Chapter 20

es"I went to Glaciers to check for Cool and wasn't there," Hailec said, a week after Cool disappeared.

"I know that. I just wanted to be sure."

"So what's your plan now?" He asked while looking at me reading a book in the library.

"It's either I look for him or he shows up," I answered nonchalantly.

"You're not worried about him?" He was confused with the disinterest I was showing.

I snap my fingers and small flames formed a message in the table between us.

'Someone's outside.'

His head turned towards the closed door of the library before it returned to face me.

"He left me here, alone. He promised me that he wouldn't, that he would stay beside me all the time. But he left. Without a word." I said using a pained voice but with a smirk plastered on my face.

"But you asked me to look for him?" he asked with a taunting smile.

"That was a foolish move. I just realized how stupid I was believing his promises." I replied.

And then we stopped talking, we were just waiting for someone to make a move.

A few moments later, we heard faint footsteps away from the door.

"Who was that?" he asked in a low voice.

"Blaze." Hailec's eyes widened when he heard me answer his question.

"How sure are you?" he questioned while raising one of his brows.

"I knew almost everyone's presence around here."

"Seriously?" he asked in disbelief.

"You're starting to talk like Sassy," I said and chuckled while he was scowling at my remark.

"Seriously, how did you memorize everyone's presence?" he repeated.

"I may have not known about Narte Fantasia before, but my parents are still training me with some stuffs with an excuse of me being a pyrokinetic." I saw him intently listening to me.

"They taught me how to read people based on their actions, movements, and words. My dad also trained me on how to differentiate the presence of each individual from one another." I added.

"Your parents are great." He said with a sad smile.

"Yeah, they are," I answered affectionately.

We remained in silence for a while, but unlike before it wasn't an uncomfortable one, it was so much better than before.

"So what's the real plan?" He later on asked.

I put down the book of prophecy which I was reading over and over for the last two days.

"There's no 'real plan'. I was waiting for the royalties' next move."

His forehead creased when he heard my answer. He leaned forward the table, putting his arms above it.

"Why? Won't you look for Cool?" he asked confused.

I smiled at him and leaned away from the table, relaxing my back on the backrest of the chair where I was seated.

"I am looking for Cool," I emphasized.

"You are? How?" He questioned with a confused face.

"I need to ride on with their antics. They were the only ones who knew where he was." I clarified and returned my eyes to the thick book which contains only one page inside.

"You called for me?" I asked, aggression was very evident with my tone as I entered her quarters.

"Fhyra, hija. You're a princess. Please do act a little more sophisticated." She reminded which I answered back with a scowl.

"What is it?" I implored instead.

I heard her sighed and slightly shook her head as if problematic or maybe she really is, with me.

I smirked with the thought.

For the past few weeks, I did nothing but to cause trouble around here.

There was that I'll interrupt the work of the people causing the delay of some 'important' businesses of theirs.

There's also a time when I 'accidentally' burned one of the arenas where students practiced their abilities.

But those where just some of my disastrous activities lately.

"We would be having dinner with the royalties, later tonight. Please be at your best condition." Queen Feu said firmly.

I scoffed at her and almost roll my eyes.

"I was always on my best," I said in a mocking voice.

"Fhyra." She called out in a warning voice.

I raised both of my hands in the air, surrendering.

"Is that all?" I probed.

"Yes."

"I shall go and prepare so that I can show you my 'best' condition then." I mocked one last time before turning around to leave her quarters.

"I mean it, Fhyra. I want you to face the crowd later at your best condition." She said when I was a step away from the red doors of her quarters.

I didn't even stop walking and just continued to open the door. I was finally able to breathe properly after I had completely left her quarters.

Ignis prepared an extravagant looking long-back dress for tonight's dinner.

The reddish halter dress was silky soft at the top. The red color then fades into something like glittery orange at the back.

The front side of the dress reaches a few inches above my knees while the backside reaches the ground.

Ignis also prepared the footwear which is a fairy styled sandals which I have a lace-like ribbons that I had to tie below my knees.

She also prepared my hair. It was now in a beautiful French twist and a few strands were left hanging to frame my face.

"You look pretty Fhyra." Ignis said in awe as she stared at me as she finished doing 'stuffs' on me.

"That's thanks to you," I said appreciatively.

I smiled back at her when she showed me one of those warm smiles of hers.

"The princess is too stunning, Your Highness!" someone said as we were waiting for the food to be served.

I was seated on the left side of the queen, who was seated on the corner of the table.

"They suited each other." Another insignificant person from the table said, talking about me and the Count who was seated beside me.

The Queen and Blaze's father laughed at the remark and joined the conversation too.

As the discussion continues I started to get hints about the purpose of this dinner tonight and I was very hopeful that I was wrong.

But the tiny strand of hope I had snapped when I heard Blaze's father talked.

"We must prepare earlier for the wedding. This should be extravagant! It's a marriage between the princess and a count!"

Everyone stilled when they heard my utensils harshly fell on my plate, creating an annoying sound.

"What is this all about? What marriage?" I asked while still staring at my food before I snapped my head towards my grandmother's side.

"What is this all about?" I asked her coldly, causing her smile from their conversation to fade.

"Princess—"

"Shut up! I'm not talking to you!" I said as I glared at Blaze and push away his hand that was trying to approach me.

I then shifted back my attention to the Queen.

"Your mother was supposed to marry Count Glitter before she run-off with your father." She said as if that would explain everything.

"And what was that supposed to do with me?"

"You are the Princess of this nation, hija. You'll soon take over the throne, you need a good man beside you." She said with finality.

Everyone in the table was bewildered when they saw me scoffed at what their queen said.

"Fhyra, mind your manners." She scolded with her eyes squinting towards me.

So this is why she wanted me to be in my "best" condition? 

I rose from my seat loudly, not minding what she said about my manners.

I was about to just quietly leave the hall to save her some face but she just had to say something to infuriate me.

"It's really a pity that Blare raised you with the mundanes and that Glacia boy! Look at you growing up with no manners!"

I felt hurt for my own mother. I felt hurt for my father. They did an amazing job raising me until now but this heartless woman here just has to drag their names in the mud as if they were the worst parents ever.

My palms closed and formed into a fist as I felt my anger rising within me.

"You don't have the right to question my parent's upbringing. They were so much better than you. " I said coldly before I left the hall, infuriated.

I didn't know where to go.

I don't have a place to go.

'Cool, where are you?' I mindlessly called out in my mind because of my dire situation.

'I'm right here, Princess.'  My eyes widened and I turned to look around when I heard his voice in my mind, and there he was, staring and standing not too far away from me.