Chapter 20
The sun was setting in the Eldorian Kingdom. Countless people were closing their shops to go home and enjoy the rest of the day with their families. Garran was also walking out of his room with Carrissa, grinning at something he said while she blushed.
"I'll have to take my leave, Your Highness," Carrissa bowed playfully. Garran shook his head, mirth dancing in his eyes.
"Tell Princess Seraphine that I am leaving."
Garran watched her get into her carriage—a well-polished one deserving of a wealthy businessman. He turned his head, trying to see theirs in the stable, however the distance was too great for him to see, even as a High Human. But he knew that it would either be on par with the royal carriage or a notch below it, but not any further. He nodded to himself after the comparison was done.
He hadn't realized there were wealthy people among them until… the poisoning. His face hardened at the thought. Even though he tried to maintain appearances and pretend to take the fact that he would not be able to cultivate again lightly, it didn't mean he was fine with it.
Internally, he could feel himself raging and raving whenever he remembered that he could not cultivate and was stuck at his present level—and that wasn't even the worst of it. His present cultivation had been slashed into two. His lips trembled and a cold expression crept onto his countenance.
"They all have to die," he muttered, not realizing that Sera was also coming.
"Who has to die?" Sera inquired, rushing to help Garran walk even though it was obvious he didn't need any help. Garran's heart skipped a beat when he realized that Sera had heard what he said.
Why did I even mutter it aloud? he wondered, a subtle frown reaching his brows.
"Huh? Who has to die? And why are you here? You've got to be resting inside!"
Sera attacked him with a barrage of questions, concern brewing on her face. Garran just looked at her with a satisfied smile.
This is how it should always be. Always safe by my side.
"No one, actually. I was just recounting a movie I watched long ago," he lied.
Sera nodded her head understandingly. He pulled Sera's hand away from his waist and locked hands with her.
"I'm okay. I'm not paralyzed," he joked when he saw her eyes widen, signifying that she was about to chide him. She searched his eyes for any hint of pain and reluctantly agreed.
"Where were you going?" he asked as they ascended the staircase.
"Oh, me? I was returning from the dining hall," Sera smiled, staring ahead.
Garran stared at her face for a long time and sighed. He knew she had probably dined alone since their father was too stubborn to come join her for dinner—even though they had not seen him after the last meeting with the Baron. His face hardened at the thought of the rude Baron.
Thinking of which, he had something he had to say.
"Thank you, Sera," he said, his expression serious.
Sera froze in her steps and turned around to face him, confusion burning in her eyes.
"Thank you for everything. After staying home for some days, I realized how impactful you've been in my life. Let's take out the fact that ever since my… incident, you've stayed at my side every morning and evening, even when you were tired from all those diplomacy trips," Garran said in one breath.
Sera looked visibly upset about something and was about to protest, but Garran silenced her with a hand gesture.
"Let me finish," he stated. He sighed and faced Sera, looking at her face—it held so much innocence that he didn't want to send her away into marriage. She was too beautiful for anyone.
"I'm also sorry, Sera. I apologize for trying to control your life and doing things that might have ruined you…"
"Especially my friends?" Sera teased.
Garran smiled softly when he realized that she was talking about his recent close interaction with Carrissa, who was once her childhood friend.
"Especially your friends. I've realized a lot, and I've decided to support you in all your decisions… especially your marriage."
Sera smiled when he said this. She looked into his eyes—the eyes of the only person she had left on earth whom she trusted to care for her even if the world tossed her aside. Could she even call it trust? It was like an innate instinct.
"You don't have to apologize, Garran. You were merely a brother who was scared for his sister. I know you think I'm not ready for the world out there, but I am. The world is not simply black and white—it's splurged with beautiful colours; you just have to loosen your heart and see them."
She rubbed the back of his hand with her palm and looked at him guiltily.
"I just regret that I screamed that day. Perhaps if I had not talked to you that way…"
Garran made a shushing gesture with his hand and pulled her in.
"There is no time for regrets. I love you no matter what you think you did, and I always will."
He pulled Sera into a warm embrace. Sera felt her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She loved him too—he was the person she had, because after a month, she would be going to live with strangers.
They pulled back and walked to their chambers—Sera full of melancholic joy, and Garran feeling a mix of emotions.
Garran entered his room and was suddenly hit with a wave of emotions. Suddenly aware that in a month's time, his sister would be living in another person's home—there she would be exposed to many horrible people and others.
He exhaled and walked toward a cupboard, pulled out a bottle of wine, and then walked to the balcony with it.
The chilly winds danced glamorously with his coat, making it float backward. He could see tiny dots in the distance—the capital city sprawled below, housing millions of people. The thought that these people would soon become his subjects made him scoff.
How could he take care of them, not even adding those in the other cities—together, they could sum up to tens of millions—when he couldn't protect his sister from being politically exploited by his own father? The irony of it.
He chuckled.
A gust of wind blew around him and a figure knelt in the middle of it. He was clad in red, with a mask covering the lower portion of his face.
"Good evening, my Lord!" he exclaimed.
Garran glanced at him in acknowledgment and went back to staring at the distant capital.
"We've found Doctor Rex—the last doctor who treated His Majesty."
Garran had a subtle frown on his face but ordered his subordinate to continue.
"I found him in a rundown village close to Mount Vaelora, and he looked insane. He kept mumbling that they would get him and that the man in white would kill him."
Garran finally turned to look at him, realizing the seriousness of the situation.
"He told me one thing before he… passed on, and that was… His Majesty is being petrified."
---
Sera came out of the bath with her towel still rumpled around her hair. Adna stood at the corner waiting for her.
"I thought I told you to take a seat," Sera said, annoyed that Adna stood the entire time she was bathing.
Adna merely smiled it off but didn't respond.
"I was getting nervous," Adna stated, a queasy smile on her face.
Sera frowned and sat on the chair, pulling Adna with her.
"What is it? Is it about your family, or do you need money?" Sera asked in concern. "Tell me anything, don't be quiet."
"I wanted to know… if you were going to send me along when you go to the Duke's house," Adna said, her head bowed like she had been caught committing a blunder.
Sera's concern toned down, and an amused expression took its place.
"Of course I'll send you. Where else am I going to get a friend, a counsellor, and a good hairdresser?" Sera joked, raising her three fingers to emphasize her statement.
Adna smiled, calmed by her words. Silence ensued between the two until Sera broke it herself.
"Though I am scared. I am nervous and anxious," Sera started, holding onto Adna's calloused hands. "In Relanor, I will be a queen, and being a queen means more responsibilities. I'm not running away from them, but I'm anxious about how I'm going to handle that—and help Garran."
Adna held a confused expression on her face.
"The Prince? And why are you going to help the Prince?"
Sera sighed and began to explain—starting from what Thalebrook said and what she felt.
Adna twisted her mouth in thought, finally understanding where all the anxiousness was coming from.
"I know Garran would have given his life to help me—to make sure no harm comes my way. So I want to do the same for him."
Adna nodded, understanding that this was a resolve born of a sister's undying love for her brother. She smiled.
"I understand. I would only advise you to be careful of the political world. Some people are not meant to be trusted—and sometimes, those you trust can stab you in the back. I've heard that most of the time, it's someone close to you."
Sera nodded, understanding that this was Adna's way of telling her not to trust anyone blindly.
After feeling a lot better, Adna helped the Princess to bed. Sera slept away—not knowing that this was the last time she was going to get proper sleep.