The moonlight shone on the leaves, the rustling of the grass soon whistled as someone passed hurriedly on the tall grasses, breathing heavily. A girl running barefooted in the woods. Fresh small cuts are showing on her white skin— her foot bleeds a lot from the sharp stones on the soil as she walked through it, not minding the pain she feels.
Again, she heard the loud voice saying she should come back, she stumbled as her white-hair cascaded on the ground, flowing like riverflow. She groaned as she tried to stand up but failed to do so as she felt a short pain in her ankle. She bit her lip to suppress her groan.
Tears flow down in her cheeks and force herself to stood up. She panted while dragging her feet on the ground.
Then suddenly, the tall grass behind her parted, a small wicked grin formed in his lips as he watched the girl tremble at the sight of him.
"ah... there you are. I thought I had lost you," She let a shriek when she felt the cold, rough hands touch her arms and forcely pulled her.
His eyes suddenly shot bright red, she can she her reflection from it. The woman stared at it, trembling how she realized that his eyes told her she would be dead any moment now.
"Now, why don't we go back to the mansion?" she gritted her teeth when something growled behind the bushes. Its azure eyes are ferociously looking at her.
Suddenly it came out, its fur shone brightly under the moonlight. The girl was mesmerized by the color of its fur that she forgot about the man in front of her. She felt safe on the beast in front of her than the man who chased her.
Then suddenly, she felt the grip of the man tighten. She let out a yelp, the wolf's gaze suddenly turned to the man. He growled as it pounced on it. Throwing the girl far off of him.
Her heart pounds while she watches the wolf chomp its limbs—suddenly the wolf turned to her with blood dripping off its jaws. Its teeth showing as he slowly circled around her, but she didn't fear the wolf and what she felt was...
"Ha... ahh... ha.." sweats formed on her forehead as she looked around. Certainly, she is still in the carriage with her mother who has fallen asleep.
as her heart pounds, the carriage stops making her mother move and open her eyes. Surely it was a weird dream and the girl in Wren's dream somehow looks like her but in adult form.
"Are you okay Wren?" The duchess asked with her hands wiping the sweats. There was a knock from the carriage door followed by the knight's voice, "Your grace, we have arrived"
Wren heard it making her head clear. The duchess sighs in relief, opening the door as she gets down along Wren. In front of them was Sir Bright with the two princes.
"Carina of Vacarella greets the Imperial Highnesses"
After the short greeting they led the duchess to the concubine palace. While on their way, Zairon couldn't help to notice Wren's pale complexion. Asterion who saw the worry in his face suddenly coughs and hastens the pace, leaving Zairon in his baffled state.
"Are they in such a hurry?" Wren asked with a frown in her face. She then realized that her surroundings are quiet due to the fact that Boaife and Cervi aren't with her. Boaife is out for a stroll and Cervi, she decided to leave him with the reason that Zairon may try to pick a fight with him.
Of course, this made Zairon happy seeing the knight isn't with her today. He felt a sense of relief with the thought that no one would disrupt them. However, he didn't know what to say to Wren since they saw each other after two years.
"How is the third concubine, your highness?" Wren asked while they were behind the Duchess.
The duchess however knows what Prince Asterion up to. He is openly showing the duchess his antics and she just let them be, after all, her daughter is oblivious about the prince.
"My mother... is still bedridden," Zairon answered in a downcast tone, "Don't worry, your highness. I'm sure your mother is going to be well," she said with a smile on her face.
'she should be well or else you will be twisted in the future'
her face is saying it behind the smile she plastered which Zairon has no clue about. Her life is at stake, but the prince is thinking has read her smile in deeper meaning.
'she's worried about me!'
At that thought he became flush red and looks down while walking stiffly. The Duchess saw everything and was not happy.
She froze with the realization. Asterion who observes them suddenly grinned. This was the first time the duchess saw the change of Zairon as such, it surprised her.
Though Wren doesn't mind them as her mind drifts to her dream earlier.
---------------------------------------------------
That dream was vivid. I could feel my heart still pounding loudly. It was the first time I dreamt something like it and seeing the man try to pull the woman with his greedy eyes... I can't seem to calm myself down.
Especially when she looks at me and I thought I saw myself!
"She lost weight," Mom said as she caress the concubine sleeping face.
Bones are sticking out in her collarbone and cheekbones, her complexion is making her like a dead body.
"..." mother fell silent as she laid her palms on her chest
Mother's eyes glowed as well as there are tiny yellow orbs circling around her and the concubine. The concubine's eyes shot open as she stared at the ceiling.
"mom..." Zairon called her mother softly. Understandable, I pushed him towards his mother and left, but suddenly he grips my hands making me root at my place.
"Oh my, this..." mother stopped in the middle and stopped using magic. She sighs and looks at us then to Sir Bright who has an unexplainable look.
something serious happened for her to have that kind of look and if I have to guess, it is related to the concubine.
"I will talk to the emperor for a moment. Stay with the lady," Prince Asterion's eyes followed my mother and Sir Bright as they left the room.
"Leave," Prince Asterion said in the room where the maids look at each other before leaving the room.
as they were leaving, a soft and weak voice called out Zairon
"Mom, are you okay?" he looks like her mom except for the hair and eye color. This must be the reason why he was thought of as an illegitimate child by some.
"Yes... oh," it looks like she noticed me as she suddenly leaned in Zairon and whispered which made him flush red. I wonder what they... oh wait, Aunt Patrice said that it is important to introduce yourself. I hold the hem of my dress, slightly raising and curtsied.
"Wren Vacarella, eldest daughter of Duke Vacarella," she gasps and then looks at Zairon who suddenly shouted, "It is not what you are thinking mom!"
both prince Asterion and the concubine laugh at how Zairon looks. I do not understand what is happening right now. The concubine finally stopped laughing, her gaze softened and she said, "Agatha Romanoff. Thank you for taking care of my son even though he's likely to cause to trouble,"
???
What does she mean like that? Zairon causing trouble? Isn't that after she died that trouble will come to me.
"Don't think of it Wren. Lady Agatha has many pet names for my adorable brother,"
a-adorable... did he mean Zairon?
"OHHH... yes, what do you think of my brother?" he acts like he wasn't there when I answered the Emperor to ask that question once again.
Does he think that my answer will change after two years?
"You can choose not to answer it, Wren," Zairon said to me while hiding me behind him. He doesn't want to hear me say that I think of his friend, i think. That's how much he hates me it seems.
"Why Zairon? I just want to hear how the young lady sees you,"
should I say that I'm still terrified with this guy? Meanwhile, her mother is smiling at us. She does wants to hear my answer then. Even if Zairon might get angry later I still should answer her.
"A friend,"
"Friend whom you had feelings for?"
"Your highness I would appreciate it if you won't add any assumptions. Besides, I truly think of him as my friend,"
Asterion laughs while Lady Agatha faintly smiles. They finally drop the topic as the mother and son have time to talk. According to Prince Asterion, Lady Agatha has been asleep for weeks and has no energy to spend time with Zairon.
"Thank you, we did not think of contacting the saintess. The emperor doesn't want to tell this to the committee," he still doesn't want to tell me why although I know it. It seems that this prince has high walls despite how he acts.
"this might be temporary though," he mumbled and has a serious face. Come to think of it. Earlier he looked at mom and Sir Bright. He must have notice it then.
he really has keen senses.
"Your high... umph" my question was cut off as he covered my mouth with his hands, saying, "Now, now, call me brother since you are going to marry my adorable brother."
I shivered with that thought then someone yelled from behind as his face once again flushed, probably from anger.
"Idiot! Who will marry who?!" see? he hates me that much, "Zairon you shouldn't shout like that when there's a lady. You should honestly say that you like the young lady~"
I didn't know that Lady Agatha has this side of hers that I wonder where does Zairon take after. It is impossible that he took after the Emperor.
"Mom that's not it!!"
I feel bad for this mess so I should clear this up before he explodes in frustration, "Uhm... I do not wish..."
"He really is shy towards,Wren." Prince Asterion purposely interrupted me as he looked at me, ha. This punk seriously wants to annoy me.
"As I said, I do not wish to marry..."
"even the lady is shy," that's it, "Your highness should marry his brother if you keep saying that," he then looks at Zairon who flinched and looked at me with wide eyes.
did I say something I shouldn't?
"You're right. I should just marry my brother." he laughs that made me stare at him in disbelief. This isn't what I meant.
The room is now filled with laughter as both the prince exchange banters to each other. As I stared at them, soft hands touched my hand as she caress it gently, "I always wanted to have a daughter."
This... might turn out in a direction I do not want. She laughed at me and then said, "Zairon is only close to the first Prince. He was aloof to his other siblings," she said, watching fondly her son bicker with Asterion.
"..." even I do not imagine that Zairon is close to his siblings especially that sharp, red glare he always have.
"... It is also because the first prince is the only one who keeps being close to my son that he doesn't feel alone..."
then, she looked at me and smiled, "I hope you continue being friends with him,"
later that day, my mother came back with the emperor and empress. Both visited Lady Agatha. After that we left, but the Emperor said to mother, "Find it at all cost."
inside the carriage I can only feel the exhaustion I had in the palace. My energy depleted as I tried to keep my brain from understanding the prince. In the end, I do not understand anything.
the carriage rock, we were on our way home now. Thanks to some portals developed around we can go home today... hmm.
"Wren did you check the royal library?" I jolted at my seat as I finally remembered the reason why my mother wanted me to come. I... waste time by watching the princes antics.
"I see you forgot it," she chuckled at my reaction and it did not help with the frustration I had. Anyway, there is some other time and by the looks of it, we might visit the palace again in some time.
"master you're back," as soon as we returned home, Cervi greeted us. There must be something as to why he's here.
"The duke has returned..."
"it is not..."
he interrupted me and said something, "Lady Mave also came back with the Duke, but..." my heart pounds as something splits in my head followed by sorrowful sobs and a voice that's familiar with me,
"My... my euphy is dead. Oh, I couldn't save her."