MY FACE was imprinted with a frown when I saw Prince Henicio as he bowed to my father's presence. He was greeting us for paying a visit today. I was beside my father when he welcomed him warmly.
"That lowly prince was here again," I whispered to myself.
Their prince was older than me by twenty years but we almost looked the same because of how he looks. That is also the reason why I cannot give my respect to him as an elder person. Aside from that, I did not really like him as a person in general. He looks like a traitor, smells like a traitor and moves like a traitor. If only his breath could form a word, traitor it is. He looks like the type to betray you at any given time.
After the greetings, I pulled the hem of Matias' clothes and gestured to him that we were leaving the pla
My hands were trembling as I tried to hold him with the tears that were slowly clouding my sight. I held his shoulder and shook him gently."Father, wake up!" I said with a shaking voice as I felt a strange feeling of fright in me, crying.I immediately stopped crying when he suddenly moved and opened his eyes slowly."What happened, Father?" He did not utter a word and just stared at me so I turned to Matias and said, "Matias, get some help! Hurry!" Frantic as I was, Matias was the worst. He is so shocked that he did not know what to do so I do not have a choice but to shout at him to help him regain some consciousness. He looked at me and nodded his head, dashing through the door with full speed.I looked at my father again and saw that he was forcing himself to touch my cheeks with little strength he had in him. His hands were full of blood."Who did this to you, Father?""Aliara, my one and only Princess…" he said with a strugglin
WITH A sword on my hand, I moved towards the place where Henicio is when I landed my eyes on him. I wore the outfit that I always use when I battle to protect some of my vital parts from his attack.All I could hear was the sounds of screaming of people and the clanging of metal words when hitting each other. We are fighting by the front of the palace together with our allies fighting with the enemies for our sole reason, to conquer each other.I gave him a furious glare while our swords were glued together with equal force. He put great strength to it to inch near me but I gave it to him with the same energy and enthusiasm."Pay the price for killing my father!" I said with anger lingering in my voice.He just glared at me that
SLOWLY, I opened my eyes and saw that it was already dark. The fireflies were all over the place, the thing I can only see in this darkness. But a lamp beside me caught my attention when I regained consciousness. It was not an ordinary lamp. I narrowed my eyes as I looked into the intricate design of it. Delicate and expensive. I am certain that it was from a well off person.I looked around the surroundings when I realized who was the one who owned it. From my place, I can see another speck of light in the darkness. It was towards the direction walking away from me in accordance with its speed.I quickly stood on the rock I was lying on and took the lamp to come and follow the light for a reason I am not aware of. But I made a wrong step on the twigs and dried leaves creating a sound that is not much needed in this situation. I stopped and looked in front of me, getting nervous.The horse stopped on its track and he quickly looked at me, shocked. I just stared
MY EYES went wide when I saw Sevasti stormed inside my room. His eyes were full of longing when it landed into mine.He greeted me with a hungry and heated kiss, the reason why my comb slipped through my grip onto the floor as I went with the wave of heat with him. I snaked my arms around his neck, slightly jumped to make my limbs snaked on his waist. He bent his body backwards as he lifted me off the ground and slowly walked through the room into my bed, his lips never leaving mine.Preparing to sleep, I was only wearing my undergarments as he arrived without notice. He quickly get on top of me when he got me lying on my bed, taking away his lips from mine for some seconds to remove my dress. His eyes were dreamy as he looked down on me, almost drunk. Other emotions like lust can also be seen in his eyes and many other inexplicable and
I sighed.As I was about to stand, I halted when I heard a voice speaking on the far side beside me. It was none other that Matias. It looks like he never left the hall when I thought he did when the others left."Did something happen last night?" he asked, catching my attention."What would happen? Why would anything happen? There is nothing happening!" I said to him aggressively, which shocked him.I immediately realized what I just did and stood. I, too, am shocked with my reaction."I was just asking," he calmly said.My eyes sharpened at him to mask the shame I am feeling as of the moment. "Do not ask if something happened beca
I GENTLY opened my eyes one morning thinking that everything that happened was just a stupid dream, if not the worst nightmare. The thing between me and Sevasti up until to the point where we got beaten at our attack on the Auction.I quickly got up to prepare myself for the long day ahead. The two kids that were with me when I slept were gone. When I had already finished fixing myself, I went outside my room and every step I made, people were greeting me with utter respect and glee which I returned with my sincerest smile.The outside welcomed me with its warm air as I saw our comrades grinding away their training under the heat of the morning sun at the open part of the field in front of the palace. They are perfectly lined in front of a wood covered in straw to be used as a makeshift enemy to attack. The straw makes it softer s
Soon, I found one. A fine young lady, noblewoman. I grinned to my delight. It seems like she was furious about something, looking at how crouched her servants were being scolded by her. They are farther from where I was standing so I take a turn to further lessen our distance. I scanned her clothes and when I saw what I wanted from her, I swiftly moved past beside her. Getting the purse of money on her waist without her knowing.I continued walking without looking back at her until she was out of my sight. I grinned as I opened the purse while my attention was focused on my surroundings. It was like a fleeting moment when I took a glance at what the purse contained and lit with glee when I saw. It was all gold coins."I am never wrong," I said to myself before I closed it and hid it.I
I HANDED Hurisa the pouch of coins since she is the one who manages it. She wrinkled her forehead as she looked at what was inside it."This is the eleventh one this week. Are you planning to leave again?" she asked as she looked at me.I nodded and smiled."I plan to leave and go to the market again tomorrow so that I can give you more.”"What kingdom are you going to this time?”"To Widolla, but it will be a few more days from now.”"Do you really need to go to the market tomorrow? This is enough along with the previous ones that you’ve provided. I think it will lasts us until next month. Will you stay in t
Sevasti's Point of View I WATCH her in the middle of the forest, here in Kozania. She was sitting in front of the clear water of the stream, the thing that is between us. I was so far away from her the reason why I think she did not notice me. Also, she seemed to be out of it and was thinking deeply to even notice my presence. She had been here earlier in the afternon and now it was getting dark but her position did not seem to change even in the slightest. I exhaust my eyes just staring at her beauty, at her hair wavy every time the wind blew. She is dressed better now than before. Truly, she became the queen of Kozania. She had achieved her dream of rebuilding her kingdom, and I am happy for her. Even if it costs the death of my father and us losing the ownership of the throne in Farianio. It was never ours to begin with so it was only just for it to be returned to its rightful owner. This is my only free time to stare at her because as soon as she feels my presence, I will immed
I LOOKED at Adrina when we reached Farianio's palace. Tonight, to be sure to really surprise them with our attack, and another is for them not to be ready so that we can easily conquer this kingdom.Everyone is in the dark, hiding and waiting for the signal so that they can show up to the opponents. We use the sturdy weapons made by the Verdantes.It also took a long time before Dardo made his decision but in the end he chose to be my ally. I gave him a chest of gold which he really enjoyed. But he did not join our attack, considering the welfare of his kinsmen. I did not force him either. We have enough weapons from him and I think that is enough.He nodded at me so I smiled and turned to Vivi."Vivi," I told her. He flew away from my shoulder and fly freely through the air."Start the attack! Start the attack!" he shouted repeatedly with his shrill voice until it reached all our comrades.I pulled the sword out of its sheath and jumped fro
"I LOVE you so much, Aliara! And yes, you are wrong if that is what you are thinking about me. You are the only woman I have ever loved in my whole life. The woman I will continue to love and will love until the last of my breaths," he said, seemingly trying to make me understand what is being said by him as the heaviness of his breath intensified. He looked down and when he spoke again, calmly. "I am sorry that I am not with you in all your suffering. I am not there when you need me. I am not there when you are looking for me. But, Aliara, I really want to go and see you at times you want me to be there. I want to save and protect you but my father always stops me. He does everything just so I cannot see you." His mouth clenched his jaws and turned to face me again, his eyes full of anger, longing and sadness. "I really love you, Aliara. That will never change. I hope you will forgive me for all my shortcomings. And please, do not take away your love for me. I cannot afford to lose
He also smiled and seemed defiant. "How can I not know that there was such a commotion that day. The rebels that were a threat to the peace of Farianio escaped. The fairies only saved you, the reason why you are still alive today. Who would have thought that even the fairies were on your side? Maybe you really ought to live quite a long life.""It will still take a long time because I am barely done with everything I have to do." I moved closer to him, he did not budge and just stayed in his place. "But how do you make sure they are fairies? You just heard that they can control plants, do you not? You know it was not just fairies that had the ability to control plants."His forehead furrowed, wondering, and eventually that was replaced by panic."But--how ..."I proudly smiled and nodded softly at him. Agreeing with what is currently in his mind right now. Yes, Dardo, Hederon. They are not yet dead. They are just hiding from our sight. And now, it is time
WHEN Adrina and I met again, she gave me another hope to continue what I had started, revenge on Henicio. She talked to me a few times about it but when I asked her why she was encouraging me, she did not answer and in fact, changed the subject.Now, I am standing in the middle of the forest while looking at the moon as I realized why she wanted me to kill Hencio. She wants revenge because of Matias. It is not hidden from my knowledge that she loves the man and even though I did not see her grief at his death, I know how much she felt at that moment.Perhaps, she has not forgotten yet. She has not lost her anger for the creatures that were the root of all of this. Especially with Hencio. He is the one who is responsible for all of this so he is the one to be avenged.I turned to Zalina who was by my side, she was Adrina's mother but she seemed to have aged just a little ahead of me when it came to appearance. Adrina and I were with her when I went to the V
We now face the creatures who were watching. The reactions they show vary but curiosity prevails. I closely watched them as the soldiers adjusted the rope at my height. That only faded when I heard Vivi’s loud whistling in the air. He circled the creatures in front of us before approaching them. He did not stop flying, but his eyes were focused on me.A soldier pulled me up again to attach the rope to my neck, I just let him do that, still looking at Vivi. Earlier, he had been quiet all the way down as he followed us and I know he was sad now as he witnessed my fate. Her chirps seemed to be crying as I heard it so I also felt sad. I will leave him. It was just now that thought crossed my mind. That I will be leaving him.I smiled at him to convey that it was all right. That he did not have to cry and be sad. I know he can do everything without me. She can find a new friend to love and take care of him like I did. Otherwise, he will join other birds and live
THE SURROUNDINGS were bright as the sun had already risen when we reached the center of Farianio. The creatures parted to give way to us, curiosity was written in their eyes as they looked. The soldiers were in front and on our side, watching us closely as if we could still escape in this condition. Aside from chaining our hands, we were already tired and weak from the long journey. And most of us were still wounded.I could no longer walk properly because of my trembling leg. The aching wound in my thigh seemed to spread all over my body. My sweat was dripping, my throat was dry and I was definitely pale because of the blood I had lost.These stupid soldiers do not even give us a drop of water."Aliara," Casias called, he was just next to me. Hands were also tied and had nothing to do but obey these soldiers. He called me several times but I never looked back at him.This stupid traitor! He still really wants to talk to me."Do not talk to me," I
I nodded and stomped on his foot. His jaws clenched and we applied more strength to our swords, still stuck to the air. I quickly backed away and struck the sword I was holding on his stomach but he immediately dodged so it just touched his clothes.He gripped his sword tightly and successively rushed at me but I avoided everything as he continued to retreat. When he stopped, I turned around and rushed first, with each strike of my sword he shielded it with his weapon. However, I hit him several times with my arm and hand. But because he was strong he was not shaken by those measly attacks.Annoyed, I blew a massive puff of air when he kicked me on the side, I backed away and stopped. My eyes were firm as I turned to him. I was ready to rush again but I stopped when an arrow hit my arm causing me to release the sword I had in my grip.My mouth stopped at the pain I felt here. I did not notice it coming! However I no longer paid attention to it when Favier rushed
"YOU ARE a princess, Aliara?" Rowan spoke again but I ignored him.And since Casias was also not surprised by that, it was only a fact that Favier was stating the truth, that he was affiliated to the palace.I smirked after a while, sarcastically. There are many questions in my mind but I am slowly coming to an understanding on what is happening now. They have known each other for a long time, even before I came here to Ohayas. It was very clear that Casias had betrayed me, he pretended to know nothing about me, that he did not know me. Perhaps that fool Henicio is watching over me. And this is the right time to kill me.Am I quick to trust so I am always betrayed by the people around me?I want to laugh at myself for that question.But even if he deceived me now I do not intend to question him. It also does not matter if I ask him why he did this to me. All of them wants only my life.And I will not just give my life without resisting.