Hello!...Hello everyone!

I am back and I am so sorry for the delay, But I am back now and I promise to do my best and write the chapters for other stories.

Without further ado please enjoy!

Alucard was laying in his bed, staring at the ceiling with his hands behind his head as he contemplated what happened today.

"Your… Father?" He repeated.

"Yes, My father." Said Seras. "If you truly want to repay me, then all I ask if you is to grant me my wish to see my father."

"You mean the person who put you here?" he asked confused.

"NO NOT HER!" Seras exclaimed with such panic, her entire frame started to shake in what looked like fear causing her golden leaves and fruits to fall. "Don't bring her here!"

"Seras calm down!" Alucard called, but she doesn't seem to be listening, her fear consuming her. "I won't!... I will not bring her here!"

The shaking started to ease down so he continued. He walked towards her and placed his hand over the tree's trunk and gently started to rub it in an attempt to calm her, which seemed to work.

"I will not bring her here to you, only your father." He said making Seras's shaking to stop. "I will only bring your father to you, I promise."

"Promise me?" She asked.

"Promise." He repeated.

After seras had calmed down he decided to finally ask her.

"Who is your father?"

"The man who rules this kingdom is my father."

Alucard let out a long tired sigh as he pondered over what had happened and what did he got himself into. How can King Henry be her father? Maybe she meant it as an expression? But the biggest question that bothered him is who was the person that made Seras so afraid? How did they hurt her to the level of making her shake in fear by only the thought of them?

"No…not 'Them'…" He muttered to himself. "…A woman…"

"NO NOT HER!"

Seras's cry echoed in his head. Who was she?... what did she do to Seras?... Did she use her?... Did she trick the tree?

"I'M NOT A TREE!"

He stood up from his bed when he remembered again. Seras had always insisted that she wasn't a tree and whenever he tried to ask her of what she meant she would dodge the question. Was Seras truly not a tree?... and if she was, Does that woman have anything to do with that fact?... Who was that woman that dared to harm Seras?... Will she be back if Alucard left?...

Yes, if he left then Seras would be all alone. He now has to worry not only about Seras being alone but also from the possibility of whoever that woman was to come around and hurt her again. He can't just leave like that now maybe he could ask his parents for a longer time? No, if he did that then his father would demand him come home the moment the letter reaches him. A knock on the door pulled him out of his thought.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, my boy." He heard King Henry's voice come from the other side of the door.

Alucard quickly jumped from his bed and ran to the door, when he opened it he saw the old king with a servant following him behind him with a moving tray full of delicious food and fruits and drinks. The young prince was surprised by that.

"Your majesty-" He was cut off.

"How many times have I told you to just call me Henry." The king said as he pushed on the door lightly wanting to come in, Alucard, of course, opened the door wide for the old king allowing him in with the tray of food following behind him. "Or you could just call me uncle, I would like that too."

The king added with a small chuckle as he sat on one of the chairs that surrounded the round table in the room. Alucard just stood and watched as the King instructed the servants to place the food and fruits on the end that's facing him then told them to leave after they finished, closing the door behind them.

"My boy, what are you doing just standing there?" The king called. "come here and eat."

Alucard walked to the table still stunned.

"Your high-"

"Don't make me repeat myself." The king interrupted again playfully.

"Henry…" He began earning a nod of approval to continue. "May I ask why did you take all that trouble to bring me food?"

"You didn't join us for dinner today." His brows furrowed. "And I know its because of Rip."

King Henry was right. After that Alucard had come back from his visit to Seras, he just wanted to set down and enjoy a meal with the king before retiring to bed but that queen made it hard for him with her snarky comments and attitude that just spoiled his appetite. He excused himself after that, the king had tried to make him stay but Alucard still left.

"No …" He lied. "I just didn't feel like eating."

"Don't lie to me boy." The king said in such a serious tone that surprised Alucard. "I am aware of my…wife's… effect on people and I know that she was the reason why you didn't eat today."

He then looked up to Alucard and gave him his usual smile.

"But I won't let my dear boy sleep with an empty stomach."

He gestured to the food across from him wanting Alucard to set and end and the sight of food plus the good company made the young prince remember how hungry he truly was. Not asking any more questions, Alucard sat and started eating. As he was eating his meal the king started a conversation with him which he enjoyed, there were laughs and heart to heart talk. It made Alucard remember a time that he once did enjoy such conversations with his father, but as he got older his father grew colder towards him.

"So tell me Alucard…" Said the king pulling him out of his thoughts. "What are your plans for the next 2 months?"

"Plans?" Repeated Alucard.

"Yes, don't you have any plans set already?" Asked the king with a raised brow.

Alucard then realized that the only plans he had were to spend his limited time with Seras. But the problem was he doesn't know HOW to spend that time.

"I… don't have any plans yet sir." He admitted.

"Well, that's no good!" Said the king. "You should go out there explore find new areas, learn new tricks or knowledge, Do everything a boy your age needs to do!"

Alucard just hummed in agreement as he stared at his plate blankly, then he remembered his promise for Seras. He looked up to the old king and thought carefully about what to say next.

"Actually, there is a place I always visited." He said earning the king's attention. "It's the place I have been going to in secret."

"Really now?"

The old king fixed his setting and turned fully to the Alucard with a spark in his eyes after all this was a big secret that he has been hiding from his parents and Alucard knew that.

"Yes…" He began. "It's a beautiful place that hasn't been touched by any human, clean and calm, but there is something even greater in it."

"And what is that?" The king asked as he unconsciously leaned forward to hear more.

"A tree." He answered.

"A tree?"

"A tree." Alucard repeated with a nod. The king just laughed lightly at his words

"And what is so special about this tree?" he asked as he kept listening.

"Well, I can't say a lot because I want you to see he- it!... in person." Alucard bit his tongue to not use the female pronouns. "But what I can say that it has the most delicious fruits you will ever eat."

"So there is more to that tree than simply delicious fruits?" The king asked with a raised brow still keeping his smile, Alucard returned the smile with a grin as he shrugged.

"You will have to see it and find out."

Henry laughed more enjoying the small game Alucard was playing before nodding.

"Very well, I will go with you."

As soon as these words left his mouth the door of Alucard's room burst open making both men jump in alert.

"I want to go as well." An annoying sound called.

At the door stood Rip who had a smirk on her face, enjoying the look of anger on Alucard's face.

"You won't." Said Alucard as calm as he could but the anger behind his voice was clear.

"And why not?" That voice was familiar that send shivers of disgust down Alucard's spine.

Walking inside the room behind Rip was the infamous court witch. Zorin, Even though she was speaking calmly with a smile Alucard could feel her green eyes drilling holes into him. From the first time he saw her, he found her odd, not only for her choice of clothing, which were black boots with grey pants, her top was dark green with no sleeves showing her slightly muscular arms but what Alucard guessed that she truly wanted to show was her right arm which was covered with black tattoos of weird symbols and words he never saw before and lastly a black cap hung behind her lazily.

"Because I wish to spend some alone time with the King." Said Alucard with his head most held high, most people fear this woman but he won't be one of them. "There is a private matter I wish to discuss with him."

"A matter that includes a mysterious tree?" Asked Zorin with a raised brow and a bored expression. Rip laughed at her words. Alucard's frown deepened at the realization that they had been listening in all this time.

"Anyway, the decision isn't for you to make…" She said as she made her way towards them, She stood Beside King Henry who was averting his eyes with a weary look. "It's the king's."

The king didn't say anything, he tried to but every time he opened his mouth to say something only close it again for having nothing to say. Zorin Placed her hand on the King's shoulder and gave a little squeeze, making him jump and look up to her.

"My king…" She began. "I think this little outing would is a great idea and should go along with it."

"R… Really?" The king stuttered surprised.

"Of course, The young prince said that the place was never touched by a human, so for you and Rip to go out to such a place will help you relax." She explained. At her words, any hope that was on the king's face was gone.

Alucard glared at the woman who just grinned at him. He looked back to the king who seemed defeated by the witch, which made him feel pity for the king.

"Father was correct, this woman is dangerous. "He thought to himself.

"Excuse me." Alucard muttered before standing up to leave. Rip blocked his way, forcing him to stop, He glared down at the wannabe queen and she just smirked back at him. Alucard has all the power to literally throw that woman to the side if not from the nearest window but he wasn't looking forward to starting a war between two close kingdoms over the corpse of someone who is below dog shit. "Move."

"Are you trying to order a queen around?" Asked Zorin in a challenging way. Oh, how he wished to unsheathe his sword right now.

With every ounce of patience he has, Alucard forced himself to show a fake smile and not give any hint of malice in his voice.

"I merely wish to retire to my room, it is late." He said calmly.

"You will leave." Answered the witch. "After you tell us where that place is."

There was a pause between the two, the tension was so great it can be cut with a knife.

"You know what?" Said Alucard with a furrowed brows and a fake confused look. "This is strange, but I don't seem to remember where that place is."

Zorin's eyes narrowed dangerously at the young prince as she made her way to stand beside him and hold his shoulder with her left hand. She then lifted her tattooed arm and opened her palm and slowly brought it closer to him, he looked at it suspiciously.

"We can fix that." She said with a grin.

Alucard kept his eyes on her palm that kept getting closer to him, he stared at it suspiciously. Then something happened that made his eyes widened in shock. In the middle of her palm, a glowing opened staring back at him. Alucard instinctively freed himself from her hold his hand clenching the handle of his sword ready to strike of she came any closer. Zorin was grinning at him, amused by his reaction. She stepped back hiding her tattooed arm under her cloak, Alucard as well took another step back not wanting to be near her anymore. He turned to the king who looked scared for the prince. he knew what Zorin was about to do.

"Excuse me." He muttered before exiting the room, not waiting for the king to say anything, not that he was going to.

He didn't even stop her and he knew what she was about to do to him.

He knew that the King was under the control of the witch and the queen… but he never expected it to be this severe.

Alucard was pacing back and forth from the lake's edge only stopping a few times to stare at his watery reflection, his eyes full of thoughts. Behind him, Seras's branches were dropped in a sad manner. He had told her everything that had happened between him, the king, and how the witch and her ward who is the king's wife intruded on them and then demanded to join them. Also on how on his way her he had to go through a different road because he could feel eyes following him. he knew it was the witch. He turned on his heels to face Seras and the state that she was in troubled him because he felt guilty for not being able to give her the one thing she wanted.

"I know this wasn't the first thing you wanted to hear from me when I came back." He said as he walked up to her and placed his hand over her hoping that this small act of affection would comfort her.

She stayed silent for a long time, Alucard sighed at her silence but didn't blame her for it. He set down under her shade his back resting on her. He kept thinking about his next move. He can't take the king anymore because after last night's scene the witch and her daughter kept close to the king if the witch wasn't around the spoiled queen would be and if the queen wasn't around the witch would be there to "discuss" the matter of the kingdom. He can try sneaking him out from behind everyone's back. He would send a letter to him, telling him where to meet and when and they would leave together. Of course, he needs to make sure that the time he time was perfect, maybe late at night? The witch and the queen would be asleep then or at least not around for him to leave the castle undetected. Yes… that could work? He should set a plan, know the castle's corridors like the back of his hand, also learn who is serving the witch with loyalty and who is not, the last thing he wanted is a spy of hers telling her that he is up to something and then spoil everything forcing him to make another plan.

"Invite them."

Seras finally said breaking the silence and pulling him out of his thoughts. He looked up and saw that the branches had stood up straight that she wasn't sad anymore but he could tell that she wasn't happy either. He stood up to face the golden tree, he had a confused expression.

"Invite them?" He repeated.

"Yes, I don't mind if the others came with him." She said calmly.

"Seras, it won't be just the two of them." He started to explain. "They want to invite everyone from the court to join them, you won't have the time to be alone with him."

Seras stayed silent. he continued.

"You won't be able to talk to him, or let him know that you are…His daughter... "He said the last part almost awkwardly but he kept going. "Besides I don't know what will happen when they find out about you, they probably will try to come here every day and ruin the place-"

"Alucard." She cut him off earning his attention. "I don't mind."

Alucard opened his mouth to say something but Seras didn't give him the chance as she continued.

"I just want to at least be near him, even if it's just once. I don't care what happens next." She argues but Alucard shakes his head.

"No, I can bring him here to meet you and you will have a long talk-"

"Alucard!" Seras called sternly almost shouting, her branches ruffled causing a few leaves to fall. Alucard tensed at her voice and turned to her. Her voice then became gentle again. "I don't mind, my wish is to at least see him even if it was once, even if he doesn't know who I am to him."

Alucard opened his mouth to argue but closed it. He wanted to give Seras the chance to talk to her father, even if he himself still doesn't understand how King Henry can be her father, but he never dwelled in the thought. With a defeated sigh Alucard looked back to Seras.

"Very well my friend." He said. "If that is what you wish."

"It is." Replyed Seras and from her voice Alucard can feel that if she had a face she would have a sad smile.

Sighing again Alucard stood in his place for a while. Silence filled the air except for the sound of the wind and the ruffled leaves.

"Well." He started breaking the silence. "If I am going to have to deal with those two again I want compensations."

"Compensation?" Seras repeated, clearly confused.

"Yes." He answered with a shrug. "Something you give to people when they have damage from-"

"I know what compensation is!" she grumbled at him. "Why do you think I need to give you compensation?"

"As I said because I will have to deal with those annoying women for you so you need to give me something." He explained, with a shrug. "I guess a couple of your fruits will do."

"You are dealing with those women because you owe me." She reminded him, she started to hide her branches that were filled with golden fruit. "And you are not getting any of my fruits so there."

Alucard couldn't help the grin that spread on his face. He always liked a good challenge. He ran towards Seras and jumped high enough to lock his arm around one of her visible branches, causing Seras to laugh.

"You really are stubborn." She stated.

"And you find that funny?" He asked as he tried to push his body to climb the branch.

"No, what is funny is that you think I will make it easy for you."

After she said that, her body started moving left and right causing Alucard to lose balance and almost fall but he kept his legs looked around the branch. Despite the movement, Alucard managed to climb back up. He laughed.

"Did you really think that you would have won that easily?" He said mockingly.

"It isn't over yet." Said Seras as she stopped her movement.

"It will be." Replied Alucard as he took this chance to climb his way inside the branches.

For a moment Alucard was mesmerized by how beautiful it was inside. Golden leaves surrounded him allowing only a few rays of sunlight to get through, which caused it to be bright enough that if Alucard didn't know better would have believed that he entered another world made of pure gold. He was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard rustling, And as fast as he could he moved to another branch when he looked back he saw he saw that seras almost caught him.

"You are slippery." He grumbled.

Alucard grinned at her words as he continued to dodge any branch that came his way. He looked around him and saw that there was a plump looking fruit hanging from a high branch. Deciding that that was his "compensation" prize he climbed towards it making it a bit harder for Seras to catch him. Dodging the last branch Alucard was able to pluck the fruit, causing Seras so go still for a moment Before releasing a groan. Alucard let out a victory laugh.

"And with that my dear you have learned that Alucard always wins." He stated casuing Seras let out an annoyed groaning at his cockiness.

"Well I admit, you did win…" She said making Alucard grin widen. "But like me, you also need to learn something about myself."

"And what is that?" He asked raising a brow.

"Seras is a sore loser." She said mocking him.

Before Alucard could question what she meant he heard the sound of a thwack before jumping from his place with a yelp at the stinging pain he felt in his rear, that quick movement caused him to lose balance and all into a few branches before hitting the ground. Alucard groaned in pain from his head, back, and rear, but the pain didn't stop him from hearing Seras's laughter at his fall. He set back upon the ground and gave a small bunch to the trunk of the tree, as a pity way of revenge. He joined Seras, laughing at what had just happened, forgetting the previous tension, and enjoying her company. Through it, however, Alucard couldn't help but still plan how to get Seras to be alone with the King. He was hoping that maybe after the court lunch the king would want to come here again and then Alucard will make Sure he knows of Seras.

Alucard rode on Caturix as he exited the castle's gates, behind him followed a small royal convoy. The king and queen in the white carriage decorated with gold, behind them another carriage that held a few of the court members, and behind them several smaller carriages that were for servants and the necessary materials for an outside lunch, and of course, they were all surrounded by a few royal guards for safety measures.

After Alucard had told the king that he agreed to show not only him but everyone for and outside lunch like Zorin had suggested, he insisted that he keeps the location a secret until the day of the outing. Of course, Zorin did nag him to tell the location already so that they could do the necessary "preparation" But Alucard refused in excuse of wanting to surprise everyone. However, the true reason is that he didn't want Zorin to sneak her way to where Seras was and harm her. He could still hear Seras's terrified scream as she begged him not to bring HER, even if he still didn't know who "her" was he has a strong feeling that it was the witch.

"Where do you think you are taking us?" A familiar annoying voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

Alucard turned his head to the left and saw that Zorin was on her own horse, causing to roll his eyes. She had refused to ride with her ward or the court insisting to ride on her own horse and more to be close to him at all times. To keep a close eye on him no doubt.

"To the place where the king and queen would be "So Relaxed"." He said the last part almost mockingly, quoting her words from a couple of nights ago. "Isn't that what I'm supposed to do."

"But we are going near the dark woods." She simply stated. Alucard glanced at her with the corner of his eyes.

"And is that a problem?" He asked calmly.

"Yes." She answered almost too fast. "That place is filled with dangerous creatures that could harm the queen."

Alucard's eyes narrowed at her words, not only because she was concerned only with the safety of her ward but of the lie, she had spoken. He had gone to that forest multiple times and he saw no "Dangerous creature".

"I assure you where we are going it is completely safe." He said, wanting for the conversation to be over but the witch didn't seem to get the hint.

"And where is that place?" She asked him for what felt like the millionth time since the night she "overheard" his conversation with the King.

"It's a surprise." He said with a fake smile before kicking Caturix gently telling him to walk faster, so he can escape the witch.

If Alucard was alone he would have reached the woods by now and was enjoying a conversation with Seras while eating one of her fruits. The distance was far but with Caturix's speed, it felt like a walk away, when they finally were near the edge of the woods the sun was above their heads.

"HULT!" Shouted Zorin causing everyone behind them to stop, including Alucard he turned to her with a raised brow.

"Why did we stop?" Asked the confused King who popped his head out of the carriage's window. Zorin who was the cause strolled closer to the king.

"The prince is trying to get us inside the dark woods." She answered.

"What!?" Exclaimed Rip as she popped her head from the other window, the look of displeasure clear on her face.

Murmurs broke out among the court members and servants behind them. Alucard suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at the scene they were causing. King Henry furrowed his brows and closed his eyes but not in displeasure but to think, blocking out the voices of Zorin and his wife. He opened his eyes again and looked to Alucard gesturing for him to come closer. Alucard came down his horse and walked to the King's window side, the king leaned to the young Prince's ears, earning a glare from the witch and the queen, which they ignored.

"Is this where you have been hiding all these weeks?" He whispered. Alucard grinned at the question, he pulled back and leaned to whisper back.

"Yes, this is my hiding spot."

The king chuckled at his words, he playfully hit Alucard's shoulder, because he and his parents were trying to figure out where was he hiding and to find out he was hiding in the dark woods all this time makes the King laugh at the thought of how Vlad would be angry at his trouble maker of a son. Alucard laughed with the King understanding what he was laughing about, everyone around them however looked confused. Especially Zorin and Rip who looked more annoyed than confused.

"I trust Alucard and if he wants us to go there, then we shall." He said simply nodding for Alucard to continue leading them.

Rip opened her mouth to say something but didn't get the chance as the king got back inside the carriage and closed the curtain. Rip was shocked, she looked at Zorin who's eyes were widened in shock by what happened, then glared down at Alucard. Flashing a victorious grin Alucard walked back to his horse and rode him again. Rip gave Zorin a desperate look, which Zorin only responded to with a nod.

"Well…" She started. "We can't go inside the woods, the trees are surrounding it like a wall, even if we got inside by foot it will be troublesome to just have all the servants and maybe even members of the court to carry everything."

Alucard could hear the murmurs rise at her words, clearly displeased by the thought of having to work too much. Zorin gave a victorious grin of her own to the young prince, but it flattened when she saw that he was unfazed by what was happening.

"No need to worry." He said simply, before starting to continue his way to the woods.

Not having another chance to retort anything to the prince, Zorin and everyone else continued to follow the prince, mainly because the king ordered so. The witch was preparing what to say when they do reach the woods and find no way inside. She grinned at the idea of the king losing his trust in the prince which will assure her words always be over the prince from now own. However, the grin on Zorin's face died when she saw that in the middle of the dark woods was like trees was a big pathway that was big enough for several carriages to go through at the same time. Alucard stopped at the entrance turning Caturix around to face them, he had an innocent smile as he looked at Zorin.

"See?" He started. "I told you there was nothing to worry about."

"How?" She asked glaring at the young prince. Alucard just shrugged.

"I don't understand what you mean." He answered. "I have come here many times and this road was always there, you probably just didn't look hard enough."

Zorin said nothing as she kept glaring at the prince. Alucard kept his smile as he signaled for everyone else to follow him in. as they made their way inside the servants and members of the courts looked around amazed because no one had ever stepped foot inside here before. Zorin however kept glaring at the back of the prince's his with one question repeating in her head.

"I have cast a spell on these woods so no human can be able to go in. How did he manage to create such a wide road without me sensing anything?"

I hope you guys enjoyed this story and will looking forward to more!

I want to thank you all for being patient with me, you guys are the best!

Bye!...Bye!