The original mbers of the Siren Ensemble had started to perform in the banquet hall. Gideon watched them while hiding in the crowd.
"Hmm. I wonder how Eve is doing right now. I didn’t expect her to kick out of the room." Gideon lanted to himself.
Eve peered at the banquet hall earlier. After seeing the crowd, she returned to the chamber reserved for the lady musicians.
She stayed behind to practice playing the zither. Since she couldn’t sing Karrie’s original song, she decided to compose a new one.
Eve imrsed herself in composing the song. It ca from the bottom of her heart and reflected her life story as the third princess of Averion.
Tonight, she wanted the people to hear this song, expressing her true self.
After writing the lyrics, Eve began playing the zither.
Little did she know, soone had overheard the soft music coming from the chamber.
Alaric, who was on his way to the banquet hall, stopped in his tracks upon hearing the beautiful sound of the zither.
For so unknown reason, listening to the sad lody soothed his troubled heart. He approached the chamber and leaned against the closed door.
He closed his eyes and Eve’s face flashed in his mind. He couldn’t forget her sad and angry expression the mont she slapped him earlier.
’Is there really no chance for us to save this marriage?’ Alaric asked himself, clenching his fists while gritting his teeth.
Eve continued betraying him while he kept hurting her and making her cry.
’Should I listen to Caleb? Do I really have to let her go and just move on?’
Alaric chose to be alone, figuring out what he truly wanted.
When he saw Eve earlier, he thought he could ignore her. But when the royal guards of Kingdom Eldara tried to attack her, his body moved on its own accord.
He stepped forward to block them. He was going to slash them if they tried to point their swords at Eve. He didn’t care if his action would jeopardize the alliance of the two kingdoms. All he was thinking at that mont was to protect Eve.
Fortunately, the royal guards didn’t make a reckless move so Alaric managed to calm down.
However, the people started blaming Eve, pointing fingers at her. Even the royal guards of the Kingdom Averion expressed their displeasure towards the third princess.
After listening to Randolf’s rant, he realized his mistake.
"I’ve hurt her... again," Alaric uttered, regretting his action. But he had a reason why he acted that way.
’I’ll just explain to her once I see her at ho.’ Alaric thought to himself.
The sound of the zither helped Alaric clear his mind and calm his emotions. He even failed to notice that the person playing the zither had finally stopped.
He straightened his back and was about to leave when suddenly the door of the chamber slid open.
He turned around only to et a masked woman with erald eyes, her long silver-gray hair cascading down her shoulders.
"Alaric," she subconsciously uttered his na, which was a great mistake.
Eve didn’t expect to see him as soon as she opened that door.
Their bodies were just a few inches away from each other.
Alaric’s gray orbs were drawn to her erald eyes. And for so unknown reason, her eyes gave him a sense of familiarity.
What surprised him more was the reaction of his heart when he heard her soft voice uttering his na.
’Do I know her?’ Alaric asked himself. Then suddenly, a similar woman who had erald eyes and silver-gray hair flashed into his mind. It was Eve.
’Damn it! I can’t stop thinking about her. Even now, I’m seeing her in this woman.’ Alaric scolded himself inwardly.
"Forgive . I didn’t intend to stay here and frighten you. I was srized by the sound of the zither so I decided to listen. Did I disturb you?" Alaric imdiately apologized to the masked lady.
Eve swallowed hard. She didn’t know why her heart was pounding so hard against her chest. Was it because she was still furious with this man, or was it because of Alaric’s close proximity? She could catch the masculine scent she had missed over the past few weeks.
"No. You didn’t," she hesitantly responded, lowering her gaze to avoid his eyes.
This was the first ti she talked to Alaric ever since she recovered her voice. It felt strange. She had been communicating with him through her quill pen and parchnt paper.
After her short response, a mont of awkward silence engulfed them. Alaric was torn between speaking to her or leaving her quietly.
In the end, Alaric spoke again. "Are you a mber of The Siren Ensemble? I think their performance has started, why are you still here?"
For so unknown reason, Alaric was compelled to interact with her more.
On the other hand, Eve bit her lower lip, silently lanting to herself, ’Why is he still here? I want him to leave, but I can’t act rudely toward the Kingdom’s hero. He might think the mbers of the Siren Ensemble are ill-mannered.’
"Yes, my Lord. I’m a mber. I’m still here practicing," she replied politely. But in her mind, she wanted to snarl at him– ’I don’t want to speak to you! Can’t you just leave alone and let practice in peace?’
Eve kept her gaze fixed on the floor, avoiding Alaric’s face. She didn’t want to look into his eyes. She was still mad and upset with him.
She struggled to restrain herself from slapping or hitting him as the knights’ conversation in the tavern replayed in her mind. Tonight, Eve believed that Alaric and Thalia were going to announce their relationship, making it official in the eyes of the people of Averion and Eldara.
’Don’t cry, Eve. Don’t waste your tears on the wrong man,’ she reminded herself.
"Are you sad?" Alaric’s deep voice was heard once again. His last question made her look at him in the eyes. "The lody you played earlier felt a bit lancholic. I can relate to them," he added, smiling bitterly. There was a somber look in his eyes.
"Why are you sad?" Eve probed, eyeing him with disbelief.
"Because I was betrayed by my..." Alaric paused, unable to say the word ’Wife’.
"By whom?" Eve asked him again.
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