The Duke and his search party began looking for the missing princess. The Duke searched for two hours but could not find her, which angered him. However, the rest of the team continued searching for her.

Later, after having breakfast, Luka took Chole to his sunroom. She was delighted to see the plants, but when she looked around the room, she noticed the dull curtains and furniture. Confused, she asked Luka, "Why is everything so boring in this room?"

"I beg your pardon," Luka replied.

"Well, it's all gray and dreary," said Chole.

"My sister loved this room, but I haven't had the heart to change it since she passed away," explained Luka.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up bad memories for you," Chole apologized.

"It's about time I remodeled it anyway. What suggestions do you have for the space?"

   Chole sat on the sofa, sketched some ideas, and presented Luka with the final sketch. Luka was impressed with her hard work.

    "Wow, those are some excellent ideas, Chole!"

    "Do you think so?"

    "Yes, and I believe they will make this room better than I have seen in years."

        Luka took her to see his indoor swimming pool next. He saw her glance at the water with a puzzled look. "Why is there an indoor pond or sea inside your home?"

        "Chole, it is not a pond or sea. It is a swimming pool."

      "A swimming pool, my what a marvelous idea."

        Luka removed his shoes and stepped into it. "The water is a tad, bit cold, but I may go for a swim. Say, would you be interested in joining me?"

        "J-Joining you in the pool? Is it safe?"

       "Yes, it is perfectly safe, my dear."

    Luka steps out. He picks up his discarded shoes. "First, I will need to change into my swimming trunks."

    "Ah, I see."

    "Do you have a swimsuit?"

    Chole shook her head. She had never owned such attire as it was forbidden for nobles to swim or so she was told. She was not sure why.

      "Oh, well, then, I shall find you one."

       Chole looked outside the glass panes of the windows and she saw the storm had returned.

         "What about the storm?"

         "I assure you I shall be quite all right," Luka answered.  He walked towards a small cabinet and opened it. He pulled out a few towels, a pair of swimming trunks, and a bag.

          "Here, I believe it may fit."

          "A bag? You wish for me to swim in a bag?"  

          "No, the swimsuit is inside the bag."

              Chole looked inside and blushed. She had no idea this was what ladies swam in at all.

                  "Where do I change?"

                    "Right this way, my dear," Luka stated as he showed her the changing area. 

                           Chole removed the jeans and shirt. She put on the swimsuit. She felt a bit naked but did not say as much. She did not want to hurt his feelings.

                           She exited the room. Luka gave her a look of approval and entered the changing area next. She waited for him to come out. She was embarrassed. She didn't know how to swim.

                           Luka returned wearing a pair of green swimming trunks with red seals.

                  "Chole, why are you not in the water?"

                 "I was afraid."

                "Afraid?"

               "I can't swim."

                   Luka placed the towels on the pool chairs. Then, he held his hand out to her. She grasped it for dear life. He slowly entered the water.

                     Luka let go of her hand and began to swim. Chole watched him in awe. She had never seen such a thing. What was she to do?

                     He turned around and swam back towards her. He showed her how to kick her feet while onto the side of the pool. Chole started to kick them faster and faster.  "Is that all?"

                      "Not quite, I need to show you how to move your arms."

                       Chole let go of the pool's edge and slowly turned to face him. She saw that he looked rather dashing as a wet person. She could tell this was a funny activity. Something she had not much of growing up.

                       Luka showed her two arm strokes, the dog paddle, and the long arm stroke. He looked on with approval as she did the long arm stroke while kicking her feet as she had seen him do. Then, she started to dog paddle. Soon, she was swimming laps around him.

                       By now it was almost lunchtime, and still, there was no sign of the princess. The same thing was on everyone's minds by now. Where was the princess? Had someone taken her or had she run away?

                      Luka had not told her that before she woke up that morning he had taken the chest to his house. He did not want her to be alarmed because he knew how much she worried about him.

                      "How are your parents?"

                     "Oh, I have never met my mother, and my father blames me for Juleka's death."

                      "Oh, that is simply dreadful, Luka."

                      "What about you?  How are your parents coping with all this?"

                          Chole stopped smiling and frowned. She had no idea what to say. The truth was she did not remember much about either of them.  

                          "My father was good to me, and my mother died when I was young. I do not recall much about the day my father journeyed out of town. He promised to take me to the beach on his return," Chole said.

                  "Well, did he take you to the beach as promised?"

                 "No, he never made it back to the castle. I have always wondered what became of him. I tried to ask, but no one would tell me. Not even the nursemaid, or mistress as some may call her."

                   "Chole, I am sorry about your father," Luka apologized. He saw that she was sad about the memories of him.

                    She pushed a few tears away, "I shall be okay because I have you now."

                          Luka saw her start to shiver.  He picked her up and carried her out of the pool. He set her on one of the nearby chairs and laid a towel over her.  

                        "I will return with our lunch."

                 Chole did not say a word. She only nodded. She felt guilty because she knew she must return to the castle soon. She had to so she could explain that she was giving up the crown. She did not see herself remaining a princess if it meant she had to give up, her Luka.

                She watched him walk away. She got up dried off, and got more towels out. She grabbed up the other clothes and went back to the bedroom. She went into the bathroom and shut the door. For the second time, she showered, dried off, and stepped back into the now-dried dress. She wrote a note for him and set it on one of the pillows.

                She left all her things there except for the crown she hated. She had never worn in front of Luka. She couldn't. Not with what it stood for. She removed the crown from the sack and placed it on her head. 

                 She found some shoes and put them on. She sneaked out the back door and headed towards the palace. She only hoped that in time Luka could forgive her.

                  Chole arrived at the palace as Luka was finishing up the lunch.  Luka returned to the pool area and gasped. Where was she?  Had she left?

                  He set the tray down on a table and headed to the bedroom.  He saw the letter and shook his head.

             "N-no, Chole, no..." He muttered. He held it to his chest as if it would somehow bring her back to him.

                 Chole burst through the castle gates unannounced. She saw the Duke and frowned.  "Why was I not informed of the wedding date being moved up?" She blurted out.

        "My dear, I thought you would be pleased, " The Duke said.

        "Pleased?  I could never be pleased with such as the likes of you. I have heard how you have imprisoned people for not working your lands as hard as you deem worthy and how you took food away from a starving peasant who came to you for help," Chole spat out.

         "My princess, Chole, I am here to marry you, not to hear of your political views," The Duke remarked.

         Chole sneered at him.  "Well, it so happens my political views are as much as who I am as anything else. Furthermore, I do not wish to marry you, nor to wear such a burden as this," She said with dismay.

        She removed the crown. With that, she returned to her room and began to pack other things she wished to take with her upon her return to Luka.

        The Duke shook his head, "She does not know what she is saying, she must have a fever, I mean she did return in such a horrid state."

           He said this because she wore a wrinkled dress. He ordered her to be locked away in her room until she saw the errors of her way.

     The servants and guards did as he commanded. In the absence, of any other noblemen, they obeyed him out of fear. 

         Soon, the Duke thought the princess would be dead and all this would be mine. He did not love her. He only wanted her wealth, the crown, and the palace.

         He now wore the discarded crown.

     Chole knew nothing of this. She finished. She tried to open the door but found it would not budge. She tried the window and found it blocked. No matter, at least no one knew about the trap door. She opened it, removed the hidden items, and jumped into the open space, glad she had the rest of what she felt was rightfully hers. She left the castle unaware of the Duke's real plans.

     She soon was well on her way to Luka's.  No one saw her escape. Had they done so, someone would have sounded the alarm and dragged her back into the place.  She arrived at Luka's a few minutes before the dinner hour.

     Luka wept. He did not see when Chole entered his back door, shut it, locked it, and returned to where he sat on his bed.  

     Chole tip-toed past him, entered the bathroom, and changed back into the t-shirt, and jeans. She left the dress on the floor.

       As Luka's sobs got deeper, Chole stood in front of him. She did not say a word. How could she console him when she had been the one to cause him pain?

        Find out more as the story continues in Chapter 7  All is Well, my Dear

       Until then, 

   bye-bye, little owlets!

   Summer out!