"Da Csille, you haven't eaten anything for today. Is there any problem?"
I look at Doctor Alena and shake my head. "I don't have the appetite today, Doctor Alena. I'm sorry, I know you promise my parents to take care of , but here I am giving you problems."
Doctor Alena stands beside . I am currently watching the waves of the ocean through the deck.
I have been thinking a lot ever since we start our trip to the western region. All the questions, the doubts, fears, and everything ca rushing to my mind.
I can sense the future changes. The changes that would ruin Csille. And I was frightened. I don't even know if I'll survive at the end of this.
"Is there a problem, Da Csille? I noticed you seem preoccupied these days. Are you sick? Maybe I should check on you. I—"
I shake my head and smile gratefully at her. "Thank you, Doctor Alena, but I'm okay. I just probably need so ti to think."
I need to think about what I would do next. I'm not even sure if I already have full control over Csille's body. So, I still want to prepare myself and the people who are important to . I want them to be prepared for the changes.
"Think about what? Forgive if this might sound too personal, but I just want to make sure that you are okay. Your Brother Pascal will be mad at if he knows I didn't take good care of you."
I look at Doctor Alena. "You really care about him, huh? Don't worry. My Brother isn't irrational. I'm sure he won't bla you. I'm sure he'll be mad at instead. So, don't worry. Also, I was just thinking about the situation in the western region. I just hope everything is okay there."
I heard Doctor Alena sigh. "I'm not hoping for the best. I heard from so passengers that the situation in the western region is... I don't even know how to describe it. But because of the Hope Foundation, I know we can do sothing to help them. So, I don't think there's sothing to be worried about. You don't know how much people are talking about you these days, Da Csille. Everyone is grateful for what you are doing for the Kingdom. I'm sure you can give the help the western region needs."
I smile bitterly. I know I can. But what I'm more worried about is, can I give the help myself needs?
________________________________
The ship horns. It's a sign that the ship arrived at its destination. We're already in the western region.
I look at the port and see a crowd of people waiting for the ship's arrival. They are waving their hands at us.
I frown. I tried to rember if this had happened before.
"Da Csille, I think they are here to welco our arrival. The news about your charity works in the western region probably heard by people. Look how excited they are."
I look at Doctor Alena.
They are here for us? They are welcoming us? I actually didn't expect that to happen. I know that the news about my departure to the western region has already spread around the Kingdom. However, I didn't expect that they would welco us this way. The last ti I visited this place with my parents, the only ones who welcod us were the officials in this region.
We waited for a few minutes before we could finally get down. Mairenn tried to help with my things, but I declined her. She also has luggage that she needs to attend to.
The people imdiately crowded around when they saw . They all spoke all at once that I couldn't understand a thing.
"Da Csille! Welco to the western region. I hope you enjoy your stay here."
"Da Csille, are you here to help us? Is soone will really help us?"
"Da Csille, do you rember ? I am one of the children you helped feed five years ago. I grew up now, and I am helping my parents with their job. Are you here to do feeding again?"
"Da Csille, you're so beautiful. I wish my baby in my womb will look as beautiful as you."
I look at the overly excited crowd and smile politely at them. I could feel their enthusiasm and their happiness just by listening to their voices. I didn't expect they would be this happy to see us.
Suddenly a man steps out of the crowd and calms them. "People, I know you are all happy to see Da Csille in the western region. However, please don't crowd around her. I know. I know. We are all excited but let Da Csille rest first, okay? They had just arrived in the western region after a long trip. I hope you will think about Da Csille's health too."
The crowd becos silent because of the man's words. I look at the man and frown. He seems like a wealthy person, but it's odd since the western region is known for being the poorest region in the Vrawyth Kingdom. So, how co there is a person like him?
Is he part of the officials?
The man noticed my stare, and he imdiately bowed his head at . "Da Csille, I apologize if they crowded on you. They were just excited to see you return to the western region. I am Flavian Vulso. I am a public officer in the western region. I apologize if I am the only one who is welcoming you today. Most of the officials are busy dealing with the infectious disease."
I frown. As far as I know, there are no cases in the western region. How co he said the officials are dealing with it?
"What do you an, Mister Vulso? I thought the western region has zero cases?"
I heard him sigh. "Unfortunately, there is an infected person who got here without us knowing. Now everyone is high alert because of the disease."
I look at Doctor Alena. It's a good thing there is a Doctor here who happens to work in the infected region. At least we will know what to do.
Mister Vulso probably noticed the change in our mood. He smiles at us and tries to make us feel better. "Da Csille, I know you are all exhausted. Please follow . I have already prepared where you will all stay."
Even though we all have questions we wanted to ask regarding the diseases, no one said a thing. We all just follow Mister Vulso.
He led us to the inn where my family used to stay five years ago. I look at the inn and smile bitterly. A lot of things happened in this inn. I could even rember everything that happened here. Because it is where everything started.
"I heard from so officials that the Lauretré family stayed here before, so I decided to rent it for your whole stay in the western region. We also prepared maids that would cater to your needs. I hope you have a great stay in the western region, Da Csille."
I look at Mister Vulso and sigh. Although the rent here isn't comparable to the rent in the capital, it is still a big amount. With the western region funds? How can they pay for it?
I look at Mairenn. "Can you please give so centis?"
Mairenn didn't say anything. She just takes a pouch full of centis. It's probably worth a thousand centis. I think it's enough to pay for the rent.
"Mister Vulso, please take this as our paynt for staying here. Please don't refuse. I know his majesty didn't give any funds for this month. I won't feel good knowing you spend money on us. We are here to help, not to burden the officials."
Mister Vulso hesitated at first, but he accepted the pouch of centis. He knows they will be in a tight spot if they pay our rent.
"Thank you very much, Da Csille. We are really grateful having you here." He looks to the people behind . "Thank you everyone, for coming all the way here to help us. We won't forget all your kindness."
I smile at him. "Mister Vulso, you don't need to thank us. We are all Vrawyth people. Of course, we will help you."
With teary eyes, he expressed his gratitude again towards us before he excused himself.
I look at the inn in front of us and sigh. I really hope we can really help these people.
________________________________
I look at my room. It's the sa room where I used to stay before. It is the sa room that witnessed everything that happened five years ago.
My eyes wandered at the door, and I couldn't help but reminisce the past.
"It won't take long. Can we just talk?"
"I'm sorry, your highness, I'm really sleepy already. Let's just talk tomorrow. I will be sleeping now, your highness. Good night Prince Fraser."
I tried to close the door, but Prince Fraser pushed it using his hand. "Are you mad at , Csille? Is it because of what happened this morning?"
"I'm not. What right do I have to get mad at you? Good night your highness."
Prince Fraser was about to reply when I closed the door. I could hear him talk outside.
I smile bitterly. He didn't even wait for long. He left after a few minutes. Maybe even then, he doesn't care about . Or better yet, does he ever care about ?
I rember how Prince Fraser always get mad at . I look at the door. It feels like it only happened yesterday.
I sigh and sit on the bed. The bed that also witnessed everything back then.
He walks inside my room and closes the door using his foot. I even got startled by the loud closing of the door.
He laid on my bed and put both of his hands on my side. Trapping . He then inched his face closer to mine. He's sitting beside while I lie on the bed. His hands are on my sides, and half of his body is leaning on . It looks like he's on top of .
"Fr-Fraser?"
"Why don't you listen to , Csille? What do I need to do for you to listen to ?"
I tried to talk, but my mind was too cloudy.
"Csille!" He snapped. "Are you just going to stare at ? Why don't you answer my question? What do you want to do for you to listen to ?"
"Fraser, why are you so handso?"
I laugh when I suddenly rember that scene. I don't know if I should feel embarrassed or cringe at what I did back then.
I couldn't believe I had just said that to a fourteen years old boy. Isn't that illegal?
Goodness gracious! He was just fourteen years old back then while I was twenty two years old, trapped in the body of a fourteen year old girl.
I shivered when I rembered that. I couldn't believe that I find a young man handso. What am I thinking back then?
"Ysavel, you are a corrupt person. I couldn't believe you can say that to a teenager."
I take a pillow and burrow my face in it. I feel frustrated rembering what I did, and I need to release it, or else I might think of this for the whole day, and I don't want that.
I was busy letting out my frustration when I suddenly heard soone knock on my door. As a reflex, I imdiately get up and stare anxiously at the door. But then I realized everything I have seen just now is only a fragnt of my mory. There is no way Prince Fraser can be here.
I groan. "I must be insane to get scared. Prince Fraser isn't even here with us."
I stand up and open the door. I frown when I see Doctor Alena standing in front of my door.
"Doctor Alena? Do you need anything?"
"I was just checking if you are okay. Is everything doing okay, Da Csille?"
I smile gratefully at her. "Everything is okay. I was just resting. Aren't you supposed to be resting too?"
"I was about to rest, but I decided to check on you first. But now I know you are all good. I'll be excusing myself then. I hope you rest well."
I look at Doctor Alena's back. I don't understand why she always seems to sense if sothing is bothering .. It's as if she can sense my emotions.
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