The day started as usual Elysia got dressed and decided she was going to have breakfast at the dining room, she made her way down the stairs and hallway. Her eyes landed on Sevastian who was engrossed in his food.
"Good morning Sir Sevastian." She greeted in a soft voice pulling out a chair and sat down opposite Sevastian.
His eyes lifted to meet hers, they softened as he offered her the tiniest smile. "Good morning Lady Elysia, I believe you slept well?" He inquired.
"Yes I did, thank you. How about you? Did you sleep well?" Elysia asked, pulling an empty plate closer to herself to serve her food in it.
"I did, thank you. Is there any reason you have decided to have breakfast outside your room this morning?" He continued to eat his food.
"Not really, I was quite bored and wanted to have company." She replied, her eyes moving to the empty chair of the King before moving back to Sevastian. "Why did the King not join for breakfast?" She asked, Azreal was the main reason she wanted to leave her room this morning. After the last time they had an awkward encounter, she could not help, but want to try speaking to him again.
"The King is eating in his study, he is quite busy these days." Sevastian replied, lifting a cup to his lips.
"Oh, is there a problem if I may ask?"
"Yes there is, we thought the era of the rogues were over, but unfortunately it does not seem so. A rogue was found by some villages in Lakewood, it was reported that this type of rogue was different from the previous one. "We believe black magic is at play in the corruption of the dragons." Sevastian explained, he had not stopped thinking about the turn of events since he learnt about it. Sevastian was not particularly fond of black magic or magic at all.
"That is awful, do you have any idea who is responsible for it all?" Elysia's hands were now on her thigh.
"Unfortunately, not yet, we are working on it and soon, we would be able to get to the bottom of it all." Sevastian assured her, he used a white napkin to wipe his lips, it appeared he was done eating.
"I pray you find the person soon before they do any more harm." Elysia passed Sevastian a full smile.
"Thank you very much Lady Elysia, regretfully I have to leave now. I do hope you have a lovely day." He raised from the chair and made his way out of the dining room.
He suddenly stopped and turned to her. "Do not worry about the King, he would come to you soon." His tone soft before he walked out of her sight.
Elysia let out a sigh from her lips and returned to her food. She found a little comfort in Sevastian's short words, then took a good amount of her food before leaving the dining room.
Elysia did not want to go back into her room so she thought of visiting the garden again. She walked slowly through the garden, lost in thought. The delicate scents of blooming flowers and the earthy aroma of damp soil surrounded her, but her mind was clouded with many thoughts.
Her gaze fixed on the ground, barely noticing the sudden dark clouds gathering overhead. Soon, a light drizzle began, soft raindrops pattering onto her skin and clothes, but she did not quicken her pace or seek shelter. Instead, she let the rain soak into her, feeling its cool touch almost as if it were washing away her inner turmoil.
As the rain grew heavier, Elysia wandered to a nearby stone bench and sank onto it, letting her shoulders droop. The cold droplets ran down her face, her shoulders as the rain soaked her dress even more. She lifted her face toward the sky, allowing the rain to fall freely on her. The storm had a calming effect, as if nature itself were sharing in her silent sorrow.
Lost in her thoughts, Elysia closed her eyes and almost did not notice when the rain suddenly stopped hitting her. She opened her eyes and blinked in surprise, looking up to find an umbrella hovering just above her head, shielding her from the downpour. Startled, she turned, her eyes tracing up along the dark handle until she saw a gloved hand holding it firmly in place.
Beside her stood a man cloaked in a long coat, his face partially shadowed by the angle of the umbrella. His expression was unreadable, but something in his presence felt very familiar to her. She could not see his eyes clearly, but the intensity in his gaze was unmistakable, causing her heart to quicken, even though she could not see his face, she knew exactly who he was.
"You will catch a cold." He whispered, his voice low but carrying a weight that lingered in the air. He did not move closer, nor did he withdraw the umbrella, simply standing there with an air of quiet patience.
Her heart continued to race, "I will be fine Your Majesty." She replied, her eyes moving to look in front of her.
A sigh left Azreal's lips, almost as if he was getting irritated by her. "I can not stand here all day Elysia, get out of the rain." His deep voice was clear as day even in the midst of the heavy rain fall.
"And if I say no?"
"Do not be stubborn Elysia. I will not ask you again." Azreal's words caused her to stand up from where she sat and turned to look at him. For a moment, they remained that way, looking into each other's burning eyes.
"You can leave if you want to Your Majesty, I want to enjoy my time in the rain because I am tired of sitting around and being ignored by you." Elysia retorted, her voice a little shaky. She knew this was petty, but she needed to let the King know what
she was feeling.