"Milo, I want to talk to you" Jade insisted, walking towards me hurriedly.
I wondered if losing to him wasn't enough of a taunt for him, that he maybe felt like he should also do it with words.
"I'm listening" I replied, lifting myself up from where I sat.
Even though I hadn't noticed it earlier, his form was an even more detailed part of his looks.
He had pulled off his shirt since it was drenched with sweat and his chest was exposed. Sharp lines, demarcated and distributed every muscle and ab, making it seem like it was sketched into reality.
"Could I even build muscles like that?" I murmured, envying the body of another man for the first time in my dual lives.
"What was that?" He asked, a quizzical look on his face, as he pointed at a spot beside the training hall.
"Mother told me about your incident" He spoke as he walked weighing in his question gently, like as if he cared.
I knew.... "Did you really attempt suicide?" was what he meant to ask, but feigned ignorance.
Natasha had reported it as an "incident" caused by playfulness, but everyone in the Brithuels's household knew that was a lie.
"It was just as she told you" I responded coldly, avoiding his prying eyes.
The fact that he was trying to ease into a challenging conversation by playing mind games with me, just showed how much he underestimated Milo.
"Well it's all fine though, everyone makes mistakes. I'm just glad you're sa-"
"You're here for something else right?, just say it!. You don't have to be so roundabout with it" I queried, cutting him halfway through his fake speech.
He smiled at me, both hands crossed, as he quietly assessed my behavior.
This was definitely new to him and I wondered if even felt threatened by it.
"You'll be joining us tomorrow for the meeting with the viscounts, father must have notified you, right" he finally opened up, raising an eyebrow inquisitively.
"So?" I replied, walking close to him.
He laughed.
His form jerking as he enclosed his face with his palm. I could feel his aura change in that moment, from the usual calm and cheerful demeanor, to a dark and gloomy oppressive force.
My animalistic instincts instantly kicked in, beckoning him to avoid whatever was about to happen by all means.
He finally stopped laughing, grabbing me by the collar and staring down into my eyes, he was so close that I could feel his hazy warm breath over my face.
'What's with this guy!'
"Don't even think about crossing me Milo, I'd hate to feel threatened!" He barked at me, his frenzied gaze causing me to shiver all over.
I couldn't move, feeling the will to fight back slowly seep out of me. It was the first time I had felt terrorized since coming to this world.
But even so, I wasn't the shy and introverted pushover he thought me to be.
This was something I couldn't just walk away from even if he fought me over it.
"Then stay out of my way, or else I'll crush you in order to reach my goa!l" i spat back at him, grasping his hand tightly as i met his forehead with mine.
My adrenaline had shot up in that moment, causing my blood to boil so much that I felt my grip burning.
He retreated calmly, letting go of my collar as he put both hands in his pockets, slowly walking away towards the main estate.
I didn't see him throughout the day anymore, except during his welcoming party.
******
The estate was brimming with life as an entire crowd filled the banquet hall. There were servants of different kinds, lined just before the center of the room, exposing cuisine's off all kinds.
I stood over the hall, on the large staircase as I stared down at the wealthy, shrewd and noble.
There were dignitaries from other counties, a few of the patriarch's viscounts, merchants, the grand duchess of Kirach's territory - Milo's half sister and finally a few of his teachers from the academy.
I kept on scanning the room endlessly for any eye-catching character but no one seemed to match my expectations.
I walked back to my room, shutting my door completely and pulling up the window.
As I peaked outside, the cool evening breeze forced it's way into my bedroom.
I was still wearing the special attire Natasha had prepared for the occasion.
Black silk-cotton trousers with three tiny golden chains pinned from one side of the waist to the other; barely 6cm apart, a black silk sleeve with golden cuffs and finally, a short red robe tied at my left shoulder, reaching only up to my waist.
All made with expensive fabrics of the finest quality.
I took off the robe, scaling my window and the building in one jumb, landing barely on my feet and almost spraining my ankle in the process.
A guard on patrol walked towards me, whistling as he marched, unaware of my presence.
He passed me after a while, my presence carefully hidden behind a rose bush.
From then on, I made it safely to my destination without any troubles.
As I came face to face with my safe space, the view took my breath away once more.
The menacing jet black grass that I stood on, wavered gently in the evening wind.
I sat down on it, running my fingers through the troubled grass and finding comfort in the quiet.
The last few days had been tough on me, with preparations for the long battle ahead.
And although I had finished most of the preparations, I wasn't still at peace with the progress.
I suddenly felt the strange presence of a being creeping behind me, and as I pondered whether or not to turn and attack, I remembered where I had felt such an aura before.
"Hello stranger" I called out without even looking behind me.
Her giggling still reached my ears even though she had stopped walking.
"You're very weird, you know that right" she asked as she appeared in front of me.
It was the wannabe princess that I had met on that random evening, clothed in a black nightgown as she smiled at me.
Strangely enough, I was relieved to see her after a while. It was encouraging, knowing someone shared a strange love for the things you cherished too.
She sat next to me, crossing both legs as she sighed.
"Did you know that an audience with the crown princess is an honour to many?" She asked, looking at the night sky.
*I didn't, but I'll keep it in mind when I do meet the crown princess" I replied, feigning ignorance as i stared at the sky too.
"You still don't believe that I'm the princess, do you?" She inquired, resting her jaw on her palm, pouting quietly.
We both laughed.
There was silence after that, the night stealing away all our words.
Everything I could think of in that moment, was simply reserved for the beauties before me.
Endless, vast space with stars connected at every nook and cranny, by an invisible cosmic thread spanning across our entire view.
A blue moon hung at one end, entangled with a much smaller planetary body beside it.
In that calm beautiful evening, two souls conversed endless, not with statements or words, but with a shared love for the night.
*******
"Milo, get over here" Bradley offered, catching me as I tried sneaking to my room from the main entrance.
He was Milo's only friend and the son of viscount Rephradre, the patriarch's most trusted advisor.
He was a chubby, loud, brat that always pushed Milo around since he was overly shy.
Milo naturally grew attached to him since they always spent time together, disregarding the fact that he was just a spoiled bully.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?" He sneered, placing his arm over my shoulder, as he laughed repeatedly, pulling me in a brusque manner.
My head, which was already filled with pent up strain, ached as I waddled. But as an adult, I decided not to fall prey to his taunt.
"I heard your sister came back the other day, why don't you go fetch her for me, huh" He rattled, the smell of garlic oozing from his breath and spittle flying from his mouth as it sprayed my chin.
He pushed me afterwards, kicking me as I nearly tripped and fell.
The pent up stress and loud banging in my head that I had decided to sleep away, intensified in that moment, pushing my temperament over the cliff.
I pressed my fingers around my neck, twisting it gently as the bones cracked quietly.
My cuffs had come undone, so I folded my right sleeve before turning, in order to avoid staining it with the blood of that pig.
'Time for some pest control' The thought rang in my head as I walked over to him.
"Are you deaf, huh??.... I said go bring me that who-"
BANG!!
The first punch flew, my fist cloaked in high density manner as I felt his jaw dislocate with the strike.
He fell to the ground, wincing in pain and screaming, but his cries would not be heard from this room, since it was the opposite building from where everyone was.
I walked slowly towards him as he crawled backwards quickly, kicking and thrashing in an attempt to escape.
His crying was now irritating, as the croaking from his voice climbed.
BAM!
BAM!!
BAM!!!
BAM!!!!
My fourth punch had knocked him unconscious as he bleed from every opening in his face, including both eyes.
I dragged his body over to the field beside the main hall, pushing him to the ground as he startled awake.
"Whur..... Whur...haar...you..doin..." he cried, with barely enough teeth in his mouth for me to even make out what he was saying.
I proceeded to finish the job, shifting my attention to his chest then his knees which I easily broke with one hit.
He was jerking at this point, barely hanging on to life, so I walked back into the estate through the kitchen, headed for the library and found a one time, instant recovery scroll.
The thought of explaining what I had used it for, the following day almost impeded my decision, but sadly though, it was necessary.
I tore it in front of him, watching as embers of light surrounded his still body, rejuvenating it will life as all his wounds disappeared.
He coughed loudly, then proceeded to vomit, retching in pain.
"You're a monster.... You're... you're" I shushed him, my index pressed against my lips, then crouched silently down to his eyeline.
"Cross my path next time and there won't even be a body to bury" I threatened, retreating back to the event.
" You better get back before your parents worry..... and oh" I stopped and turned, watching him shudder at my gaze.
" I don't have to tell you about what happens if you talk right" I enquired, smiling innocently as I watched him nod like a lizard.
I slowly turned and continued walking.
It wasn't that I had enjoyed what I did, but it was a valid approach if I wanted him to stop interacting with me, besides...
"I needed to stretch" i concluded, flexing my arm and shoulders in a rotating manner.