The woman kept walking back and forth inside a dark room only lit by a single wall lamp mounted by the door. Her shadow was moving with recklessness like something was stirring it, blending completely into the darkness of the night.
Her fingers were on her lips, biting her nails nervously while mumbling incoherent words. Her breathing was ragged and rapid, like someone who had just gotten above from being drowned in the water.
She was pacing, with heavy and unstable footsteps. But not only her step, but her mind is also in chaos as well. She would sometimes fold her arms and hug herself while trying to calm down. But the sound of a single paper fluttering under the unlit candlelight by the wind made her even more nervous.
The night was silent. Only her quick footsteps can be heard inside the room. She kept walking, like a child that lost its path, but when her gaze caught the piece of paper on her nightstand where the ends were ripped and the state was a bit crumpled, she slowed down and felt her body grow colder.
It was a letter from her beloved son.
An announcement.
He and his companions will arrive at the capital in a few days, and he's asking for her permission to bring 'that' person.
No. He can't.
She shook her head like crazy, and heat rose in her eyes. The uncontrollable mana she had emerged outside and caused a rupture in the stillness of the room.
The unlit chandelier on the middle of the ceiling swayed heavily, the surroundings dimmed as the light from the lamp faltered, the unused candlelight that weighed down the paper fell and the letter flew and landed somewhere.
Laina thought, that if she had inherited the mana of the wind elemental magic user like her ancestors, the room she was in would probably become a wreckage from a windstorm. But she was a disappointment. Her mana isn't even on par with a natural magic user.
At most, she can only make the things vibrate and fall.
She wanted to fly. Go somewhere far and be free as the wind.
She recalled the face of her eldest and felt tremendous pain in her heart. She was a cruel mother. No. Being called a mother to that child doesn't even deserve her.
She was trembling, not out of hate and dislike to see her again. But out of fear and heartache. No apology can be given enough to gain her forgiveness. She won't be forgiven.
She wished to not be forgiven.
So, there was no need to meet. No more appearances.
She quickly moved to her desk and grabbed the pen and paper.
She knew her son would ignore her letter even if she refused to meet them. His sending a letter was purely just to inform her, not really asking for her permission.
So, with a trembling hand, she wrote to someone who could help her.
They should let Luna live a life away from them.
* * * *
"You should have told me that Nyx is actually a magic beast." Said Mona as she reached the Grand Duke's side.
Nyx snorted when his distance to Frost got closer, but the white horse only moved its head away from him.
"You should have known he's not normal," Kyden answered with a grin. "Where else did you see a horse who acts like a pup?"
"Yours just too mature and refined." She replied with a pout. She glanced at Nyx trying so hard to gain Frost's attention, and mumbled in a casual tone, "What else can Nyx do?"
"You have to find out for yourself." He reached out and tucked some strands of her hair in her ear. Which automatically made her blush. In her peripheral, she could see the Grand Duke showing a knowing smile.
It annoys her, but she dares not to walk away. She actually doesn't want to.
Thinking that she could also make the man blush, she held his outreached hand and brought it to her cheeks. It was warm and solid. Contrary to his element. Before she knew it, Kyden was leaning toward her already.
"Ehem!"
"My god!"
"How shameless!"
She quickly let go of his hands and made Nyx jogged forward. She could feel her face burning from embarrassment. How could the Grand Duke even think of kissing her, when behind them was the line of his knights on their mount? And what's worst, is that how could she!
How could she walk away instead of grabbing the opportunity?!
Another horse went beside her. It was Sandra who was holding out a fan to her. She raised her brows as a way to ask her what was the folded fan for.
"Cool yourself down, my lady. You're as red as fire."
She rolled her eyes at her exaggerated response but also took the fan.
"Although his grace's magic is cold, he's making you hot instead. Amazing."
"Stop it." She opened the fan and hid half of her face behind. "I am not feeling hot."
"My lady, today's temperature is cold enough for you to sweat like that." Sandra's sarcastic remark earned her a glare from her.
"How come you've become so bold in teasing me, now?"
"I've always been like this, my sweaty lady."
"Sandra...!"
The maid only shrugged her shoulders and quietly looked away.
"Your grace, it's too cold I'm shivering already!"
She heard Pierre shout.
Turning her head back to them, she saw the Grand Duke sending blizzards to them, while everyone was gathered behind her brother, who created a shield of winds that blocked the snow. But the ones who didn't fit in Luven's shield caught all the snow that slipped away.
Pierre is one of them.
"My lord, why am I included? I wasn't the one who called you shameless!" Dien shouted after. He was hugging his horse and burrowing his body on its mane.
"You just did, man," Lucaz commented. He was behind Pierre, with his arm folded and trying not to quiver. It was he who reacted first.
Mona could tell that it was her brother who commented last. But the guy was just sitting pretty on his horse and wiping the moisture on the windshield. While the Ferrer siblings were behind him bickering about something.
She shook her head and stopped Nyx. She waited until those guys got closer to her, and once they did, her body quivered from just the coldness of their party. She wasn't good in the cold. A light snowfall could already make her shiver.
"Stop it, your grace! The madam's trembling!" Pierre shouted again, and she saw Kyden look back at her. He seemed so focused on punishing the men that he did not realize she stopped.
But her mind took notice of his way of addressing her, and once again, her face flushed.
"Why did you come back?" The Grand Duke grimaced and asked her.
"I-I didn't. Y-You caught u-up." She wanted to act cold to save the pitiful knights who seemed to enjoy annoying their master every chance they got, but it turned out that she was really shivering.
Kyden walked up to her, while retracting his snow and dared to give her his cloak. But it was slapped by the wind away, and what landed on her shoulders was Luven's white coat.
The brave marquess just continued on his journey, staying by her side and not straying away, as the rest of the knights. She heard the Grand Duke click his tongue and it made her giggle. These people made her their shield, so there's no way the Grand Duke will create another snowstorm.
"But....why are we even still traveling by land?" Shelly asked suddenly, out of nowhere. She looked at her and asked innocently, "Didn't you make your horse fly yesterday?"
They went silent.
The knights have dumbfounded looks on their faces, while Lionel seems to know the answer by looking away. Luven answered a 'hmph!' and walked away, while Sandra just continued sightseeing while ignoring them.
Mona also felt stupid. She looked over to Kyden and found him averting his gaze.
Then he cleared his throat and answered, "Using a portal now would be a waste, and she still wasn't used to riding Nyx on air." He whirled away quickly and shouted, "Now, stop dawdling, and let us continue!"
Frost ran first, followed by the captain. The knights followed along with her, and Luven reached her side and whispered.
"I can't believe I'd witness the day the Grand Duke would waste time just to flirt. On broad daylight. On the road." He casually walked away after.
Shelly replaced him and mumbled as well, "Me, too."