The sun had long disappeared beyond the horizon when Vivia found herself wandering the royal garden. Sleep eluded her troubled mind. Settling onto a bench, she gazed up at the moonless sky.
What must everybody be doing?
Memories flashed through her mind of Audreya's scowls, Nellie's laughter and Walterce's exasperated shouts.
Did they catch my killer? Have they buried me already?
A bitter chuckle escaped her lips.
"How absurd. I'm alive yet dead to them all. I cannot even tell anybody that I'm Princess Clairette now. Who will even believe this nonsense haha?
Her smile faded as heavier thoughts took root.
What will I do when I return to the palace? If I've to live as Princess Clairette from now on, does that mean I've to abandon my dream to dance? Do I've to bid farewell to a world I built with my own hands?
She clasped her trembling fingers.
Master, please help me. I don't know what to do. Everything has changed. Everything is new.
A new face, a new name, a new family, new responsibilities…
How am I supposed to walk through Princess Clairette's world?
A sudden warmth enveloped her shoulders. She looked up to find Zerath draping a thick coat around her.
His face loomed above hers, his lips tracing a gentle smile. "It's cold out here."
She immediately straightened up but alert, he swiftly moved his head away.
He chuckled. "I protected my chin this time."
"..."
Vivia coughed, guiltily looking away and remembering the numerous times she headbutted him in the Realm of Harmony.
Or should I say chinbutting? She wondered.
Zerath said, "I apologize for leaving you by yourself for the day even though you're my guest."
"Oh, no. Please don't apologize, Crown Prince-"
"Zerath."
"Yes?"
He tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes gazing deeply at her. "I'd prefer it if you called me by my name."
Vivia paused. "We're not…so close."
"Ah, you break my heart. Did we not share such an intimate horse ride together? The lady even comfortably rested against my chest," a sly chuckle echoed.
Her brow twitched.
Zerath enjoyed her annoyed expression. He asked, "May I sit beside you?"
"No," she saltily denied.
"Good things happen to people with bigger hearts, you know," Zerath sat beside her nevertheless.
Why even bother asking then! She could only marvel at his shamelessness.
He smiled. "I heard you toured around the palace. Did you like it?"
Despite being displeased, she replied with a harrumph. "It's a great palace as one would expect. Things are beautiful when you've lots of gold."
He laughed. "That's true. Money helps live a comfortable life. I also heard you met Chef Andras. I hope he wasn't rude."
Vivia's grievances vanished by now, and she clapped her hands in delight. "Yes, I met him. His muffins were delicious!"
Zerath looked, taken aback. "He offered you muffins on his own?"
"No, it was Azarael. But I didn't mind because I learned that he likes her~ Aish, his blushing face was so adorable that it made my day."
He blinked twice. "Chef Andras likes Azarael?"
"Yes! One could never miss it once you see them together," she chuckled. "I also met his sous chefs, Ronove and Vassago. They were the sweetest pumpkins!"
"I'm glad to hear that. But I'll still apologize for Chef Andras's hostility."
"No, please don't. The hatred between humans and demons won't disappear so easily," her smile dimmed. "Our history has scarred us all equally."
He paused and nodded in agreement.
Vivia then said, "Sous chefs Ronove and Vassago told me about Nethermoor and its eternal winter."
"So you know about it."
"Yes. They said it's the reason why Chef Andras is so furious with his family."
Zerath's gaze grew solemn. "It's a pressing matter indeed."
"I'm sure that the royal family would've thought about the Human Realm's Harbinger's ability, correct?"
He glanced at her. "The blessed of the Human Realm who governs the seasons - Harbinger of Seasons. God's blessing bestowed upon the human blessed gives them the power to influence the seasons."
Vivia nodded. She remembered that lore from her master where three prominent families stood toe-to-toe with the royal families, called the Great Three Families. She had almost slept all the way through most of the history lesson, but she did hazily remember how more than a thousand years ago, three humans and three demons had danced in the Realm of Harmony to calm the fury of a rampaging God.
'Wake up, you snotty brat!' Nara kicked her, sending her flying away. 'What are those blessings, tell me?'
'Ugh…' Vivia's peaceful sleep was painfully shattered. 'Something related to flowers…and stars…?'
'Seasons and the sun and moon!' She earned a vicious karate chop on her head.
'Pleased with their devotion, the Gods blessed the three humans' families with the power of the four seasons while the demons were blessed with the powers of the sun and moon, idiot!'
At present, Vivia recalled her master's harsh kicks and slaps and felt a phantom pain.
"Yes. Nethermoor's eternal winter has great chances to lift if the human blessed comes here."
"It's not easy when our politics is shaped by hatred."
"You believe Emberlain will decline to help?"
"Partly."
"And the other part?"
He pressed his palm on the bench, leaning toward her. "I'll tell you if you come closer."
She raised a brow. "It doesn't suit the Crown Prince to approach a lady so carelessly."
"That's why I'm asking you to come closer," he countered with an infuriating logic.
The shamelessness…
But instead of fuming with indignation, she smiled and leaned forward to his surprise.
"I've heard demons are great enchanters but don't underestimate a dancer's charm. I've enchanted thousands on the stage. Don't start a battle you're bound to lose, Crown Prince."
He peered into her emerald eyes challenging him with the same playful glint as his. He began to wonder what color they would have held when Vivia was alive.
With a huff, she promptly thrusted his coat back in his hands. "'ll head back to my chamber."
"I thought we'd talk some more."
"But I won't, not with a demon using his pretty face to lower my guard," she snorted.
"A bummer. I thought I was so close," he smiled.
"You're miles away," she proudly flipped her hair back and turned to leave.
"Have a good night, Vivia."
She stopped abruptly and turned to face him, her body tense. "What if somebody overhears that name? I'm Clairette Emberlain now."
Zerath held her gaze, calm like the silent sea. "The body is hers, but the soul is yours. You being Vivia is as real as being Clairette Emberlain. In front of the world, you'll be Princess Clairette for me. But I'll call you Vivia when it's just the two of us because Vivia is also alive."
He approached her with quiet footsteps, his eyes never leaving hers. Gently, he draped his coat around her shoulders once again.
"It'll get chillier, Vivia. Have a good night."
His footsteps faded away into the distance, yet she remained motionless. Her fingers clutched Zerath's coat closer to her chest as if his warmth and scent gently lingered her body.
I'm not crying…I'm not crying at all, She quickly wiped her misty eyes.
"Ah, I forgot to tell you one thing. To the southwest of this palace, you can find a garden of lilybells," his lips curved into a cryptic smile. "I believe they'd interest you."
She was puzzled by his mystifying words but before she could ask further, he had already vanished into the shadows.
A garden of lilybells…Why would they interest me?