Diane stayed cooped in her small cottage on the plot of land her father left her before he died. She sobbed and sobbed until she could cry no longer.
Days passed from the last time she saw Xander. She knew that he would have had to leave her; but she always wished it wasn't that soon. She stopped in her strides and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were red and puffy whilst her lips chapped and dry from the lack of water she drank.
Diane stared blankly at her reflection as she noticed the day was yet again gone in the blink of an eye. "... I... knew this would happen but..." she muttered to herself as she curled into a ball on her bed; thinking back to the day when she last saw Xander.
***
A month passed and Diane was getting used to the loneliness yet again, regaining her confidence and stepping out of the comfort of her own home. She smiled solemnly as she swept her porch, mindlessly going through the days, trying to forget about her ex-lover. There was no way they could salvage their relationship... Not with him being married to another woman... and him being the King of the country.
"Diane..." a voice said softly, calling out to her as she shook her head; thinking it was the overwhelming loneliness making her imagine things that were not there. "... Diane..." the voice called out to her again, making her furrow her brows as she continued to ignore it, telling it to go away.
"Diane! Please! Look at me!" the voice pleaded as Diane felt a touch so familiar yet foreign holding onto her shoulders, forcing her to peel her eyes off the ground. "... Xand--... Your majesty... ... M... May the light of the Divine One be on you... hic..." Diane replied, choking on her words as her voice cracked; she bowed her head, dropping her broom as she shook off his firmly placed hands and rushed for her house.
"Diane! Please! I... ... Don't go..." Xander pleaded, catching Diane's wrist as he pulled her back to face him. He tilted her head to look at him, taking in her frail body and swollen eyes that were growing red as they started to well up with tears once more.
"You... can't do this..." Diane mustered out as she shook herself free from his grip.
"I just... don't want to see you sad... I was just as hurt... Seeing you run off that day. I would have chased after you... but there were circumstances that forbade me from doing so..." Xander explained as he pulled Diane into his embrace, stroking her gently on the back, comforting her. Diane gave into his pleas and cried herself to sleep in his warm embrace, knowing that this was probably the last they would ever meet again.
***
Xander watched his lover's chest rise and fall as she sighed softly, turning in her sleep as she snuggled closer to him. Her face relaxing into a smile as she draped her arm across his chest.
Its... only for today... I mustn't... see her again. For her own safety... Xander thought as he ran his fingers through her luscious locks. His heart clenched at the thought making him frown as he hit his chest, trying to calm himself.
"... To protect you... I must leave you... but... I just can't bring myself to do that..." Xander whispered as he caressed his lover's cheek, wiping the loose tear that escaped from her eye.
***
Day came and Xander was gone yet again. Diane frowned as she thought back to what she overheard Xander whisper to her when he thought she was sleeping. He says he needs to leave me... to protect me? Hah... He always... leaves me... Diane thought solemnly to herself as she tried to get up.
Tripping over her blanket, she fell with a thud onto the floor as she groaned in pain. It's been awhile... My body is so uncooperative... Diane grumbled to herself as she climbed back onto the bed rubbing the sore area after that fall. Giving up, Diane decided to crochet instead as her activity for the day as she waited for the hours to pass so that her sore back would ache no longer.
The hours slipped by as the sun set and evening came by. Diane stared at the clouds until she felt a wave of nausea come over her. She flailed about running after her chamber pot as she threw up into it.
This seems to be happening alot lately... Not to mention the dizzy spells that I have been getting... Diane thought as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand before she spotted her calendar. Come to think of it... when was the last time I had my menstruation...
Diane hurled up once again before slumping onto a wooden chair where she grabbed a wooden cup and drank some water. She mindlessly rubbed her torso in a circular motion as she smiled tenderly. I... think it is...
***
"My goodness Diane! Congratulations! Who is the father? My my! I can't wait to see the child born from such a beautiful and kind soul such as you!" an elderly woman exclaimed with much excitement in her voice. Diane simply smiled at the woman's words of excitement as she thought of what to reply.
"My my. Why the look my dear? If it's the child you're worried about, there's nothing to fear. I'm sure such a child born from a woman as strong as you will be just as lovely as you are. I'm certain of this. Now just turn that solemn face into a gleeful one." the woman said as she squeezed Diane's cheeks with her fingers. Diane chuckled as her mind drifted off to how she was going to break the news to her lover.
***
Surprisingly, Xander visited her once again that week making Diane all the more ecstatic. The two spent the day together in her cozy home as she readied herself to break the news.
"Diane, I..."
"Not yet... I need to tell you something!"
"... Okay..."
"I'm... I'm pregnant!" Diane exclaimed excitedly as her face pulled into a big grin. Xander's reaction however, seemed quite the opposite.
"...? Xander...?" Diane asked as she approached him, touching his cheek. Xander said nothing and snuggled into her touch as he turned to look at her and smile.
"... That's great news..." he said, his expression something Diane couldn't understand.
***
The two lay cuddled on the bed as Xander thought about what Diane had said. He smiled to himself before jerking up suddenly. A presence around the house! But how? I made sure to mask my tracks!
Xander kissed Diane's hair as he exited the house, holding his sword as he scoped the surrounding. He could not see anybody and was surprised as he heard footsteps coming behind him.
Xander turned and was about to strike when he saw Diane groggily approaching him. "What's wrong...?" Diane asked as she held onto his arm, not fully aware of the situation that she could have been in.
"... It's nothing... Let's go back inside." Xander replied as he ushered Diane back into her house, following close behind her. As he closed the door, he glanced around at the surroundings hoping that it was nothing.
***
"Your majesty... I have a report to make." a man cloaked in a black garment said as he knelt before Lilith.
"Oh~? Do tell." Lilith answered as she twirled the goblet of gold, filled with a rich and dark red wine.
Xander did not visit for another two months. Not that it was unexpected but Diane felt lonely. Besides the silence, she could always feel a pair of eyes on her even when no one was around.By now Diane's morning sickness had intensified and a small bump has formed on her torso. She had decided to remove her corset and encourage the growth of her child whilst enjoying her day to day activities.As she was about to head into town, a familiar head of silver appeared shimmering in the distance. Oh! Xander... Diane sighed internally as she smiled, straightening her hair and patting the dust off her dress.As Xander approached, he smiled at her before gently caressing her hair. "It took me longer than expected... but I snuck out to see you..." he said, taking a lock of Diane's hair into his hands before kissing it."... Oh, Xander... That is fine. I'm just so glad you came." Diane smiled as she embraced him, breathi
"The capital city! WOOHOOO!!!! I'M COMING FOR YOU!" a boy yelled out as he clapped his hands together in a way that could amplify his voice as he shouted from the top of a cliff."Mikhail! That's dangerous! Your mom is going to kill me if you're not careful!" a girl yelled back at the boy as she ran towards him."I'll be fine. As long as you don't--" Mikhail replied turning around only to be tackled by the girl."Woah!" Mikhail exclaimed as he lost his balance, slipping off the edge of the cliff. The girl cried out in shock as she clasped her hands against her mouth."AAAAHHHHHHH!!!" the boy yelled out as he slid to the bottom of the cliff, staring up at the peak.***"That should be more than enough. I think you're just doing that to tease her." another boy said as he stared at Mikhail, holding a rake as he stood lopsided to one side.Mikhail star
Mikhail skipped joyfully as he hummed to himself. I'm finally heading to the city! This will be so much fun! Mikhail thought to himself before noticing the two familiar faces on both of his sides."Agh! Lucas! Cathy! Wha- why?!" Mikhail exclaimed, surprised as he jumped back."What do you mean why? We're just heading out to the city today. Isn't that such a lucky coincidence?" Lucas said as his eyes gleamed mischievously."Yes. It's a lucky coincidence. I'm heading there to purchase some bread and Lucas is going to buy some axes." Cathy said smoothly."Wha? Don't we have those in our villa-" Mikhail said staring at them suspiciously before Lucas pushed him from behind towards the village's exit.***The road to the capital city was full of greenery. It was a pretty far distance to walk so Lucas had stopped by his house to grab his family's cart, pulled by his bel
"...""...""...""..."The silence that hung in the air was intense, hence, Mikhail didn't dare say a thing. The man also kept quiet as if observing something he had never seen before.The two stared at each other for a long while before the otherworldly man decided to break the silence. "You... is this your first time here?" the man asked, making Mikhail snap out of his trance."Whe-... Oh! Ye-yes. Yes! It is!" Mikhail fumbled on his words as his face flushed from embarrassment. The man continued to stare at Mikhail in silence."I see... Then... I presume you do not know me." the man said as he smiled at Mikhail, cocking his head to one side inquisitively."Er... no... I don't..." Mikhail replied. Confused at this question. Am I supposed to know him...? But I can tell he is a big shot from the way he holds himself and controls such a big army... Mikhail thought to himself as he s
"Sigh... Goodbye Archen Menoch! I'll be back soon!" Mikhail yelled out from a top the hill Aria showed him yesterday.To think I could only enjoy the capital city for 3 days and 2 nights... Mikhail thought as he lugged his suitcase down the long staircase.***Upon reaching the bottom of the flight of stairs, Mikhail was out of breath and panting. Sweat dripping down his chin as he wiped off the sweat collecting on his forehead with his arm."I don't believe even walking down... Hah... haah... Is this tiring... Is Aria right? Am I that unhealthy?" Mikhail muttered to himself as he tried catching his breath.As he finally caught his breath and calmed down, he took in his surrounding. The beautiful river flowing in the middle, separating the marketplace and the residential area as it flowed gently down a canal with a firm foundation.Mikhail then took the long path home as he walked t
"... Xander... how...?" Mikhail's mother asked with a shaky voice as her hands trembled. She looked so fragile almost as if she could break if you were to touch her."... Diane... I... the method was a tad unsavoury but I just... wanted to see you... and... this young man." Xander said as he pulled his gaze from Diane to her son briefly before turning his heated gaze back to her."... ... S... sit down, Your Grace..." Diane said as she instructed Mikhail to pull the chair for Xander. Mikhail quickly wrapped the fragments of the vase in a cloth and tossed them into the bin before rushing towards the dining table.***The trio sat around a small dining table in their quaint home as the awkward silence filled the room. Mikhail looked at his mother then to the man. Both were seated rather rigidly and said nothing to each other."Err... Well, it's nice meeting you. It's a surprise seeing you here right a
A young man dashed through an alley as men clad in casual wear frantically chased after him. Their faces twisted in anxiousness as they sped down the narrow passage of bricked walls."Please slow down, Your Ma--- Young Master!" one of the man yelled out as he avoided a pedestrian who was walking through the alley, quickly apologising before turning his gaze back to the young man."Why should I? I'm running away aren't I?" the young man yelled back excitedly as he jumped onto the brick railing, quickly making his way across the busy paved road bustling with crowds of people."Young mas---" the voice of the man running after the young man trailed off, drowned off by the sound of the street vendors and customers who were haggling.The young man let out a sigh of relief as he looked left and right, reassuring himself that he had finally lost them.I finally managed to get out of that stuffy palace. Then
"You work as a florist? How old are you? You don't look old enough to work." the young man asked as he looked at the girl who just grabbed the flowers out of his hands. Her expression unfazed even by his question, acting as if she had never heard him."Are you ignoring me? Seriously...? I!... I came all this way to... see you..." the young man exclaimed exasperatedly as he stared at the girl in a heated manner, heaving as he tried to calm himself down.The girl turned her beautiful violet eyes to his clear sapphire eyes as she studied his face. She cocks her head to the side as the corners of her lips lifted into a sweet smile."Heh... Hihihihi!" the girl burst out into a fit of giggles as she stared at the young man. His face now twisted with a look of confusion as he stared back at her with his bejewelled sapphire eyes."Diane. I'm Diane Orvielle." the girl said as she stretched out her hand towards the young man,
"Are you up?" Mikhail pries his eyes open groggily before he groans and rubs at them before turning towards the source of the voice."Whu--?" Mikhail blurts out a confused reply as he blinks his bleary eyes at William, waiting for them to focus but grew drowsy in the meantime."It's high time you get up. It's the second time in my life where I had to personally wake you up." William sighs as Mikhail's eyes slowly shut."Don't you dare fall asleep! We need to move out while it's still lights out. The terrain is more dangerous at night and we need to be able to pinpoint where to go from here." William frowns as he shakes Mikhail awake."F-five minutes more..." Mikhail tried to keep his eyes open but couldn't help it as the grogginess overwhelmed him.William released Mikhail's shoulders as he frowns, knitting his eyebrows in annoyance. Without thinking twice, he grabs the hides out of Mikhail's reach and tossed them to the other end of the tent, fold
"Hup! Easy!" William steadies his horse as he approached the deserted camp. The men behind him murmur in silence as he spares a glance at the messenger. He purses his lips and led them towards the stable before hopping off his horse. It's unlikely that the messenger is lying to me. But even if he is, I'd better keep a safe distance for myself from the group. "I'll look around. Remain vigilant!" William instructed as I kept a calm expression to ensure they don't think something was amiss. The messenger stated that there would be someone to greet me once I arrive. Yet, there is nary a soul nearby. Did something occur? William keeps a wary hand on the hilt of his blade as he surveyed the empty tents that were billowing with the frosty wind. Whatever footsteps that could have been used to track down where they could possibly have gone were covered in the cloak of white.
Venturing further up to the north was where the enemy camp was located. Arthur holds onto the contract, glancing at its content as he purses his lips and knits his brows.He looked over his shoulder, thinking about his sister and everyone back at the camp before frowning. However, as he turned to look forward, he shakes his head and sighs.Men clad in jet black armor with red lining greeted him with a few warning arrows before he climbed off his horse. Arthur slips a note he had written prior to leaving the camp between the stallion's caparison before sending it off by startling it into running away.He watched the men try to shoot it down or run after it but failed as the horse ran past them. A sigh of relief escapes his lips that he had brought along his beloved horse before a burly man approached him and covered his head with a bag."You do know who I am, right?" Arthur frowns as the man shoved hi
"I can't." Arthur pushes Soleil off his arm as he grabs the contract and leaves the tent.Soleil glances at the flap swaying back and forth from where Arthur had left as she flicks her tongue in silence. She then slithers over to Mikhail, her faintly golden scales reflecting the light of the oil lamp on the desk.Mikhail holds his head and grimaces before blinking his eyes, slowly making out Soleil's presence as he sits up straight. He stares at her for a moment before glancing at his hands that were tightly restrained by some thick ropes."Shall I get you out?" Soleil slithers up his arm as Mikhail shakes his head, unlike what she expected him to do."No. I need to show my sincerity and that I truly wish to help him.""Is that so? But would that require you to be restrained like so?" Soleil wraps herself around his neck, dangling loosely like a jewellery as Mikhail sighed to himself."Tigris showed me a memory of young Arthur. He woul
Back at Trevault or somewhere fairly close to Trevault, Mikhail kneels stiffly as Arthur paces around him. Even if he wanted to make an excuse, the way he was caught clearly puts him at a disadvantageous spot regardless.Mikhail shifts uncomfortably before straightening his back upon noticing Arthur's narrowed gaze. His legs had been growing number by the second and he could only feel pins and needles in his lower half."How did you escape?""I escaped? No... I..." Mikhail peeked at Arthur's face before the flap of the tent was raised and Juniper walked in eyeing Mikhail as she gave him a belittling gaze."Brother... so this is where he was..." Juniper sighed as she walked over towards Mikhail and kicks him onto his side.Mikhail gave her an astonished gasp before knitting his brows. It was totally uncalled for, for her to act in such a manner when she was the one who requested such an act to be carried out. He was simply carrying out her ord
After their discussion, Xander walks down the corridor with Lilith by his side. Not too far down from the room they just exited, he halts in his steps.Lilith paused as she turned to face him, curious eyes met muddled ones as she opens her mouth to say something but decides against it. She purses her lips, deducing the words she knew he was going to say before swallowing the lump in her throat."The nobles must be feeling rather impatient after this long. They must not be used to waiting, being the top of the social hierarchy... we should head over." Lilith eloquently puts her words into a chain to shackle Xander down, hoping that his Kingly duties would keep him from going back to Diane."... .... You're right. We should make haste..." Xander meets Lilith's gaze as he takes a step forward.Lilith releases the breath she had been holding as she heads over to his side. It wasn't like her to act in such a behaviour. However, upon seeing Diane up close, it w
The hands of the clock on the wall seemed to tick all too loudly as the only sound that accompanied it was the clinking of the teacup as it rested back onto its saucer. The uncomfortable silence and tension in the room made the air overly sufferable for the knights stationed to guard Xander.Lilith takes a sip from her teacup, her expression calm. It made it seem like she was unfazed by such a situation and had been in one countless times before. She glances over at the two people across from her before peeking at Xander from the corner of her eyes.If she had known better, it was obvious he was irritated and his bad mood was much worse than when he had to deal with the pesky nobles. Lilith shut her eyes and takes a deep breath before placing her teacup back onto its saucer as she decided to break the silence."To what do we owe this unfounded invasion?" Lilith directed her question at Diane but before Diane could say anything, the man beside her cut her off.
"Your Highness! I have an urgent report that beseeches your attention!" a messenger rushes before Lilith, lowering his head as he holds forward a scroll to prove of his task."Let me hear it." Lilith swivels around to face the man, turning away from the window as she sits herself down by her desk."There is a foreign enemy consisting of a large troop by our Eastern borders. Reports have claimed that their attire are not known to resemble any of the Agrestians, Trevaulties or Lestrian garments."Lilith straightens herself as she taps her fingers impatiently. She opens the lone jewellery box that rests atop her desk, the only object that didn't match her otherwise packed desk of paperwork.She stares at the innocent stone sitting in the box, void of any colour before shutting the box almost as quickly as she had opened it. She ponders something before shifting her gaze to the messenger who had been furtively glancing at her."I've received the
"... The... Gods?" Arthur glanced at Mikhail with a look of disbelief as Mikhail felt the hesitant smile on his face start to falter.Arthur then burst into laughter as he holds onto his stomach for dear life. Mikhail frowns in response, lowering his disappointed expression to his hands which he suddenly realised were cuffed."What?! You... you chained me up? Why?" Mikhail gasped and shifted his anxious eyes at Arthur who was busy wiping the tears from the corner of his eyes that were a by-product of Mikhail's words."Because of what you said. It could be anyone's guess that you were grasping at straws, begging us to save William. But for you to make a wild guess that we had hidden messengers... it would be implying we don't trust our own men." Arthur tugs on the chain, jerking Mikhail's attention towards him before donning a serious expression."I wasn't grasping at straws. I saw it myself.""That's impossible. We didn't find any communicati