Chapter 42

𝕾𝖔𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖔 𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖓 𝖙𝖔: 𝕿𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖈𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖘 𝖇𝖞 𝕿𝖆𝖞𝖑𝖔𝖗 𝕾𝖜𝖎𝖋𝖙

***

"Vestia, it's not as easy as it seems, I wouldn't want my only daughter to be in danger so whatever you recommend to say I say now, it's no," as heavy as father's voice, I clenched my fist and glared at him but I knew what he meant.

Since Claudius and Henry would be going to the Imperial Academy and we wouldn't be able to see each other for many years, I would be left alone and still make dangerous decisions.

"But it's not like"

"No buts, young lady but if you truly wanted to help the second prince, why not ask the knights we have in our household? They're reliable and I would assure you that they would do their job," Father said with the softest voice as he let go of his pen and paper to his table and looked at me.

His chin came in contact with the back of his hand and sighed when he looked in front.

"And here I was hoping that you're not glaring at your father but it seemed that you are," he said massaging his closed eyes.

I sighed. In other ways, I softened my expression.

"While they would be getting what you need, make sure that you do what you're doing now. Besides, his highness might have to invite you for other reasons"

"Okay, Father, I know but if they weren't able to get it what would you do?"

"Don't worry, they would, we wouldn't train our knights poorly, you know what I mean," then he chuckled. Father sometimes had some high hopes for himself and his household and I couldn't blame him when he was just doing his job.

Shaking my head from the unnecessary thoughts from my head, I looked at him again but this time, my eyes got plastered on one of the papers he had set aside. I knew that seal well.

"Other than that, did the Vellitas household-----"

"Asked me about Henry? They did, but what would I do? My daughter's request is much stronger than any other allies out there. I couldn't even be sure if they're real allies..." Father chuckled but I knew his tone wavered when he said those last words.

I only sighed and nodded

"Then just inform me about the knights you've recommended and I will order them my plans"

"As my princess wished. But remember Vestia, don't overdo yourself. You're still young so just enjoy it for now. Don't you have any swordsmanship training today?" I couldn't help but widen my eyes.

He said swordsmanship, father never made any mistakes and now, he was just smiling at me and shaking his head.

"Then I would be training ahead again but for the time being, I'll have to go to the palace"

"Then you better hurry because time is ticking..." he chuckled and I did the same thing. I'm just lucky to be born from kind and good parents who love each other.

Nodding my head with a beam, I waved goodbye until I went out to the hallways and finally got the fresh air I needed.

I knew that tomorrow would be the day that we would last see each other, but I wanted to make sure that I had Verfeil in that place. Not that I wanted him to cry but because I wanted him to see how beautiful having friends is.

"Milady, is this all right?" I looked in the mirror when Anna said those words. When coming to the imperial household, I would always wear plain colored dresses, but for now, I guess wearing a floral blue dress would be a big change for me but it's all because it's not the crown prince that invited me within the palace, it was Verfeil.

"Never been finer than ever, Anna," I said and looked at how Anna sighed.

"Anna, I have a favor to ask..." it took me some time to tell Anna what I wanted her to do; in the end, she never even hesitated.

Anna had been precious to me and I don't want to put her in danger but I don't trust any of the servants within our household not when I have to know them better that's why we also have them fooled by working on Henry's appearance and lately introducing him as my cousin in a distant relative.

But I would gladly accept any revisal she had when it came to my words.

"Milady if it's all right with you, can I take Sir Francis with me there?"

"It's better than what I propose Anna but remember you two have to disguise yourself and I will talk to Father about borrowing Sir Francis later"

I saw Anna nod with a serious expression and I hugged her afterward.

I couldn't wish for any other Anna in my life because she would always be the Anna in my life.

"Just be sure to be always careful no matter what, Anna..."

"I know, Milady. What Milady wanted me to do will be done in no time..." I chuckled when she said those but I hoped that she wouldn't put herself in danger.

"If things go awry then forget about my words and just come back alive, I don't need any other thing but to see you alive and well..."

Yes, Milady..."

"You swore, promise me, Anna..." I grabbed her pinky finger and tied it with mine. We laughed at one another until I pulled her closer for another hug once more.

"No matter what happens, you have to come back alive and forget your mission..." I kept reminding her and she just chuckled and hummed to ease the worries building in my mind. I know in the back of my head that I don't want to her let go and do that.

But the more I look at the future, the more that I have to predict what will go around, beside, I know Anna's potential, and I don't want to waste that.

"I promise, Milady..."

***

"Vestia are you okay?" I heard Verfeil say but before I could speak some words, his shadow loomed over me, and my eyes began to widen when he put his forehead to mine.

Our noses were already touching, and my eyes couldn't keep up looking at my reflection, so I gazed back at his lips. They wavered just by looking at those red cherry lips.

"It seems that you're fine!" he chuckled but I couldn't get over the warmth that he gave me. Even if we're in the small pond, where the first place I met him, even if the cold breeze began to sway our thoughts away, my eyes remained at the golden edges of his figure.

The warmth that lingers every time he touches me, keeps my chest feeling this heaviness, as if letting go of that warmth, I'll be missing it.

I tried to breathe and stay calm, but no matter how I looked at our position, at his reaction, at his soft laughter, everything seemed to be in place, where I should be even if this perfect moment, I felt like it wasn't actually mine.

"Silly, I was just thinking of what we'll be doing in the South Lake by tomorrow," I chuckled as I finished the crown flower I was making earlier.

"And here, you should try this too," I said and put the crown flower on the top of his head. I saw his eyes widen and smiled after doing so.

He touched it looked at it and chuckled. We stayed like that for the rest of the time, as he put his head on my lap and I touched his soft silvery hair.

Like the previous life that I had, Verfeil remained the same, a jolly person who never loses sight of the future, but also the one that I didn't know deeper not until he spilled those secrets that he had.

"Verfeil," I wanted to ask him, but I paused like I halted to touch his hair. I could see him looking at me and the shine in his eyes never left.

"What are you doing if you can't breathe at night?" Suddenly the words I thought came flowing like vitriol and before I could stop I heard him chuckle.

"I would sing to my heart's content and hug the teddy bear my brother gave me. Then I would always remind in my head that it's going to be fine and I get through those nights..." he said smiling but I could see that the smile he just gave me might never reach his ears.

"Why wouldn't you tell your family about this?"

"I don't want them to worry about me"

"But wouldn't they worry about you when you're in this position? It's only normal to do so..."

"I know but I don't want to be their weakness, Vestia. You knew how the nobles worked, right? In this empire, where status is very much important, greed and power looms and if you show one sign of weakness to them, they'll be able to draw the knife at your throat in one second without hesitation..." I couldn't speak.

Such a young child speaking of these words as if he had been forced to act and thought older like he was, made me want to question why...

But he's right.

Being a noble isn't easy because a lot of those people draw their mask out and put on a façade but in the end, they would only be parasites to those who they think were more powerful to save their assess.

"And my brother had always carried that great responsibility on his shoulders the moment that he was born..."

Silence filled with the gushing of the leaves, made the rustling sound feel like eternity. We stayed like that as he curled some strands of my hair while some were swayed by the wind.

When the sun suddenly set, as we turned our backs to the pond, we found a familiar figure leaning against the large three with both of his arms crossed, his eyes closed like he was taking a break through the scenery's sensation

"I was informed that my fiancé visited my palace and that I thought she would try to apologize to me for getting dragged by Verfeil but it turns out I'm quite wrong again," he paused as he opened his eyes.

He fixed his position and looked at us, but instead of glaring, he only looked at our intertwined hands and Verfeil with a glare before plastering that sinister smile.

"Now I guess it's time to take back what's mine, to begin with, Verfeil..."