Chapter 7-The One Who Believes

I placed an ice pack on my head. The events' whirlpool turns made me feel queasy. I first escaped from the Glaustein Empire to avoid being forced into a marriage that I could never have imagined. Second, I was fleeing the Eblines Empire after learning that the Saberblade family had ascended to royalty. I rubbed my ears and used a spying spell in order to find out how enraged Zain was. I heard Zain scream in a rage, and my eardrums almost burst.

Zain yelled, "Find the princess! His brother will kill us all if anything happens to her."

Apologies, Zain. I'd never be able to fulfill my obligation to Alethea if I didn't get away. Speaking of Alethea, I've got such a migraine from that Observer of Truth. She cried only when I reprimanded her in dreams. She apologized, "I-I-I thought it would be nice if you became a royal!

No royal titles for you, my ass! Alethea looked pretty cool back there. Up until she makes a mistake and gets me into serious trouble. I suppose I'll have to change my appearance now that I'm headed to a different empire. If I were traveling with this persona, perhaps the continent would be covered in many of my posters.

Truth has the power to transform me physically. I used the water stable's reflection to help me see that my transformation into a different person had been successful. Pinkish lips, red eyes, and dark violet hair. I had skin the color of snow. In order to avoid raising suspicion that I am the missing witch and princess, I dress as a peasant. Now that I've changed, I'm free to travel the continent as I please. I laid out this continent's map on the ground. The continent of Asulia is the one I've been standing on. I'm in the Eblines passageway heading to Nishios City, which is a city within the Polaris empire. Because the landlord of that city was such a jerk, the city had a bad reputation. The city was full of beggars, thieves, and even rogues. Between the Driuce and Alera empires, I discovered a different route and the ideal location. "What should I do? Perhaps I ought to build a house there," I pondered.

I unfold the map and head to the location I've been describing. When I reach the Alera boundary, I can feel a group of people following me as I move through the route. If now is not the time for these predators to interfere with my plans, I'm in for more trouble. I used a cliff as a shortcut and jumped off of it when I came across one. They were screaming in terror, which I could hear. Only idiots would fall that far and perish. They were looking terrified at me when I looked up and saw their faces. An old man questioned, "Aren't you a lady? Why are you acting like a brute man?"

I was perplexed and said, "I'm a lady, but I like to play the part of a knight. Uhm, now that you are talking with me, Sir. I was wondering, why are you following me?"

The old man turned to face his squad as they all shrugged. The old man said, "We don't have to lead her to her destination. We shouldn't follow the trail of this lady. I sensed that she was not fragile.

That’s why they were following me. They want me to protect them from danger. I continued on my route, and as I was looking around, I sensed another presence lurking in the shadows.

I notice a sharp knife pointing at the side of my neck when I look behind me. I recognized a person from my past. Although his face doesn't appear to have aged much, his previous smile had diminished. He shouted, "Who the hell are you? I gestured with my hands that I didn't want to fight him. I didn't shift my foot by even an inch to avoid any disturbance. I responded, "I'm just a regular traveler, Sir, could you please put down your knife? It makes my neck bleed."

He moves back and sets his weapon down. He turned around and sat down under a cherry tree. When I look up, my eyes grew wider. This is the tree that we planted together as young children when I was Princess Serena before.

Unconsciously, I said, "It's interesting to see this tree here in the middle of the path through the Driuce Empire."

For a brief second, his eyes widened. He treated my wound while standing up. "It is, he said. "However the woman I loved was never able to watch this tree grow."

He was so entranced by the tree that he began to cry. I assumed he was kidding when I turned to face him. I collected myself and pretended I was still unfamiliar with him.

I asked him a question, "Where is she now?"

He gave me a quick glance but didn't respond to my query. I could see two gravestones at my feet as he disappeared into thin air. When I read the names engraved on the tombstones, my heart almost stopped.

It belonged to me as Xavier and Serena in a previous life. Xavier is the son of the empire of Zeprailles' Treasury Minister. When I was imprisoned in the dungeon, he was the only person I saw. He was the only one who could stop me from crying out of fear. He was the only person who wept for me when I bravely stood before the people who didn't know the real story. The only person who believes me is the only one who stands up for me against all odds.

The only person I had made a lifelong commitment to was Xavier Wisteria. I was executed by my father when I was twenty-one years old after false accusations that I poisoned my stepmother. The tree began to glow when I turned to look up. Cherry blossoms' pink petals begin to fall and flutter in the wind like true love.

"Xavier, I hope to see you again."