The old man who teaches me knowledge and character was pleased with how I perfectly know the answer to his questions, of course, all thanks to Aiven's book, I now know how this world works, it's just that I refuse to follow it.
Regin grew weary of the threat I received yesterday, that's why he's now inside my room, sitting beside the door on, guarding me.
The lights are now closed, but his armor is still shining from the moonlight coming from the window.
I don't know how my father will take me if this is how tight my security is, but I know he has a plan. I'm not even sure when he'll do that, but I know I want to see him, only to ask him questions.
I sneaked a peek at Regin, but turns out, he has his eyes closed. I'm sure he's awake, but he still gets tired. Sometimes I wonder if he even sleeps. He's awake all night, standing by the door of my room, and during the days, he's there, working and guarding me.
Maybe he gets to sleep when Granny or the maids are with me? Sometimes he's not here when I have company, it might be the only time he has to rest.
I tossed around, finding a perfect position to call in my sleepiness, but my mind still has a lot of thoughts popping out.
The two kids' words earlier, it's still not sure whether they're telling the complete truth. I trust Prince Marin since he did save me and he uses the lake of truth. Dewdrop will be disappointed if he lied to us.
Does the Prince even know about Princess Tellusia's story?
I want to ask him, but I still have to wait until the trial. But if I wanted to be sure, I better talk and listen to them tomorrow.
And now that tomorrow became today, Princess Tellusia brought me to her room along with Aiven and Prince Marin, but Regin insisted and tagged along.
Thankfully, Aiven was able to warn the kids not to mention about my identity before we finished the archery practice.
"Princess Tellusia, you do know that traitors are punished even if you are a royalty from a different kingdom," Regin's low gaze landed on the young lady, who replied with a nod.
"Of course," she said and sat down on the chair. She already gave permission to share her side of the story to Prince Forest through Regin.
She didn't let anyone inside, only the five of us are sitting side by side, staring at each other's serious faces, are in this room.
There were tons of different plants in Princess Tellusia's room, even her pieces of furniture have a cool green color and tones, and it smells like flowers whenever you breathe. She has a bonsai on top of her night table, and cactuses by the window.
"What I said yesterday was true," Princess Tellusia started, "And I just want justice not only for myself but for those who have to suffer for the damn plan those kings have."
Prince Marin sighed and gave us an opened letter, "That's the one from King Sorin, I sneak in when my father was busy with his women last night," he said with an unbothered tone. "I reread it, but the ink's starting to fade, there are only a few statements you can read."
Aiven took the letter and opened it. Among all of us, he's the most knowledgable about the matters concerning relations between kingdoms.
"The only thing I can understand is that nameless kingdoms are planning to take over Echo and divide the land between them," Aiven's brows were furrowed while his eyes are still glued on the paper.
"And I guess Alpha and Beta are one of those kingdoms," I said while looking at the faces of the kids. "But why Echo? There are other kingdoms too."
Princess Tellusia raised her brow at me, "Echo kingdom can kill everyone within a few minutes. They control the air, Amelia. They can suffocate everyone."
"But they won't do that, of course," Prince Marin threw Princess Tellusia a head shake, "They're the kindest people you'll meet, but if they will be controlled, who knows what may happen?"
Regin taps the table with his wrinkled forehead, "That means, King Sorin wants to take over the Echo to scare the other empires."
"And fire travels fast when there's the wind," I commented while nodding my head as I began to understand the connection of each kingdom.
But the look they gave me, faces full of surprise and terror, stared at me.
"You guys don't know that? It's a common knowl--"
Aiven cut me off, "No, we know that but we just didn't think about that," he said as he folds the letter back and gave it to Prince Marin, "That is the easiest way to burn the world, through spreading the fire."
"Should we tell the Prince?" I asked. I'm worried he's still working hard, but no one telling him these things.
"I'll tell him everything, don't worry." Regin stood up and looked at me, "Stay with them while I report to His Highness."
I nodded while Regin walks towards the door, leaving me and the three people who know about my identity in this room.
"Now, about our plan," Princess Tellusia whispered while she leans forward to me, "If you can go in the Alpha, maybe you can find out what King Sorin's plans are."
Aiven shook his head while I stare at this Princess' desperate look. She really wants to know what's happening in that King's mind. I mean, if what she said was true and she was framed to confess a crime she didn't commit, then that makes sense.
"She can't do that until we find out the trace of her mother's blood to the King. What if she'll be put into danger if she suddenly introduces herself to the King as a family relative?" Aiven sighed then he looked at me and shook his head again as a sign that he totally disagrees with the Princess' idea.
"Alright," Princess Tellusia folded her arms and pouted, "We'll wait until you find out who you are, but if it turns out you are royalty, you'll help me, alright?" she stared at me as if I'm someone who's compelled to follow her words.
I just smiled at her, I don't want her to expect that I'll do what she says, but I also want to help her, I'm not just sure how as of the moment.
While Aiven asks more questions just to be sure that Princess Tellusia wasn't lying about the incident with the ex-residencia, Prince Marin suddenly asked me out of the blue.
"Do you really want to be with Prince Forest, or you're just forced to do be a bride candidate?"
Aiven and Princess Tellusia stopped talking when they heard the question, and they both stared at me, but just like before, Aiven smiled devilishly, ready to tease the hell out of me.
"Oh~" he chuckled, "If you only know how much Amy wants to be with the Prince," he grinned while starting to whisper gossip things to Princess Tellusia and Prince Marin who are now looking as if they're hearing sinful stories with their blushes and an embarrassed expression.
I clicked my tongue and rolled my eyes as I kick Aiven's leg under the table, and that's when he stopped blabbering, but the two kids are staring at me with red faces.
"Forget what he said, it's not true," I cleared my throat as I glare at Aiven. I don't know what he said, but it's better to say that it's not true.
"So, do you love Prince Forest?" Prince Marin asked as he put his chin on his hand.
I looked at Princess Tellusia, I wonder what she's thinking right now. Her wide smile and blushing cheeks tell me that she's rather pleased to hear my answer. But isn't she suppose to like the Prince?
"What about you, Princess Tellusia?" I asked instead of answering, I want to be sure of her feelings before I reveal mine. I don't want to hurt her or anything.
Prince Marin looked at her with a bored look with his chin still leaning on his hand, "Do you like the Prince?" He also asked.
If I didn't know that he likes her, I wouldn't understand that fake bored face he's using now. I know he's dying to find out if he has a chance or not.
"Me?" Princess Tellusia pointed at herself, "No," she said with a straight face, "Why would I?"
Why would she? Well, from what I remember I saw her kissing the Prince before. And based on how clingy she was, she does fancy the Prince.
"But..." I stuttered, "I saw you kissing him."
My voice grew faint from the embarrassment. My words sounded so childish, but I want to know if this kid is lying.
"Kiss?" Prince Marin's voice grew sharp as his brows creased.
Aiven was just watching us with a light smile, as if he's entertained by what he's seeing and hearing, and swear to apples, I want to strangle his soft neck.
"Yeah," Princess Tellusia shyly looks away, but she's trying not to laugh for some reason, but the moment Prince Marin stood up, her face was painted with horror. "Where are you going?" she asked as she pulls the boy's hand.
"I'm going home," Prince Marin coldly pulls his hand away.
And now, I'm with Aiven, smiling like an old woman watching a romantic drama before us.
"I was just fooling around, promise," Princess Tellusia stood up, "I kissed him on his cheek because I want to annoy Amelia. I saw her passing by, that's why I did that."
She looked like she's about to cry any minute now, but Prince Marin still walks towards the door.
"But you were so clingy to him," I added just to spice up the drama.
Now that I know she doesn't like Prince Forest, it relieves my worries that I am competing with a child.
Princess Tellusia threw me a glare, while I can hear Aiven softly chuckling.
"I just wanted to irritate Amy because she's all that he's been talking about, Rin," she exclaimed as she runs in front of the door, stopping Prince Marin on his tracks.
Aiven and I exchange glances, earlier we were just talking about impending doom of the kingdoms, but right now, we're watching as these two young kid's love blossoms.
"Just confess already," Aiven whispered while watching Prince Marin avoid Princess Tellusia's gaze.
Then I thought about Katrina. Did Aiven even have the chance to tell her how he felt? I wonder how he was feeling when he found out that she was engaged with his friend?
If he knew that she'll die early, what would he do?
The realization that anytime, the person you love can vanish like smoke made me think that people need to tell what they're feeling the moment that they found what their emotions mean. It's better to live with the truth that your feeling won't be reciprocated than spend all your life thinking about what could've happened if you said it.
And that pushes me to tell the Prince how much I love him the next time I see him.
"I already told you, I'm only here because my father ordered me to, but I don't want to get married to someone I see as a big brother, " Princess Tellusia pouted while convincing Prince Marin.
I flinched when I heard her words, that means, she doesn't have any intention to get married to Prince Forest at all, and only her father caused her to be a candidate.
I smiled, she's the most intimidating rival I have since Prince Forest is close to her.
Sadly, Prince Marin still left to go back home, but he assured his friend that he's not angry. If only those two just confess at each other.