The day arrived when I had to go to the imperial castle. Dressed in my best attire, I wore a black and white gown. It was off-shoulder from one side while black full-sleeved coming till my wrist on the other hand. A chiffon white skirt was attached from the blouse of the same material with a satin ribbon. The shoulder area had leather pads attached with silver chains, the dress covered up to my neck with silver chains and a soft silk collar giving it a formal appeal. I wore high heels since I was quite short however not too high that I might slip on the marble tiles. My short white hair that came till my shoulders were brushed till it shone like silver and was carefully braided from one side.
"Try wearing these pearl earrings," Cronus said as he picked up the smallest earring from the jewelry box. They were pure white studs that would match well with my dress.
"Yeah, thanks," I said while trying to carefully wear those small pearls, they were too small and seemed to slip from my sweaty hands.
"Struggling ?"
"No…it is fine." I said while still trying to put the stud in my ears. Sweat trickled from my forehead as I became completely engrossed in the failed attempts.
"Leave it…your makeup will be ruined if you will sweat so much. Let me do it ."
"Huh?...ok.." I said unsure how to answer.
I dropped the earrings in his gloved hands.
"Are you nervous ?" He said as he worked on my ears. Hot breath touched my skin from every word he spoke, sending a weird sensation down my spine.
"Hey! Don't speak near my ear ." I blushed and pushed his hands aside.
"Sorry…."
"I am not nervous since you will be there with me. Also, the king and the advisor are humans so if I forget anything you just tell me from behind."
"That can be done …I am afraid that you might feel sad when talking with them, you are a nervous wreck already and when you speak under pressure you tend to stammer."
"How do you know this ?" I asked. I never told him that I had a problem interacting with people.
"Your father told me about it and asked me to help you if you feel nervous ."
"Ahh…so he told you about my past," I asked. I let out a bitter smile on remembering the things that still cannot let go.
"He did not but I know…I am the keeper of time after all."
"It still haunts me…I was five when I was subjected to bullying in a noble school. Sixteen when I was first married to Stephen, a crowned duke, and then eighteen when that bastar-I mean John became my husband. I am called a black widow in the noble circle that is why I stopped attending functions altogether."
"I am sorry to ask but it so bad that it made you traumatized of any interaction?"
"When a five-year-old child is crying her heart out due to the problems at her home, people at first would ask her…after some time they would feel annoyed at the constant tears and then they would ignore her. No matter how much you stretch your hand out they would never hold it back or worse…they tend to exploit your vulnerability. Exploited out of your money and forced to submit to cruel things in the name of friendship. That time I saw two monsters…one was the children and others were the adults . When I married Stephen he was a kind sickly man who quickly passed away one day in his sleep . His family sent me back because they thought I killed him . As for John...I still do not think I did anything wrong however the society became quite ruthless for me and this made me so much of an introvert that I started having anxiety since my social interaction became minimal. "
"Things will change…you will change and become the better version of yourself . You are already doing so ." Cronus smiled softly .
"Hmmm…everything is changing slowly."
-----
Reaching towards the gate where the carriage was parked Elizabeth dashed towards me.
"Where are you going ?" she said .
Elizabeth certainly looked better than when I first met her . Her sunken cheeks were now a little puffed up with a healthy tint on them . She still looked underweight and a little weak however the shine in her crimson eyes and raven hair which were tied in small pigtails were back . It was most probably due to the daily amount of aether Cronus made her take .
"I am going to the palace." I said as I went inside the carriage .
"Ronald?..." she worriedly asked .
"He died during the raid. You don't need to be afraid of him coming back now ." I said triumphantly.
"No…I know…but…."
"What is it ?" Cronus asked this time .
"I want to see his grave…take me to visit his grave."
Ronald although being a perpetrator of such a heinous crime was buried in the graveyards where criminals on death row were buried. This was one of the things I did not get to experience…my body was left hanging from the rope , rotting in the sun and offered as a feast to the scavengers.
Declan really hated me in my past life .
"Fine…I will take you . Come inside the carriage although you might have to wait till I am done." I said .
"Yes !!"
Elizabeth jumped inside the carriage and seated herself near Cronus on the other row of seats.
Throughout the journey I could see the sparkling eyes of Elizabeth as she excitedly saw the city from the glass window. Cronus seated beside her , gently telling her about things she saw for the first time with a smile on his face .
'They look like a family.' I thought .
**
The carriage stopped at the palace gates and I climbed down with Cronus' assistance. It was quite shocking , I thought that I would feel anxious and angry upon seeing the palace , Declan and the King for the matter . However right now I only felt calm and happy . Maybe it was because of the gentle hands of Elizabeth as she pressed mine and wished me luck or maybe Cronus who whispered that he was always there for me . Whatever it was somehow I felt confident…so confident that I held my back straight and took long strides towards Arthur's office . It was a new feeling and truthfully very addicting .
I passed the magnificent galleries and reached in front of the huge wooden door which was opened by the two guards present outside .
"Good morning Lady Bellhouse." King Arthur smiled .
"Good morning Your majesty and great advisor." I bowed.
"Morning Lady Aria..." Declan said .