Disclaimer: I do not own DGm or The Prisoner of Zenda; it's rightfully belonging to Hoshino Sensei and Sir Anthony Hope.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews; I'm glad you like my story, but AllenxLenalee will have to wait in later chapters. Enjoy...

Chapter 2: Zenda and Its Castle

On the way to Ruritania, Allen decided to spend a night in Paris with a friend. The next morning, his friend came with him to the train station, as they waited for the train; they watched the crowed walking back and forth and noticed a beautiful fashionable lady and his friend told him who she was.

"That's Madame Antoinette de Mauban. I think she's traveling on the same train as you, but don't ever fall in love with her." his friend warned with a smirk.

"Why not?" Allen asked quite amused.

"Ah…well," said his friend, "all Paris knows that she's in love with Duke Kamelot of Strelsau. And he, Sherly Kamelot, as you know, is the half-brother of the new King of Ruritania. Although he's only a step son and never be king himself, but he's still an important man and very popular among Ruritanians. The lovely Madame Antoinette won't look twice on you, Allen"

Allen just laughed though he had some interests in the lady when his friend put it that way. A few minutes later, the train's bell rang and Allen bid farewell to his friend. During the trip, Allen did not approach to her, but to dozed himself off in his seat. When the train arrived in Ruritania, he left the train at Zenda, a small town outside the capital and he noticed that Madame Antoinette went on to Strelsau, the capital.

Allen went to find a place to stay and found a small hotel. He was welcomed kindly at the hotel. It belonged to a fat old lady and her pretty daughter, Lala. From there, he learned that the coronation was to be on the day after tomorrow, not in three weeks. He thought to himself that he must have read an outdated newspaper.

When he was eating his dinner, the old lady talked that she supported Duke Kamelot of Strelsau rather than the new King.

"Duke Kamelot should be king." she said. "He has every rights and authorities to rules the country. He always spends all his time with us, citizens. Every Ruritanians knows him well, but for the King, he's never even show his face. How are we supposed to trust him?!"

Just then the daughter came in and cried, "But I hate Sherly Kamelot, mother. Let the new King be the king. Guzol says he's seen the King, and he said the King's staying just outside Zenda now."

The mother let out a frustrated look and went into the kitchen without a word.

"Who's Guzol and why did he know the King?" Allen asked as he watched the old lady disappeared from his sight.

"He's my best friend and he's working for the Duke." Lala said.

"I see. I wonder if it's ok for the King to be out from the capital when his coronation is a few days left."

"Ah, the King's just resting at the Duke's house in the forest near this town before going back to Strelsau on the coronation day, but the Duke's already in Strelsau, getting everyting ready."

"They're friends? I thought they're fighting for the throne."

"They're friends alright. Friends who want the same things, same places and same wife," Lala replied.

"Same wife?" Allen asked as he raised an eye brow.

"What?! You didn't know about it! Well…you see, The Duke wants to marry Princess Lenalee, who is the only princess of China and she's also the King and the Duke's childhood friend, but I heard people say she's going to be King Allen's wife and be the Queen to have a stronger companionship between the two countries."

A moment later, Guzol entered the room. "We have a visitor, Guzol." Lala said as she beckoned him to come. Guzol smiled as he approached them, but when he saw Allen, he stumbled back with a look of shock on his face.

"Er…is there something on my face." Allen asked, dumbfounded at the boy.

"What's the matter, Guzol?" the girl asked, worried.

"Oh, i-it's nothing, Lala." he said then he turned to Allen. "G-Good evening, sir," Guzol said, still staring at Allen.

Then the girl realized why and began to giggle. "Oh, it's the color of your hair, sir," she explained. "We don't often see that color here and yours looks so similar with the Elphberg white, and it's not Guzol's favorite color."

The next day, Allen decided to visit the Castle of Zenda and go for a walk through the forest for a few miles then he would take a train to Strelsau from a little station along the road. He already sent his luggage there.

He wanted to see the Castle of Zenda, which he heard is the belonging of Duke Kamelot and in half an hour, he had climbed a hill to it. There were two buildings, almost looked like two castles, an old archaic looking one with a moat and roots around it and a new modern looking one. The two building can traverse with each other by a huge drawbridge over the moat on the side of the buildings.

Allen gazed at the castle for some time and continued his walk through the forest. For about an hour, he stopped to catch his breath and lied down under a tree. Before he knew it, he was drowsy by the blowing wind and fallen asleep there.

"Oh my god! He looks just like the King!" a voice suddenly sounded and awaked Allen from his slumber.

-oOo-

A/N: Guess whose voice is it XD. I'm sure you know who anyway. I thought of The Earl of Millennium to be the Duke too, but somehow Sherly would fit better. Please R&R...