Night sky was dominated by black clouds, concealing any trace of moon and stars; cold wind bearing the scent of wet mud and forest swept across the sky and standing near the window, I let myself get immersed in the dense silence of midnight and cold wind on my skin caused my hair to bristle.
" You will catch cold, My Lady,"
Rina draped a white shawl across my shoulder from the rear and I blinked my eyes up at the featureless night sky.
" What're you thinking so hard about?"
She stood behind me and I could feel my troubled heart trembling for no reason at all.
" My life has been shrouded with the dark cloud of uncertainity, Rina," I whispered, my voice soft and small shakery.
Rina looked upwards, noticing in which direction I was staring she uttered, " It is fate, My Lady."
I swiveled my head and looked at her, there was vacancy pining within her eyes as she went on speaking.
" You were born as the first born daughter to one of the greatest families worldwide, but you lived a yearning and hoping life for those who didn't know your worth until now,"
Rina moved her head and looked at me, a soft smile was on her lips and a soft look in her eyes as she took my hands,
" Now you might feel as if your life is nothing but a darkened midnight sky in stormy weather." Rina looked at my hand and stroked the back of my hand as if speaking something she couldn't speak.
" But after the storm, when the clouds slowly disappear, even the midnight sky can be the brightest and most beautiful."
My lips curled and my face relaxed a bit. Her words instilled in me the courage to look towards a brighter future. A future where my life which is like a cloudy night sky will finally see through the clouds.
The radiant constilations and radiant moon which shines even in the darkest night. perhaps one day I shall be able to see it too?
I nodded and turned back to gaze at the sky.
" You are right." I replied with a smile,
"Once clouds and storms pass away, midnight will be at its most beautiful stage."
" My Lady, there is one thing that perhaps you should be told," Rina's soft voice turned stern and serious. I nodded and walked to my bed to sit down.
After passing out in the carriage, I regained consciousness just a few minutes back at midnight. My body was light and slightly aching from the earlier horse riding. Rina appeared to be disturbed and I can say that she was awake all along to inform me of something.
"Talk, did anything happen while I was gone?"
I asked her. Rina lowered her eyes, her body was tense and restless and I narrowed my eyes.
" Rina?" I leaned forward and she pressed her lips tightly, she did not want to say anything for a moment before finally gathering the courage to utter something.
" Duke and Duchess are divorcing, My Lady."
My mind became blank the moment I heard her, I immediately sprang up and raised my voice in disbelief.
" What did you tell her? Is it rumors or something?"
Rina's head went up and she shook it, " 2 days after you left, Her Grace stormed into His Grace's room and had a very heated arguement and there His Grace requested divorce and asked her to leave along with Young lady Alancia."
I blinked my eyes, adjusting to the situation and doing the calculations.
Mother and Father are getting divorced and it's father who spoke first regarding the divorce thing? To the best of my knowledge from my past life, the two used to fight a great deal when they were alone. Mother would bring up the issue of divorce, but father clung to her life glue.
They never divorced last time, mother almost lost her mind when the news of father's death reached her and she did not spare the Imperial Guards who entered mansion shouting,
- THE EMPIRE WHICH SHATTERED MY LOVE, IT HAS NO RIGHT TO EXIST.
I rubbed my forehead, it was something which never occurred I wanted to see.
I don't feel anything special about the divorce of my parents since to me they were never here both as a child and an adult. My main concern is, however, the divorce of the Duke of Nyxveil and Grand Princess of Holy Empire.
I started walking around my room scratching my forehead.
" Are there documents here?" "Yes, My Lady. It arrived yesterday."
I shot Rina an incredulous look, "Divorce amongst nobles is not easy and not to mention- its between Duke and Duchess of Nyxveil."
Rina nodded, "Turned out His Grace had been arranging for divorce for quite some time. He just got the paper from the Ministery of Law and Her Grace just signed it in front of Priests who came from the temple yesterday."
Mouth hanged opened at her explaination. Its really out of my hand!
I started pulling my hairs while groaing in frustration, " I swear my biggest enemy to my happy ending is my own fucking father!"
Rina covered her mouth from letting out any chuckle. Dang her habit of at the oddest possible moment.
Father had already planned for divorce, though, in my past life he never divorced mother until his demise. There is no denying those two share intense kind of love between them, but father divorcing mother and sending her back to Holy Empire.
I stopped on my path and looked at Rina, " What's the reason for the divorce again?"
Rina smacked her lips and shook her head, " Don't know but it has something to do with Dain's death."
I nodded, so, the variable is Dain's death.
" Her Grace wants to take you with her to Holy Empire but His Grace refused."
I shrugged my shoulder, it's not shocking thing. No way, he would let me go to Holy Empire when I am the wielder of Crimson Abyss.
" After a bickering discussion, His Grace told Her Grace that it is your choice if you want to see Holy Empire or Stay here in Pyrexia."
I raised an eyebrow, repeating what I had just heard and listened and Rina nodded.
It's hard for me to even guess what comes into Father's head. It's not that he doesn't know divorcing mother means, relation with Holy Empire will be lost for next 3 generations.
I was going to go to Holy Empire in 3 years, despite my grandfather not liking me, I am still the child of his favorite child. Taking advantage of that, I wanted to hire the Hidden Saint before other individuals could do so.
There are 5 candidates for Saint in Holy Empire at the moment. But they will witness during the next 5 years how the most unforeseen person is Heaven's chosen saint. Due to the fact that he spent so many years living in stealth, he began being referred to as the Hidden Saint.
My grandfather who was provoked by anger over my mother's death, commanded the Hidden Saint to lead the trope to Wymhold and the world first came face to face with the most violent and kind-hearted Saint of the century.
And I was among them too. In the war between Holy Empire and Wymhold, two of the world's finest swordmasters clashed, everything around us was turned into rubbles and lifeless lands and result.
No one won and got pushed to death gate.
If I can establish him as my ally before he is found out to be the Saint, then my battle against demon cult and demons would be easier than the previous ones.
But, in the event mother and father divorce, and I don't accompany her to Holy Empire, I highly doubt that I am ever going to be able to enter the Holy Empire with my grandfather and uncle still alive.
Because my mother doesn't like me, she won't mind asking to bring me inside Holy Empire.
Leaving Nyxveil is not even a consideration.
"What are you going to do, Young Lady?" Rina questioned worriedly and I bent on my way.
"It's the lone option now." I said to myself and looked up in the sky. Midnight sky was also dark, just like my life. But I do not have time to think what can and cannot be done.
I need to utilize all the pawns in my hand and gain success.
"Ezekian is at his father's house in the mansion his father bought after coming to Pyrexia 5 days ago, isn't it?" Rina nodded to my question.
I looked at Slayer which was resting on my couch next to the bed, my voice came out gruffly, " Send words. I will be meeting Ezekian tomorrow at 10 AM."
" Huh! Are you sure? Grand Duke will also be in that house. You don't know how things can end," Rina snapped nervously and I shook my head.
" His father is not a problem. He won't do anything which will hurt Nordwyn." I said calmly. Rina had something else she wanted to say but held back knowing how it's nearly impossible to make me change my mind once I had made it up.
She nodded, "Sleep well tonight, My Lady. Tomorrow will be a long day."
Saying that she left my room, closing the door softly behind her.
I stood still in the same place, lingering feeling of loneliness and stagnation made my body colder, I looked at my hand and curled it remembering the time Xavier hugged me earlier.
His big embrace around me was secure and firm, for that brief time I was as if nothing in the world could possibly hurt me or stop me, like the source of concern I carried within my mind was meaningless and at that instant, the world surrounding me dissolves and is serene.
" You must grow stronger and more resilent," I growled and clenched my fist. My lips trembled ever so slightly, " I fear I am getting habitat of your presence Xavier."
I threw my head back as I closed my eyes in tiny frustration. Why was I so troubled by him to this degree? What is this ache and longing that I feel each time I glance at him?
He is polite and much too guarded as to what he does while I am in his presence, I know, and I see that the one he was while fighting the Blood Hounds is really him.
If I think of that part of him, Xavier is the biggest wild card standing in my way. A double edged sword which can take me down with a single swing.
But this stupid heart of mine simply refuses to believe that he is capable of even hurting me or standing in my way. It refuses to believe that those soft and loving amyster eyes can even hold maliace and rage when they gaze at me.
I have no idea what will be, I'm unsure and on edge about Xavier. But my concern is about him being driven by demon power instead of being a hindrance in my life and hurting me.
I breathed a sigh and slowly opened my eyes.
The dark clouded sky had just turned to a beautiful night sky with many bright stars and full moon,. My frown relaxed and keeping my feets facing the window, I had my head up looking at the sky.
There were millions and millions of stars in the whole heaven twinkling so beautifully like some weird light of another planet it made the world at night so handsome and aspious, amidst all the millions of stars moon shinned its silver glow to the world with love.
A very ancient dialogue of a long lost past life flashed before my mind when my eyes saw the silver moon, round and full.
My second meeting with Xavier Alexus Aelric
After returning home from war, I could not find Xavier at all despite how desperately I searched for him. He was a thin figure that blew over the war field and left the bound before vanishing.
It wasn't until 2 seasons had passed and spring had come that I saw him again.
" You, you, you, can't you quieten down your brain a little? Observe how lovely the city is adorned with new flowers, tinted papers and lights, and lantens to welcome spring!"
Alice burst out laughing while she tugged me alongside her during the Spring Festivel. I hit my head against my hands while looking at myself, "Seriously? You could have walked in on your own?"
Alice shook her head and clasped our arms together, " Nope! It's not fun to have an over worked employee."
" So, you transpessed into my mansion, threatned me to doll up and dragged me here?" I scrunched up my eyes and she just stuck her tounge out.
"Leave the nagging until tomorrow. We can celebrate Spring Festival today!" Alice smiled happily and I couldn't just help but laugh out loud at her innocent smile and face.
Spring Festival is the 3rd largest festival that whole Wymhold celebrates. Every street is lit up and decorated, at each corner people gather to buy the new exotic items from the vanders, puppet shows were performed and some plays were played back to back in the small entertainment restaurants.
Ordinary people celebrated the Spring Festival differently from artistrocats but during the Spring Festival, colors and liveliness surrounded at every corner of streets and many people from aristocratic households imitate ordinary people to just enjoy the lighthearted atmosphere of the streets.
Aliece dragged me to so many stalls and we tasted different kinds of food, we ended up buying some ear rings and bracelets, played games and had some prices too.
It was after a very long time that I laughed and enjoyed the moment.
"Shall we go into the resturant and see the storytelling?"
Alice tugged me along with her enormous puppy eyes. I did not want to go in fearful of how someone might recognize me.
And really, in public. I was idolized as some kind of guardian angel and I somehow felt overwhelmed by people's over-flattering admiration towards me.
Not many know my face but nobles in disguise usually gather at the resturants where stories are told.
" Are you afraid you'll be recognized?" Aliece smiled and I frowned, she suddenly put something on my face and to my surprise it was a red and white colored fox mask that I had seen somewhere before.
" When did you ever buy this?" I stroked the mask covering my face and my eyes were visible through the holes only.
She had on a white rabbit mask and spin around me, " Now, no one will recognize us."
We both laughed as we proceeded inside the resturants. As usual the resturant was huge and packed with people and most likely us wore masks to cover their identity.
There came a boy walking towards us who seemed to be a server there, he greeted us with a big smile, " Would you like a two-person table?"
I nodded and took out four silver coins and gave it to the boy, " A two-person table on the 2nd floor."
" Oho~~ VIP table. You must be rich, right?" Alice grinned playfully as we were escorted to the 2nd floor.
The 2nd floor had each table separated by a white curtain and each offered a good view to the stage down below. We sat, the lively atmosphere and the air saturated with food odor made my head tigle with joy.
" The moon goddess wipped for the death of her lover who died wretchedly in the hand of demons!" The narrator narrated with dramatic emotions, everyone was gasping listening to it and I could see some wiping off tears.
" Looks like we came at the end of the story," Alice muttered while ordering food.
"Moon Goddess prayed to the heaven," The tale folded his hands together and got on his knees, " OH HEAVENS! PLEASE BRING BACK TO LIFE MY LOVER! HE WAS JUST AND FAIR! OH HEAVENS! DELIVER THE JUSTICE TO MY BROKEN HEART! EITHER BRING HIM BACK TO ME OR TAKE ME TO HIM!"
I blinked my eyes hearing the story of this moon goddess, "Wishing to die for her love, is this foolishness of a goddess?"
"Whether a goddess or a mortal creature, any one is equal when it comes to love."
A husky man's voice boomed from behind the curtain, I opened my eyes at the sound of his familiar voice and turned my head to catch a glimpse of his person behind the curtain.
I could not see very well but the candles which burned behind him, gave me an impression of his face. He wore a mask of a dragon's head, but I knew that voice.
It belonged to the mysterious man who came and saved not just mine but thousands of others during the war 8 months back.
I gulped hard, my heart pounding as he nodded his head and look at me. I still could not see his face but I was sure it was him.
"Heavens inquired from the Moon Goddess,
Oh! Why do you wish to give up off your peace life on account of a human whose acquaintance you barely have?"
The narrator changed his tone into pathetic.
" Moon Goddess smiled seeing the beautiful sleeping fast of her late lover, the mortal who disturbed her steelheart. She whipped with a smile, "in all my endless years of existence, he is the sole man who ever desired me more than any worldly means. When I wished to give myself to him, he only wished to hold me and keep me close. When I wished to ward him off, he only wished to stay.""""
The voice of the narrator was trembling and emotions in his voice were real and raw as if he was not narrating any ordinary story.
" Moon Goddess was not a common person, she was a guardian to the mankind. Her position in the world was huge and her responsibilities were vital. Moon Goddess stood in front of the heavens and begged, " I have completed my task. I have did everything as you without being lazy. Now I demand justice from heavens. PLEASE, LET ME UNITE WITH MY BELOVED IN THE AFTERWORLD!"
"Does Lady think the Moon Goddess is dumb?" He asked suavely. I blinked my eyes and gazed at the story teller, " Dead must live on or else the sacrifise of the dead is not worth it."
He smiled gently and nodded, " That's a novel concept."
" What does Young Lord think of the Moon Goddess?" I asked.
" The Heaven understood her pain but the mission allotted to her was too big and significant for her to just go with her lover to the afterlife forever. Heavens sighed and pitied her. And could only provide her with one option," Story teller paused and the entire store waited with him.
"Heavens informed the Moon Goddess,
You will be united with your lover someday but there will be a long time gap first, a road of throne will be paved for defying the duty that was placed on you. Do you agree with it?"
I bowed my head unable to understand the scenario. It was like I just had to understand the situation by any means.
" Moon Goddess smiled and said" Story teller's voice trembled as he raised his hands, " Oh! I am not afraid of taking a path of throne and waiting for thousands of years if I get to see my beloved one day! I, ACCEPT THIS FATE! I, ACCEPT THIS FATE IN THE HOPE OF SEEING MY BELOVED ONE DAY!"
I shut my eyes in shock. She willingly embraced a cursed fate for her lover? How illogical and peculiar! Why would anyone embrace a sour and cursed fate?
"Moon Goddess gave up her life to fulfill her role at that moment and died alongside her lover, on the pool of blood, she uttered," Story teller's voice was growing deeper and only people's sniffing sounds could be heard in the one-time busy restaurant.
" My moon love, my one and only, my joy- every day with you were miracle. My love, I will endure the pain of hellish life again if I can meet you once more. Thus. Call my name again."
I opened my eyes and relaxed my strengened back.
" It's a sorrowful ending." I say in a deep voice.
"Not necessarily." He replied finally. I confronted him with a turned face and he was already gazing at me.
" How so? Didn't she just pass away?" I asked, he nodded his head.
" For her, living in a world without her beloved love would have been the most heartbreaking conclusion." He replied softly, his voice deep but softly uttered.
" A world without her lover." I said and my lips curled back into a small sad smile, " It takes a big gut to love someone so much that death is preferable to living without them."
" Young Lady, have you never fallen in love?" He asked.
Love. Yeah, I did fall in love with someone but that love was not strong enough for me to die without him.
" And you, Young Lord? Have you also fallen in love like Moon Goddess?" I inquired.
He remained silent for a moment and even though I could not properly see his face but according to his body language he was hurting.
"Yes. I also loved a woman like Moon Goddess." He replied. His voice was heavy but with love. It was a shocking reply and I envied the woman who was lucky enough to be loved that way.
"She must be blessed to have the Young Lord. Not everyone born under the sky is destined to be loved like Moon Goddess was loved for her beloved." I turned around and grabbed the wine glass and drank it.
How strange! My desire to get loved desperately and without restraint did not die despite facing all those misery of my life.
" You didn't answer." He asked. I shrugged my shoulder, " I do love someone but it's not deep and wonderful enough for me to die without him." I mimicked remembering my disagreement with Ezekian this morning in the Court of Ignis.
" I'd kill him when he gets across the line. It's not some grand love." I mumbled and the individual from the other side of the curtain chuckled.
" Young Lady is special person," He sounded amused. I wanted to yank down the curtain and rip off his mask, ask him who he was and why he vanished like that after taking care of me and vanishing without a trace.
But something in me kept going on thinking it will be in appropriate to do so.
Wymhold is a doubtful land, a mere line cross can incur undue problems.
I just turned and glanced at the man and nodded, " Young Lord too is an odd fellow."
He remained silent but simply took a sip of his wine before looking back at me.
And there ended our 2nd meeting.
-------
"Oh, yes!" Xavier returned to my senses from my fantasizing about my old life.
"Xavier professed that he loved someone madly. Who was she?" My eyes widen realizing how I had forgotten such a big of a thing.
I kept my head as I pulled at my hairs in shock, "Fuck! I have changed the so many things from the past! What if that girl and Xavier never get to meet again? Won't I will be the reason why Xavier couldn't be with his beloved?"
My heart constricted in unfamiliar pain just considering the unrecognized girl Xavier had once loved. I shook my head, putting that pain under numerous excuses.
Any attachment beyond my league will only cause trouble.
That is true.
Xavier. He had loved someone wildly enough to kill.
I should. I should. I should. I should. I should.
" I should make them be together."