RHEIN'S POINT OF VIEW
The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains of my chamber, painting soft gold across the marble floor. My head still throbbed a little from last night's impulsive adventure but I couldn't help smiling as the memories replayed in my mind.
The kiss.
Dylan's lips.
I groaned, burying my face in my pillow.
"What's with you, Rhein? It's just so early in the morning," Forelody complained because my noise caused her to be disturbed from her sleep.
"Just pretend you are deaf." I rolled my eyes.
Before I could spiral further into the embarrassment of it all, a knock echoed from my door. "A pleasant morning to you, Your Highness," one of the palace attendants greeted with a bow and a smile. "His Majesty wants to see you. Together with Sir Dylan."
What for?
After fixing myself, I teleported to my parents' chamber. Forelody went back to sleep so I went there alone.
The king and queen were seated on a table, chilling themselves with a cup of tea for each of them.
"Good morning, Your Majesties," I greeted, bowing lightly.
Then the doors opened behind me. Dylan came in.
"Good morning, my King and Queen." His tone formal, though I noticed the slight stiffness in his posture.
My father clasped his hands together, his eyes gleaming with both authority and teasing warmth. "I heard that you two are together now."
Both Dylan and I froze.
He chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "How did I know, you ask?" He tilted his head slightly, smirking. "My child, you two were kissing on top of the palace. The entire watchtower saw you."
My jaw dropped. Oh no. Even the guards?!
I turned to Dylan, whose face turned an impressive shade of red.
The Rah's smirk deepened. "You, Dylan. I thought you told me yesterday that you would court my daughter first. And now I find out... you skipped straight to the conclusion?"
Dylan rubbed the back of his neck, clearly mortified. "I-I didn't mean for it to happen that way, Your Majesty. I... got carried away."
My mother chuckled softly. "Ah, young love. So predictable."
I buried my face in my hands. "This is so embarrassing..."
But then, my father's tone softened. "Don't worry. We're not against it. As long as you both know what you're doing." His gaze shifted to Dylan, serious now. "But Dylan, remember this: she's not just our daughter. She's your partner in battle, in duty, and perhaps... in destiny. Take care of her."
Dylan straightened, meeting his gaze with quiet resolve. "I will, Your Majesty."
A proud smile flickered on the Rah's face. "Good. Now let's get to the main topic."
He gestured for us to sit. The lighthearted air faded, replaced by the steady weight of responsibility.
"There's a mission," he began, voice deep and measured. "And this will be Rhein's first."
My breath caught. "My first mission?"
He nodded. "Yes. It's time you put your skills and your role as this world's princess to use." He turned toward Dylan. "Today's the day you leave for Oroses, correct?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Dylan replied.
"Then take Rhein with you. The home of Oroses Clan is filled with ancient remnants of forgotten power. I want both of you to search for anything that could aid us in the upcoming war. We'll need every weapon, every secret, every piece of knowledge we can gather."
Dylan's expression darkened, but he nodded firmly. "Understood."
My father looked between us, his gaze lingering on me. "Rhein, I trust you'll treat this mission with seriousness. This isn't just about collecting artifacts. It's about understanding the truth of what's coming."
"Yes, Father."
"And Dylan," he continued, "your bloodline ties to Oroses run deeper than anyone else's. There may still be mysteries hidden there. Perhaps even connected to you. I'm counting on you to uncover them."
Something in Dylan's eyes flickered at that... something unreadable, almost haunted.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Rah leaned back once more, clasping his hands. "Good. You leave by noon."
As we stood and bowed, my mother added with a hint of humor, "And try not to kiss in public again. The guards talk too much."
"Mother!" I gasped, my face burning red.
They only laughed, waving us off. My mother smiled softly, mouthing, 'Be safe.'
Outside the chamber, Dylan and I walked side by side through the hallway, the tension slowly easing between us.
"So..." he started, glancing at me with a mischievous smile. "Your parents know."
I sighed dramatically. "Oh, please, let's not talk about that. I'm going to die from embarrassment."
He chuckled. "At least they didn't throw me out."
"Yet," I said. "They might still change their mind once we get back."
We both laughed, the sound echoing softly through the palace corridor. But as the laughter faded, a strange sense of determination filled me.
We teleported to Oroses just before noon.
Forelody and Tyler didn't go with us. It seemed like they were giving teasing looks when we left. Damn it. Gosh! This won't be a date!
The land was quiet, ancient, and shrouded with a strange calm that carried both peace and sorrow.
The ruins stretched for miles. What used to be a proud settlement was now a ghostly landscape: broken pillars half-buried in vines, stone arches standing against the wind, and moss-covered roads leading to nowhere.
Dylan stood a few steps ahead of me, his gaze fixed on the distance. His expression was unreadable.
"I've been coming here every year since I was taken in by the royal family."
I looked at him, curious. "Every year?"
He nodded, eyes lingering on the worn stones beneath his boots. "When all the meithi mnarillazas were slaughtered, my mother managed to escape. She fled to a distant relative living in Abracadabra. She was already carrying me then." His voice tightened. "She didn't survive long after I was born."
I fell silent, listening.
"The one who raised me was that relative," he continued, smiling faintly, though there was no joy in it. "She was kind. Old and frail, but she did everything to give me a life. When she passed away, I was barely old enough to fend for myself."
He crouched, brushing his fingers over a fallen petal. "After that, the King and Queen found out there was still one meithi mnarillaza left alive. Me. That's how I met Justin. They took me in and enrolled me in the academy like him." He chuckled softly. "We practically grew up together."
His smile faded. "If only I could change the past..."
"You can. You have the power to return and change it."