A sigh escaped Gavin's lips as he glanced down and noticed Carrie deep frowning while holding onto Gavin's neck. Slowly, Gavin was reminded of what the waiter had uttered. Fate Stealer... Witches... Were they really evil as others said? Princess Carrie knew a lot about them. Ever since they were kids, he had seen her numerous times, reading books about witches in secret. If he asked her about them, would she answer him?
"Hmm..." Princess Carrie's frowns became even deeper, almost as if she was having a nightmare.
Gavin carried her silently as they reached Carrie's room. Carefully, Gavin laid her down on the bed. Noticing the frown in between her brows was still there, Gavin reached out a finger and touched the center, trying to massage her frowns away.
"Here I thought you knew how to hold your drink," Gavin muttered as he watched her sleep, the frown slowly replaced by a peaceful sleeping face.
Satisfied, Gavin retracted his hand and turned around. He was about to head to the door when he felt a hand grabbing his own. When he glanced down, he realized it was Carrie.
"Gavin..." Carrie whispered, though her eyes were still shut close. "Don't leave me alone, Gavin..."
Gavin didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Taking in and letting out a deep breath, he turned around and sat on the chair next to Carrie's bed. He promptly pulled the blanket up and covered Princess Carrie. "You're too spoiled, Princess."
Holding Carrie's hand and glancing at the small, almost invisible scar at the back of her hand, Gavin slowly caressed it, eyes slowly turning red, mirroring the flames that he had seen in his dreams, specifically of those that burnt a house down to ashes. In his dreams, he had been holding a hand. A hand with a burn from the fire, that burn left a remembrance. It left a mark, a scar.
A scar extremely identical to Princess Carrie's.
"Will you really not tell me?" Gavin asked the sleeping woman before him. He had the feeling that everything he wanted to know, Princess Carrie knew. It was just that it was difficult, almost impossible, to make her talk.
Holding the hand that was holding him back, Gavin let out a sigh. "Until you're ready then... please talk to me."
With that, Gavin stood up and left the room, finding Tamara outside the door.
She was holding a basin and a set of clothes. Gavin smiled at her but before he finally left, he heard her speak.
"Keagan is Princess Carrie's fiancé. Second Prince, I hope you're not forgetting that fact."
Gavin's smile slightly dropped, replying as he did. "I know." His eyes changing into a different color, "And you're also here to make sure of that, aren't you?"
"My family owes Luna Veron the most. It is only right to do what she orders us to," Tamara replied, voice neutral and face expressionless too.
"I hope whatever path you take will also grant you happiness," Gavin said and not wanting to continue further, left the hallway and headed to his own room.
Going directly to the window, Gavin watched the storm outside, water surging into whirlpools. He must absolutely find the cure for his brother immediately. Mr. Lewis said he would need to return with the herbs in less than a month. The current antidote they were using couldn't suffice.
In order to pass the other road, they would need to pass through the mountain. It was where the Moon Oracle was... and that Fate Stealer. The group had seven members, five men and two women. If any of them got hurt in the journey, it would only lengthen the time of collecting the herbs. Therefore, as much as possible, they should avoid any troubles on the road.
The wind became harsher and colder as the Second Prince of the Moon Valley stared at the storm outside, directly ahead, as if memorizing the chaotic world outside and trying to get used to the sight.
The next day, the storm finally subsided, leaving only small traces all over the villages and towns.
"My Lords and Ladies, please come again!" the waiter from the previous night exclaimed with a cheerful smile, especially waving his hand to Princess Carrie.
Almost treating him as a real friend, Carrie gave him a smile back, surprising everyone. "We'll be back."
"I'll bring the most delicious drinks for you, My Lady!" the waiter said.
"You absolutely will not," Gavin uttered as he urged everyone to leave. The sun was still not showing as only a few light passed through the still dark clouds in the sky.
"The waiter said that the storm was over but it might still continue to rain. I guess he's saying the truth then," Keagan mentioned, almost letting out a sneeze. "Does anyone have some extra clothes I can wrap around myself? I feel really cold right now."
Shivering, Keagan moved closer to Princess Carrie. "Can I hold your hand, princess?"
"Why will I let you? Keagan, I see that you're still childish as we were younger. Let me tell you now, I on the other hand is no longer the case," the ever so high and reputable Princess Carrie exclaimed.
As Keagan's eyes began to become teary and droopy, Princess Carrie's face twitched as she then angrily pulled out a white garment and gave it to Keagan. "My goodness, Keagan! Here, you can use it!"
Thinking back on it, it had always been Keagan who acted like a real prince among all students, especially with him acting like a baby that needed care and attention almost all the time, in contrast to Gavin who was more mature and responsible with his actions. Everyone also knew that Princess Carrie, no matter how cold she was with her words, had the kindest heart when it came to actions. And this went to every person she met regardless of their status and identity.
Seeing the interaction between the two, Gavin shook his head, smiling as he turned to the hunters and began to ask for directions.
Soon, with the help of horses, the group reached the foot of the Moon Oracle Mountain with ease despite the moist air. From their current position, they could already see the mountain was surrounded by fog and clouds. It must be said that it was the only mountain that was out of place on the map. In Moon Valley, there were only three remarkable mountains. One was the Moon Oracle in the South that was always surrounded by clouds all seasons and the other two were somewhere far to the North and West. Among the three, Moon Oracle was the highest and most beautiful.
As it was also where the declaration of the new Moon Valley rulers happened.