Siv climbs the last steps to reach the roof. She is welcomed by a moon so big and bright, it seems within reach. She wraps her shawl closely around her to keep warm, the fall nights have become a bit chilly. Then, she leans on the parapet and admires the moon.
It is almost a full moon, it will probably be in one or two nights. The silver light is enveloping everything and giving it all a mystical look.
She sighs.
"Some Vodka would be nice right about now." She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "Does it really have to be this complicated?" she asks the sky.
'How is it destiny if it doesn't happen?'
She puts her head on her forearms and lets her tears free. She had hoped that coming up here for some fresh air would help with the tightness in her chest. She used to do it back home every time she needed to be alone or think about something. It usually works, but not tonight.
Siv cries in silence at first, but it is not enough. Soon she starts howling, not even caring if someone hears her. It takes her about an hour to calm down.
"Have you finished?" Colby's question startles her.
"What are you doing here?" she asks, trying miserably to make her face look presentable, "I wasn't trying to jump, if that's what you were worried about." Colby chuckles.
"Here." He hands her a handkerchief that she takes without meeting his eyes. "Although, your suicide attempt gave you a reputation—"
"I wasn't trying to commit suicide," she interrupts, "I knew you would come." He shakes his head. "So why are you here?" She looks at him with swollen eyes and a red nose and cheeks.
"Well, if someone could stop channeling sad feelings, maybe I could concentrate on my work."
"I thought your work was to be my sorcerer and protect and guide me."
"I still have a life, you know." Siv narrows her eyes at him.
"Well, I am done being sad, you can go back now." She turns to face the moon again, a little annoyed that he didn't even try to console her.
Colby leans forward on the wall next to Siv. They just stand there silently for a while.
"Am I inside a game, Colby?" Siv asks, barely audible.
"A game? What do you mean? How can you be inside a game?"
"Well, where I am from—" He stares at her with expectant eyes.
'How the hell do I explain to him? I'd probably have to give him a whole lecture on the history of technology.'
"Let's just say that I know what's going to happen because the events were in a game I used to play."
"Ah, I see what you mean."
"You do?" Siv is surprised that what she just said made any sense to him.
'Maybe I should have been a teacher.'
"Yes. Every queen has something similar," he explains, "for example, the prophecies were told to Queen Ylva through a book she read."
"Well, according to the prophecy that was shown to me, I will be executed for treason." Siv cocks her head to look at him sideways.
"As I said, Lady Siv, these are predictions, possibilities if you may. They don't all come true, you have the power to change them." He turns to face her. "The only fate that will not change is that you are the future queen of Pyama."
"Oh please," Siv sneers, "Then why did the prince decide to use the Traditional Vying?"
"He did?" Colby's widened eyes convey his shock.
"How do you explain that, Mister Destiny?" Siv's question is dripping with sarcasm.
"Someone is intervening, my lady." She rolls her eyes.
'No shit.'
"Can't you just use magic to find out who cursed Brandt?"
"I am afraid that is not how it works, my lady."
Siv sighs.
"The king said that his mother and his grandmother became queens through the competition. Were they also from other worlds?"
"Of course, every queen is," he answers, then a thought flashes through his mind. "Was His Majesty the one to tell you about the Vying?"
"Yes." He grabs both of her arms, excited.
"What else did he say?"
"I don't know… Honestly, I couldn't hear anything after he told me about the competition." Siv tries to remember. "Oh, he said that he supports me and that he will be rooting for me." Colby beams.
'Ok, that's creepy.'
"That's extraordinary." He shakes her lightly. "Do you have any idea what this means?" She shakes her head. "Do you know what it means for the king to root for one of the candidates? He wants you to win, my lady."
"I wouldn't be that sure—"
"Basically, that means he will help you win," Colby ignores her, "I think that is a great advantage." Siv takes a moment to think about it.
'He is right. Having the king support me is a huge advantage. For the very least, it would buy me time until Brandt regains his memories.'
"Do you think…" she hesitates, "do you think that there is a chance for Brandt to remember me?" Colby leans his back on the wall and gazes at the stars for a moment.
"I am not going to lie, the investigation is very slow. The servant who gave you the drinks is nowhere to be found." He sighs. "We can't undo a curse unless we know who casted it. We can't find out who did it since the poison had disappeared before we could take a sample."
With every word, Siv seems to lose every bit of hope she has been holding onto. Colby notices when he feels her pain.
"But don't worry, the Grand Mage himself is working on this. I am also helping so we will find the culprit and cure the prince soon." Siv doesn't look like she believes it. "How about this? I promise you to do my very best to cure His Highness, if you promise me to do your best in the Vying. You have to win, my lady. This nation's future depends on it."
'That's a bit extreme. There is no reason for anybody to need me, really.'
"Let's shake on it." Siv extends her right hand.
"Shake on it?"
"Yes, to make our deal official. So that you keep your promise, and I keep mine." Colby slides his hand into Siv's palm.
"Let's shake on it," he repeats her words awkwardly which makes Siv laugh, but only for a brief moment.
'I really hope I can keep this promise.'
*********
If you are NOT reading this on webnovel.com, then you are reading a pirated version.
Please support the story by reading my original work:
www.webnovel.com/book/15951728406623905