:RHYS’s POV
Unfortunately, it is already nightfall, and I haven’t found what I am looking for.
I glanced up to the tree crown; the sky’s going to yield the night within minutes now and I am somewhat tired.
“Damn that devil,”
Not only was he stupid enough to accept my game, he actually used it to make me do a saving-the-day job.
Helping people is out of my league. You cannot just expect me to help people without a reason, and he knows that too damn well.
But, he is just there, dilly dallying in his office, assuming that I will be skipping his challenge but he thought wrong.
If I were to find an alternative herb, the doctor could use to treat the flu, I will be triumphant in his freaking bet. I will have to win another one and finally, be free from him. I’ll be back to that darned kingdom and return to my clean-up job. That would be better than being stuck here, wasting my t
:RHYS’s POV“My my, beasty actually got sick!” That black-haired demon upsettingly uttered, as he stood beside the end of my bed. “I never thought a human body be this frail.”“I am so sorry, Lady Rhys, I shouldn’t have left you yesterday.” The dragon girl spoke up next, apologizing about that bygone moment. “David will help with the search in your stead so please, be at ease.”“Lady Rhy-su,” A familiar sweet voice of a girl then softly fretted, “Get well soon for Theon,”“That is enough guys, give the Lady a rest,” Another voice broke out somewhere from the door, which I was entirely not aware who it was.“Aww, come on Fish, just for a minute.” The young girl then again sadly pouted.I listened to their faint footsteps as they headed out one by one, before closing the door behind.Th
: ANEMONE’s POV“I will search at the southern part of the riverbank, while David, take the north,” I instructed when the three of us finally reached the river bank at the deeper part of the forest to continue our search.“Mister Ryu, if you don’t mind, search around this area, but do not stroll too far. We will meet here at lunchtime.”They all nodded before we went to our separate ways.Since we dragons are susceptible to danger, being alone is not a big deal, for a mere beast does not stand a chance.We already know what the elder tree and hyssop look like after research last night. Master Theon managed to find a sketch of those two in a medical book that Fish bought from the market, and Lady Rhys was right, it is pretty convenient for flu and the fact that it was growing somewhere in this kind of place made her intuition even more remarkable.“She is s
:THEON’s POV “I dozed off again, huh,” I slowly mumbled without opening my eyes, and without moving a muscle. Somehow, I woke up from my slumber when that distressing scene recurred in my mind; that time she held my cheek like that. Damn it. I covered my flustered face with my palm, trying not to think much about it. That, in no doubt, ---actually hurts! Pinching my cheek with too much force, I will not let that slide just like that! That is why, yeah, I did some reading and research the entire night, not necessarily for her okay?. This lack of sleep is making me frustrated about small kinds of stuff. My hard works are for my people, always for the people’s sake. I am onto winning that bet, but she, in the end, claimed her victory without even any outstanding results. She's quite confident for a slayer. What makes her think someone like her could save a life? I sign
: THEON's POV Before dusk illuminated the western sky, everyone came home with complete happiness on their faces regardless of the tiring work they did today. “Theon!” Luna, with her daily dose of hugs, gave me a tight embrace as soon as she came home with a piece of good news. Only then did I learn about Rhys taking the initiatives while I was sleeping soundly. With Luna’s help, Rhys elaborated on the extracting process of the herbs, the do’s and don’ts, and the dosage to her by writing it all on a piece of paper. Then Luna delivered it to Ane. They all helped with the extracting process in the infirmary, and somehow, it showed great results. David still had not come home though, and the forest is not safe either. I would want to resolve that issue as soon as possible since he’s the one who helped me find her that day. David had been observing her from afar, but he does not have the vigor to check whoev
:THEON’s POV I left her room after our well-brought-up talk and natural ending. That was surprising, she knew about it all along. It was like she brought the topic out in the means of letting me know she knew. How come? Harith informed me they are unaware of where the Astrays’ formidability came from. Yeah, the Astrays member that I met was him. He led a mutiny in the memory of his lost young friend, which was Rhys’s father. That loss was unbearable to him, that he ended up believing the rumors even though he knew it was me who arranged it; he refused to accept the truth--- that the young crown prince’s death was my fault. I wonder if he regretted it, saving me back then. I admit I regret nothing from what I did because I am able to save my kind. I could have considered my actions an act of treason to him but, it is such a bother he didn’t loathe me after all of that. In the reign of the new king
:RHYS’s POV“You’ve changed,” Dantalion whispered to me before he left me standing there.Damn it!Why did he suddenly show up?Intensely, I stared at this furnished stone wall, glistened by the quarter moon outside the mansion. My fist orbed and my jaw tightened.“Damn it,” I madly growled, punching the wall, owning to anger. I cursed five times with an alternating heavy punch in between. The sound of my knuckles clashing with this sturdy wall, together with my grumbles, lingered on the silent atmosphere.“Damn it!”My last blow remained in touch with the blood-stained wall as I gasped for air. I slowly stared at the starry sky while savoring the excruciating pain in my newly bruised hands. It was stinging so badly, but it wasn’t enough for me to elude myself from my uninvited thoughts.As much as I try to sweep it away, th
: LUNA’s POVWhy is everyone a bit weird today?I thought as I glanced around the almost empty dining table while we four take our breakfast. It was unlike before where we tell stories and laugh as we eat, and today, they were all silent. The clattering sound of the stainless spoon striking the porcelain plate enveloped our surroundings instead.It was unbearable to hear.Lady Rhys skipped a meal again, and then Theon did not join the seat either, getting along to this ‘not eating for a reason’ trend. Ane was the oddest one since yesterday because of her aura, while Mister Ryu did not change. He just got silent.I and Liam only looked at each other with curiosity.Did something happen yesterday?Did Theon and Lady Rhys’s date ended up bad?I and Liam are playing in the outlying area of a village yesterday, and as we came home, that is where everything
:RHYS’s POV“Ah that,” Luna brightly muttered. “Since I was a child, I can see a human and dragon’s uniqueness! Humans are only normal to my eyes while dragons, they have some colorful orb enclosing them!”She ended with a grin painted on her face.Who in the world are you, Luna? There is no doubt that the blood flowing in your veins is gifted. Not just any gift, is it possible that Luna is part of the Rossel Family?That clan did not grow that much and is said to have flowed in one line throughout their generation. Dantalion is the only child of the Rossel household, so where did Luna actually come from?She mentioned meeting someone yesterday who has those same grey eyes like hers. It is no other than Dantalion himself, right? But I wonder, is Luna familiar to him when he met her?I did not unveil this issue to that green-haired demon yesterday and if I wer
: RHYS’s POV “I want a dozen, no, hundreds of copies of books, original or not,” I demanded. “I’ll be opening a library in Weinthwoods and I need a supply.” Here at the Main Trading Center that works directly for the King himself, I boldly ask. “Your highness,” Old Sir Desmond trembled with fear as he sat on his desk. He reasoned, “Just as the Wise king had said before, books are not needed in the country.” With a swift swing of his hand, pushed his silver bangs that fell from his quiver. He bore a fake grin on his pale lips. Praying that I will take his advice of not going against that foolish king. I am not exactly 'going against', as if that King could even resist my will. “The King has nothing to do with my decisions, Sir Desmond.” I raised my voice. “I am the second princess of the court, the future Marchioness of Weinthwoods.” I appealed, “What makes you think my evaluations aren’t in the m
: THEON’s POV “Wake up, Theon!” a familiar young voice called out as she pulled my blanket away. “It’s almost sunrise!” She added, forcing me to wake up. I slowly dragged my body, compelling me to sit on my bed, but the not-so-bright light that crept on my open window sent me blinking three times just to adjust my blurry vision. Another day broke, and I, no, we---are still alive. Who must I give my thanks to? “Damn,” I muttered before massaging my heavy and aching forehead. Not only that, “Damn, what a terrible dream.” I shrieked quietly and covered my blistering face with both of my palms. Hangovers are problematic, it gives such unrealistic nightmares. “What did you dreamed of?” Luna, who seemed to have heard my grumbles, asked as she stood beside the edge of my bed, “You’re turning red.” She added, causing some unwanted memories to flash through my mind. “Don’t ask!” I ann
: RHYS’s POV “The Smith household is really that popular huh,” I astonishingly mumbled while reading some reports about the Smiths here inside the evil devil’s lair. “How come I failed to hear about them when I was at the castle?” “Nah,” I smirked, “As if I care about humans before." Earlier, after a thirty-minute or less stroll under the night sky, I reached the manor. I asked Fish to collect all valuable information about that foolish household when I finally reached home, but he assertively led me here instead. He also informed me that the Marquis had been keeping an eye on them ever since…--um, I don’t know; he didn’t tell me. That guy Fish, what a funny name. Even though his voice isn’t that familiar, his face does. The second time I took a closer look at him earlier, he is certainly that old man’s former dragon partner. Well, it doesn’t look like he didn’t have a choice, though. To stay her
: THEON’s POVAs I stood beside the open window, I shrieked. “This is bad.” I glanced at them, “A wedding a month from now?!”“Yeah,” Rhys corresponded without hints of anxiety, “It is what the paper says,” she added while she stilled her attention on that rolled-out scroll.Why are you so calm? Damn it!Ryu, who was leaning on the closed door behind Rhys with his palms on his nape, joined the conversation, “I wonder why the king declared such all of the sudden,” He slowly strolled towards Rhys’s sitting figure and bent his back down to read the scroll with her. He actually wore that freaking attitude. Yeah, he unerringly smirked.“Days from now, they will hold an engagement party at that kingdom, huh, both of your presence is needed.” He informed.“They even decided to concurrently hold the wedding together with that once
: RYU’s POVMy three days after the official opening of the Fall festival was boring. Yet, not as boring compared to my time back at the Underworld.One thing that had left me astounded was the lantern moment. A wish for another from a genuine heart, will it come true?Futile, who in this retching world is going to grant such hope? That festival is nothing but created for fun. No one up above will hear your pleas, because none exists up there.I know, because I tried.I cringe at myself whenever I remember that time I knelt on that verdant ground, and with the top of my lungs, I clamored to the night sky; just at least make that one wish come true.It was the stupidest thing I have done in my entire life.Two weeks must have passed ever since I left Underworld and has been forty-three years since I left that home, but not a single regret is gnawing my core. Who wouldn’t? ---since the ‘m
: ANEMONE’s POV“Calm down, Ane,” I furiously mumbled to myself as I walk straight ahead, “David is not acting weird, it is just like Theon. That their trivial gentleness does not mean something more like special meanings.”You are no special Ane, to begin with.You are just one desperate woman longing to be loved and because of that, you almost lead someone to their misfortune. With those stains, you have no right to love again.David has been with me as a friend, and I don’t want to cross that line twice.Since I am now free from my old self, I have the need to maintain it. I guess.Your priority right now is to protect those that are important to you without the necessity to have them do the same.So Ane, you do not need a hear—“Oy,” A warm hand suddenly gripped my cold one. I shivered upon the contact, compelling me to stop.
: DAVID’s POV“It is getting late,”I mumbled as I stood at the entrance of the town, waiting for a certain person to show up. The cold air embraced me while the cacophony of chattering voices jammed my ears. A gentle wind wailed, taking along the pleasing scent of the once stapled cuisines.Even though losing my other vision is making my head throb, the bright placements of lights were a lambent sight.At this rendezvous. I want to spend my time here with her.---but I am just the guy whom she barely notices.Just like her, I kept this ardent feeling for myself. I have lived long enough to understand that such affection can artlessly spawn, but the act of reciprocation isn’t some sort of bonus.Taking the risk is beyond me and yearning for more is out of my league, knowing that we do not feel the same.Asking for such a meeting and expecting her to come is some intrepi
“I guess there is no helping then,” I muttered, and then cupped the right side of my face with my cold palm. “Since Ane failed to hurt me after knowing my identity. We’ll have to wait for the one last bet to finish.”That demon! Interfering with my goals. He has the guts to stick his nose in my game. What is he up to?Why did he suddenly decide to help this green-haired devil?I can’t blame him if he started continuing his lame plan, but it doesn’t matter now. The last bet is something he cannot predict and impede. It is such a bother I made this bet to work fair and square.Unpleasantly, my mind flashed a horrible memory. Back to the time I actually cried.--once again.Those tragedies that once troubled me before do not inflict the same pain anymore. Instead, it only made me recognize it, sadness.How troublesome.From the corner of my eye, I noticed him move, making me glance at him.
: THEON’s POV “I feel sick.” I mumbled as I rested my cheek on the rough surface of my table, feeling my stomach turn around like a whirlpool. It has been growling too loud lately that I can’t even stay at the dining table for more than a minute. Where did I get these? Was it from our food earlier? “Come on, Theon,” Luna exclaimed after she entered my room with her furnished ponytail matching her new orange dress outlined with white maple leaves at the brim, ready for the festival, “Midnight is coming,” “I’ll pass,” I mumbled with my weak, sour voice. “But,” She pouted, “Everyone will go, except for Rhys though.” Yeah, simply because she is injured; I don’t think she can go. Now that I am kind of sick, I don’t want to move a muscle with this twirling belly. The festival is a one-week celebration; I will visit right after I am fine. “Go on now,” I uttered, sending her off on her journey, “Mid