''Do you regret it?'' A voice asked me. I couldn't move an inch or open my eyes. But something inside me told me to be honest. I moved my lips a little and said, '' I regret,''
'' What do you regret most?'' I thought for a while to answer. What do I regret the most? Do I regret falling in love with that disgusting man? I do but it's not the thing I regret the most. Do I regret ignoring my sibling's goodwill? I do but not the most.
'' You don't have any answer?'' That voice again asked me. Then a face started floating in my mind. I felt my chest winching in pain. Ah! I know I regret the most.
'' The thing I regret the most is, for letting him die. He didn't deserve to die like that,''
'' So you know. Child, do you want another chance? Do you want to make things right?'' That voice asked.
'' Who are you?'' I asked.
'' Someone you called desperately your whole life, Follow the path of righteousness this time.''
I felt my body start getting light as if I was floating in the air. What is this? What's going on? I felt something bright shining over me, the warmth similar to the sun.
'' OYYY TIA!'' This familiar voice called my name. The voice which called my name when I was taking my last breath. I felt someone's shadow over me blocking the ray of the sun. I opened my eyes to meet his eyes.
Deep black eyes which held the shine of millions of stars, pointed nose, sharp jawline, and the glimpse of newly grown youth in a man, blue hair which defines one's authority in the family of Grand Duke Casvoner as the heir, my elder step-brother Waren Von Casvoner.
'' You love cherry blossoms that don't mean you will be sleeping under it in this heat, Tia,'' His voice sounded rather cold to think that he was worried but this very same person went against the Emperor to save my life. My eyes started getting teary when I remembered how I treated him after I made Atticus the Emperor and took over the Grand Duchy instead of him. Waren's eyes widen looking at my teary eyes and he broke into a sweat.
'' W-why are you crying? Listen I am not mad, I don't want you to get ill.'' He said while looking here and there. I sat up and wipe off my tears. He blinked a few times while trying to say something but he seemed rather clueless about how to give the crying girl words of sympathy.
'' I know, and thank you for worrying about me,'' I smiled. His breathing stopped for a little while after I said thank you. '' You t-thanked me?'' He asked while pointing his finger at himself. I nodded. Waren closed his eyes for a little while and mumbled something under his breath. I guess my simple thank you is making him go over many things but as far as I know, Waren is someone who never shows his real emotions until he reaches his edge.
'' Let's go inside. Father is going to announce the upcoming National Founding Ceremony.'' Waren said. National Founding Ceremony!
National Founding Ceremony, the biggest event in the Empire every 10 years is held when Sun and Moon are seen together in the sky. I have attended only 2 founding ceremonies. One when I was fourteen and another when I became twenty-four. My eyes widen while I concluded. There is no way I am twenty-four because Waren wasn't in the Grand Duchy at that time.
'' It's Imperial Year 1014?'' I asked Waren who gave me a doubtful glance and sighed. He held my hand and made me stand up.
'' No wonder you have been acting weird suddenly. Did you have a nightmare like before?'' He asked me. I blinked a few times and bite my lower lips. What should I say? I felt him patting my hair.
'' No need to get worried over nightmares. None can dare to harm you, You are a Casvoner now.'' His response to my silence was rather triggering to me. Waren said the same thing whenever he found me struggling. Why did I take it as a taunt because I came into the duchy as Grand Duke's daughter with a commoner when I was 10 years old? Why didn't I understand the meaning behind his words?
'' I am sorry, I am sorry,'' Saying that I broke into tears. I started sobbing hard without even caring that Waren was looking at me. I am back to the time I was Fourteen and that was also just before the National Founding Ceremony. Thank you, god, thank you for not letting me lost in the abyss.
'' It's okay, You don't have to be sorry,'' Waren said softly while patting my head. I wondered if in the past I cried like this before my death would Waren forgive me for misunderstanding him? Ha! How can he forgive me when he never hated me?
I stopped sobbing and wiped off my tears. Waren extended his hand, '' Shall we go now?'' I looked at his hand and wondered, Can I hold his hand? Something inside me kicked me. Of course, I can take his hand, isn't that why I came back in the first place?
I took his hand and smiled. His lips curved a little and we started walking toward the main building of Grand Duchy.
Oh!
I will never chase light again,
Because Light was always surrounding me
I just never noticed in past,
Dear God!