Chapter 65

𝕾𝖔𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖔 𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖓 𝖙𝖔: 𝕴 𝕱𝖔𝖗𝖌𝖔𝖙 𝕿𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖄𝖔𝖚 𝕰𝖝𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝖇𝖞 𝕿𝖆𝖞𝖑𝖔𝖗 𝕾𝖜𝖎𝖋𝖙

***

Then again, the warmth of that velvety honey that tastes like bitterness from the chrysalis of the past, made me shake the caresses of the breezes that serve as the weather of my execution.

Within the place that I could call one of my own, the gentle rising of the sun's penetrating gazes toward us was enough to make me feel alive, and breathing.

With the shadows of my hands crossing in front of my face, my eyes couldn't help but narrow and imagine that the golden orb of light turned to be the darkness instead, and it made me realize how many blue skies have passed down since that foreign time where I got to meet the one who had long years ahead of me.

"So you were saying you've been learning how to cook, Vestia?" my mind which was drifting off to someplace of a different timeline, wandered to the young man in front of me, and my vision stared long enough to his mighty crimson hair being swayed by the wind, his familiar eyes that felt foreign now and yet the same mystical thing like the golden orb attached at the distant sky, and his thinnest and reddish lips that was curled up in both edges.

Everything about the young man in front of me shone like a majestic being from a different world than I am, and yet we were both breathing fine.

"Yes, and I guess I would learn more from our Chef, Sir Henthan," soft whispers from my mouth exuded and became one with the breezes after those words.

I could see how Caliere seemed to halt his tea from his mouth for a second before chuckling

"You know what, Vestia? The more you say those things the more I become curious than ever"

"What do you mean, by that?" I managed to ask while putting the softness of the calm water within my lips.

"Well, you said that you weren't feeling well the other days so I paid you a visit to see your health, but now that you're fine I guess it's all right to tell you," he said while putting down the tea to the table and both of his hands went to intertwine on it.

"A few days ago, I attended a friend of mine's celebration and I saw someone who had the same eyes as yours, wouldn't that be something else, Vestia?" the tea that I managed to drink almost got out from my mouth and slipped down from my lips.

Only did I manage to blink a few more times that my vision got clearer when Caliere was already wiping the edges of my mouth.

"Did I startle you or did you just not expect you to have the same eyes as the lady? Or are you jealous?" Caliere's voice sounded serene and there was a hint of amusement in his voice but I guess the expression on his face came crashing down when I chuckled.

"I don't feel anything like that, Caliere, I was just startled to hear that you saw the lady's eyes having the same as mine, perhaps, did she catch your attention, then?" the corner of my lips suddenly lifted because he knew that I wanted to annul our engagement so bad and yet his expression suddenly loomed over.

I could feel him take some distance from me and stop wiping the edges of my lips, his shadow that once caressed my figure started to be swayed by his actions and later something happened from the table, and it sounded as if it would be destroyed.

"Caliere?" I asked and that's when I could see that he sat from his previous seat and took some tea as if he hadn't heard the words that I just said.

"You know that I wouldn't be able to show some disrespect to my fiancé, right?" if only you had done what you're saying in the past, would everything feel different?

I clenched the hem of my dress tightly enough to breathe out some of the air that was within my body. Even after some time had passed, the wounds that were written on my chest were still fresh as if yesterday was the one I was punished for something I didn't do.

"But then, I guess that lady still had the same silver eyes as I did so I found it amusing..." I say even though it might have been that night of the night, also the time where I got to meet and learn a lot from Oratio.

But then, thinking of Lexus, I guess Oratio managed to persuade him of the men that he should have since I couldn't help thinking of the Belfore East and Verfeil's condition.

With that sudden thought coming to my mind, I gazed back to where Caliere was and I could see how narrowed his eyes looking around us with the cup of tea on his lips again.

"If I may ask, how was Verfeil nowadays? I haven't heard something from him for quite some time now," I asked and his eyes landed on mine but it became different since it softened as his eyes laid on the sweet thing he could manage to land on.

"Verfeil's doing fine, but sometimes, he would always come out of the palace and do the things he usually does"

"He usually does?" if he wasn't able to come to my household then what were the things, he was doing aside from those? It made me curious. But instead of words coming out from his mouth, they were soft chuckles invading the sweet nostalgia of the place.

"He would just be something that could be silly at times and I couldn't monitor everything he does since he would be so secretive in the end, but just him returning fine was enough, wouldn't that be enough as well for you as his friend?" Caliere said with the softest and sweetest smile that could be plastered on his face.

Yet, I felt as if there was some double meaning to his words as if he wanted me to know more, and yet by doing so, he would also find something from Verfeil through my mouth.

I lifted the tea and put it down on the table with a few chuckles

"I guess as long as Verfeil was fine..."

Then we talked for a few more hours until I sent him off but before doing so, he put something on my neck and whispered through my ears, but that was just it as he came to descend on his carriage with a wavering hand and smile.

Right now, the reflection of the figure in front of me, couldn't help caressing the jewel that a once very precious young man had given.

That's when I knew that the wheel of time had been changing with the changes that I made, but even though, if I managed to change everything, I knew that if Liana came, he would also have to fall in love with her, that's because it's the only reason why fate had to bring me back to see the two of them together reuniting without such hatred.

That must have been, yet the edges of the necklace's curve weren't enough to appease the wounds of my past self.

It was never enough to heal it even though perhaps, a part or some needles were lifted, it's still hard to breathe again.

With the wooden circle with the letter V as the start of my name, and a lace that wasn't like anything extravagant and yet I knew was his making, a black leather, if looked from the farthest view, it would be simply made by an ordinary person.

But then it was indeed by the crown prince himself.

Shaking my head, I couldn't stop from loosening some hardness of the breath I kept on holding earlier.

"Lexus, did you manage to agree on Oratio's words?" When I suddenly felt a strong wind descending on my back, that's when I knew that my shadow assassin had come back.

"As you said I agreed to him, but he still wouldn't let me go from the deal you two had. It seemed that I also had to learn some magic from him"

"Well, I was also shocked to know that magic indeed existed, aren't you?"

"As well as you, Vestia..."

"But then, his words not only consisted of my household's tradition but also the Vellitas, the war that would come from the Hildigger and the Belfore East, the only thing he hadn't mentioned was about the second prince's illness..."

"Still, he had some wide array of knowledge, would you still even claim the information you have said from the guild? About the Fethers?"

That's when I knew that my hands were already clenching their grip from Caliere's gift.

"Well, let's give it a try to compare if they would be able to give me the same information. Aside from that, did you manage to form a group, now?"

"Yes, as you've mentioned," as I turned to look at Lexus he was still kneeling with eyes closed.

His reverence never failed and yet, I could sense his little disagreement when we agreed to Oratio.

"I got to think that you've been having doubts about that young man?"

"Well, he's not young anymore, he's already old"

"His soul was"

"Yes"

"So who would you likely believe, Hellier or Oratio?"

That's when I saw his eyes open and widen for the first time.

"He had the same thing he wanted from the Belfore East, as well as he wanted me to find the black horn"

"That was Hellier what was Oratio said to you then?"

"The same with you, Vestia but I get that he's somewhat secretive"

"That doesn't change the truth, Lexus, sooner or later, we will have to ally with them, aside from that, on the day of my clinic's opening, you have to send your men to the Belfore East, as I couldn't help doubt of my father's plans in there. You also have to find the slave trading and where was from there"

"As you commanded, Vestia. But then, did you hear something from Anna?"

That's where I couldn't help but shiver. It's been days and I still wasn't able to hear from her, even from Sir Francis. Also, Henry and Claudius had been busy with their academics that's why they were only sending me letters on their vacant times.

Celna was able to send me some letters the same with Cain, I can't even message them as many as I have now since they must have something going on in their country estate.

"Do you want me to look for them?"

"I trust Anna, and I trust my friends. The only thing you should worry about is my commands, Lexus..."

"Yes, Vestia..."

"Tomorrow don't forget, we will attend Lady Grenda's bouquet... and two days later, will be my clinic's opening..."