For the first time in history, I woke up before the sun even rises. I was so excited for today because, sadly, it's my last day with Aiven's family. But I know great things will happen.
I stretched my arms while looking through the window. The sun's rays were only beginning to welcome the day, and I get this weird happy vibes from seeing this scene.
It's so beautiful and peaceful.
I can't believe I always get to miss this view— the darkness and a hint of orange light in the sky.
"Miss?" I heard Justif called from the door. "Are you already awake?"
His voice was shocked with the idea that I woke up early, but I myself was surprised that servants really wake up this early.
My maids, Granny and Regin, were always ready to help me around the moment I open my eyes, which was early in the morning, but I never thought they wake up earlier than the sun.
"Yeah," I answered Justif, "Good morning!" I screamed I can't contain this happiness.
I jumped out of bed then opened the door, "Hey," I greeted Justif with a smile while holding the door, "You're early!"
Justif nodded, "Please get dressed, Miss. Master Aiven's already awake, you may join him in tea if you want."
I nodded with a smile, "Yeah! I'd love that."
The thing here in Aiven's house is that the maids aren't helping me out in taking a bath and getting dressed, maybe because Aiven didn't tell them because he thought I'll only be staying a night, but that's alright, I missed getting prepared by myself.
I wore another dress that Justif gave, which was a sort of gothic style, except it's more simple with only a few ribbons.
"Master Aiven also woke up earlier than his usual time, he said he wanted to make this day-long," Justif whispered as we go to Aiven's office.
I smiled, but I felt a bit sad, I also want to make this day last.
Once I go back to the castle, I'll have to do what I have to. Be a bride candidate and enjoy it.
Or should I start to fight for Prince Forest just like all the candidates? But maybe it's better if I just stay out of the other's way.
But if the Prince really cares about me, that means I am something to him. What if I have a chance with him? What if I can win and be his bride?
I shook my head with that thought. No, I'm just... I'm no one.
"Miss? Why are you looking so down? You were just smiling earlier."
I peeked at Justif then plastered a smile on my face, "I'm good. I just felt sad because I have to leave tomorrow. That means I can't get to see you guys anymore."
Justif chuckled, "Miss, from what I heard, you can go out of the mansion. If you want, I'm sure Master Aiven will be happy to have your visits."
I wrinkled my brows, bride candidates can go out? Then why were they keeping me inside the mansion? They never told me about that. I'll remember that and ask Granny about it.
"I see," I muttered before Justif opens the door to Aiven's office.
I saw him sitting on the armchair of his desk while staring outside the window, looking so calm and bright.
"Master Aiven, Miss Amy is here," Justif bowed then gestured me to go inside, "I'll have the tea prepared." He said before closing the door.
Aiven didn't look at me, but I saw his lips form a smile.
"Good morning, Aiven." I walk towards the window then I looked at him, "Do you like mornings?"
He turned his gaze towards me, but his face was still facing the window where you can see their beautiful withering garden. "Yes, I do. My mother used to walk me around the garden during the mornings."
"Where's your mom?" I asked.
"She and father are taking a vacation in the Delta Kingdom. They love the festivals in that place," Aiven sighed then he stood up and pushed the chair in its place, "That is why I'm stuck in this house, working and looking after my annoying siblings."
I watch as this tall man arrange his things on his desk, he really gives off the mature-aura just like from professors, and seniors. There's no question that he's a village captain.
But as I watch him, I saw a photo of three kids in a frame on his desk.
I wrinkled my brows as I recognize two of the boys, while a girl was in between them.
"That's you, and the Prince, right?" I moved forward to the desk then pointed at the picture.
"Yes," Aiven nodded while looking at me, "We were good friends."
"Were?" I asked as I took the photo to take a closer look.
The Prince didn't change, he still looks cute and handsome at the same time and his fluffy hair is still the same. But Aiven... well, he's cute in this photo, but now, I won't say that's he's not cute-- he's handsome, like the beautiful type of handsome, but his eyes were more full of spirit than today.
"Who's this?" I asked while pointing at the girl.
She's undeniably charming, if she's a grown-up now, I'm a hundred percent sure, she looks like a goddess with her electric blue round eyes and long curly hair.
Aiven was silent for a while before answering, but when he did, his voice cracked.
"That's Miss Kristina," he mumbled, then he cleared his throat.
I froze after hearing that name, that's his friend who died, isn't it.
I put down the frame then smiled at him, "Well, you guys were cute! I love your blue shorts in that picture," I said to divert the topic but he just looked at me with sad eyes.
"I know Justif told you about her, he informed me about that, don't worry." He took a deep breath then he looked back to the window. "She died before we even turned ten, she was kidnapped and killed."
My eyes grew wide with the gruesome information. Killed? But she's just a child!
"We were just playing that day inside the castle premises. I swear to god, I saw her following us back to the pond in the garden," Aiven clenched his fist and closed his eyes with a scowl while he's replaying the painful memory in his head.
"She was behind us, holding a flower crown, but when we arrived in the pond, she's.... god," Aiven covered his mouth while his eyes were shining with the tears forming in his eyes, "She's gone and her crown was found outside the castle, crumpled."
I don't want to hear his painful voice anymore. I don't want him to remember that.
"Aiven, you don't need to tell me. I'm sorry I asked." I walked back to him and rubbed his back softly. "Come on, let's have a seat, the tea's going to be served."
I was about to pull him towards the couch but he retracts his hand away from mine then he shook his head.
"If you want to know something about the Prince, this is the opportunity, Amy."
I intertwined my hand then I leaned on the window while looking down on the floor, "Well, I want to know about the story, but I don't want to see you like that. It's... weird. You always looked strict, and seeing you hurt makes me want to run away."
Aiven chuckled then he stood straight and cleared his throat, "I'm sorry to make you feel uneasy with my emotion. But, I admit that I haven't moved on from that yet, and I'm sure it's a worst-case for the Prince. He's just thinking that he doesn't care anymore about a dead girl, but he's the one who got affected the most since that was the time he found out about his real powers."
I darted my gaze at Aiven's eyes, "What? Now I really want to know. He said that he's one of the strongest breeds, but he said that it's none of my business anymore."
I suddenly felt my stomach turn 360 degrees in excitement about the story Aiven's about to tell, but the storytelling has to be disrupted when the maids prepared the tea.
Aiven went to sit on the couch then I followed him.
He waited for everyone to leave before he continued to speak.
I was frozen while staring at him with the hot teacup on my hand, as he starts to continue.
"She was kidnapped by an assassin, no one was able to track her because the enemy used a barrier around the place they took her. The castle received multiple letters through an arrow shot in the gate. It was asking the King to transfer the throne to the leader of the kidnappers."
I only took a sip when Aiven does to. I felt as if, if I drink I won't be able to hear him clearly, that's why I have to sip when he stops.
"Three days later, the King didn't respond. We knew that he won't do what the kidnappers asked, that's why the Prince and I did something we shouldn't have."
Aiven looked at me then he smiled, "Look at your face, you're so serious. Your brows are creased. You'll get wrinkles if you don't stop that."
He chuckled then he drunk his tea.
I only realized that I was really furrowing the whole time I was listening, but I noticed, as Aiven finishes his tea, his hands were shaking.
He was just trying to distract himself from his emotions.
"As I was saying," Aiven continued, "We found out where she was taken. We stayed up all night and waited for the archer who sends the messages to the King and we followed him. I don't know how we got to do that, but we got to Kristina, but we were late. She's dead."
I felt chills run all over my body while imagining that pretty girl dead is terrifying.
"Not only that," Aiven looked down, then he rested both his arms on his knees and intertwined his fingers, "She was tortured because she tried to use her powers. There were burnt places in the house, and some of the kidnappers have burns. I froze in fear the moment I saw her state. It was a living nightmare for a child. I wasn't able to take it, I felt my whole body grew numb. But the Prince... he was angry."
I put down my tea then I hugged myself, imagine three kids went through that tough... no, it's not only tough, it's a hell. I can't bear to see them if I was there.
A child being thrown in a place not even adults enjoy to be in, in the darkness no one wants to be in.
"He was so enraged that he wasn't able to control his power. First, everyone froze, including me. None of the kidnappers got away, even those outside. Then, all of them showed an expression, and I can tell whatever they were feeling was much more painful than anything else in this world. They began tearing up, some had their eyes grew wide with redness all over their faces. But after a while, their faces showed what demons look like. It deformed, and it was sickening to see. I even vomited after, but the Prince was still standing with his hands clenched."
Aiven looked at me and his red eyes were scary to look at, "Amy, can you handle gruesome things? Because what I'm about to tell you is horrifying. You can skip it if you want."
I nodded, I want to know everything.
This is about the Prince, and if it'll help me understand and know him better, I'll take it.
Aiven chuckled, "I wish you won't beg the Prince to send you back after this."
He sits right up and stared deeply into my eyes, and the moment he started speaking, I began seeing what he saw.
"Their bones were pulled out of their body, starting from their fingers down to their toes. And if you thought that they might be dead, you're wrong. I thought that it's their end, but I can see their eyes still moving. They were alive, Amy. And slowly, they all unfroze. Their screams were unbearable to hear. It sent me nightmares for a few years. But the Prince walked to the leader as if it wasn't terrifying. He pulled the man's collar then, after a few seconds, everyone exploded. He made everyone die while seeing what hell looks like."
I won't say that I wasn't petrified, my whole body grew cold, and my hands are shaking, but now that I know about what Prince Forest's power is, I am beginning to see why he doesn't want me to know that.
He might be thinking that I'll grow afraid.
I admit I am scared.
But not of him, I know he did that out of anger.
Someone with such a warm smile and beautiful comforting voice won't kill someone just because they want to.
"Amy, that's not all. His power specializes in torture and death. He can kill everyone with a snap of a finger. He can cut your throat with his gaze. He can cut you to pieces with words. Everything, Amy, he can do everything to send you to hell."
I gulped.
I felt as if my breathing stopped, "S-stop scaring... me... Aiven," I stuttered in fear then I forced a smile, "He won't do that to me."
Aiven's serious face suddenly started laughing, "You look so scared, Amy. You're as pale as paper," he said then he covered his mouth. "Don't worry," he cleared his throat, "He won't kill just anyone. And that was the last time he used his power. The wizards were the ones who further learned about what else he can do."