SKERPLA DAY OF MOON

Another uneventful week had passed but not today. It was the first day of the new month. The palace was clearly bustling. Even from afar, I could see the steel gates that bounded the palace wide opened. Numerous carriages had entered carrying the guests for this evening.

The only time people could visit the palace was during the birthdays of the royal families, well, except for mine. And today was Lian's. Our father could not prevent visitors as it was proper decorum to invite them.

In the past, I thought it would be a good time to escape but it was just futile since the security was the tightest on the gates and the walls especially during these occasions. 

I stepped back from the balcony and went into the basement. My letter was still there and Cindra had not written back so I went back upstairs.

Cindra and I never had a chance to meet in the basement. Her magic may not seem limited, unlike mine, but it really did have a lot of restrictions. She could not access a portal if another portal was activated by the key as well as the key could not be used if she activated her own portal first nor when two keys were simultaneously inserted in different doors.

I heaved a sigh as I glance at my letter fretfully. Cindra said that Night confirmed he would visit today but it was such a bad timing since the West Wing was heavily guarded at this moment.

Normally, the guards would be patrolling once in a while but even downstairs the balcony, there were knights constantly walking around. I contemplated the whole time.

After my luncheon was done, I finally resolved myself on taking the chance.

I was wearing a day dress so it was pretty much comfortable. It was not the lightest from the bunch but I could manage. Xenon and Gustav checked on me earlier and I estimated that they would be back again before the party would begin.

I took the rope and slid it down the balcony. I slowly descended, finally reaching the bottom. I looked around and I almost screamed in astonishment. There was a man lying right under my balcony!

I did not hear anything from awhile ago. I probably did not sense him since he looked like he was sleeping so there was no movement or anything.

He awkwardly sat up and he looked startled just like I was. He gauchely brushed back his messy black hair and put on the golden mask that matched his light brown eyes.

Nevertheless, it did not do anything to hide the deep gash on the corner of his left mouth but the burns on the right side of his face were completely out of sight.

"Who are you?"

He opened his lips but footsteps came rushing. I grabbed the ladder and pushed my hand to his mouth, our backs laid on the grass. He was stuck on the thorny edges of the bush while I was exposed. I was smaller than him so the tall rows of foliage were able to keep me from the upcoming people's view.

Just why are they patrolling during luncheon?  I decided to risk it since knights were laxer around this time but it seemed like we had quite a few hardworking ones.

The seconds ticked and I was holding my breath and so was he. I realized I still had my hand on his face so I pulled it back instantly.

We waited for a while more until the sound had dispersed. I stood upright and set my eyes on him.

"Who are you?" I asked again.

"Freed." It sounded even lower than a whisper.

"Full name, you're definitely a noble."

A smile appeared on his face before he answered, "Freed Deliora."

That voice. He was not wearing a bandage at the moment but that voice and that thin stature coupled with a towering height, it was definitely the one I saw back in Deliora.

I bit back a sigh. Of all people, I met a king. My luck really failed to improve over the years.

I bowed within a second and we exchanged greetings.

"What are you doing here, your majesty? No guest is allowed in this area," I informed him.

"Oh, pardon. I was not aware, your highness," he deplored.

"You should leave now, your majesty," I muttered and glanced back.

I could not lose any more time but he didn't seem to be leaving.

"Your majesty?"

"Yes, your highness?" he replied right away.

"Aren't you going back?"

"Honestly, I don't know my way back."

My eyebrows wrinkled. The layout of the outside of a palace was almost similar to every kingdom.

"As much as I wanted to help you, your majesty, I had something prior to matter to attend," I excused and offered directions instead. "If you go straight from here. You'll reach the brick road connecting the main entrance of the palace and the gate. I'm sure someone will be able to assist you there, your majesty."

He didn't reply for a moment and several more seconds were wasted. Finally, he nodded. We coursed over the bush and I was about to formally part ways with him when his hand stretched out before me.

I backed away but his arm was longer and was able to brush away something from my head.

"There's a leaf, your highness," he clarified.

It must be the fallen leaves when I laid down earlier. I scanned our outfits and I just perceived how we appeared like a mess. His was a lot worse as the leaves scattered all over his suit since he was practically pressed to the hedge a while ago.

"Thank you, your highness. You had a lot, too," I enounced and retreated.

"Will you mind getting it from me, then?"

There was a suppressed smile on his lips and my brow arched as far as it could when I realized what he was hinting out. He was unmistakably teasing me since the leaves were on his chest and legs. We both knew it was inappropriate to touch those places in public.

"I'm sure you could manage it yourself, your majesty. Or better yet, a maidservant will be glad enough to do it," I hurled back and left without even caring if I offended him or not.

Damn it. Why does that voice never failed to agitate me no matter what the face is?

***

Once I entered the garden, I walked directly at the pavilion after seeing someone. But it was not a brown-haired woman nor a man who was sitting in the pavilion.

The woman was facing her back at me and only the voluminous brown curls was what I could see. I was aware that Cindra and Night made use of this place once in a while for their own business but this was the first I had seen a guest here.

"Excuse me?" I called for her attention.

She faced me and I was astounded by her beauty. She had the same violet irises but it was lighter compared to the deep shade I was used to. It was enclosed within her almond-shaped eyes coupled with a straight slim nose and perfectly sculpted pink lips.

"Good day," she greeted. "Please have a seat, child."

She referred to me as a child but we didn't even look that far apart in age.

I took the seat next to her and she was smiling, her perfect teeth was showcased in front of me and I was dazzled once again by her attractiveness.

"I had been anticipating to meet you, Ace," she said those words and came close.

I wondered for a moment how she knew me but then she reached out for my head and gently patted it.

Do I still have leaves in my head? I thought as she kept stroking my hair. I could not even withdraw my head as our gaze locked intently. And without notice, her eyes pooled with tears and large drops fell that drove me to disorientation.

I had no idea why she was weeping. People touching me either feel nothing or jolted in pain but it was unprecedented that I would witness someone cry just by laying her fingers on me.

"I'm sorry, child. We were too late." Her voice shook as she wept. Nonetheless, the crestfallen look did not mar her beauty.

"Um..." I actually did not know what to say as I was befuddled by the scene occurring.

By a happy chance, the door creaked amidst the sobbing. I pivoted to see who it was and almost jumped away from the woman when I saw Night approaching towards us.

"My lady? What are you doing here?" His looks alternated between me and the woman.

I could sense the puzzlement in his expression despite that mask that covered the upper part of his face. In truth, I had never seen his bare face before.

"Why haven't you told me about her other magic, Night?" The woman was still sniveling as she faced Night.

His hardened jaw slackened as he was apparently attempting to comprehend the situation.

"Can someone tell me what the hell is going on here first? Why are you crying my lady and what are you doing here Ace?"

The woman hiccupped and tried to compose herself so I replied first, "Cindra told me you'll come today so I went ahead."

"You shouldn't have come. It's Princess Lian's birthday today. I know the palace guards are definitely stricter during these times," he surmised.

I was too titillated that I forgot Night must have known I could not directly come right ahead because it was probably spread all over the continent seeing what a rare event it was.

Seriously, it was quite uproarious that commoners frequently dropped by the palace rather than the royals and nobles.

"But I thought you can't come inside the palace," I reasoned out.

"I have my ways or we can just meet the following day. You cannot just leave like that or you might get discovered. You know that bollocks is never lenient deliberately on days like this," he started lecturing.

Frankly, I never told them the whole truth but, of course, I could not hide all my scars. Cindra and Night seemed to have an inkling of what was really going on between me and Father but we never divulged the topic deeper. I trusted them but there were some things that better not said as it only invoked all the painful memories.

"Stop scolding her, Night," the woman spoke once more. "I had talked to your leader. You should have told me about this, Night. She had two magic in her which was only a handful even from the beginning of our existence."

We both had mirrored confusion as we stared at the woman.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself, I am Mhilrim. The priestess of Amica," said the woman, her eyes puffed but her smile was returned.

***

Note: Hello cutiefries. Revelations will be in the next chapter. Stay tuned. ٩(｡•́‿•̀｡)۶