He stands there looking at her with emotion swirling through his bottomless orbs, each breath she let out caused him to stare longer, disbelief etched onto his visage.
She turned around and startled, but she didn't fade nor did she turn into dust.
She was there.
Alive and breathing.
A smile stretched on his lips, for the first time since he saw her.
"Ra-"
• • ⊱∘────·☽༓☾·────∘⊰ • •
"Raiene. That's her name," a woman in her thirties whispered while trying to wipe away the dust sticking to her uniform, it will later on become quite a hassle for her to clean it.
The little girl stands up on her tiptoes, eyes staring down the window, wanting a glance of the said girl her aunt had mentioned. The one everyone inside the maid quarter continuously talked about. The cursed one.
"Which one?"
She turns around to find her aunt who was busy sweeping the floor. Feeling helpless, the woman sighed and walked closer, finding the one she wanted to point out, her slender finger pointing to the one she had referred previously.
"That one. The one with the raven hair. The cursed one"
The girl stared at the famous princess. Her eyes are full of curiosity in finding out more about the tragically cursed girl who doesn't even hold the title of princess among all the other King's daughters. Despite bearing the last name of Arrenquile.
She used to think it was because the girl wasn't favored or because her mother comes from a commoner background, but as she listens to the talks that spread like wildfire, she begins to understand.
That girl is cursed.
The said girl turns her head around, feeling a little perturbed by the hidden stares she received.
She was about to raise her head when a pat on her shoulder caused her to turn around, she found an old lady standing beside her with an annoyed look on her face. The gold flower brooch on her chest glistening under the sun, an indicator of higher position among maids inside the palace.
"The Royal Consort has summoned Miss Arrenquile to her chamber."
She didn't even have time to answer the old lady when suddenly she turns around and leaves.
Shaking her head in disbelief, Raiene headed towards the Royal Consort chamber.
Raiene had become used to the bold stares that she received, though most of the time she would return their stares with a glare of her own, though this time she let it slide.
She has been summoned by her mother anyway.
• • ⊱∘────·☽༓☾·────∘⊰ • •
"The Lantern Festival?"
The annual Lantern Festival. An event where numerous creatures gather on the streets, singing one song with sincere and heart wrenching melodies, roads with beaming wonder of lights and an abundant variety of strange beverages and delicacies. Raiene can easily imagine the laughter and sounds of happiness engulfing the city.
Qye Lantern Festival started four years ago, on her eleventh birthday. Her mother had brought her to the beach, part of Arrenquile territory, overlooking Soryen Sea and sat through the night watching the event from across the land, paying attention when each lantern slowly floated across the sky.
Thousands of lights glowing in the night sky alongside the millions of stars, trying to outshine the moon, its brilliance still prevail under the moon and stars. The wondrous sight of lights reflected upon the ocean, the sound of waves and the touch of soft sand underneath her feet had been embedded into her memory, refusing to leave for years.
It became a tradition between Raiene and her mother to sneak off from the palace in the middle of the night. Riding a horse and reaching the shoreline within half an hour, the two of them sitting side by side, witnessing with their own eyes, one lantern to another rising from across the sea when the clock struck midnight, swarming the sky with its magnificent little dots of lights.
Estalle had once explained to her the meaning behind those lights to her daughter, it was the citizen's prayer towards their King's daughter. Stories depicted, the Queen of Suttern had resurrected a creature that was meant to die. Creating an imbalance and disturbance for the fates of the living, now she has to pay the price.
Sentenced to sleep for years.
Raiene had imagined they would go to the beach, once again like the previous year. Staring with wonder, admiring the surge of faith that came from thousands of creatures, feeling the air emanating magical yet painful energy, even from afar.
However, Raiene had to suppress her wish this year, she was aware that her mother's health condition had weakened. Her usual dazzling green eyes had turned dull within these few weeks, lips had become chapped and her appearance looked gaunt within a short period of time.
Raiene couldn't afford to ask Estalle to leave with her. Plus, the Royal Physician had told Estalle numerous times to rest and mind her heart, hearing this had clearly sent Raiene into shock.
Without doubt, she could only swallow back any possibility of witnessing the Festival this year.
But now.
Can Raiene truly trust her ears?
Raiene was taken aback, when Estalle suggested the impossible, she could only stare at her mother, with her mouth hanging open.
"You can go."
"But-"
"Ruby is waiting. You told me last year that you wanted to witness the festival, I have arranged everything. No one would find it suspicious."
Blinking twice. Raiene tried to comprehend the words that were slowly taking over her brain.
Leaving the Palace?
Outside the wall?
Has her mother gone insane?
Has her health taken a toll on her brain?
Is the person in front of her truly her mother?
A soft chuckle released from her before Estalle continued, "It usually takes a day from here to cross the sea. Plus, another half a day to reach Qye. I plead with Ruby to prepare everything. It will only take a few hours to arrive there," Estalle took a deep breath.
She tries to hold back the cough that wants to set free, she doesn't want to look weak in front of her only child and make her worried. Little did she know, Raiene was aware of her wrinkled forehead and the sweat that trickled down, biting her lips, her earlier excitement slowly dissipated.
"-I have talked with Yudril as well. He will stand witness for a week of your absence from the Palace. Everyone will believe if he said that you work for him, right?" Estalle's usual calm green eyes light up, meeting the deep obsidian pool of her daughter's eyes. She had thought it through and it was time.
Raiene bit her lips. Eyes staring down at her fingers, contemplating her mother's plan. It sounded so convincing and well planned.
Yudril lived a mile away from the Palace. He manages a hectare cotton field alone, with his picky and detailed personality, no one could satisfy his demand, one of the reasons why no one dares to step onto his land. Only Raiene and Estalle had free access. Estalle is Yudril's only sister, he obviously has a soft spot for his beloved sister and only niece.
Yudril's cotton field had quite a big impact over the Palace funds, by trading the cotton with goods from the outside world, he could afford to live moderately.
Although not considered rich among other traders, he is still quite known among the villagers and citizens of Arrenquile. If Yudril said that Raiene had stayed for a week inside his cottage helping him tend his field, no one would be suspicious or dare to think otherwise.
One thing though, it is her first time going across the sea. The thought sent an endless feeling of euphoria through her veins, causing her heart to beat erratically, almost suffocating her.
She has gone over the wall and border countless times to meet Ruby, the thought of crossing that wall once again didn't scare her one bit.
However, it is a different matter right now.
Crossing the sea?
Meeting creatures from the outside world?
Experience various new things?
The idea sent a million thoughts and imagination running wild through her mind. Driving her into a state of bewilderment.
"I-"
Raiene was doubtful. She doesn't want to leave her mother alone, locked inside this cruel place called Arrenquile, but she is also aware of her mother's condition. Estalle won't be able to leave with her, the title of Royal Consort had heavily bound her to the palace, like an invisible chain securely tied to her whole body, forcing her to stand still.
Estalle just smiled, aware of her child's worries, eyes locked into her child obsidian orbs, "consider this both Yudril and my birthday gift for you."
Estalle held Raiene's hand tightly, squeezing her hand, feeling the warmth surging through, trying to give her a little bit more courage. Estalle had instructed her, but she also conveyed it was her own decision to take.
Truthfully, Estalle was worried, there are reasons why humans can only live inside a heavily barricaded kingdom called Arrenquile, secured tight and guarded within the walls of the border with high levels of magic and spells by powerful witches, scurrying away any other creatures.
But it is not her first time going against the rules, the King would be furious if he was aware of that fact.
Estalle smiled, trying to hide her anxiety.
Raiene closed her eyes, contemplated the possibilities and risk that would come forth once she decided to take a step outside of Arrenquile. For Raiene, her mother is the most important aspect of her life. She doesn't care about anyone else and her only goal is to make sure that her mother is happy. If that happiness comes from herself, then she will obey her every word and follow her until the end of her life.
Raiene had long perceived one conclusion, life as a normal human is quite easy inside Arrenquile. However, it is a different matter if you were born as a freak.
Apart from the General's only child, no one inside Arrenquile truly wanted to understand her. They saw her as an enemy, out of the ordinary, that should be as far away from them as possible.
Well, she never really cared, if they didn't initiate to get to know her, she would gladly not interfere with their life. She never felt insulted because of her additional abilities, she embraced it, because her mother told her to.
However, if someone decides to insult her mother, she will chase that person and make their life miserable.
Her mind wanders off towards that time, when she was still six years old, playing by herself inside the Royal Garden, talking with a strange creature.
A boy around her age had approached her and announced to the world the reason why she is weird.
"Daughter of a peasant! Low blood! Mother has told me you are weird because your Mother didn't have royalty blood inside her!"
Those words made Raiene furious. That day, the plump cherry cheek boy ran home crying his eyes out, having been punched many times by her tiny fists. On that day she had received her first punishment, locked inside her chamber for three days. No one knew that she proudly smiled upon the starlit skies on that night.
"Hurry now. You don't have much time," Estalle said, breaking her from her thoughts.
Raiene put a wide smile on her face, approached her mother. She held her tightly, inhaled her scent deeply and then let her go.
"I will definitely tell you everything when I return! Every single thing!"
Raiene turned around and continuously waved before disappearing behind the door, her step fastened once the door shut behind her. Monitoring her surroundings, she tiptoed toward the hallway that led to the back of the castle and would bring her to one of the gates with the only path straight to the forest.
The place where she would easily locate her mother's friend's hut. Instinctively, her right finger caressed the ring that resided on her left index finger, The Errian Ring.
Ruby had created one for Raiene, a ring to cover the true scent of the one who wears it, this ring would camouflage her scent with that of another creature, Ruby had previously said the fake scent that surrounded her was that of a fairy.
Only the one who possessed it could see and touch the ring. If taken off, it would turn crystal clear and show its true form under everyone's eyes. Ruby had also reminded Raiene that it's only effective for six months and she needs to deliver it before it runs out of power, so Ruby can extend the effectiveness of the Ring.
Taking a deep breath, her erratic heartbeat is the only sound she is able to distinguish. Her hand had reached the wooden door gate and was just about to open it, when an irritated sound of disapproval stopped her midway.
"Raiene Arrenquile."