After meeting with Azha-Roi, Leviashivae approached Dorea with a measured gaze, his demeanor cold and distant. "Princess Dorea, how are you finding the new room?" he inquired, his voice lacking warmth but maintaining a sense of authority.
His eyes briefly swept over Dorea, noting the change in her attire. She now wore a traditional dress of the dryads, crafted from silk in shades of green with accents of earthy brown.
Despite the simplicity of the garment, it complemented her delicate features, really fitting for a little princess. He was glad that Nana-Roi trying to erase her prejudice toward Dorea.
Dorea, feeling intimidated by Leviashivae's demeanor, nodded in response, her cheeks flushing with nervousness. She felt more at ease in her new attire. She met Leviashivae's gaze with a timid smile. "It's... it's different," she replied hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I think I'll get used to it."
Leviashivae nodded in acknowledgment, a flicker of approval crossing his features at her response. "Good," he remarked curtly. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
With that, Leviashivae turned to leave her bedroom, his movements fluid yet purposeful. Dorea watched him go, a mixture of apprehension and curiosity swirling within her. As she took a moment to gather her thoughts, she couldn't help but feel a sense of determination stirring within her. Despite the challenges ahead, she was determined to prove herself worthy of the trust placed in her, even in the presence of the enigmatic Leviashivae.
As Dorea gathered her courage, she stepped out of her room and found Leviashivae seated on the sofa, surrounded by a towering pile of books at his feet. The words inscribed in the ancient tomes seemed to carry the weight of centuries, their faded pages holding untold knowledge.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Dorea approached Leviashivae, her heart pounding. "Um..." she began tentatively, her voice barely above a whisper. She began hesitantly, "What are you doing?"
Leviashivae glanced up from the ancient tome in his hands, his expression unreadable. "I am reading a record," he replied curtly, his attention quickly returning to the pages before him.
A heavy silence descended upon the room, broken only by the faint rustle of pages as Leviashivae continued his reading. Dorea shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to proceed in the face of Leviashivae's distant demeanor.
After a moment, Leviashivae let out a weary sigh, his gaze flickering to Dorea. "Please, have a seat," he said quietly, gesturing to the sofa opposite him.
Dorea hesitated for a moment before complying, settling into the seat with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. She waited in silence, unsure of what Leviashivae intended to say.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Leviashivae spoke as she received all his attention. His voice was soft yet filled with a weight of ages. "Dorea, I'm not going ask for forgiveness for my action to your kingdom. The only thing that I regret the most is the action that I did in front of you. I realize now, that you deserve better than watching your parent's blood freshen the floor. For that, I must say I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart."
Dorea's heart weighed heavy with conflicting emotions as she listened to Leviashivae's apology. Though his words touched her deeply, she couldn't shake the lingering pain and anger that still simmered within her.
For a moment, she found herself speechless, grappling with the enormity of Leviashivae's confession. She appreciated his honesty, yet she wasn't ready to grant forgiveness so easily, not after witnessing the devastation he had wrought upon her kingdom.
With a heavy sigh, Dorea met Leviashivae's gaze, her own eyes clouded with uncertainty. "I... I don't know if I'm ready to accept your apology," she admitted, her voice wavering with emotion. "The wounds are still fresh, and the pain... it's too much."
Leviashivae nodded understandingly, his expression filled with regret. "I understand, Dorea. I can only hope that, in time, I may earn your forgiveness," he replied more softly.
As the weight of their conversation settled over them, Dorea couldn't help but feel a sense of unease gnawing at her insides. Forgiveness wasn't something she could offer lightly, not when the scars of the past ran so deep.
But as she sat in silence, grappling with her conflicted emotions, she knew that, in time, she would find the strength to confront the demons of her past and, perhaps, even find it in her heart to forgive. Until then, she could only tread cautiously, her heart heavy with the weight of the burdens she carried.
"Um, Levi?" called Dorea meekly.
"Yes?" Levi responded, turning his attention to her.
"I-I'm hungry," Dorea admitted, her face flushing with embarrassment as she attempted to hide behind her locks of hair.
Levi blinked in confusion before realizing that humans needed to eat at least three meals a day. He nodded, understanding dawning on his features. "Of course," he said reassuringly. "I'll see what I can find for us to eat."
With that, Levi rose from his seat, leaving the pile of books behind as he set off to find food for them both. And as Dorea watched him go, a sense of gratitude washed over her, grateful for his understanding and willingness to help.
After a brief wait, Leviashivae returned with a bowl of cereal topped with fruit. "I'm sorry, Dorea, the dryads rarely eat animals so there is no meat for now." he apologized as he handed her the bowl.
Dorea nodded, offering a small smile of gratitude as she accepted the bowl from him. "Thank you, Levi," she murmured before eating in silence. Though the food wasn't her favorite, hunger gnawed at her stomach, and she found herself devouring it eagerly.
Leviashivae, for his part, returned to his work, seemingly lost in thought as he delved back into the ancient tomes scattered around him. He paid little attention to Dorea as she ate, his focus consumed by the task at hand.
As Dorea finished her meal, she was surprised when Leviashivae rose from the sofa and extended an invitation to join him for a walk around the village. She blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected offer.
"Come, Dorea," Leviashivae urged, his tone gentle yet firm. "Let's take a stroll and explore our surroundings."
Dorea nodded, a hint of excitement flickering in her eyes as she set down the empty bowl. However, she hesitated for a moment, momentarily lost in thought.
Seeing her hesitation, Leviashivae let out a soft sigh before performing a subtle motion with his hand, causing the dishes to vanish into thin air. "Hurry now," he urged gently, gesturing for her to follow.
She walked alongside Leviashivae with newfound ease. Unlike her previous walk with Nana-Roi, where she had kept her head bowed, she now feels more relaxed and enjoys every second of it. Her eyes wandered around the corridor, taking in the intricate designs of the wooden walls with newfound curiosity.
The warm, earthy tones of the timber seemed to come alive in the soft light filtering through the windows, casting enchanting shadows along the corridor. Dorea marveled at the craftsmanship of the walls, tracing the lines and patterns with her gaze. With each step, she felt a sense of wonderment building within her, eager to explore the village and uncover its secrets.
As they stepped into the front yard, Nana-Roi emerged from the garden direction, her presence commanding yet welcoming as she approached Leviashivae and Dorea. Standing beside her was a boy, his presence a striking blend of human and dryad characteristics. While his overall appearance leaned towards that of a human child, hints of his dryad heritage were evident in patches of verdant green adorning his skin.
"Lord Leviashivae, what can I help you?" Nana-Roi greeted them with her respectful and formal tone. Her gaze then fell onto the boy beside her. "Say hello, Tama," Nana-Roi encouraged gently.
Tama-Yui hesitated for a moment before offering a shy smile. "Hello, I'm Tama-Yui," he began, addressing both Leviashivae and Dorea. His cheeks flushed slightly as he stole a quick glance at Dorea before continuing, "It's a pleasure to meet you both."
"Dorea Novaline. Nice to meet you," she answered with a small smile, returning his greeting.
Leviashivae nodded in acknowledgment, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Tama-Yui," he replied with a subtle warmth.
Tama-Yui's eyes widened in wonder as he looked up at Leviashivae, clearly fascinated by the towering ice dragon. "You're really big," he remarked, his awe evident in his voice.
Before Tama-Yui could say more, he received a swat from the back of his head from Nana-Roi. "Mind your manners, boy!" she scolded gently, though a hint of amusement danced in her eyes. However, realizing her action, she quickly caught herself, not wanting to be seen as disrespectful.
Tama-Yui rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, offering an apologetic smile to Nana-Roi. "Sorry, Nana," he mumbled, his cheeks tinged with embarrassment. "Apologise, My Lord"
"Hm, don't worry, there's no harm done," said the dragon reassuringly.
Nana-Roi watched warmly at Tama-Yui, noticing his apprehension. "Tama, why don't you ask Dorea if she'd like to play in the garden while Lord Leviashivae and I have a small talk?" she suggested gently.
Tama-Yui's eyes widened in surprise at the suggestion. He had never had a friend before, and the thought of playing with Dorea filled him with excitement and nervousness. The other dryad children had always avoided him, and it was better than being bullied like what happened to him a long time ago. Sometimes he felt lonely without friends, and his mama left him to work.
"Go on, Tama," Nana-Roi encouraged, her voice soft and reassuring. "I'm sure Dorea would love to spend time with you."
Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, Tama-Yui turned to Dorea, his heart pounding in his chest. "Um, Dorea, would you like to play in the garden with me?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Dorea smiled warmly at him, sensing his nervousness. "Of course, Tama," she replied, her voice gentle. "I'd love to."
Tama-Yui's face broke into a shy smile at her response, relief washing over him. With Nana-Roi's encouragement and Dorea's acceptance, he felt a sense of belonging he had never experienced before. As they headed off to the garden together, he couldn't help but feel grateful for this newfound friendship and the chance to have a friend.
"Lord Leviashivae," Nana-Roi began in a hushed tone, her green eyes scanning their surroundings for any potential eavesdroppers. "I might have some information that I hid from my uncle. It's about Lady Sylvana, exactly three days before she departed from this village."
The dragon watched her warily, his eyes narrowing with a hint of suspicion as he pondered the timing and motive behind her sudden openness. After a moment of consideration, he used his crystal magic to ensure their conversation remained private, containing their voices within a confined space. "Sure, you can tell me now," he commanded his tone firm yet tinged with curiosity.