I gently drew my eyes open. I took a glance out the window. Isn't it late in the evening?
What the hell happened to me? All of the happenings at the restaurant suddenly rushed through my mind like a liquid.
I wanted to scream and weep, but there were no tears in my eyes. I couldn't find the proper feelings to feel as my heart was empty.
"Fana. You're awake."
I fixed my gaze on my brother. He fell asleep next to me. I couldn't tell if his eyes were weary or if he didn't have any emotion at all. Is he always like this? His eyes were constantly smiling the last time I saw him. Hah Fana! Stupid. Who would be overjoyed by the news? Who would be delighted if your beloved father and sister were murdered?
I refuse to believe it.
I cannot accept it.
Two people who are very dear to my heart have suddenly disappeared?
I simply looked at my brother's sorrowful expression.
Nothing came out of my mouth. I was at a loss for words. I'm at a loss for words to soothe him. I, too, was in need of consolation. This is really difficult for us.
My gloomy chamber was dominated by silence. Only the breeze from the window can be felt inside.
"Please accept my apologies. I really shouldn't have told you that. I should have asked you how you were doing in this Kingdom first." His voice has a melancholy tone to it. His eyes welled up with tears.
"That was such a reckless move on my part. Please accept my apologies," he added.
I kept my mouth closed. It's still difficult to believe. We both know how much we adored our father and sister. We both knew how much we admired and loved them.
Things began to get more tough. I've had a lot of questions on my mind.
What went wrong?
When did it happen?
Why would they do that? Who is the suspect? How's our mother?
But, even with the questions on my mind, I can't seem to find the words to say them.
"Herano." He locked his attention on me right away. I gently stroked his face with my hands.
"What should we do?" I was hoping he'd respond. I was hoping he had some measures in place since this incident cannot be forgotten and disregarded.
He did nothing except sigh. It's clear that he's worn out. I stopped asking him questions. We need to take a break and come up with a strategy. But that isn't the case right now. We're still in the process of internalizing and digesting what we've received.
This is really difficult.
"We'll discuss it in the morning tomorrow." I gave a nod. I shifted my attention to the window. The moon is breathtakingly gorgeous. I had a flashback of our Mother. She is enamored with the moon. I'm curious as to how she's doing. If things are difficult for us, they must have been far more difficult for her. She had recently lost both her lovely child and her loving, faithful husband.
Herano stood up.
"Fana, eat first." He then spoke. Then the door closed behind me.
I only stared at the food. I guess I have no appetite this evening.
***
It was fairly early in the morning, and we were seated at the breakfast table. I didn't get enough sleep the night before, so I awoke early.
I assumed it was just the two of us, but...
"Correll, why are you here?" I was curious. He isn't a member of our family.
"What? "This is where I'm eating breakfast." I gave him a disapproving look. My brow furrowed.
"I guess the maids and cooks at the royal palace don't serve their prince very well," I grumbled. I can see he was irritated. Isn't it supposed to be me that gets irritated?
"Come on, come on. I'm having my breakfast right now. Just calm, please. Besides, I was invited by your brother," he said nonchalantly.
I turned my focus to my brother, who was calmly eating his meal. I gave him a perplexed expression.
Now that I think about it, how did these two met? This is something I only now realized.
"How did you two meet?" "How come you act as though you knew each other so well?" I inquired. Before responding, my brother wiped his lips with a table napkin.
"It's not a ruse, Fana. We are acquainted."
"How?" Only that word comes out of my mouth. Correll already responded to me before he could.
"Well, before you arrived here at Havania, I already met your brother. Well, that time I still didn't even know you two were siblings. I even thought he's an only child not until he sent me a letter at my office and that's when I knew everything" he explained.
"So, you two are friends?"
"NO!" They both yelled. Huh?
"Huh? "What exactly do you mean by NO?" Now I'm confused.
"Well, we don't consider ourselves friends. Not even in a least. Anyway, it's a long story, should we really talk about it?" My brother is now irritated. When I looked at Correll, he just smirked.
What's wrong with these two?
Perhaps they're rivals? But, well, I don't care how they knew each other. My brother and I traveled to other Kingdoms five years ago. We didn't have the same destination, but our objective was to visit all around the world's continents. I traveled first to the Genova Kingdom, while he came first to the Havania Kingdom. We departed just before Vanaya was ready to marry the royal prince. It was the three of us' desire to travel together, but Vanaya was chosen to be the next empress. She spent her adolescence learning and perfecting herself to be the perfect empress. She bequeathed her dreams to us.
"So, let's speak about it," Herano said, taking the lead in the discussion. Now that I'm intrigued, I've turned my attention to him.
"The incident occurred six months ago. And, because there are no magical associations in the other continents except Rivania, no one has ever come to contact me or Fana using any sort of magic messenger that is frequently utilized in the people of the Rivania Empire where messages may be received in a short period of time. Mother was unable to reach us Fana because we were on separate continents. I returned to the Rivania empire two months ago, and that's when I learned about the tragedy. Mother was inconsolable and fragile. She wishes to seek justice. I conducted my own investigation and uncovered something.
(AN: Yorn is the typical messenger type used in Havania or other kingdoms where communications might take 2-6 months to arrive. It takes two months to get to Havania and six months to travel to other kingdoms. Rivania uses the magic messenger, but because the Empire is the only one with magical or mana skills, it is difficult for them to utilize it to convey messages to other kingdoms. As a result, they'll have to remain with the standard messenger type. Traveling to Havania from Rivania will take two months, either by road or by ship.
"What exactly is it, brother?" I inquired. Correll and I were both looking extremely serious right now. Is it really 6 months? Now that I think about it, I'm beginning to regret why I travelled. If only we had been there, perhaps things would not have turned out this way.
"The Kravis family has a stake in this." Ha.
When it comes to business, they pose a significant danger to us. For a long time, they have been our rivals. They aim to seize all we possess, including our positions, influence, and businesses. They were constantly eager to compete, but they never succeeded.
"How?"
"Duke Kravis and Father had a disagreement in the empire's senate council. The emperor preferred our father's idea to Duke Kravis'. Our enterprises grew rapidly, whereas Kravis's businesses began to fail. Their employees began to give up and work at our establishments. Things heated up even further when it was announced that Vanaya, would be the crown princess. Kravis wishes for her daughter Herlaya to be the empress. Vanaya was already being trailed by several bandits when she entered our mansion, I believe. Vanaya was scheduled to return to the royal palace at midnight. She was led by father, and they were assaulted and ambushed in the middle of the road."
Vanaya. Father.
"How did the Duke become involved? Do you have any proof?" Correll questioned.
Brother displayed a silver button with a crow carved onto it. Crows . That is the House of Kravis's symbol!
"I went to the location of the incident. This was in the center of the road when I saw it. No one would walk in there since everyone takes a different route while going to the Kravis mansion."
"This is still insufficient," I responded.
"I know. That is why I require your presence. Fana, I need you. We need to know if the crown prince is involved as well. Other suspicious alternatives must be considered.
"Why the crown prince as well?" Correll inquired.
"I've heard rumors that Herlaya and the crown prince are in a relationship. But I'm not sure if it's true. Three months following Vanaya's incident, it was declared that Herlaya would be the crown princess. Duke Kravis's reputation has returned because father is no longer alive. He believes that his single adversary is no longer present, and that he can reclaim the number one position and the emperor's trust." Herano added.
"Mother became depressed that she was unable to handle all of our business. Our businesses are going bankrupt one by one. Because I am the eldest , I have already accepted the position. I took care of everything and worked in silence. I don't want Duke Kravis to find out. I instructed our servants not to advertise my presence. I'll be working in the shadows. That's why I want and need you to be there, Fana. I can't do it on my own. I need someone to assist me, and I trust you with all of your strengths and skills." My brother was clearly weary, but he was trying to be strong. For the sake of our family. For our cherished mum.
"And since Correll is going to marry Atha...cias, I need him to investigate inside the palace. That is why I requested him to assist us." He went on to say.
I get it. Now I realize what was going on. Everything now is very apparent to me.
I can see why they didn't like each other. Athacias.
"We need to catch them off guard and surprise them. "We won't disclose our coming till the royal ball," Herano planned.
"We will gather additional evidence to throw off the duke and his family" Herano continued.
"Will you assist us, Correll?" My brother asked.
Correll remarked with a grin
"Now, that's interesting."
"If they believe they have already won, they are mistaken. I have you Fana."