

The young woman chuckled.

"How dare you speak to Duchess Maisy like that! Watch your tongue-" fгeewebnovёl.com

The young woman raised her hand to stop the guard from speaking any further, "Now now, Percy. That’s enough. Your head might just roll for that. I have a hunch this man is no simple traveler."

She turned her attention back to Alistair, "You wanted information about Sierra Bancroft? Sure. Show me the blade in your possession and I will tell you what I know."

Alistair was still a little skeptical at first, but he had no other options. This was his only hope and the quickest wait to get information on his beloved. He removed the weapon from its holder and handed it over to Duchess Maisy.

"Impressive weapon you have here. Forged using the Bancroft method yet with a twist? Fascinating... How did you get a hold of such a piece?"

"It was gifted to me."

Duchess Maisy was surprised by the information. She looked at him, from side to side, from top to bottom.

"You wouldn’t happen to be King Alistair of Drakin, would you?"

Alistair was stunned.

"How did you..."

Maisy immediately got off her horse and bent the knee.

"It’s an honor to meet you, King Alistair. Please accept my sincerest apologies on behalf of my guards. They weren’t able to identify you accurately."