Chapter 28: A simple question.

Eyes facing forward, the strange princess strode quietly in the palace. Felix and Fertiti were right behind her, watching her fluid and confident form with no trace of weakness or depression in her solid stance that reeked of grace and power. Felix already knew that there was no way to stop her unless he ties her down, and that is an option he wouldn't even want to think further about. Fertiti was a little perplexed too, knowing this decision could lead to something two things - bad, or worse - Depending on how Raziah tackles the situation.

Raziah was still on her way, approaching the throne room when Felix spoke behind her, "He's in here," he said, and Raziah made a sharp turn and faced the double doors that separated her from King Eleazar. Thinking back on what Gwenore had told her that morning, she knew the King must still have some doubts about her, and Raziah wasn't still sure how to solve it without revealing what really happened, but still...

There wasn't a single guard by the door, and without wasting another second, Raziah pushed the door open and walked inside the huge room. Unlike Erandell which had stone statues at every corner of the palace, Sabaean had gold-like stools, with a lit- candle sitting on them. It was an elaborate and beautiful room, but with only four candles, Raziah couldn't quite seem much. Once again, it had this kind of Gothic setting.

Her keen eyes scanned around, finally getting to the magnificent throne itself sitting on a small tier, raised in its dignity and majestic carpet. The King was right there, seated comfortably with his legs crossed, leaning back on his throne while twirling a glass drink in the middle of his fingers lazily. He was putting on long robes, and a light shirt and pants. His short hair wasn't in anyway mused, with everything arranged perfectly to fit his dashing features. For a man who had such a grown-up daughter, he sure looked very, very young

About six feet away from him, Raziah bowed at Eleazar, "I apologize for this unannounced and unwelcomed intrusion, your Majesty." She stated, before looking back at him. He had exceptionally light brown eyes that she could see even in the dimly lit room.

"Oh..." He breathed with a curve on his lips, taking a light sip of his drink, "You've finally come to see me." He added, a glint flickering past his eyes.

Raziah pulled back to her full length. She wondered if he had been expecting her, "I would like to leave the kingdom this night, and right away!" Her tone came out a little more commanding than she had wanted, but she didn't seem to care.

"But you just got here two days ago. Why the rush?" He asked innocently, arching his brow in question.

"Because it's my decision, your highness," She responded, "I was told his Majesty asked you to keep me here till he returns, but I'm afraid I won't listen to any one of you. There's something I have to do, and sitting in one place isn't going to solve that!" She uttered, as a matter of fact, never taking her chilly eyes off his sturdy figure, as the man leisurely took a sip of his drink again.

"Can you hear yourself?" He tilted his head to one side, taking a good view of her from head to toe.

"Loud and clear." She immediately replied, not giving a damn if it sounded like she was ordering him. Clearly, she was going against both kings' wishes, but Raziah had a good reason for that. She already knew what she was dragging herself into the second she stood up from the bed and began changing into these new outfits.

"And you're aware that we haven't completely resolved what happened yesterday at the event." He stated, moving to a better posture. He was no longer leaning back on the chair, and the smirk on his lips vanished with that change of position.

"Well aware. And that is one of the reasons I'm here. You're the King, so there's no better person to question me,"

"You remember everything that happened now?" He glanced at her wrapped arm.

"Yes," came her reply.

"And what makes you think I'll let you go if you tell me everything?" He took another sip, "Agon Himself asked me to keep you here, sound and safe. He's never asked me for a favor before. Do you even know what he was protecting you from? Where did you get the courage to walk straight into the Bat's cave when it has been trying to keep its eyes away from you?"

Raziah's eyes narrowed slightly at the king. She didn't comprehend what he was saying, but she was gonna retort back anyway, "I don't need protecting from anyone. I know myself and what I can do!"

Then, Eleazar chuckled, his deep and reverberation voice filling the whole room, "You have no idea what he is protecting from, do you?"

"Protect?" Raziah's eyes dimmed even further as if the words were just settling in completely. What does he have to protect her from? Felix and Gwenore did tell her to stay indoors, but Raziah's interpretation of indoors was that she wasn't allowed to leave the palace anymore - but does it actually mean that whatever they're trying to keep her from was inside the palace?

"You're completely clueless," he laughed again, gulping down the rest of his drink. Raziah watched as he casually tossed the glass cup aside, and it fell and shattered right in front of him, pieces of glass rolling down to where she stood before it stopped. The sound clouded the whole room for a second, and Raziah didn't know whether it was because her vision was indistinct, but the sound of the shattering glass sharply resonated inside her ear - and everything was suddenly buzzing around her.

The noise was so loud, lasting only for about two seconds before it became clearer again. Her eyes were closed for that period of time as a reflex to the sudden noise, and then she threw them open again once it noise dissipated, only to find the King standing right in front of her.

Startled at the figure that came out of nowhere, she almost jumped back. The surprise flew past her eyes, and she quickly caught and composed herself, keeping her legs glued to the floor.

"Now tell me," The glint was back in his eyes, his hands behind his back, "What actually happened? Are you the one who had that level of accuracy to stop the arrow with a mere knife? I'm too curious to let it go." If he wasn't close enough before, he took a step closer to her till they were almost breathing the same air.

He was just about the same height as her husband, having his own splendor scent just like his Majesty's.

Raziah sighed inwardly, "Your hunch was right from the moment we met, your highness." She stared deeply into his eyes, maintaining that unceremonious eye contact with him, "I'm not an ordinary person, and I'm more than just a guest to his Majesty. I'm educated and experienced when it comes to defense and offense, so yes, I was the person who stopped the arrow." She confessed straight-up.

Eleazar began walking around her, getting even more curious, "I know a lot, Raziah," He began, "And I'm pretty sure a mere commoner can't have the level of exactness you did. Some are also experienced in the aspect of swordsmanship and Archery, but there's absolutely no way a mere person can do what you did." He stopped talking and walking, standing right beside her. She could feel his gaze on her face and kept her complete cool.

There wasn't an atom of nervousness or fear in her skin.

"I know you do not have a hand in the murder attempt yesterday, and seeing you standing here with me without a single drop of care, in the middle of the night, alone in these walls where I could do whatever I want to you, my level of accuracy is telling me that you would do whatever you have to just to leave the palace this night."

Raziah almost yawned. Anyone would have figured that out!

"And right now, I'm willing to let you go if you answer a simple question, Raziah."

Uh-oh. Raziah's fingers trembled at his words slightly, but her facial expression didn't falter. She would never let him know that she had subconsciously felt a wave of dread and embitterment right there.

"I'm listening." She stated.

Seconds passed, minutes followed, and Raziah didn't know when she started feeling unease creeping into her system. Whatever he was about to ask her was something she wasn't ready for, and she had this strong inkling that it might be harder than she can take. Her left arm had already taken off subconsciously again to rub her wristband, when Eleazar finally asked, "Princess Raziah Octavius of Naria, Are you human?"

Then, everything immediately became a blur. All the scenarios that Raziah had been forcefully pushing to the back of her mind jumped forth to the very front, and all she could think of was how she had healed Maria miraculously, the way her husband had glared at her before he left, the look in Maria's eyes when she was in pain, the blood spray on the windows and door knob, the screams, the pain, the fire, the Downfall, the blood splash, the pleas...and every other flash of images that came barricading its way into her mind.