"Wow." Lillian gasped staring at the flames that came out of his hands. Just like liquid gold, it shimmered and shone like no flame.
"I can't believe this is happening," Sappire said, staring at the flames with Lillian. The flames died down a little every second that passed. "What did you do?"
"Well … I just entered your head. And there was a chest … It was locked and I couldn't open it … it burnt me though. But I couldn't even break it so … I don't understand."
Lillian continuously rubbed her hand to soothe the heat spreading there though the pain disappeared almost instantly when she came back into her body.
"That would explain why it feels like its diminishing. You may have to break it." Sappire said, looking at Lillian as the fire died out.
"But how do I do that? Magic couldn't work in your head. Nor could I touch the chest." Lillian protested, rubbing her hand.
"Let me see your hand," Sappire said, from the tone of his voice, Lillian can tell it wasn't a request.
Reluctantly, Lillian showed her hand to the King, noticing the handkerchief on her arm.
I forgot about that! Please don't notice it.
Sappire took Lillian's hand in his own and inspected it, while Lillian watched. Every time he touched her palm, the burning feeling died down.
"Does it hurt?" He asked, worry laced in his voice.
"No. It just feels like my hand is on fire. Though every time you touch it, the burning cools down. Maybe we should keep holding hands." Lillian joked, but her eyes still held a bit of hope as she looked at him from the corner of her eyes.
"I wonder why this is." He mumbled, not hearing what she said.
Oh well, never mind. Lillian tried to dispel the embarrassment she felt welling up in her.
"As much as I want you to go back and break open the chest, I think it is best we leave it alone for now. Ok?" Sappire said, looking at Lillian in the eyes.
"Whatever you say, Your Majesty," Lillian replied, averting her gaze.
"Ok then. Shall we go back to the meeting room?" Sappire asked, standing up from his seat. "They must be bored by now, waiting for us."
"Yes, your majesty." Lillian thought for a while, a question swirling through her head but she didn't dare to ask him.
"Is there something you need to know?" Sappire asked, standing beside Lillian.
"Yes. Isn't stopping a meeting right in the middle and walking out for a break a bit … something? Won't the courtiers get angry?" Lillian began walking to the door with Sappire, careful of every step she took so that she wouldn't bump into anything.
"Don't worry, they already know how I am like and are most likely used to it. This isn't anything new to them." Sappire said, opening the door for Lillian.
"Thank you." Lillian walked out the door, Sappire following suit. "That doesn't sound like a very good thing, your Majesty."
"I know. I need to start taking my job as the ruler of this kingdom more seriously." Sappire admitted as they made their way back.
"You should. The people respect you, your Majesty. But if you don't pay more attention to them then that respect and reverence they have to you will disappear." Lillian said, remembering all the people she talked to in the town.
"Right. I do like your suggestion from before." Sappire paused, the window overlooking the town beside him as he looked out.
"Suggestion?" Lillian also stopped walking and looked out the window with him.
"Those are my people. They are more important than me." Sappire sighed, "You were right about me being a coward. I let my fears of failure and appearing weak take over me too much that I neglected them. So, let's go with what you proposed."
It's been several chapters since we were in the meeting room, your Majesty. I can't remember what I said.
Seeing Lillian's confused expression, Sappire continued, "We will open the Kingdom for import and export of trade."
"Really?" Lillian gasped, almost jumping with happiness but she managed to control herself. "That's brilliant. I know some people that I can help with that. I also know what we can export!"
"You are very excited about this," Sappire remarked, watching Lillian mumble to herself.
"Of course." Lillian exclaimed, "This kingdom has so many talents, I am so glad they won't get the chance to rot away in the corner of the attic."
"Corner of the attic?"
"It doesn't make sense to me either but it gets the point across. At least their talents aren't going to die with them and be forgotten." Lillian clarified while trying to remember all the names of the people from the town, but her mind went blank
"I will go into town today and tell you their names and what they can do, ok?" Lillian finally said when the names wouldn't come to her. "Who are you going to appoint to be in charge of this?"
Please not Gin or that odd cloaked guy. I don't trust either of them. Especially not the cloaked guy. I need to investigate him a little more.
"Well, I haven't decided yet but we can discuss that with the others. We have to first announce this to them, don't you think so?" He asked, walking again.
"Yeah, we should do that first. I will try to remember all the people in the meantime." Lillian smiled brightly, "I'm really excited for this, your Majesty."
Lucy will be able to get a job and even uncle Garish will be able to share his beautiful loaves of bread with the world. Madam Lesh's skills too. I'll need to look around for more people.
"I'm glad you feel that way, Lillian." Sappire's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. They were in front of the door to the meeting hall already.
"Ready?" He asked, looking at Lillian, hand on the doorknob.
"Yeah," Lillian said, smiling.
"Ok." Sappire pushed open the door and silence filled the meeting hall as Vaille ran to greet them.
"Welcome back." She smiled, holding Lillian's hand in her own. At that moment, Lillian just realized that she didn't feel the burning anymore.
Hmm? When did it stop?
She looked down to her arm and took off the handkerchief around her arm to see the wound healed.
Now, when did this happen?
"Let us commence the meeting again." Sappire declared, walking past Lillian and Vaille to his chair in the table.
Vaille and Lillian followed behind him while the others also took their seat.
Arthur stared suspiciously at Lillian while she had her eyes on the cloaked guy and her body, whose gaze never left her.
The pull got stronger and stronger as soon as she entered the room but she turned away before they made eye-contact so she didn't get pulled in.
But how long is she going to be here? Because Lillian doesn't know how much longer she can hold out.
When she is too far from her body, she feels so painfully empty. But if she is too close, she feels drawn to her and she doesn't know what will happen if she gave in to that desire.
The cloaked man is someone she couldn't trust. Arthur was the most suspicious one but even he looked surprised to see her body so what is really going on here?
Who is on whose side? And who can she trust?
"What did you need to discuss about with the child, your Majesty?" Gin asked as soon as they all took their seats. There was a hint of confusion on his voice though his face didn't show it.
I would feel confused too if the King asked me to keep an eye on someone then take them somewhere the next minute to discuss something important.
The room smelt heavily of snacks but it was clean so, it is very likely they already ate a while ago. Though, the smell wasn't doing anything to help Lillian as she felt her stomach growl.
"Lillian and I were discussions more on her idea and I think it is brilliant."
"What do you mean, your Majesty?" Jarish asked, hands stroking his beard.
"What do you think I mean?" Sappire asked back. "We are going to open the Kingdom for import and export."
Slews of protests filled the room from Gin, Arthur and Jarish. They talked of its impracticality and how difficult it would be to make a relation with another Kingdom without raising some kind of suspicions.
Those are very valid points but Lillian already has a plan, she will just need to find the one to take charge of this to carry it out.
But Lillian couldn't relax because she felt two sets of eyes burning holes into her skull. One from her body and the other from Ray.
Is he really interested or is he just curious of this strange child that appeared out of nowhere? One can never tell with men.
"I understand your worries but I want to be the King this Kingdom deserves and it seems like this is the best way to help the people for now. I have the best courtiers in the kingdom so I request your full cooperation." Sappire said, looking at everyone then his eyes rested on Lillian.
What? No. Please no.
"If the king requests it then there's nothing we can say to it. Who will supervise this?" Ray said, finally pulling his eyes from Lillian.
"Brilliant question, Commander Ray. And I have just the perfect person in mind." Sappire said this, turning back to Lillian.
No. No. No.
"Lillian."
If I jump on my body now, will it take me out of this situation?