Chapter 3

Alessia's POV

Elijah and I walked together but he followed me. Everyone we pass looks at us and bows. Elijah and I both didn't speak.

Just a few more steps and we will reach my room. I immediately saw the door of my room so I sped up my steps and reached for the handle and turned it to open.

When I opened it, the smell of flowers immediately hit me. No, it's my fragrant lingering in this room. I don't know but I smell like that, it smells like tulips I don't know why.

Estrebelle immediately stood up and greeted Elijah and me.

"Estrebelle, can you go out first?" I asked him.

I didn't see any reaction in his eyes and Estrebelle quickly obeyed as if she had to do it.

Estrebelle quickly closed the door so Elijah and I were the only two in the room. I looked at the tree, I knew that it would not be noticed especially and that it was blocked by the curtain of my bed.

"Come on." I babysit Elijah and I lead him to walk.

Elijah calmly followed me and I went to the tree and stopped in front of it. I also felt Elijah's breathing, knowing that he was surprised by what he was seeing now.

I didn't want to break his shock so I remained silent and felt.

"How is this possible?" Elijah asked quickly and he stood next to me.

I turned to him and he was now looking at the tree. His face was full of wonder and amazement that I was not used to. Elijah is the type of person who is surprised, but you still don't notice that he is surprised.

"I don't even know how it happened. One day, he just grew." I answered him. But I had a great feeling that it was mixed with the ground. "Because something happened then. Sushi accidentally broke the flower pot. Even the medicinal plants were scattered on the floor, it looks like the seeds were mixed with the soil."

"But it doesn't grow no matter what you do to make it grow," Elijah said still surprised. I know it's strange but I can't do anything because even I wonder.

"I don't know how he grew," I replied to him.

He turned his eyes to me now and smiled. "I don't know what the mystery lies with these three, but I am still thankful. This is the only tree of life remaining now. In your room." He promised me.

"Ah, should we transfer it outside?"

He shook his head. "This tree is very delicate. I can see that he is comfortable where he is now. I think it's better to let it stay here." He said to me and I nodded but I was surprised when he suddenly touched me and our bodies immediately touched.

I gulped when he looked at me like I was the most beautiful thing in the world. His eyes, like the universe, are inside it, he has beautiful eyes laced with thick lashes. Compared to my emerald-colored eyes. His black long hair framing his face is like a glory.

"Uhmm, what are you doing?" Can I stop asking him? He's acting this way and I'm not used to it. I shouldn't be used to it because I've never been in a relationship in my entire life.

"I hate it when we are like thieves. Stealing time just to see you. Don't have the freedom to be with you." He sadly promised me.

I understand him because I feel the same way. But we have to do it that way.

"Because we are fighting against destiny. We have no choice but to act like a criminal." I answered him and put my hand on his chest. "And can you let me go? I don't know what I'll do if Estrebelle sees us like this." I promised him and I heard his laugh. It's a low sexy voice chuckle. I don't even know how he does it.

"She won't come in, not until I'm out," Elijah assured that it was obvious that the servants in the palace knew very well what they were going to do. "So let me kiss—"

"No." And I pushed him but he didn't even move.

I saw how his brow furrowed because of my response.

"Why?" In his tone, it was as if I had disenfranchised him. It's still my fault.

"Elijah, it's not proper for you to kiss me whenever you want. And we shouldn't be even physical with each other. I'm not even your boyfriend." I answered him that I was clarifying the state of both of us.

His eyebrows rose. "Sweetheart, I am not kissing you whenever I want. If only I can follow my heart, I will kiss you every time. I will not even care if someone is watching." He reasoned with me that he was making it appear that I was wrong. "For me, I'm your boyfriend. You're the only one out of the two of us who thinks I'm not your boyfriend." Elijah suddenly frowned as if he remembered something. "No label? I am labeling us, as lovers whether you like it or not."

I frowned. "It's not that easy, your majesty." Is it that easy for him to have a relationship with me?

He frowned even more because of what I said.

"What makes it difficult for you?" He asked me still not letting me go.

I swallowed before answering. "You're not flirting, you just declared that you like me. And yes, I like you too, but it doesn't mean that I am already your girlfriend. I'm not easy to get, your majesty. Earn my yes, before sucking my face again."

He looked at me in surprise. "You're calling it sucking?"

I raised my eyebrows. "I prefer that way because we are not in a relationship."

"Sweetheart, I didn't suck you yet. That was just a peck!" He complained that I seemed to be accusing him of something he did not do.

That was just a peck? I didn't even know it was called a peck. Yes, our lips meet each other, but not like those in the movies, exchanging saliva and tongue-licking kisses.

"You can't still kiss me, your highness. It's inappropriate." I answered him and smiled triumphantly because I saw the frown on his face.

"Jeez, why can't you just be the one fated to me? If it's you, I'll marry you right away." He said and suddenly brought our foreheads together. "Though, I am still marrying you after this mess." He promised me tenderly. "I wanted to kiss you so badly, but I will endure it. I will court you to your satisfaction." He said and I was shocked when he kissed me on my forehead.

I was unable to speak because of his actions. I just can't believe that he has this part of his personality. I can't quite imagine, what kind of boyfriend he is. Will his tenderness get worse or is this it?

He broke up with me. "I'll go now. I'll be gone for a few days, be a good girl here sweetheart." He tapped my head like I am a little kid.

"A-alright," I responded to him again so he quickly left my room and I just followed him with my eyes.

•••

We were all outside watching Elijah's group leave. With it, Stefano and the ten sentinels were on their way to Eleftheria.

I silently observed them and Elijah simply looked at me but he didn't talk to me anymore. There is no sister, she still does not come out of her room, even though the whole kingdom knows that the king is leaving for Eleftheria. Where it is infested with wild creatures.

All I can do is pray for their safety. I hope nothing bad happens on their journey. I hope they can overcome what they need to do in Eleftheria.

"Why does the dear king need to go there in person? That place is dangerous for all immortals." The waitress next to me, whose name I don't know, started crying.

"They said it was important, so the dear king needed to visit it in person." The person next to it answered.

Their goal is indeed important there. An ordinary immortal couldn't do that. Only Elijah can enter a volcano.

"Let's just pray for their safety." The person next to me is still crying.

"We're leaving," Stefano promised everyone.

We watched them in silence and I gulped when Elijah gave me one last look before they galloped their horses out of the Palace.

I covered my mouth and nose because of the dust that was flying now because of the horses. We watched them go away until we could no longer see them.

"Mr. Ales!" Syn called me that now they are coming closer to me. Angelica was with him who was quiet.

"Why?" I asked him calmly.

"We were just wondering why you didn't come along on the trip to Eleftheria?" It asked me. The other waitresses also looked at me. Maybe, that's what they think because I should be with the king's travels, no matter where that goes.

I smiled at Syn. "The King did not allow me to come. He said the place was too dangerous." I answered him.

I saw the surprise on their faces. "I don't know when a king has been so concerned about those who are below him," Syn commented.

"Syn, stop." Angelica is now Sita, preventing Syn from speaking.

"Because it's true," Syn said with a snort.

"They say I'm too young to go on such dangerous walks." I'll just explain to them. Even if that's not the reason. The reason I was young was not Elijah's problem. He was thinking of me.

I saw that Syn agreed. "That's right, it's hard to take you guys along."

It's like it said that I'm a burden. Even though he didn't mention it, it was the same for me. But I can't blame him because that's the truth.

"He means Mr. Ales, it's hard to lose a good physician." Angelica's groin is that I think, any time, she will tweak Syn.

I nodded to both of them. That's not a big deal to me because it's true that I'll just be a burden if I go along. I am not like Elijah with power. I'm not like Stefano who can fight.

"Alright, I'm going back to the infirmary. I'll go ahead of you two." I said goodbye to them and turned back. They are gone on a mission and that is to get the relic. Even if I thought they could do it, especially with the Basilisk gone, I still couldn't help but worry for their safety.

I walked towards the hospital room because it wasn't Anisto's time for the exam yet. I don't know when they will come back. No one can tell.

I reached the hospital room today and did what I usually do every day. It was so fast and I didn't realize that two hours had already passed.

Some people asked me for medicines or tonics to get their strength back. In a long time I have been receiving treatment here at the Palace, I have not been treated for anything other than fever. guests here only develop a fever if there is a serious complication such as an infection.

It's different from humans because if you're too stressed out, you'll get a fever. Just a little mist will catch you. There is a huge gap between the immunity of mortals and immortals.

I just leaned back in the chair when suddenly Anisto came in who seemed to be in a hurry. I frowned because of that.

"Have they left your majesty?" He quickly asked me a question that surprised me.

"Yes, it's been a few hours," I answered Anisto and I was surprised that Anisto was embarrassed because of what he found out.

"I have something to tell you." He promised me and went inside.

I was nervous that he might say that I feel very important.