Ellis paces around the room, his hands behind his back and his face looking at the floor. Right, left, right, left... I haven't seen him that anxious since my mother slipped away.

"Are you utterly, completely certain we must go find this mysterious woman?" he finally asks, turning to face me "Sire, please. This is serious."

I stop packing to look at him. Even if he's blurry, I can make his frowning expression. It's always surprising to see how many emotions a huge muscled man as him can portray and how easy they are to recognize even for someone in my condition.

"What is the matter Ellis? My father said I was to marry and that is precisely what I am going to do. We just have to find the bride-to-be." I say, resuming all my thoughts into the journey ahead.

I have some food (the people in the kitchen were really kind when I explained the situation and even offered to find me a guide in case I couldn't convince Ellis or my father to let me go), a spare change of clothes, some rope, a journal, a trusty map of the kingdom and its surroundings, enough money to travel light and that marvellous crystal shoe.

"Besides, blending with my people will only make me a better king. You should be glad I'm taking this opportunity to learn from the townsfolk and get to know their needs."

Ellis doesn't reply right away but I know he's on my side. He always is.

"The king asked you to marry a princess because the kingdom is falling without its king. And he's ill, sire. He might not be any longer by the time we return."

It's my turn to frown. I don't like the idea of leaving my father behind, but this woman... I need to find her. She could end all my problems, all the kingdom's problems. And dad... he will be alright when I come back. He must.

"I will speak with the king now. Can you be ready to leave by noon?"

"I... yes, sire." he says, not completely happy.

"I really appreciate it Ellis, you may never know how much." I tell him, patting his shoulder. And then I leave.

My father's chamber is huge, even more than mine. When I was a kid I used to play around it, pretending it was a labyrinth and I was the next big explorer of my time. Sometimes father would join, but most of the time, I would avoid the governess here, knowing she would not dare coming in.

"Charles," my father greets me the minute he sees me. His face lightens and the couple of men around his bed turn to leave.

"Your Majesty," I bow and wait for the men to close the door behind them. Then it's just the two of us and I can be his son, instead of the prince.

"My boy, what's on your mind?"

"Why does something have to be on my mind for me to come visit you?" I laugh, coming closer to his bed.

He moves aside for me to climb in closer and I lay there with him. His wrinkled face is getting paler and paler every day and it's getting frustrating to see him like this.

"Oh, I know that look on your face. I wore it sometime ago and it made me unstoppable. I know you are up to something, I just want to be part of it."

"You may not like it." I whisper, and he only curves his lips "I may be going crazy. Ellis seems to think so."

"It's that girl, isn't it? The one you danced with. The slippery shoe one." I look away, suddenly conscious of my father's intense stare. His grey eyes have not lost any of their power. "Everyone who attended to that party saw how you gazed at her and I know you. You haven't stop thinking about her and that shoe, have you not?"

"Did you feel like that with mom?"

My father chortles and suddenly he sounds young, vigorous if only for a second. His eyes wander around the room as he remembers good, glorious times and the brunette woman that stole his heart.

"She was something extraordinary indeed. But she left us, my boy, and life must continue. You are the next in line for the throne and the kingdom must not fall without a ruler. Your people need you here."

"But dad—”

“Do not mistake me, son. I wish your happiness more than you can ever know, but your duties come first. This is the price we need to pay to have peace. You are a Prince, Charles. Remember that.”

I stay silent for a moment, thinking. I really need to find that shoe-maker, and it cannot wait. I don’t want her to believe I don’t like her and offend her by not showing any signs of interest, but the kingdom… and my father… I don’t want him to be alone while I’m gone.

“Would you be prepared to agree to a deal with me?” I ask, sitting in an upright position “Test me father, dare me to do something and in return, allow me to start my search. If I fail, I will return and not think about her until I can figure out how to keep my responsibilities as ruler and still woo her somehow. I will postpone my search and live with the consequences it may have.”

“The land needs a focused ruler, son” he says, sitting too “If you fail, you will find another woman and get yourself an heir. And the State must agree with whomever you choose. I will no longer be able to negotiate with them.”

He pauses for a moment, waiting for me to reflect on that. I don’t change my position and even look intently at him. Something inside him seems to change with just that. He even laughs.

“Very well, then this is the task I give to you. There is a legend of castle lost in the woods. They say it’s filled with ghosts of an old era and a treasure of unmeasurable size. Find this castle and bring me whatever lays in the tallest tower. You have fourteen days to achieve this or you’ll have to come home and oblige to our conditions.”

I stand up, puzzled. This quest seems… awfully weird. My dad smiles like a player who has won beforehand, yet something in those eyes look different, hopeful I think. Whichever it is, I have my chance now.

If I thought Ellis was anxious before, he’s winning now. He hasn’t climbed to his horse yet and stares at me with his mouth open. I had never seen so much colour leave someone’s face that quick, especially for someone with his dark skin. Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned ghosts in our journey.

“You can stay if that’s what you want” I sigh, once I’m ready on my horse, Everfair.

“WHAT? No, I mean… I don’t really mind ghosts, or getting lost in the woods, or finishing a task from a legend in two weeks that no one has ever finished. I mean, what could go wrong, right?”

“That’s the spirit,” I grin “which reminds me… if we are doing this, I think I know the right person to get this done.”

“Person. You don’t mean…”

“Oh, yes I mean." I say, trying to put a grin of confidence. "We ought to find your uncle's demon cat.”