Minutes went by, and silence was the only diator between us. I didn’t know what to say even when his words were like the last straw of hope I had.
Even the food tasted bland now... that was sothing that had never happened to before.
"I will take my leave now." I stood up, pushing the chair back.
"Ember..." His voice cracked... "You really don’t rember ? Or are you doing all of this to pay back?"
My chest tightened, and I turned to him. "I don’t know what you are talking about Damon, but I am Princess Aeris of the fae kingdom and I am no Ember."
His dark eyes narrowed down on , refusing to believe . "I can help you rember... You are not just a fae... You are..."
Before he could finish his words the door creaked open. "Is everything okay?" Rhydian’s voice echoed from behind us, his eyes scanning Damon before resting on .
I swallowed, my hands unconsciously clenched the side of my dress, ’What did he an by I am not just a fae? Why does he believe that I am Ember? But I have lived my whole life here in the fae kingdom... I have mories of everything... Why is he so sure even when he is wrong? And why does he look at with so much pain and sadness in his eyes? Why?.... Why?’
They were all questions I had no answer to, but does this an that he had the answer to it? Would I even believe him? I highly doubt that.
"Everything is alright, we can go now," I managed to find my voice again.
I looked at him one last ti before I left the room.
"You know where to find ." His words echoed behind .
My steps faltered slightly, ’he still hasn’t even given up yet... could there really be more to ? But if there was, wouldn’t I have known about it before... even my mother would have told if there was such a thing... he must be lying. Probably it is just a delusion since he believes I looked just like... Ember.’
Ember... my step halted, as a vision of flakes of ember swirling up in the sky. It was so brief but my heart skittered in my chest... my breath hitched.
’What was that?’ I wondered. It was the first vision I had in my entire life... ’Does this an that my powers are awakening? But why do I feel so uneasy?’
"Are you alright Princess Aeris?" Rhydain’s voice snapped out of the trail of thoughts.
I cleared my throat. "Yeah, thanks for checking up on ." I flashed him a weak smile.
"Don’t ntion, it is my pleasure." He smiled, his features were soft and his blue eyes twinkled as he stared at .
"You know if you don’t want to go back to the castle, I can take you away... You just have to say the word," he added.
I let out a nervous laugh. ’Why is everyone so adamant about taking away?’
"What makes you think that I want to run away? I an I know I always run away but that is because I didn’t want to attend the ball, however, this is different. It is my duty and the reputation of the royalty is hanging on it... I can’t be selfish now." My eyes beca distant, and even those words felt like it wasn’t mine.
He remained quiet for a couple of seconds, and we took a sharp turn, before descending the stairs.
"I know you don’t want to let the King and your mother down, however deep down, I know you want to run away. And I know you are sad and angry... You are even scared to go back to your own ho... afraid you might have no say in this, but I doubt you are going to have any."
"Why do you think I might not have any say in it? It is my marriage after all." My brows furrowed, my shoulders tensing because deep down I knew his words were true.
"Because by the expression you had yesterday, you had no idea of the betrothal, you were as shocked as the guests, even more surprised." He stretched out his elbow, and a small smile ford on my lips at his gesture. I gently placed my hand on him before descending the last stairs.
I retracted my hand as we made it out of the Cabin.
I looked back, and a faint pain stung my chest. I didn’t know why... but I had hoped he would have seen off. "You are right, I was shocked by the announcent, but I need to go back."
Rhydian put his hand in his pocket bringing a white crystal necklace. "If you don’t mind princess, accept my gift. You can communicate with through it if you change your mind." The necklace dangled slightly in the air.
I blinked nervously, unsure if it was right for to take his necklace. "That must be a special necklace Rhydain, I can’t accept it."
"I insist," he reached for my hand, then he placed the necklace on my palm before covering it with my fingers. He leaned closer to . "Stay away from Damon, he doesn’t look genuine," he whispered in my ear.
A frown ford on my face, why do they think they can tell who to be friends with? And why were both of them so suspicious of each other?
I forced a smile. "You are just overthinking." I gave him a little pat on his shoulder before walking towards the guards, who were already waiting for .
The smile on my face vanished as I entered the carriage, I glanced out of the window, waving goodbye at Rhydian... my eyes looked up involuntarily, and my gaze t with Damon’s who was staring down at from the window. His expression was cold... and his eyes, they were silvery grey again.
My breath hitched, I knew that instant that he was not Fae, but which creature is he? And how did he enter the Fae realm?
I closed the window, my sweaty finger, clenching around the cushion of the seat. ’Maybe Rhydian was right,’ I stared at the white crystal necklace... ’What was happening? Why do I feel like my life is about to take a drastic turn? And why is it after eting the two n?’
Whatever it was I knew I had to face the monster living under the sa roof as in disguise as my uncle and King.
Hours passed by like minutes, and the carriage finally ca to a stop. I forcefully swallowed the lump in my throat, and my heart pounded crazily in my ears.
I peeked out of the window and behold, it was the castle... the sa one I have desperately tried to run from ti and ti again.
"Princess, we are here. The King is waiting for you in the courtroom." One of the guards announced.
The walk to the courtroom was like a death sentence, my chest ached, and my breathing was a ss. But as a princess, I must not show my distraught and I must not lose my composure, even with my chin tilted up, I felt the urge to run to one corner and hide.
’I am not a coward... and I am not wrong.’
The tall golden brown door pushed open, revealing the courtroom. The King sat majestically on his throne as usual but he was not alone, my two cousins, my aunt, the crown prince, the second prince and my mother were all waiting for .
Right then, I knew a big drama was about to unfold.
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