Chapter 9
Breakfast was a quiet affair at the castle as the Queen hadn't left her husband's side and once again, Rapunzel, Eugene, and Pascal were left on their own for breakfast. The kitchen continued to operate as usual despite the fallen worker and the chef brought out breakfast into the main dining room for the three.
"How is he?" The chef, Pierre, asked after serving up the meal.
"I'm afraid it doesn't look good. The doctors are trying everything," Rapunzel smiled slightly.
"Oh his poor wife. To be with child and to have your husband dying, it's just so terrible," the cook continued on.
"Do you know if he has any family we can contact? Someone needs to be here to help her," the Princess said.
"Rafe never talked about his family. He would just talk about his wife, Susan, and the baby," Pierre replied.
"How long has he been working here?" Eugene asked.
"About six months," the chef answered.
"And they never mentioned where they came from or their family?" The former thief wanted to know.
"I asked but he always referred to it as though we wouldn't know where it was and he always avoided family questions," Pierre told them before excusing himself to check on lunch preparations.
"I don't like the sound of that," Rapunzel said.
"Me neither. It usually means they are criminals on the run. Been there done that," her husband shook his head.
"My mother hires the kitchen staff after Pierre has run them through the ringer, are you questioning her judgment?" The brunette asked.
"Absolutely not. I'm wondering if she knows more than she's telling us. Why else would she hire Corona's newest citizens?" Eugene wondered. Rapunzel saw what he meant and nodded. If the man was in fact patient zero than the chances her father had been exposed to him grew if the Queen hired them for a reason. She was about to go find her mother and leave breakfast behind when Aldwyn entered the room.
"Your Majesties, I have some people you need to meet," he said as he bowed.
"Aldwyn, you really must stop calling us that. You are a Lord in your country and our equal," Rapunzel smiled as she approached him and gave him a hug.
"You are most kind but a title is still a title," he smiled as Eugene shook his hand.
"So who did you bring us?" The former thief asked.
"Merlin, son of the Merlin, and his lovely assistant Amelia," Aldwyn smiled and opened the doors to the main dining hall to reveal a man in his thirties and a woman in her twenties. They were disheveled but his smile could light up the room and her dimples gave her a look of someone in love. Rapunzel had seen that look on her own face many times.
"What brings you to Corona, Merlin and Amelia?" She asked after introductions were given and seats at the table had been taken. Pierre brought out more food and the guests happily tucked into it.
"War, to be perfectly honest. Once Malik finds out we're here, it will only be a matter of time before he tries to come for me," Merlin explained in between mouthfuls.
"And we should shelter you because…" Eugene was starting to worry. It was obvious that these two had not eaten in a while.
"Because I can stop what is coming. I already know how Malik intends to ruin Corona, I just hope I'm not too late," the wizard said.
"What is coming? I'm not sure if you've heard but we're having a little bit of a crisis of our own. My father is ill and whatever it is, it is spreading throughout the castle. We've locked the gates for fear it has already spread outside our walls," Rapunzel told him.
"Malik intends to weaken Corona with a virus. It is possible that he's already planted the seed. I must see all those who are sick immediately. I may be able to reverse the damage done," Merlin stood from his seat.
To Be Continued…