CHAPTER 18

ALL EYES WERE ON her as I made careful, yet quick steps towards my father. Luckily, I didn't trip on my dress. I couldn't swallow the lump on my throat because of how my heart was racing along with my heavy footsteps.

I didn't try taking father's attention from Eilisha, and instead, stood behind Kaiser. I followed them silently as they went out of the ballroom and headed towards the powder room provided for the guests.

I could feel the heat rising in my head, but I did my best to keep myself calm. I shouldn't be affected by this. It's not like I'll be kicked out this instant just because of her return. I need to calm down.

Just as I was about to take a seat, beside Kaiser, the Emperor called me out.

"Lady Elisse, would you mind leaving us for a moment? We will only discuss a few things with the Eveningstars regarding their youngest daughter, Lady Eilisha." The emperor's words were weird on their own.

I wasn't sure whether to listen to the emperor, so I looked at them. But they were looking at the emperor as if he had gone mad and illogical for treating me as an outsider.

"Your Majesty. We can't possibly heed your request because Elisse is part of the Eveningstar Household," father insisted.

The emperor didn't seem to feel any guilt as he just smiled at him. "I understand your concern, Duke Eveningstar. But this matter is about Lady Eilisha."

"Your Majesty. Like my father said, Elisse is part of our family, so she needs to stay." This time Eclipse was the one who defended me.

I could feel my fingers trembling at the pressure surrounding me. I think I should get out of this room.

"Father. Brothers. His Majesty is just worrying about me. Is it wrong to ask for a brief time with the four of you alone?" I unconsciously bit my molars as I heard Eilisha speak.

This time, I didn't allow anyone to speak on behalf of me. I needed some fresh air anyway.

"I understand, Your Majesty. Then I'll stay outside and wait." I didn't bother looking at them and instead went out of that room. It doesn't matter. I shouldn't care about their little family reunion.

But somehow, this managed to punch a hole in my heart. My hand clenched on the chest of my dress and a heavy sigh escaped my lips. Luckily, no one was around to witness the pathetic state I was currently in.

"Are you alright?"

Or so I thought. I didn't bother glancing at the person who approached me and made a run towards the east part of the hallway.

Everything felt painful. The muscles in my body, my nerves, they were all throbbing painfully. The heat in my head was spreading quickly like wildfire. I'm aware that I might burst out crying in front of that door if I don't run and hide somewhere.

I was shaking so hard that I suddenly fell. The loud sound of my body falling on the floor echoed through the hallway.

"Hah, I can't move." A bitter laugh brushed against my parched throat as I sat on the floor. Because of my trembling legs, I accidentally fell. And now I could not bring myself to stand.

My trembling hands gripped tighter on the skirt of my dress as my head hung low. I kept on heaving dryly as my heart continued to pound roughly against my chest. And the tears that I was trying to keep and hold back were now running down my cheeks.

"I'm not c-crying. You're n-not seeing m-me crying," I stuttered at the words that came out of my dried lips. The man following me just a while ago stood behind me.

"Yes. You're not crying," His familiarly warm voice made me cry even more.

I was heaving and panting in an attempt to stop my tears from falling even more. Then I felt the man behind me knelt, and the next thing I knew was him carrying me in his arms.

His familiar and comforting warmth won over my desperate attempts to build another façade to protect myself. I was oblivious as to where he was bringing me because I was too carried away bawling my eyes out.

"I'M SORRY FOR BOTHERING you." My lips were pursed as I wiped my cheeks with the handkerchief he lent me.

We were currently in a spot in the garden, hiding behind a huge tree. This is where he brought me, outside the Moon Palace.

"You did? How did you bother me?" He asked as he leaned his back against the tree.

I glanced at him with my lips pouting a little then I gently hit his arm. "Why are you even here, Rin?" I asked.

Rin chuckled softly as he rubbed his arm that I hit.

"I came here as a guest," he answered. Lies. "So, what happened?" He quickly changed the topic, as if he didn't want me to ask any more questions about him. And I had to roll my eyes at him because of that.

"Someone special came back to the family. My mind felt so stressed that I ended up crying. I don't usually cry, so I find it difficult when the emotions fill me, especially when someone sees me. It makes me feel pathetic."

I lowered my head as if I were hiding my swollen face from him. The uneasiness that was threatening to rise inside of me quickly died down when Rin patted my head.

"Crying will make you feel better and stronger. You should not hold yourself back. Just cry until you can't shed any more tears."

Those were words that somehow comforted my sad heart. And right now, I feel warm despite the rough situation I'm currently in.

We both watched the night sky. No one spoke between us, but the silence surrounding us felt comforting enough to say the least.

"Thank you. But I'll still definitely kick you if anyone finds out that I cried," I playfully threatened him.

Rin chuckled as he placed a hand over his chest, as if placing a promise. "I won't tell anyone, Lily."

Just as I was feeling a little better, a burning sensation throbbed against my arm. A crease formed on my forehead as I held onto my right arm, pressing it against my chest.

What the? Ebony?

I tried calling for Ebony, but he wasn't answering. Only the throbbing pain on my arm was responding. Rin looked at me worriedly and tried helping me, but he, who doesn't know what's happening to me, couldn't do anything as well.

"Lily? What's wrong?" He tried checking my arm by carefully holding it away from my chest. "This," he muttered. "Isn't this a spirit seal?" He asked, surprised when he saw the glowing symbol on my wrist.

Indeed. It was Ebony's contract seal. But why is it throbbing painfully like this?

"Master!" My head quickly turned towards the Moon Palace when I heard Ebony's voice calling out to me. He sounded like he was in trouble.

"We should head inside first!" I quickly grabbed Rin's hand and dragged him with me back inside the Moon Palace.

Ebony! Where are you? But Ebony didn't answer again.

All I could hear were faint voices that I couldn't understand. My arm was still throbbing but as we headed closer inside, the pain slowly disappeared, and the voices became familiar.

"Master! I'm here!" His voice was echoing from the same room where the Eveningstars and the Emperor were. Now I could clearly hear the familiar voices of my father and brothers.

"Who the hell's behind this?"

"Why would they even use a spider?"

"Do you think this is an assassination attempt?"

Those were a few words I heard before I pushed the door open. I quickly let go of Rin's hand and I was panting heavily as I went inside the room. They all looked at me with wide eyes because of my sudden appearance.

"Elisse? What are you doing here?" Father asked, his voice laced with worry. He might have noticed my swollen face.

Instead of answering him, my gaze quickly fell on the spider that Kaiser was holding captive inside the magical cage he made on top of the table.

"That. That's my spider." I could see the confused look on Kaiser's face when he heard me.

"What do you mean it's yours?" Eclipse glowered at me. He seemed suspicious of me.

"Are you the one who sent this to harm me?" Eilisha pointed towards me as she dropped an accusation.

I looked at her as if she was spouting something nonsensical. "I just met you today. Don't get ahead of yourself." I know that was rude, but she was being rude too.

Ebony? Can you hear me?

"What do you mean the spider is yours, Elisse?" Caspian repeated his brother's question.

I glanced at Ebony before looking back at them. "I meant he's mine. That's my spider. My precious pet spider," I answered, frowning at them.

"Elisse." Father went beside me. He held both of my hands as he looked at me. Aside from the worry occupying his eyes, there was a certain emotion glistening in them, yet I couldn't understand what it meant. "Did you leave your spider before you left earlier?"

"Nope," I said, shaking my head. "My Ebony tends to lurk around. But he's a harmless spider, unlike what a certain someone accuses him of," I added, not breaking eye contact with him.

I'm sure enough that Ebony won't leave my side without asking permission. So, what happened?

"Are you sure this spider's harmless, Lady Elisse? Surely, if it bites anyone or a certain someone you hate, they would be poisoned." Now, clearly, the emperor's spouting nonsensical words like Eilisha. How can he be so obvious in framing me into doing something I was unaware of?

My eyes squinted as I turned my gaze at him and Eilisha. Now that I was focused on the both of them, I could feel this weird sensation of energy surrounding them. As if they were linked for some weird reasons.

Ebony. I need your help now.

"I understand, master," Ebony answered. He seemed to be finally free from being strangled.

A small smile formed on my lips as I felt Ebony using my mana. He was unable to use my mana earlier, maybe that's the reason he got caught.

Spirits and mystical beasts can only be detected if they use their own mana. However, if they use their master's mana then they will be able to use the full potential of their power without getting detected.

"I don't understand why His Majesty, the Emperor, would think of something so absurd. This is my first time seeing Eilisha in the flesh, and I have no reason to hate her."

I wish I could wipe the smirk from this old man's face.

"Master, something doesn't feel right. There is something weird about both of them."

Are you unable to figure it out with your abilities?

"Elise," Father tried to calm me down a little by squeezing my hands.

"It might have been a fault of mine, but you couldn't blame me, Lady Elisse. I heard rumors about you that I unintentionally assumed that you're a crude lady."

I wonder how incompetent this Emperor can be.

"Your Majesty, that's enough. Insulting her means insulting our family. So, if you could refrain from using such vulgar words towards my daughter," father said, finally letting go of my hands and turning around to face the emperor.

"I want my spider back, Kaiser." I held out my hand in front of Kaiser.

He looked undecided, but I didn't give up. I don't plan to change Ebony's body since the spider suits him so well.

"I don't like repeating myself, Kaiser," my voice came out like a whisper then a gush of cold breeze exuded from me as my stare became intense.

I couldn't control myself anymore. It's been a tiring night for me. All the things that Marina and Scarlet did to make me look gorgeous for today's special event had gone to waste. And that's all because of this weird Emperor and this puppet-like lady.

Kaiser was still holding Ebony captive and I could feel their confused gazes pinned at me. I sighed.

"Ebony, come here," I ordered and with that, Ebony used his ability to break free from Kaiser's magical cage. He jumped up to my hand and crawled up to my shoulder.

They were surprised, but I ignored their questioning gaze. Without saying anything, I left the room. I was unsure about their current moods, but what's important is that Ebony's safe right now.

Good job, Ebony. Let's discuss this once we go home.

"I apologize about this ruckus, master," he said.

A faint smile graced my lips when I saw Rin still standing outside the room. Somehow, I felt relieved seeing him waiting for me. I thought he would leave first since I left him quickly, but I'm glad I was wrong.

"Will you allow me to bring you home, my lady?" Rin asked, offering his hand to me.

We were still visible to those inside of the room, yet we pretended not to notice them. I placed my hand on top of his, accepting his offer.

It must be better to go home with a strangeracquaintance than to sit in a carriage with the four of them.