Chapter 22 - Organize My Thoughts!
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-Helia Palace; Royal Infirmary-
"Easy, Your Highness," Veles said softly, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "You've been through a lot. Just take it slow."
I stirred awake, my senses slowly returning to me like a fog lifting from a distant shore.
"Where...where am I?" I asked, I managed to croak, my voice barely rising above a whisper. The dim light in the room made it hard to see, and the outlines of the furniture appeared as shadowy figures in my mind.
"You're in the Royal Infirmary," Myla explained. "You've been unconscious for several days. We were soooooooooo worried about you."
Several days? The last thing I remember was having a conversation with mother which was absolutely very...Ah, the pain! It hurts a lot! No! Luxana, bear the pain! If you can't even handle this much, how do you plan on getting your so-called "REVENGE" anyway? Just think of it as a punishment I must bear for... not even attempting to reach out to that Japanese woman earlier? I thought, doing my best not to scrunch up my face due to the unbearable pain.
“How are you feeling, Princess?” Myla’s gentle voice broke through my spiraling thoughts.
“Like my head’s going to explode,” I admitted, rubbing my temples in a futile attempt to ease the pressure. “But I’ll manage.”
“I’ll get the healer,” Myla said, rising from her seat. “Just stay here and rest.”
“No! There’s no need. I don’t want to deal with anyone right now. Just let me rest for a while. I’ll be fine,” I insisted, sinking deeper into the bedding, desperate for solitude.
"Lumi, seriously, just give yourself a break! You gotta quit pushin' yourself to the limit before you implode." Veles interjected, his arms crossed and his gaze fixed on the door with a detached expression. "It ain't gonna do anybody any good if you keep pushin' too hard. So cut yourself some slack and take a breather, got it? You're useless to everyone if you're burnt out anyway~"
“Just…shut up…for a second,” I mumbled, pressing my head into my hands, hoping to block out both the pain and the world around me.
The pain in my head was relentless, but it was nothing compared to the turmoil in my heart. How could everything have gone so wrong? And what did Mother's words mean? Hades...Helios...the killer of her family...I thought.
I closed my eyes, trying to silence the chaos within. Each name echoed in my thoughts like a haunting melody, pulling me deeper into a web of confusion and fear. I had to find clarity. I had to understand what had happened to my family and why I felt so lost.
Turning to my right, my eyes widened in surprise. "Myla? Why are you.......crying?" I asked, concern threading through my voice.
Myla quickly wiped away her tears, her face flushing with embarrassment. She tried to muster a smile but failed.
"She's been doing that ever since we found out you were unconscious," Veles exclaimed, his voice steady but his eyes betraying a flicker of worry. He stood with his arms crossed, his face remaining expressionless, as if trying to hide his own emotions.
"Myla, please don't cry," I said softly, the guilt gnawing at my heart. I gently reached out to touch her hand. "I'm still here. I'm still fighting."
Myla gave me a watery smile, her eyes red and puffy from tears. She clasped my hand tightly, as if afraid to let go. "It's just...I was so scared, Princess. I thought we might lose you."
"You won't lose me," I promised, though the words felt heavy with uncertainty. The pain in my head was overwhelming, and the weight of my responsibilities felt like a mountain on my shoulders. But I had to be strong. For them. For my family.
Veles sighed deeply, running a hand through his disheveled hair. His eyes were filled with concern as he looked at me. "Look, we all know you're tough, Lumi. But tough doesn't mean invincible. You've got to take care of yourself too."
I nodded, though I wasn't sure how to follow his advice. Every time I tried to rest, my mind was invaded by relentless and defiant thoughts.
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-Afternoon, Helia Palace; Roxana's Room-
As I sat in the guest corner of my room, gazing out of the window at the sprawling gardens of Helia Palace, the sunlight filtering through the delicate lace curtains painted dappled patterns on the wooden floor. The room itself was a blend of regal opulence and personal comfort, with plush cushions and a tapestry depicting ancient battles adorning one wall.
Leena, dressed in a crisp maid's uniform, entered with a warm smile. Her uniform was meticulously pressed, and she wore a small, silver brooch of the palace insignia on her chest. Despite the King's illness, which had restricted entry and exit without a royal permit from the Queen, I had managed to disguise Leena to avoid drawing attention, thanks to Myla's cunning.
"Thank you for showing up, Leena," I said, gesturing for her to take a seat on the velvet-upholstered chair across from me.
"Of course, Your Highness. It's my honor," Leena replied, settling into the chair. Her eyes were filled with genuine concern. "I'm glad to see you're doing well, Your Highness."
I smiled reassuringly. "How about I start by introducing you to my allies first?"
“Oh! I’d be delighted,” Leena said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
I snapped my fingers.
The room seemed to darken momentarily as Myla and Mylo glided in, shrouded in an ethereal fog that swirled around their forms.
Myla, a witch with cascading brown hair and piercing green eyes, wore long, flowing robes that billowed as she moved. Her eyes, vibrant and alive, hinted at her deep well of magical knowledge and her connection to the natural world. Each step she took echoed with the soft rustle of ancient fabric, and her presence exuded a serene yet powerful aura.
Mylo, in his werewolf form, was a towering figure of raw power and intimidation. His fur, a deep, almost midnight blue, shimmered subtly in the dim light. His whitish hair framed his fierce yet intelligent face, with hazel eyes that seemed to pierce through the very soul. Standing on two legs, his muscular form was covered in dark, intricate patterns that seemed to shift and change as he moved. His demeanor was calm and calculating, always observing, always analyzing, with an aura of primal strength.
Veles, in his human form, had blue hair and striking blue eyes that seemed to glow with an inner fire. Materializing out of my necklace, his appearance was both mesmerizing and awe-inspiring. His hair, like a cascade of the clearest sapphire, framed a face that was both regal and fierce. Veles's eyes, reflecting the depths of the ocean, burned with the intensity of a thousand suns. His presence commanded respect and admiration, and the air around him crackled with energy.
Leena blinked, her eyes wide as she tried to make sense of the surreal scene unfolding before her.
"Meet Myla and Drake!" I exclaimed, raising my hand to my right, “This is Myla, the witch you met with me at ‘The Moonlit Tearoom Café.’ And this is Drake, a werewolf who, along with Myla, has been helping me communicate with the wine dealer.”
(P.S. forgot to mention, when I informed them that I was going to introduce them to Leena, Mylo begged for his name to be changed because everyone teases him for having a name that matches with Myla and others think they're siblings, though I really liked their names matching I was forced to change it. (┬┬﹏┬┬) So I named him Drake but I really hope I can still call him Mylo sometimes.)
“And this is Veles, the Dragon of Dragon Flames,” I added, gesturing to my left. “They’ve all been a tremendous help to me since things took a turn for the worse.”
Leena stood frozen, her eyes focused on Drake, who was still in his wolf form. Her hands trembled slightly.
"Oh, umh...Drake, please go back to your usual form. You too, Myla," I said gently.
Myla and Drake nodded, their forms shifting back to their usual appearances. Myla's glow dimmed, and Drake's features softened, making them look more human. The fog dissipating around them.
“Oh, um....................it’s...........good to meet all of you,” Leena stammered, her voice trembling slightly, a sheen of sweat glistening on her brow.
“You too,” Myla said with a warm smile, trying to ease Leena’s evident fear.
"Can we sit down now?" Veles asked, sounding slightly irritated, his tail flicking impatiently.
“Yeah, go ahead,” I replied, watching as Myla, Drake, and Veles settled into their chairs beside me. “Now, let’s get straight to the point!"
"Leena, I’ve called you here because you know my mother better than anyone. There have been unsettling things happening to me recently, and since you’re one of the few I trust, I would appreciate your insights about her. But first, I’d like everyone here to help me categorize, prioritize, and conceptualize my thoughts. Since they've been in disarray ever since I woke up today." I added, my voice tinged with a mixture of apprehension and hope.
Everyone looked a bit puzzled and hesitant, their expressions mirroring my own inner turmoil as uncertainty hung in the air.
“Ah, I’m sorry if this makes you uncomfortable,” I added, feeling a twinge of guilt.
"No, no, it's not like that, Your Highness," Leena quickly reassured me, raising both her hands and shaking them, her voice earnest.
“Princess, I’ll get a pen and paper. Please give me a second,” Myla said, rushing to my ornate mahogany drawer to retrieve them. “Here,” she exclaimed, placing the paper and pen in front of me. “We’re all set to hear what you’ve got,” she added with a soft smile, her eyes encouraging.
"Honestly, it's good that you're finally opening up to us a bit," Drake chimed in, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly in a rare smile.
“Then let’s begin!” I exclaimed, feeling a surge of determination.
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"Let's start from where it all began," I stated, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "It started on the day of fat— I mean, His Majesty's Birthday Banquet. That day, Cillian invaded and assassinated two people, who I suspect to be Elmirians."
"It's been like 3 months since His Majesty's banquet!" Leena exclaimed, her eyes wide with incredulity.
"And who’s Cillian?" Veles asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Yeah, is he another of your allies whom we don't know?" Drake added, his tone tinged with impatience.
"He's the Prince of Valentine, a duchy in Elmir," Myla answered, her voice soft but firm. "He's...um...I think he's an ally?" She turned to me, seeking confirmation.
"Oh, um...well...I'm not sure," I said reluctantly, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach. "We'll get onto that in a moment."
"Oh? Don't tell me....is he your-"
"SHUT UP, Veles," Myla interrupted, glaring at him with such intensity that he visibly recoiled. "Can't you see the Princess is uncomfortable?" she raged, her fists clenching.
Drake let out an exasperated sigh. "Okay, enough already! Please continue, Princess."
"Ah, yes! So then, the very next day, His Majesty called for me in Helia Palace, but I refused to take a step out of Amoria Palace. He definitely wanted to ask whether I was the one responsible for that incident. Oh right, after a few days it was my birthday. That night, Cillian showed up again at the balcony and got me to disclose the information about the Annex next to the Helia Palace. Oh, just so you know, it's an abandoned annex that secretly houses a casino where the nobility gather. His Majesty drinks there. He uses these gatherings to forge relationships and manipulate visitors using illegal methods."
"Oh my my~ this Cillian guy's got quite the nerve," Veles added, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Shut up, idiot," Drake retorted, rolling his eyes.
"Wait! Is there really a casino run by the King?" Leena questioned curiously, her eyes sparkling with intrigue.
"Yes," I added, letting out a sigh. "Though I'm not sure why Cillian wanted information about such a trivial thing."
"Could it be...he's going to infiltrate it or something?" Drake suggested, his eyes narrowing.
"There's a high possibility," Veles remarked, nodding thoughtfully, his tone serious.
"Hmmm...maybe. Then the next day, I...*sigh* killed my nanny." I added, my voice barely above a whisper.
Everyone fell silent, shock etched on their faces.
"WHAT?" Veles exclaimed, jumping up from his seat. "HOW?"
"Long story short, she wasn’t a good person to begin with. She tortured and traumatized me, so I used whatever I could find around me to kill her. Once I did, Cillian appeared and helped me hide the evidence. The doctor came in but failed to save her. Then I ended up meeting her husband that night, and he committed suicide in my garden in front of the butler because he hated her and couldn’t bear the pain of losing her. So, he took his own life. Of course, this is how it was presented in court, but the truth is, his family was pressuring him, and he couldn’t handle losing the one he loved, so he took the easy way out. I wasn’t caught."
Everyone was speechless. The room seemed to grow colder, and the silence was deafening.
"Oh! Then Cillian, before leaving that night, said he would help me avenge my mother! I know that my mother and his mother had a close friendship, but could this have something to do with him?"
"Hmm....let me see..." Leena said, her brow furrowing in concentration.
"Oh! I forgot, he traded my mother’s keepsake in exchange for the information about the casino," I said, instinctively touching the necklace around my neck.
"Huh? But the Queen had taken all Her Late Majesty's belongings. Where did he get that from? Are you sure it's not fake?" Leena questioned, her eyes narrowing.
"Oh no, it isn't. It definitely isn't. Cillian is a demon contrac-"
"WHAT?" Veles jumped up from his seat again, his face pale. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?"
"Na...no?" I stammered.
Veles walked towards me, grabbing my shoulders with a tight grip. "DO YOU KNOW HOW HE MADE A DEMON CONTRACT?"
"No........I don't..."
"AH! You're so useless, Lumi!!!!!!!" he exclaimed, shaking me slightly.
"HEY!" Myla and Drake shouted in unison, trying to pull Veles away from me.
"Veles, please sit down. Things would work out better for everyone here if you could explain why knowing ho-"
"Kay, kay! I get it," Veles said interrupting Leena, snatching his arms away from Drake and plopping back into his seat.
"Are you okay, Princess?" Myla whispered, her hands gently resting on my arms from behind.
"Yeah, I am," I remarked, seating back.
"Look. From what I know, demon contractors are extremely rare. No, demons themselves are extremely rare to find on this planet anymore. They’ve been yanked back to the demon realm. Since the gate between the human and demon realms has been sealed since the time dragons disappeared from the human realm, it’s impossible for a demon contractor to exist," Veles explained, his voice steadying.
"Then, aren't you and him the same case? Your Dragon race disappeared but you remained-"
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To be Continued...