As I entered the room, a chill settled in the air, every gaze felt as icy as though I were a parasite invading their space. Accompanied by my servant, I was in a long, spacious room with a table that could seat twenty. Peter guided me towards the top seat where a man sat, leaving a spot on his left. Gesturing to Peter, the man indicated for me to join him at the top, and Peter promptly obeyed. As I scanned the room, it seemed almost unused, impeccably clean with freshly arranged delicate flowers.
Then, abruptly, my chair halted, bringing me to the table. "Morning, my flower," greeted Yumisawa, his smile masking indifference as he turned to me. Before I could respond, four children barged in - two darting in excitedly and two trailing behind.
"Dad! Is it true that my sister will join us for breakfast?" A young girl, clutching a small bunny toy, rushed toward me, seemingly unaware of my presence, typical of the shy Mei. "Yes, if that's alright with you," I replied with a smile as she settled beside me.
"ARGH!" Mei screamed suddenly, prompting a chuckle from both the king and me. Her embarrassment painted her face red, and I comforted her with a pat on the head. "It's okay, you didn’t see me. It's okay," she stammered. Meanwhile, the boy behind her bowed to me, and I reciprocated with a smile.
Soon, the older children entered and sat across from me, greeting me more aloof than brotherly. Uncomfortable, I glanced back, finding solace in Peter's presence.
Returning to the table, their cold stares bore into me, forcing my head down in fear. Yumisawa broke the tension, directing his attention to Mei, and inquiring about her well-being.
"No discomfort. I was thinking of a walk in the garden after breakfast," Mei said, sparking an odd reaction. The room fell silent, the king's face drained of color, and my brothers wore unsettling smiles.
"Why do you want to go out? To jump off something again?" Yumisawa's voice dripped with anger directed at me, leaving me bewildered.
A knight stepped forward, seeking permission to speak, proposing to accompany Mei in the garden, ensuring her safety and avoiding elevated areas. Yumisawa, taken aback, finally relented, instructing me and my servant to join him and Isaac in his office after breakfast.
I nodded in agreement and resumed my meal.
The weight of Yumisawa's anger lingered in the air, casting a pall over the breakfast table. My brothers' smirks hinted at a shared knowledge, an inside joke that excluded me. Beside me, my sister who I have yet to learn the name of seemed apologetic and hesitant, her gaze darting between her father and me. As the meal progressed, the tension refused to dissipate. Yumisawa's stern expressions and occasional glasses made it hard to swallow a single morsel without a knot forming in my stomach. Then the knight who had volunteered to accompany me, went back behind the king while maintaining a respectful silence, casting occasional looks toward the king, gauging his mood.
Eventually, breakfast drew to a close, marked by a heavy silence broken only by the clinking of utensils against plates. Yumisawa rose first, his demeanor rigid, and motioned for me and my servant to follow him to his office.
Isaac, a stoic figure with an unreadable expression, fell in step behind us as we traversed the corridors, the air charged with an unspoken tension. Each step felt heavier than the last, weighed down by the unknown reasons for Yumisawa's anger. The only sound there was my wheelchair squeaking now and then until we reached his office, there were two big brown doors with golden touch handles. Two knights beside the door opened the door for the king and waited for us to enter the room before closing the doors.
Upon entering his office, Yumisawa gestured for us to take seats, his gaze fixed and intense. "Explain," he demanded, his tone brooking no argument.
Confusion washed over me. "Explain, Your Highness?" I ventured cautiously.
"Why would you bring up the garden?" His voice, though controlled, hinted at an underlying frustration.
"I merely mentioned a walk," I replied, bewildered by the situation's intensity.
Yumisawa's expression softened marginally. "That garden holds... memories," he uttered, the words laden with an unspoken history. "Memories I'd rather not see repeated."
"I understand, Your Highness. I had no intention to cause distress," I offered, trying to ease the thick tension in the air.
Isaac, usually a silent observer, interjected. "Your Highness, if I may..." His voice was steady, his words measured. "Allow me to clarify the situation. The garden holds painful memories for Her Highness as well. Mei's previous... incident occurred there."
A solemn silence enveloped the room. Yumisawa's face softened, the anger replaced by a poignant sorrow. "I see," he murmured, a hint of regret seeping into his voice.
"I assure you, Your Highness, I meant no harm," I reiterated, hoping to dispel any doubts about my intentions.
Yumisawa nodded, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "Apologies for the misunderstanding," he said, a tinge of regret evident. "I'm protective of my children's safety."
"I understand completely, Your Highness," I replied with a brief smile, sensing empathy bridging the gap between us. However, I was puzzled about the reason for his anger regarding my outing. Despite my curiosity, I chose not to delve further into the matter. Instead, I bowed to him along with my servant and the unnamed knight accompanying us.
With the tension diffused and mutual understanding achieved, we concluded the discussion, exiting the office with a newfound sense of respect for one another.
As Peter and the knight escorted me toward my bedroom, the need for warmer, more comfortable attire for the outdoors became apparent. It was then that the knight chose to speak.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“My name is Alexander Demonte,” he replied, his expression chillingly cold as he bowed to me.
Upon reaching my bedroom door, he swiftly opened it, his demeanor remaining stoic. "Miss Mei, I'll see you in 5 minutes," he stated briskly. I couldn't help but shiver, feeling an icy aura emanating from his cold gaze as I glanced up at him.
I nodded in acknowledgment, allowing Peter to guide me to the nearby couch where I could comfortably sit and change. As we closed the door behind us, a sudden, audible sigh escaped from Peter's lips, startling me.
"Peter, are you okay? What's with that big sigh?" I inquired, my tone rising with concern.
His response trembled through the room. "I felt a chill as if Alexander—whomever he is—was looking down on us, particularly you. I could sense his gaze piercing through you like an arrow striking the heart. It made me feel weak," he admitted, his body trembling slightly with the impact of the sensation.
"It's okay," I whispered, drawing closer to him and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Whatever it is, we'll handle it together. We won't let anyone's gaze unsettle us." His vulnerability tugged at my heart, urging me to offer reassurance amidst the unnerving situation.
As I tried to calm Peter's nerves, I couldn't shake off the lingering unease caused by the intensity of Alexander's presence. It was as though an invisible force had descended upon us, leaving an unsettling aura in its wake.
After a few minutes, Peter took a deep breath and opened the door, guiding me out of the room. We were met with the sight of Alexander, his expression stone-cold, fixated on the door, and then on us.
He nodded his head to the left, signaling for us to proceed. Glancing at Peter for a moment, I turned my attention forward, and we began making our way towards the garden, or at least one of them, as Alexander had mentioned earlier.
As we traversed the estate, a palpable tension hung in the air, suffocating and laden with unspoken mysteries. It was as though every rustle of leaves conspired to amplify the silence, and the atmosphere itself seemed to hold its breath, brimming with anticipation.
The garden, once a haven of serenity, now felt like a labyrinth of hidden truths and veiled intentions. I couldn't shake the unnerving sensation that our steps were meticulously watched, every turn scrutinized by unseen eyes. It was an unsettling awareness, an inexplicable feeling that the foliage concealed more than just verdant beauty.
And amidst this enigmatic landscape, the weight of Alexander's gaze loomed like an ominous shadow, an unrelenting presence that trailed our every move. His eyes held a depth that seemed to pierce through veils of pretense, leaving us exposed and vulnerable in its wake. The intensity of his stare spoke volumes, whispering secrets I yearned to unravel yet feared to confront.
With each stride, a shiver traced its way down my spine, a reaction not to the chill in the air but to the inexplicable aura enveloping us. It was as if the garden itself held secrets in its blossoms and whispered them in the wind, compelling us to decipher their cryptic messages.
Every corner turned, every flowerbed passed, heightened the feeling of walking a tightrope between revelation and concealment. The garden, once a sanctuary, had transformed into a theater of suspense, where every petal and every shadow seemed pregnant with unspoken truths.
After what felt like an eternity navigating through the labyrinthine corridors, we finally approached the garden. It emerged like a mirage, a realm veiled in ethereal beauty. The transition from the opulent interiors to this outdoor sanctuary was nothing short of a breathtaking metamorphosis.
Before we stood two grandiose glass doors, almost crystalline in their clarity like portals inviting us to step into a realm of enchantment. As they swung open, they revealed a spectacle that transcended imagination.
The garden unfurled like a painting crafted by celestial hands, an oasis of vibrant colors and fragrant blooms that danced in harmonious choreography. The sunlight, filtered through the canopy above, painted dappled patterns on the cobblestone paths that wound through the verdant landscape.
It was a tapestry woven with meticulous care, each flower a jewel, each tree a guardian standing sentinel over the tranquility within. The air carried a symphony of scents—jasmine, rose, and lavender—creating an intoxicating perfume that embraced us, cocooning our senses in its embrace.
But amidst this symphony of nature’s splendor, there lingered an indefinable aura, an undercurrent of intrigue that whispered secrets hidden among the petals and within the shadows. It was a garden of contrasts, where beauty coalesced with enigma, inviting exploration yet caution in equal measure.
As we stepped further into this resplendent sanctuary, the glass doors closed behind us with a soft, almost reverential whisper, sealing us within this paradise tinged with an air of mystery. Time seemed to suspend itself in this haven, each passing moment a delicate brushstroke in the masterpiece that was the garden, beckoning us to unravel its mysteries while guarding its secrets with unwavering grace. Where every blossom and every leaf is meticulously animated, each one a vibrant burst of color and life. Cherry blossom trees stand tall, their delicate pink petals swirling in a gentle breeze that carries a sense of ethereal tranquility.
The pathways wind gracefully through meticulously trimmed hedges, leading to ornate gazebos adorned with intricate designs. Water features glisten in the sunlight, sparkling with a magical allure as koi fish glide beneath the surface, their scales reflecting iridescent hues. The wind-carrying tree petals brushed through my hair, and I was entranced. It felt like a dream. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and then exhaled.
Exotic flowers bloom in riotous profusion, their vivid colors adding splendor to the landscape. Lush, green foliage drapes over marble sculptures that dot the garden, frozen in elegant poses as if captured in a moment of eternal grace. Far off in the distance, a resting spot beckoned, accompanied by a man holding food. I inquired of Alexander if we could make our way there. With a confirming nod from him and then we...