"Your Highness," Fisher suddenly appears behind Prince Forest, he looked at me and bowed, "Miss, I'm glad you're awake now." He smiled at me then he looked at Prince Forest who's still staring at me with a smile, "Your Highness, another report came."
I saw a pinch of irritation arose from Prince Forest's smile, then he looked behind him, "What is it?" He asked with an annoyed tone.
Fisher sighed and gave Prince Forest a piece burned paper, "We found this in the fire, the owner said they received that before the place started burning."
I wanted to see what was written on the paper, but Prince Forest immediately crumpled it on his hand and stood up.
"Rest well, Amy, I'll find a way to visit you tomorrow," Prince Forest spoke without even looking at me, then he headed to the door.
I looked at Fisher who was staring at me weirdly.
"What was written on the paper?" I asked, but Fisher brushed me off, gave me a smile and vanished into thin air.
He and father have the same style of leaving and appearance, faster than the speed of light, and silent like the night.
But what was in the paper?
Why did it suddenly change Prince Forest's mood in an instant? Was it a threat?
"Miss Amy, please go to sleep," Regin appeared by the door that was left open by Prince Forest, "You need to rest."
I just nodded and covered my face with the blanket as Regin closes the door.
King Sorin definitely wants to conquer the world now, I don't even think he wants to get back the Alpha's power before, he's purely terrorizing all the kingdoms.
I can't believe I'm his niece, among all other people in this world, why the enemy?
I just wish everything will turn back to what it used to be when I first came here. Everyone's just about the bride candidate topic, but now it's all a mess.
The next day, I was able to go out and walk around the mansion with Sia, but my head was wrapped with bandage due to the wound.
Sia was ecstatic about her stories when she came to visit her mother. She really is still a kid. I don't even get why she was a total mean girl when I first met her, I was sure she's not only teasing me that time. She wanted me to hate her. I guess it's because she's still my rival in this competition. But now that I know that she also has a faint adoration for Marin, I know where she'll stand.
"And then she gave me a shawl she knitted herself, it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. When I first touched it, I fell in love with the softness and warmth of it," Sia sighed happily while remembering the gift her mother gave her.
"What about you, Amelia? What's the most memorable thing your mother gave you?" She asked with a wide smile.
She intertwined our arms as we walk around the garden. The dried withered plants still look alive even though it's suffering with the season.
"I didn't receive any gift from her," I nonchalantly said, it doesn't bother me that she didn't give me any present, but the thought that they left me alone pains my mind.
Sia grew silent as her smile vanishes, then she cleared her throat and looked away, "Well, my mother used to say, gifts aren't always material," she said with a voice that tells me she's too embarrassed with what she asked me.
"I know," I whispered.
Well, now that I found out who I am and who my parents are, at least I am happy that I now know that I belong in this world. I am not just some human.
I lived as a human, and it will always be who I am. But I am also one with this world. My blood contains power, and my name has a history.
We had tea after our chit-chats, then Aiven arrived with the kids.
Sia was rather surprised with how close I am with candaenians, she said they're not friendly with people they don't like. And she was certainly one of them.
The kids run up to me and jumped on my lap. Janette was the first one to hug me, followed by Cassidy who pushed Nevic away, while Ordelline was just busy taking the snacks that she saw with the tea on the table.
But they all paused when Sia cleared her throat, not amused with the disrespect she's getting from the children.
Aiven was not far from us and the moment he saw Sia, he cleared his throat and the kids immediately lined up and bowed to greet the Princess.
"How rude, you all rushed to greet Amelia, but you just ignored me," Sia pouted and looked away with her arms folded.
"I deeply apologize for my sibling's disrespectful behavior, Princess Tellusia," Aiven bowed, "This won't happen again."
I saw Nevic sticking his tongue out at Sia while the others weren't looking.
"I met your parents yesterday when I went back home, they said they'll go back on the last week of the month to watch our final trial," Sia took a sip of her rose tea and threw the kids a glance.
The triplets were all around me, wanting to sit on my lap, while Nevic was just leaning on me while staring at my head, curious about what happened to have it bandaged.
"Amy, I'll go back to the mansion. I'll leave you with the dogs," Princess Tellusia glared at Nevic, then she sticks out her tongue and left.
"Mama like her more than me," Nevic whined while pulling my sleeve.
My forehead creased then I looked at Aiven who sighed and sat down, "She visited our home before, Nevic was about three at that time, and he got jealous with the attention our mother gave to the Princess and now he hates her forever."
Ordelline pulled herself up on Aiven's lap to take a better view of the other snacks. Her little fingers picked up marshmallows coated with chocolate and munched it while her cheeks bulge.
Cassidy was teasing Nevic about his childishness while they stand beside me, and Janette, who is sitting on my lap, was happily swaying her short chubby legs while humming a song.
Ah, I miss these kids - their noises, their voices, their fights, and their cute smiles. I'm jealous that Aiven has these cute ones with him every day.
"Is your head still aching?" Aiven asks as Lulu prepares him a tea.
"Yeah, a little. Oh," I suddenly remembered that I wanted to tell him what my father said, but Regin and the others are with us, that's why I cleared my throat and changed what I wanted to say, "How did I win, by the way? I got two boars before I hit my head."
I forgot to ask yesterday since everyone keeps on talking, and I even forgot that there was a trial that definitely happened. Prince Arias was about to get to that part when the others came, and he has to stop talking to give them space.
Aiven shrugged, "I don't know. I wasn't listening."
I raised my brow at him. Aiven, a village captain, not listening? That's impossible. What happened to him that night? Was he busy doing something? If I remembered clearly, he was with us that time Prince Forest... oh, was that the reason?
He saw how Avean was tortured and killed, did that perhaps brought back some dark past? I know he's not yet fully recovered of what happened to Kristina and what Prince Forest did. Maybe it did bothered him too much.
I just forced a smile at him, I don't want to press on with the question if that will give him discomfort.
"Where's Prince Arias, did he left yesterday back to the Echo Kingdom?" I asked as I finished my mint tea.
"Yes," Aiven nodded as he holds Ordelline as she slips down, "He said he'll be back tomorrow. He said he'll work with us when Prince Forest finally knows about your ide-- ouch," he whimpered when I kicked his leg.
He forgot Regin's with us, as well the maids, if they hear what he was about to say, everything will be known.
Regin creased his brow with what I did, I guess he wasn't listening to us since he was staring at Aiven's leg and not to me.
"What were you saying?" I asked with wide eyes as I stare at him.
Ordelline chuckled with my expression, "You look scary," she said and proceeded to munch a cookie.
I sighed and I looked at Nevic and Cassidy who were staring at a bug on a branch.
"They don't have any studies today?"
"No, the tutor got too tired for the past days and he asked for a break."
Nevic tried to take the bug, but Cassidy slapped his hand. I can't help but smile with what they're doing.
"Are you not busy?"
Aiven grew silent. I looked at him, but his face grew pale. He put Ordelline down and tilted his head for me to follow him.
"Wait here," I told Regin and the maids, "Look after the kids for a while."
Regin just stared at me, but I know he's eager to follow and listen to what I will talk about with Aiven. Yet, he stayed at his spot and just watched as I put Janette on the seat.
"Nobody knows about this, except for those who were with the Prince yesterday," Aiven whispered as he walks away with me following behind. "We found a paper that was half burnt, but we can still decipher what was written."
He stopped when we were far enough, I looked back, and I saw the maids running after Cassidy and Nevic who were chasing the bug that they were staring at earlier.
"What was in the letter?" I asked.
It was the same one that Prince Forest read last night, right? It affected his mood drastically, and Fisher was even staring at me weirdly.
Aiven sighed, then he stared at me with a serious expression and said, "They want to take you. 'Give us Amelia Snow,' it says."
The wind grew even colder as chills run down my spine. They know me, and they're looking for me. Do they know who I am?
Is it King Sorin?
Does father know about it?
I just stared at Aiven while thousands of thoughts came to me, which made my head hurt even more.
Oh, god, I wish I know what King Sorin's plans are.