Chapter 169: WHAT IS REAL?
[MUSIC RECOMNDATION: IF WE HAVE EACH OTHER ~ ALEC BENJAMIN]
The candlelight had already extinguished as it burned all night, the gentle morning breeze blew the royal curtains back and forth. The weather was fine, but Kitanna’s night was far from being fine. She couldn’t sleep the whole night, feeling loneliness creep into her soul. In front of everyone, she tried to look strong, acting like she was okay. But Kitanna was already missing everyone, most especially Nix. It was morning, yet she wasn’t looking forward to going for breakfast as it would only be Lord Hieron at the table. Her hands mindlessly touched the side of the bed Nix usually slept on; she touched the sheets, trying to recollect the feelings she felt when her husband was there with her, their morning conversations and love plays.
"Nix, I hope you’re okay," Kitanna muttered.
After having her bath, Kitanna walked to the dining room. Like she expected, it was only Lord Hieron.
"Greetings Lord Hieron, trust you had a blissful night." Kitanna greeted while settling down on her chair.
Hieron took in the girl’s expression, and her usual energetic way of speaking was not there. He noted it would be because his grandson was not around. "My night was okay. Nix sent a letter; I have asked Chantal to send yours after breakfast." The man proceeded to eat his breakfast.
"From the letter he sent to , he arrived at Odel safely, and they have been trying to revive the village. He also asked a strange question." Hieron furrowed his brow when he rembered the question his grandson had asked in the letter.
"What question? What did he ask?" Kitanna, who was eager to know everything that was going on with Nix, asked.
It was not like Hieron didn’t want to tell the young queen, but he was also bothered by the question. "He asked if I ever checked his father’s body to be sure it was him. I told you how my son was killed, right?" When Kitanna nodded, the elderly man continued.
"The truth was, we were all grieving at that point, so we didn’t have ti to check his body properly, but it was the sa clothes he wore on the day he died." Hieron completed.
Kitanna pressed her lips, "What brought about the doubt in Nix’s mind, if the body was his father or not?" She asked; there would never be smoke without fire. If Nix doubted everything, sothing must have spiked it. She thought.
"This." Hieron retrieved an amulet from his pocket, "This belonged to Nix’s father, but he found it on soone in Odel." Nix’s grandfather handed the amulet over to Kitanna, who touched the necklace, feeling the design that was on it. It was made of rare wood.
"Who is this person he found it on?" She asked, finding the whole situation rather interesting. Could it be that Nix’s father was alive? If so, then that was good news, and she would love to help him find his father.
Hieron shook his head, "he didn’t ntion; he only sent the letter to . Maybe when you read yours, we can find sothing." The man remarked.
Kitanna nodded her head while she continued with her breakfast. Her mind wandered to the possibility of Nix’s father being alive. For so reasons she felt uncomfortable, and she didn’t know why. If the man was alive, would it be sothing good or bad? And if he was indeed alive, why not co himself, why send soone else? All these weighed on her mind, but most of all she worried about Nix the most, knowing how fragile the topic about his father was to him.
Back at Odel, Nix continued with his n, the work he had co for. When he woke up, he wanted to seek the woman he saw in his room the other night to ask her questions but thought against it. He didn’t want the woman to get the wrong impression or raise rumors about him.
During the morning ti, he moved out with his n to check on the male folks who were locked up; they were still withdrawing. Then food and water were given to them. They moved further to teach won skills and things they could do to raise money. As this training was going on, Nix walked around the village, making sure everything was in order. He stopped in his tracks when he saw the sa woman, he t in his room last night, helping children, sharing food to them.
"Who is she?" Nix asked, pointing at the woman who had a radiant smile on her face.
"Oh, Lucía? We don’t know much about her, but she’s a very nice woman who helps children around here." One of the locals who was walking with Nix answered.
Nix watched the woman, nodding his head at the man’s explanation. But sothing didn’t seem right; a woman who took care of children, what then was she doing on his bed? She was no role model then for those children, but deep down he wanted to know how she got his father’s amulet.
As if sensing Nix’s gaze, the woman raised her face, flashing Nix a small smile. Sending the children away, she made her way to where Nix was now standing.
"Greetings your Majesty. Allow
to apologize for last night, we got off on a wrong foot. I’m even ashad of my actions." The lady bowed politely, retaining her sweet smile.
"Lucía is it?" Nix humd, "the chain you had on you last night. How did you co across it?" He went straight to the point; he was not in the mood to twist words.
Lucía shaped her mouth in an O, "That? Mm, let’s see..." she started but was not allowed to finish her words because Nix interjected.
"And don’t even say my father sent you; he died many years ago. Go straight to the point." Nix pointed out, his voice now turned hard and cold. He knew in his deepest heart that his father was long gone, but at the sa ti, the probability of him being alive burned in his mind. Also, he suspected the woman in front of him had a connection to his father’s killers or she could be a link to reach them.
"Are you sure about that? That your father died?" Lucía mused, then she began. "I can’t change what you believe, but I can help you, if you allow ." The woman remarked, seeing that Nix was not saying anything she took it as a hint to continue.
"The man who gave
that amulet, he lost his mory. But he looks just like you, blue eyes, silver hair. I had been traveling around villages helping people in need when I t him, on the roadside. I helped him and fed him. Even though he lost his mory, there was this peace I had while staying with him, and all he did was talk about his son. Before I left he gave
that amulet, when I saw you arrive at Odel with a striking resemblance to the sa man. I didn’t need to be told that you were his son." Lucía narrated, her voice sounding distant as if to rember the ti she spent with Nix’s father. When she was done talking, she noticed how Nix looked at her like he was in a trance. It was working, she thought.
"Silver hair, and blue eyes like mine?." Nix asked to be sure, his voice now reducing with every word.
"Just like yours." Lucía nodded, with a smile.
Nix continued to look at the woman, minutes passed and he didn’t say anything; his deep blue eyes gauging the woman in front of him.
Lucía, who was beginning to feel uncomfortable with the eyes, broke her gaze away. "If you don’t believe , that’s fine but if you are ready I can take you to where I saw—" the woman was not able to complete her words, not with the sharp edge of Nix’s sword on her neck. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"You have dragged this nonsense for way too long. Won’t ask again, put you up to this?"
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