Chapter 38The time was ticking too fast. And my time with Marcus was very short. Even when we were young, until we grew up, our time was really short. I couldn't think clearly about this moment; the energetic Marcus I knew was closing his eyes while being lifeless. But, like I promised him, I will get out of here alive. I'm going home to the first district, but I don't know what to do with my dear friend.Am I going to leave him? Will I have someone to fall back on when I ask the echelons for help?A sad part of our story was that we never had the chance to laugh together. I never had the chance to love him back the way he loved me, because right now at this moment I think my heart is already owned by someone, and I know that we'll never work out.I have so many "what ifs," but I ended up running away from the spring. The sound of Zandrus' group is what scares me. I don't know if I'm just paranoid, but they're getting closer to us, to me. That's why I hid Marcus in a pit and left him
Chapter 39 I could hear the fast beating of my heart as well as my strong and slow breathing. I opened my eyes, but I can't move. I watched the dark surroundings. I knew it was evening already; the stars are shining in the sky, and the moonlight is dazzling. It was supposed to be beautiful scenery, but it wasn't.My body was tied to a big tree while I was sitting. And the curious face of the guard who threatened me in the labyrinth appeared in front of me. He was building a fire, and it looked like he noticed that I was awake because he turned to me and grinned."What the f*ck is a f*cking guard doing in here?" I insulted him and curled my lips. "A traitor perhaps?" I added. He looked like he was insulted by what I said; he clenched his fist and his jaw moved in anger.He is a traitor. He had a plan—a dark and evil plan."Shut up," he said, and he stood in front of me."I can't even move; you even tied me up; are you that scared of me?" I said and grinned.I saw him smirking, and he
Chapter 40I am very tired. I'm always running. Death has come after me several times, but he has not succeeded. Did he pick me up? I'm suffering, I'm aching, and I'm tired. My body spontaneously fell to the ground due to weakness and fatigue. I'm always running away—why am I the enemy's target when I'm just jumping around?I'm slowly realizing my purpose. I can't just join the quest without a plan. Is it to reveal the danger in the Euphrates? Is my purpose only to help the poor? I was even more confused because I knew the dangers that would occur on the Euphrates. Just like stealing the throne, I need to warn Zavan about this thing.About Maximus. I'm too far away. I don't know where I am, I don't know where Marcus is, and even more so, I don't know where Zavan and the echelons are. because I don't even know where I am. I am very tired. My body begs to rest, but my mind refuses. I try to get up and continue walking away again, but I can't. I blacked out.I freaked out and blacked out
Chapter 41I was found, but someone lost her power. What I need most now is not available. Nathalia is still healing to finally get her power back; she used it too much on the echelons and herself. There was nothing left for me, or at least for Marcus. I felt weak again. I covered my mouth and backed away. What would happen to my Marcus? I have to go back to Marcus and bring him to the palace; maybe the echelons will help me, right?"Can you explain what you're saying? I'm confused. Why do you have to revive your friend? Is she dead or what? Is she here And why is she here?" Corinthians asked, confused.I'm a total mess. Can I say that I am a thief, and the friend I am talking about is a fellow thief? And he is a he, not a she."I have to go back to him," I said, and I started walking back to where Marcus was, even though I wasn't sure where that was."Precious, wait," said Zavan, stopping me, but I persisted. I thought that Nathalia could help me; now that I know that she can't, I wi
Chapter 42The search isn't just a simple search; it was a challenge that has so many lessons in it. And I have learned many things. I became braver; I lost friends; but I made new friends. I will face another new challenges in life, and hopefully this time I won't lose anyone or anything. Because I can no longer bear the hardship, pain, and suffering."Precious!" I was even called by an unexpected person. He even taught me how beautiful my name is and that I should be proud of it."Beryl..." That voice. I will never get tired of hearing that voice run through my head over and over again."Baby, I'm going to kiss you if you don't really wake up."My brow furrowed; I thought my brain was just whispering all that. But why does it seem like someone is really calling me?"Beryl, you're not really going to wake up? I'm ready to kiss you anyway."I suddenly opened my eyes and got up in shock because Zavan's face was exposed in front of me. It made me look down on him as he stared at me; he
Chapter 43The prince was called throughout the day to meet with the echelons. I was just left in Manang Omeng's room, and I wondered if what I was doing was still right. Just like at the beginning of the game I knew I was going to lose, I can't win against the law. The status is too strong. And a pauper can't live with a prince. Zavan and I are making a big mistake; besides, the prince doesn't know where I come from. What should I do?"Tea for your deep thoughts." I was shocked to turn to Manang Omeng; I was really floating. "What are your thoughts that seem so deep?" she asked.I sighed. Should I tell Manang Omeng about me?"It seems that the Prince has fallen in love with you; Zavan doesn't just let go. I hope you are ready for what you have entered," she said.That's it Manang, and I'm not ready. I gambled on a game I knew I'd lose."Manang, I have something to say." I said in a low voice."If you have something to say, say it right away because you're too suspenseful and I feel l
Chapter 44My hands were shaking as I touched the green-blue cloth that Manang Omeng would sew for me at the upcoming Ibb Shindig. I'm really thankful I have Manang Omeng, because without her I don't know what I would do here in the palace. She knew about my secret; I don't know why she still helps me. She's even sewing my evening gown. Because I don't have anything to buy to wear, unlike the upper classes who have personal sewers."Manang...""Hmmm?" she said while biting a needle."I want to go back to the first district; I'm just going to visit grandma."She looked at me, and I got nervous. I knew she was against my idea, even though I wasn't sure. "You can't leave the palace," she said.I sighed. "I missed them.""You said you were going to ask the first district to be saved, didn't you?" she asked, and I nodded. "Then you wait for the requests to be fulfilled. And then you still have a chance of getting out of here if you also ask to them to let you go properly," she added.I rem
Chapter 45"What's going on here?""Good morning, Prince Zavan."My previous fear was replaced by hope. I quickly ran to Zavan. I turned to Maximus, who looked at me darkly, as if indicating that we were not done yet. Wait, why am I the target again?"Why are you holding her?" Zavan asked Maximus with tight jaws. My nervousness rose because it was not easy to stop Zavan."I'm sorry for what I did." Maximus answered with his head down. They were quiet in the presence of the prince. It's a good thing that Zavan came because otherwise—I don't know what I'm going to do—I'm sure it's going to be a disaster."Zavan," I stopped and grabbed his arm as he stiffly stepped closer to Maximus."No one touches my girl, do you understand?""Yes, prince," they answered, including Maximus. I looked at Maximus; his look gave me a headache. It seemed to give me even more hope of using me against Zavan."Especially you," said Zavan, and he pointed to Maximus. He was ashamed to kneel down and apologize ag
Zalistaír Vandross Magnaté CaésarWe only have a few days left before the search, and my team is a whole mess. I am somehow worried because Zandrus' group is well set up while my group is in trouble. We sent the officials to the districts to get someone to help us, but they haven't arrived yet, which is why my group is still confused."Prince, we need to talk to you." Greyson suddenly entered Princess Zavannah's room, which I was in. I nodded and planted a kiss on Zavannah's forehead before leaving. There isn't a day that I don't visit her; it's been years since she fell asleep after the fall of Luciano Ferrero. I was still young then, so I don't know what really happened. There was chaos in the palace; the brave Ferrero died, and my brother never woke up again. Now we only have the stones as our hope—to wake the princess, to free the kingdom from crisis, and for me to get the throne.We have arrived at the old haunted storage room; the group is already there except for Chrysler, for
Chapter 59I still remember a saying from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."A year ago, I was a hopeless and lifeless person. It was so hard for me to live. The life I had was not ordinary, and everyone saw that. Since I was young, I used to be alone. Until Marcus and Laura came, they were the only ones who made friends with me—no one else. I thought my life would be forever a mess; I can't see any path, so I don't know where I'm going. Until something happened, which led the way for me to become stronger, braver, fiercer, bolder, and more dauntless.The search happened; it turned out to be the search for the beryl and the search for me, and I left a trail. I realized that life is not about what will happen to you but what you do that will happen to you. We choose, we determine, and we live our own destiny. I was the negative yet brave girl, so my life was also negative. I was lost in an unknown place where I
CHAPTER 58A MONTH HAD PASSED. The houses of the paupers were built and established. I have no news from the palace either. Maybe everyone has been busy because of their duties. It's funny; people didn't laugh at me in the first district. They chose me as their mayor, but they call me commander instead. Until I played it. I have been in charge of the first district, and the place they used to trample on has been settled.The first and second districts became good friends; the barriers between neighboring areas are gone. But the status is still not lost; the elite and paupers still can't live together. Maybe there is nothing I can do there, but at least the friendship between the districts will grow. There are no more poor people in the Euphrates; everyone has their own place to live, including us."Mr. Rody, how is your garden?" I shouted at the farmer."Good day, commander! The rice fields are fine; this Elmer has grown his corn!""You can visit there, Commander! Don't worry, the cor
CHAPTER 57What I did was spread fast in the first district. That's why I was surprised when I was greeted by the warm music of the poor people there. All the sentries I passed at each gate saluted me. Those in the second district couldn't be found; they just silently watched me pass by their place.I don't know who made the announcement, but far away I heard loud shouts, clapping, the sound of trumpets, and the beating of drums. I smiled when I saw the people on the streets; the palace moved quickly because someone was already building houses there for the people.They fulfilled their promises. A poor man grabbed me from the carriage and put me on his back; then they jumped down and carried me. These people, I love it! I feel like I've won the lottery or an election; there's nothing more fun than what I feel when I see those who used to be sad on the streets now having fun because everyone has a house."FOR VELURIYA!""FOR VELURIYA!"I burst out laughing. That's what they call my nam
CHAPTER 56All of them were speechless because of what I said."You are selfless, as ever." The Queen's voice prevailed in the room we were in. Her footsteps echoed as she made her way to my seat. The upper echelons, including the princess, gave way for the queen to reach me. "Can't you change your mind?" she asked.I shook my head, my tears falling spontaneously. If it had been possible to rush, I would have done it, but I understand that his decision to forget me and Zavan is for everyone as well."You want to use your stone for the first district?"I nodded. She sighed, "You can hope. We'll work hard to give the homeless people a shelter."I felt happy because those on the streets, including us, would finally have a place to live. I will not stay in the palace; I will go back to Lola and Laura. I will try to forget everything, just like they tried to forget me and Zavan."Everyone in the first district will live happily again," said the Queen. "Maximus said that the people there li
CHAPTER 55The prince is recovering in his room as the upper echelons, including myself, are summoned for our requests. The prince was so weak, he was lifeless. Until now, my tears have not stopped pouring. How is this all happening to us? What did I do wrong that I deserve to suffer this much?I was never a survivor of happiness or love. What exactly is wrong with me? I was deprived of meeting my real family; they were erased from my memory. It was only Manang Omeng who removed my memories, but I still had a hard time remembering them. What about the prince? He was surrounded by elders, and no chant could break the spell they put on him.I'm broken; the prince had forgotten about me. I can't even stand properly because of my weakness, so I remained seated while facing the void. I couldn't think clearly, and after the incident, I didn't speak anymore. Life is so cruel; why does life seem so angry with me? Am I that bad to suffer like this?"Beryl..." Corinthians called. I almost forgo
CHAPTER 54"WHO ARE YOU?"I frowned because of Zavan's question to me. I slapped his arm and said, "You're not funny." I forced a laugh as I had said those words.He laughed at me and faced me again: "I'm not kidding, who are you?"I stopped laughing. My knees shook when I noticed that I was slowly disappearing. It's not Zavan who's missing, but me. What is it?"Za-Zavan?" I asked nervously."Who are you?" he asked again. His expression was blank, and my heart was breaking because of what was happening."Zavan!" I called because I was disappearing and he was becoming a blur in my sight. "NO!"The scream slowly entered my brain. Zavan's voice sounded like he was struggling. What was happening was very blurry, and after I screamed, I heard his voice.I heard a loud bang that woke me from my sleep. "Oh sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t!" It was a nightmare! I had a nightmare!It rattled outside again. I quickly got up, stood up, and hid in the back of my room. I made sure I was awake because maybe this w
CHAPTER 53I was supposed to be immune to the pain; I shouldn't feel anything anymore, so I don't know how I felt the prince's presence at that time."Hush, you'll be fine, precious."That was the only thing I was holding on to at that time—that I would be safe in his arms despite the hardships I was going through."How dare you, Maximus?" said Zavan. "I've heard everything, and you will pay for it."I seem to have been revived by hope. They came before my death; at least it wasn't too late. I have done justice to my father as well as my mother. I protected the Euphrates from the hands of Maximus, and I still triumphed in spite of everything. It's not too bad to die to end all this; I'm having too much trouble... I can't take it anymore."Don't you dare die, Beryl? It is a command," whispered Zavan.I don't even know what happened next. I only felt two drops of hot tears on my cheeks and a long kiss on my lips before I finally took my breath away."I love you..."I feel that someone i
CHAPTER 52"Because you are Lucianno Ferrero's daughter,"What Maximus said ran through my mind over and over again. I tried to understand everything; I was about to explode, not only my body but also my brain."You're an animal!" I screamed and lost my mind. "You have no shame! What have you done to my father?""Do you want to know the true story of your life? I know your story better than you, Ferrero." He said.I cried again while crawling on the floor. Is this as hard as most people say it is? It's not only my body that feels pain but also my mood, and I think that's the most painful of all. I tried to cry while trying to fight the pain. I can't breathe anymore; my problem is increasing with every word Maximus utters. I gasped for air, but I sucked nothing. I'm just forcing myself to breathe because if I give up, I won't be able to live anymore."One night, a girl was born." Maximus began that the more I tortured, I vomited blood again, more this time. "There was no more fun that