"She's dead," Prince Marin's voice echoed around the dark lake I was slowly sinking in.
My vision slowly shifted to pitch black, I can't even feel the pain anymore. It was like I grew numb, is this the end?
No, it can't be. I still have a lot to do, things to know, and people to meet.
I have to ask my parents about who I really am.
"Wake up, Amelia Snow... or Amelia Fire? You know, your surname is the total opposite of your power."
A tiny cheerful voice suddenly spoke, and I saw a blinding light suddenly appear before me.
"You have fire powers, but your name is Snow. It really bothers me," a tiny fairy with a flowing blue hair and white dress spoke as she fidgets in water.
"If you have water powers and you can make ice out of it, then your name is perfect for you, but fire powers?" She groaned as she twirls around like a mermaid playing in her water.
I looked around, and I was still in the lake, but my body felt a tint of energy rushed when I heard the fairy's voice.
"Did you save me?" I asked.
I was sure I was near death earlier. There was nothing left of me.
"Yes... and no. I'll explain so let me introduce my name," the little fairy smiled at me, and I saw her sharp tiny teeth and her black eyes with tiny spots of twinkling white which looks like it holds the galaxy.
"I am the lake's guardian fairy, Dewdrop Twilight," she said and twirled around with her white dress following her every move, "I am a child of the universe and the life-giving water of the land. Truth is what I say, and the lie is what I kill."
I giggled with her unique introduction, but her sudden movement towards my face jolted me.
"Don't laugh, human with an irritating name. If I didn't felt your helplessness earlier, I wouldn't have let you live."
Her cute tiny face wrinkled as she shows her annoyance, "You know, if you drown here, Prince Marin would have to relive the memories you watched earlier in his nightmares through-out his life."
My smile slowly vanished with what I heard.
He will be hunted in his nightmares by the things I saw earlier? I will put him in a tight position if I died.
But he didn't say that earlier, is it because he didn't want me to feel guilty if I died?
"It was a form of punishment for intruding someone's life, and to be honest, it has been hundreds of years since the last royalty used this spell to remove a curse. That's why I applaud this young Prince."
I sighed after realizing how heavy the help we asked from the Prince, who I barely knew.
"Hey, chin up, Snow. I'm sure the Prince knew the consequences of his action. Don't worry about him," Dewdrop said as she pulled my chin up with her tiny hands.
"When I was watching you two unravel the secrets of the caster, I saw how much it also opened your eyes about hidden certainties you have to know. And as a guardian of this lake which holds the truth, I wanted to help you."
She smiled to me with her tiny sharp teeth showing, "Amelia Snow, a child of the Foxtrot and the Alpha blood, with a power of speed and fire, you can go back now. And tell the Prince he did a good job. Remember, you have to breathe deeply because you've been dead since you saw me."
"What?" My brows creases after hearing I've been dead all this time, "Wait, can you tell me who was the person who ordered to take me?" I asked as I saw my body slowly vanishing like a paint being dissolved in water. I don't have time to wonder about me being dead. What's important is I find who that man is, "Dewdrop, please. I have to know."
She shook her head as she waves goodbye, "Sorry, Snow. The caster's dead. Your prince killed her. I can't take memory from a dead person, Snow. If she's alive, I would've told you earlier."
My eyes grew wide, as terror covered my skin, Prince Forest killed her? Why?
If he didn't finish her off, I would've known who that person is and why he needs me.
"How can you let her die?" I heard a thunderous shout echoing around a room, "I trusted you, Your highness!"
"Mister Untzer, please, stop! He is still a Prince, know your place!"
"I did what I could, I am so sorry. I can't save her. I wanted to help her, but I only put her to danger. If only I knew the caster was dying, I would've pulled Amelia back as sooner."
Why are they speaking like I'm dead? It was the caster who died, not me.
Dewdrop was nowhere, and I knew I was back in my body. I wasn't even able to thank her.
I wanted to move, but my body felt as if the whole weight of the world was on me. The heaviness even made it hard to breathe, my every breath was light and I can't even feel my heart beating.
I have to breathe, or my body will lack oxygen.
I tried to mutter words to stop them from shouting at each other, but even my throat felt like there are thorns inside.
"What is happening? Where's Amy?"
I heard Prince Forest's voice which put an end to the argument. Then the silence that followed was much more deafening than the loud voices that covered the room earlier.
"What happened?" His voice broke as I heard his footsteps walking towards me.
I have to open my eyes right now, or else they'll really think I am dead. And I have to ask him why he killed the caster. I have a lot of questions right now, I can't be dead.
I focused my mind on my breathing, and even if my chest felt like it's frozen, I inhaled air as deep as I can.
"She's fine," Aiven said as I felt his hand on my hand, "Breathe, Amy, breathe..." he whispered.
"Amy, you're fine, go on, breathe," Prince Forest softly whispered while caressing my cheek, "Come back home."
I still can't open my eyes, but slowly, my breathing got deeper, and as soon as I was able to breathe normally, I can feel my body getting warmer and lighter, and soon enough, I was able to open my eyes.
And the first thing I saw was the chandelier, shining brightly above me like a sun.
"Hello," I whispered when I saw Aiven who was smiling at me after sighing, "I am really a cockroach, aren't I?" I joked which made him snort.
"Amy," Prince Forest called, but right now, I don't feel like looking at him.
I am sure he knew something, which is why he killed the maid. He took my opportunity to know who that person is. And he might also be hiding the reality of my identity all this time.
Even Regin, and the others.
"I'm fine," I said then I called Prince Marin, "Hey, Dewdrop said you're good."
Prince Marin moved close to me and with a cheerful smile he said, "Who's that?"
"The lake's fairy," I sighed, "Thank you so much for helping me. I'm sorry to put you in a tight place. You should've told me about the nightmares."
Prince Marin's face froze, then a light smile lightened his expression, "I don't want to pressure you. But, I am glad to see you alive."
I turned my head then my mind went fuzzy the moment I saw Prince Forest's worried expression. If only he didn't kill the caster, I would've thrown myself to him in a tight embrace.
I wanted to see him earlier when I was about to die, but after finding out about what he did, I can't help but feel the resentment build up.
"I am sorry I wasn't able to protect you," he whispered, and with a blink of an eye, I fell asleep.
While I was taking a rest after the heavy event that happened, Aiven bowed down before Prince Marin, apologizing about what he did earlier.
"I am deeply sorry for what I did, Your highness. I was just scared."
"I know," Prince Marin said after letting out a deep sigh, " I was also scared for her life."
Prince Forest stared at Amy's sleeping face, then he leaned for a kiss on her forehead.
"But, Prince Forest, why did you kill the caster? It was dangerous." Prince Marin glared at Prince Forest.
Everyone turned quiet, waiting for the Gathrin's Prince's answer, while Aiven watches his every move, now that Aiven knows about Amy's true identity, he also has to be wary of the Prince's hidden intentions.
"She hurt Amy," Prince Forest said under his breath with his gritted teeth, "I was just angry. I wasn't able to hold my anger. I apologize."
Aiven wanted to ask about the identity of Amy, but right now, the Prince worries for her. He was scared for her life, and he was guilty of not being able to protect her. He was there, he was with her, but he let her out of his sight, and with just one snap, she's cursed.
Regin was also staring down on the floor, even if Amy has the gemstone, it was all too late. She was already harmed.
And the scheme was perfectly executed, every attendant and knights were kept in a room to avoid conflict in the plan, and now he thought of it. What is the Delta's plan?
"Your highness, what was the Delta's response about this?" Regin asked, with anger being poured down on his sword that he held tightly.
Prince Marin, who wasn't able to think about the connection of the Delta to the scene, looked at the knight with surprise.
"They said they weren't in the location because they were patrolling on the other side of the castle," Prince Forest replied with a dark expression.
"That is ridiculous! How can they be patrolling on the other side of the castle only? This isn't how security works during an event." Regin roared in anger.
"Calm down, Sir Regin, you'll wake up Amy." Aiven creased his brows in irritation.
"And Mister Untzer, how come Miss Amy has your bell when you're not with her? You should've stayed with her while she was outside." Regin asked as his suspicion suddenly awoken for Aiven.
"She wanted to be left alone, Sir Regin."
Aiven's voice suddenly fainted as he noticed where this conversation is going. If he continues to argue with Regin, they'll ask why she wanted to be left, and he has to make a lie to cover the truth about why she was left in the garden.
"And you left her? That is not what a captain should've done." Regin felt irritated that Aiven was with her, but he chose to leave her alone in the dark garden in this suspicious kingdom.
But the anger he has was for himself. Because he let Amelia roam around, when in fact, he already knew something was wrong when every attendant was asked to stay in a single room.
Prince Marin and Prince Forest felt the tension growing between the two, but before they can even react, a knock was heard on the door.
"Prince Forest, the King asks for your presence," a guard said behind the closed door.
"Prince Marin, I am entirely grateful for your help. Tell Regin what gift you want to have as a token of our gratitude." He looked at Prince Marin then bowed his head as respect with a light smile, " I shall leave for a while," Prince Forest stood up, but he glanced one more time at Amelia, he'll know what happened no matter what.
He might've killed the caster due to his anger since she doesn't know who it was that ordered them to take Amy, but that doesn't mean that he won't let the Delta kingdom come clean after their questionable actions.