Chapter 31: Pandemonium.

"Suddenly, I hate my life." Felix groaned.

Titi who was beside him, holding the reigns as they moved fast through the night glanced at him, wide-eyed before she slowly retracted her gaze and focused on the road ahead. The male guard looked depleted of his strength, his skin getting paler the more he thought about the new situation he was in.

He had strongly believed that at least King Eleazar would not let her leave, but as uncanny and strange as the rest of it had been, here they were riding back to their kingdom. The worse of it all was that they were getting closer and closer, and the second His Majesty sees them, someone's head would fly off.

And there's no argument because that head would belong to no one but him.

These past few months, everything has been as peaceful as it can be. Aragon had been smiling, and he had been very considerate. He was himself, and everyone around could breathe properly whenever he was that way. His eyes always bore the warning, the creeping danger, the lurking terror, and the malignant doings, but that refreshing look would always make you feel a little at ease around him.

Till the second something inexplicable happens, and he switches to his 'other self'.

It's like his terrifying aura grows wings, and throws them around you to suck you into their merciless depths. He switches with the flick of a finger, and everything about him suddenly turns upside down. In that state of mind which could last for so many months, and often years - everyone around him are always on their feet, and you cannot afford to make a mistake. His orders begin to sound godly to the ears, with the alarming warning bells that once you stray out of line or have the thought of disobeying, then he would begin viewing you like an insect under his feet whose limbs can be uprooted with just a small tug.

Maybe beheading would be better than that since it doesn't involve so much pain.

His Fear-gripping aura explodes, engulfing anyone who dares to stay close for too long. The second Aragon had stepped out of the room looking like that, his four warriors had felt the razor-sharp fear, the thrill that something had, or was about to go terribly wrong. Then, he had ordered Taj and Indah to come along with him immediately.

And here he was, upon knowing what would happen to him, still riding back to Erandell as fast as they can. The number of horses pulling them this time was more than the number that brought them - and Felix had taken a shortcut. On their way here, Aragon had instructed him to take the longer path for some reason - but this time, even Felix himself was in a hurry.

Worrying about his Majesty was something he was always supposed to do, and not to mention but the princess inside the carriage was looking nowhere near patient.

Felix's caramel brown hair fell back as he tipped his head upwards, a peal of hysterical and choking laughter freely falling out of his mouth, "I'm doomed in both ways," He quipped.

Leaning on the carriage walls with her eyes closed, Raziah shut out the noise coming From beside her. Fabia was yelling at Caius, trying to coax the kid into taking the dose of his drug, which was inside the bottle she had been holding, but he was adamant about not taking even a drop tonight. Raziah had switched positions with Fabia a while ago so the doctor could take care of her nephew, but he was proving very stubborn.

"Ugh, it burns my throat and tastes like a dirty sock. Have you ever smelt a dirty sock before?!" Caius complained as he tried to push back his aunt back from bringing the bottle cover closed to his mouth which was filled with it. His face was twisted in agony, while Fabia tried to keep the medicine from spilling while peeling his small hands away from her.

"That's what you say every time I try to give you, and don't you forget that I'm the one who washes those dirty socks you little bone-head!" She fired back, grabbing his two hands to stop him from pushing her away.

"It's your duty. I'm just a kid!"

"Shut up and come here!"

He scooted back, "Never!"

"We are finally traveling," Fabiana glanced at the Princess who looked like she was fast asleep, "Please can't you listen to me for once? Take this dose, and you'll be fine for another two days"

"I don't want to" He shook his head fervently.

"Okay, how about this? Take your dose, and I'll let you play with that," She bribed, motioning at her bow that she had been matching down on ever since it was brought to her because she was more than confident her nephew was gonna come down on it if she didn't.

Caius folded his arms, proving defiant with his eyes, "That won't do alone,"

"What else do you want?"

"The arrows," He stated.

"I'll just have to choke the dose down your stubborn throat!!" Fabia instantly jumped on him, finally pinning him down.

"I'm gonna spit it all out!" He threatened, "And then I'm gonna pick up that lantern," He poked his tongue out to the direction of the lantern sitting just by the side, lighting up the small space, "And play with it instead. So it's either you choose, leave me alone or we end up burning!"

Fabia glared at him, "You won't dare!"

"Shall we test it out?"

"If you burn us, how are we then supposed to walk around hand in hand around the new kingdom we are traveling to? Hm?"

And that was enough for the kid to spring back up, "Really? You're serious?!"

She nodded, "Look, I shouldn't have brought you with me but I couldn't leave her either," The doctor rested her head back, taking a deep breath, "And if there's really something bad happening back there, we'll stop where it's safe and stay there till things are better - after all, we can't walk around with fear in our minds," She glanced at him, and he was already swinging his legs again, "But for us to achieve that, you have to..."

Caius reached out and snatched the content away from his aunt, almost spilling it. She watched him swallow the umber-colored viscous liquid, the stinging and harsh taste reflecting in his face before he let out a bitter cough and returned the cover to her, the resolute steel shining in his eyes, "I'm gonna be a very good boy!"

...

With her golden streaks rolling down her peaceful face, it'd look like she was fast asleep, but that was nowhere near the case of the pandemonium that was running wild inside her mind.

'Princess Raziah Octavius of Naria, Are you Human?'

Raziah had almost convulsed badly. Her body had gone frozen, and the only thing she could see were the images that were still as fresh as yesterday. She had been ignoring it deliberately, everything that has been happening so far, and she had been hell-bent on continuing like that. Anyone that tried to dive into that topic, she always shut them up - she didn't want to remember.

Who was she kidding?

She was always remembering. She remembered all the time so much that it became something like drinking water, or even breathing. The reoccurrence was now part of her, that even if she tried to push it back, it just refused to go anywhere but the very front of her mind.

But she had convinced herself instead that she was doing just fine and put up an unbreakable barrier. She had wrapped herself up in the cold the barrier supplied, and made it a part of her she never want to bring down and that made her believe she was now strong enough.

But from the second she met her husband, the events that kept happening between and around them kept proving her wrong. The worst of them all was that she was deeply afraid that if she doesn't keep reinforcing her barrier over and over again, painting and tainting, and building stone by stone, putting up the hardest shield till it becomes the unshakable barricade ever - then she might just be doomed.

And if she can't do that, then she would have to go with her initial plan and cut all ties with his Majesty and everything related to him. Whatever she is - human, or not - all that matters is one thing. One vital thing. All she needed was patience. She was twenty-two already, and she was more than sure that the time will come soon. Maybe even sooner than she thinks.

The sudden thrill that came rushing down her spine wasn't anything new. There was something...or someone...out there..., And the princess sharply snapped both eyes open.

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To my readers, You guys are splendid ~

I'll be honest with you guys though - I'm having exams and I can't be consistent in updating this book though will try my best. But if there's one thing I'm sure of, It is that I'll begin dropping daily updates from the 1st of next month, so stay with me ~

With Love ~ Aniverse