Sandra sat down on the blue couch while facing Taylan. She bashfully smiled at him while Rein closes the door. After Rein asked her to tell him what happened yesterday between her and the workers in the library, she's the one who suggested to talk in the office. She saw Taylan over the window earlier while she was on her way to visit him.
"I heard about your complain about my workers yesterday, Miss Roberts." Rein poured her a cup of tea as well as for his master. Good thing he didn't need to ask her to talk in his office or he may sound creepy.
Sandra lightly nodded her head and tucked her hair behind her ear with a soft smile on her face, "Yes. I am sorry for that. We were just in a hurry and we badly need the book. The workers took almost 30 minutes before Eli arrived."
Taylan took the tea while staring at Sandra. The fragrance she had the other day was completely different from now. Today she smells exactly like the Queen. It made the air felt lighter. If he close his eyes, he'll think that the Queen is right in front of him now. Rein also noticed this and also felt the same comfort he did before whenever the Queen was near him.
It felt nostalgic, but it didn't make them feel the same. Today is like sniffing the perfume from its container. If it is the Queen, there is a presence of life, love, and warmth. It is also suspicious, there's a possibility that the reincarnated Queen may not even have her powers yet, and smelling like the royal blood is impossible.
Rein sighed, "I am sorry for that, Miss Roberts. I will talk to my workers about this and I'll make sure---"
"Oh, no. No," Sandra took the tea and shook her head with the same smile she has, "There's no need for that. Eli already helped me," she said.
Taylan observes Sandra's every move, she's no way like the Queen. Even though she smells like her doesn't mean that it is her, and Macky was right, he can't remember the Queen's name nor her face. Even though she was soft-spoken, the Queen was never this soft. She never tucks her hair behind her ear nor keeps a smiling face. It is hard for him to accept that no one can remember the Queen's name and face and all he can think is that it's an effect for the reincarnation.
Rein noticed that Taylan lost interest in Sandra even though she smells perfectly the same with the Queen. He looked and smiled at Sandra, "But they still have to know our visitor's needs. We are the city's official library and document office, we cannot act slow."
Sandra nodded, "Well, if that is your decision. You're the boss," she giggled softly which annoyed Taylan. Eli's giggle was more real and happier. This lady is clearly a fake.
He looked at the window while sipping his tea. Sandra felt a bit offended that he never even said a word to her when she's acting friendly and nice but she still kept her smile and called Taylan's attention.
"Can I ask your name, Sir?" Sandra's soft irritating voice made Taylan want to leave the room.
Rein flinched when he sensed that the King was not feeling comfortable. He cleared his throat to call Sandra's attention. "He is Ki-- I mean, Taylan, my..." he suddenly lost words, what should he say? He's the King. He can't just introduce him and say that they are brothers or cousins.
"I'm his colleague." Taylan flatly answers when he noticed that Rein was having a hard time.
Sandra smiled widely, even Taylan's voice was beautiful. She reached out her hand with a blush, "I'm Sandra, you can call me San. Only a few people can call me by my nickname," she said.
When Rein saw her actions, he begged the ground to break and swallow him. How many times should his master experience such disrespect from humans? He gulped, thinking what excuse to say but suddenly, he found Taylan shaking Sandra's hand. His master's hand is now soiled!
"Nice to meet you, Miss Sandra." Taylan said coldly, he didn't even smile. Why are humans found of using nicknames, aside from it is informal, it is a disrespect for the family who gave them their names.
Sandra can't help but be annoyed by how Taylan's acting. He didn't even curve his lips nor look like he really is happy to meet her. But still, at least she was able to hold his hand. She smiled at him before Taylan break the handshake.
"Taylan has a lot to do, Miss Roberts. I'm sorry that he cannot entertain you longer," Rein was softly telling Sandra to leave since he cannot bear to see his master be disrespected any longer. He's already calling her a b!tch in his mind. Among all females who approached Taylan these past days, she's the most clever of all, though they gave her leverage.
Sandra pouted, she still wants to stare at Taylan's beauty but it will leave him a bad impression of her if she stays. She stands up and smiled at them, "No problem. See you again, Taylan," she walks towards the door with Rein in front of her.
Ben and Eli were about to leave when Sandra called them from behind. The moment Sandra stands beside them, Eli smell her fragrance. She smells different from earlier.
Ben opened the door for the ladies while Sandra wrapped her arm around Eli's arm with a smile.
"I met him! Thank you, Eli!" Sandra shrieked with her face looking like a tomato.
"Who?" Ben asks while following them, "Taylan, right?"
Every woman who has ever gone to the library asked about Taylan. Sandra's no different from them.
"Yes! My gosh, he is so beautiful!" Sandra squeezes Eli's arms for a while before letting it go.
Eli felt awkward but she just waited for Sandra to go away. She's not rude enough to push her away, but her new perfume is quite suffocating for Eli. It's a strong smell of blood, her scent earlier was much nicer. She doesn't want to think about it but maybe Sandra's on that day of the month. Ben doesn't seem to notice the smell or he just doesn't want to mention it.
Sandra bid her farewell while Ben had to go somewhere else, leaving Eli on the street. She sighed and continues walking until Tram suddenly appears out of nowhere.
"Hey, Tram," Eli smiled, "Where's E?" she asks while looking around. Why does she always leave Tram alone?
"She's in the garden, do you want to see her?" Tram pointed at the city's public garden then held Eli's hands. No one's in the garden this time because the sun is shining brightly and it's burning to the skin.
"Sure," Eli smiled as Tram hugs her arms.
As they were walking, she noticed the kid sniffing her arms like a cat. Why is everybody about sniffing and smelling today? She sweatdrops as Tram stops and stared at her.
"Is something wrong? Do I really smell that bad?" Eli groaned and sniffs her arms. It smells like Sandra. It smells like blood. Her face darkens as she wants to puke with the scent.
"Momma," Tram runs to E who came from the garden while holding an umbrella, "She smells like you, but bad."
Eli felt offended by Tram's words. It's Sandra, not her. It's the potion, not her. Why is everyone blaming odors to her?
E's soft face turned stiff, "What?" she asks and pulled Eli's arms and took a sniff. She turned to Eli with a scared face, "Why do you smell like this?" Her question was fast and full of fear.
Eli pulled her arm away, "It's not me. It's Sandra. She smells like blood, maybe it's her period. It's not me." Eli waves her hand in defense.
"Who's Sandra?" Tram asks while clinging to her Mother's dress.
"Classmate." Eli answered fast, "Is it really that bad?"
E nodded, "Yes," she looks straight at Eli's eyes, "He's in danger. Someone's copying my scent to lure them out."
Tram frowned with E's answer while Eli's forehead wrinkled.
"What do you mean copying your scent?" Eli took a step towards E to smell her, but she smells like candy and sweets. She's that type of girl who loves to smell sweet and comfy. "You smell nice. I like your cologne." Eli smiled, she's also fond of a similar scent but she likes it lighter.
E's expression doesn't seem to lighten with Eli's compliment. She looks worried and scared. "What's the matter, E?" Eli's voice softens.
"We have to find him." E looks at Tram. How come the enemy found Taylan before them? Is Taylan looking for Eliora? Are they looking for her? Does he even want to see his Queen?
E's eyes suddenly flooded with tears. It's been 500 years. She waited that long to be reincarnated. Now that she found herself in the new world, somebody else found her King first and now he's in danger. She doesn't even know if Taylan wants her back or if he is searching for a new Queen.
Eli suddenly panicked. E just burst into tears while Tram seems to start crying as well. She frowned. She doesn't know them well. She can't say anything that will make them feel better. She just knows them as the kid and the mom that doesn't seem to have a dad. They just randomly appear around her with their smiles and greetings.
As she watches E cry with her hand on her face, she saw herself crying. Whenever she feels empty, lost, and alone, she'll cry the same way. She'll cover her face with her hands as if she wants the tears to go back. She's just overflowing with sadness that she wants to push them back in.
She pats E's head softly before hugging her. "Shh," Eli's soft warm voice shushed, "Everything will be fine. You're okay. You're going to be fine." The words that she was longing to hear whenever she cries came out of her mouth. She perfectly knows that it's not going to be easy, but she just wants someone to remind her of those words.
E's sobs went heavier, hearing those words from herself was weird, but as well as comforting. Tram hugs her tighter as her son begins to cry as well. She can't be like this. Tram is counting on her. If she lost her faith in Taylan, Tram will never be born. She and Tram will forever walk this earth as ghosts.
She has to find Taylan, but her power is not yet strong. They can only appear when there are no people and where Eli is located. She wiped her tears and stared at Eli.
E's eyes are puffy and red, but she looks determined. Eli sighed when she noticed that E's feeling better.
"Help me find my husband, Eli." E said with eyes full of mixed emotions. She doesn't know if Eli will believe her. She doesn't know if Taylan's even looking for her. She doesn't know if they will find him. She doesn't know what may happen. But they have to find him before it's too late.