"Mizak?" Prince Ivive whispered as he saw him leaning on the wall.
"Your highness," Mizak greeted him with a slight bow.
"What brings you here at this hour?" Prince Ivive asked, his voice laced with suspicion. He saw that Mizak was about to enter the chamber.
"I came to see a friend," Mizak answered, his hand on the door handle. But before he could open it, Prince Ivive stopped him by grabbing his arm.
Mizak looked at him and smiled faintly. "Your highness, do you require anything from me?"
Prince Ivive gazed into his eyes, trying to detect any sign of guilt. "I still find it odd that the murderous aura disappeared so abruptly in the chamber. I thought it fled through the window, but that seems unlikely."
Mizak shrugged his shoulders. "Your highness, I was knocked out when it happened, so I don't know the answer you seek. And even if I was conscious, I might not know the answer. Or do you... doubt me? Is that why you secretly followed me and Teri outside the city?"
Prince Ivive was startled by Mizak's words. How did he know he followed them? He had kept a safe distance from them. "How did you know I followed you? I was far behind."
Mizak narrowed his eyes as he stared at Prince Ivive. It was just a guess he had. "It was just a hunch, but you just confirmed it. Your highness, we have been close for a long time. Why do you mistrust me now?"
"I'm going to see Teri. If you think that me being with my friend is dangerous, then you can guard the door. But your highness, you need a good night's rest," Mizak said.
"I will decide when to rest or not. But thank you for your concern," Prince Ivive said.
"As you wish," Mizak said, glancing at him before he opened the door and entered the room.
************************************
Mizak's POV
When I entered his room, I saw him lying on the bed, his back to me. He was wrapped in his sheets to keep him warm from the chilly night air.
After what happened tonight, I doubted he could be sleeping already.
I walked towards him and asked softly, "Are you crying quietly?"
Teri immediately turned to me and sat up. "Why would I cry? Because of what Darlene said? Do you think I'm that weak?".
He scoffed and smirked. "I'll never cry because of her again. Why should I? I'm just tired of this place. I want to leave. It's stifling with her in the manor every day."
Teri laughed, but tears streamed down his cheeks. He whimpered and more tears flowed. I looked at him with compassion. I knew he wasn't alright. I knew he was deeply hurt.
I rubbed his head, sat down on the bed, placed my hand behind his head and rested it on my shoulder while he cried. I ran my fingers through his hair.
"I'm not sad because of what she said. It's all because of that illusion. I hate it! It made her different. Or maybe that's how she could have been if our family was still together and the rebellion never happened. She said she would never abandon me in the illusion."
He hugged me tightly and continued to cry. "How do I forget it, Mizak? How do I erase it from my mind? I wish I could forget the illusion. I wish my mother was here. Maybe if she was here, Darlene wouldn't act like that and I and Elley would be happy."
"Mizak, it really is my fault, isn't it?" he asked, sobbing on my shoulder.
I patted his back and said, "No, Teri. It's not your fault. It never was and it never will be. It was because of the new king."
You once confided in me, when we were in the capital, that your family would have been whole if not for the rebellion.
It was not King Athelin's fault either. He was a mere boy of twelve when he ascended the throne. He had no idea that most of his ministers had betrayed him to the minister of war, and that his family would be slaughtered on his coronation day.
All the royals of Delmos came to his ceremony with smiles and congratulations without knowing they won't live to see another day.
They all had their own ambitions for the future. But they were all cut down. No royal survived, not even the infants, no one.
Prince Athelin escaped but did he live?".
I could not forget that day, even if I wanted to.
Teri pulled away from the hug and I looked at him. He wasn't crying anymore, but he was silent and I didn't know what he was thinking.
Did I say too much?
Then I remembered what Lord Hoself told me tonight to avoid any questions Teri might ask concerning what I was talking about.
"Lord Hoself told me about someone. She comes from a family of physicians and she's good at what she does. She has cured blindness, as long as it was caused by poison. She lives in Dew City and she will be here tomorrow to check your eyes," I said, but he was still silent.
He wiped his face with his hand. "I don't want to get my hopes high. It will hurt me if she can't restore my eyes, so I won't think much about it," he said as he lay back on the bed, facing the ceiling.
"It's fine," I said. Maybe it's better he doesn't think too much about it.
"I remember when you told me you have secrets you can't share. But can you answer one question? It's just one," Teri said.
I saw it coming. I knew he would ask, because I spoke too much. But since it's one, I'll answer. If the question is too personal, I won't answer.
I glanced at him and hesitated before I spoke. "Go ahead."
"Lord Melvor... is not your biological father, am I right?" he asked, turning to me with a sly grin.
I didn't respond and the atmosphere was silent. I looked at him, wondering if I should give him an answer.
"Too silent. I knew it," Teri said, turning his back to me to sleep.