Chapter 5

Being under probation is more annoying than she thought. Like she guessed, the grand duke ordered a group of knights to closely watch over her and to send in daily reports. Their main job was to make sure she did nothing out of the ordinary or tried to leave. It almost made her snort in disbelief.

[ They make it seem like I have the power to try and leave. ]

Selene made no effort to try and converse with the knights. Thinking it's best if they kept to and did their own things separately. Her—breathing and living. Them—observing and reporting. Whatever they decide to do during their spare time here is none of her concern. It's not like they would care either way.

Wincing from the sudden pain, Selene stared at the fresh blood spilling from her hands. It's her fault. She didn't pay attention or be careful when picking off the rose, momentarily forgetting the existence and possibility of thorns. It was no big deal.

The knights did flinch at the sight, but did not take any action. She sighed again, for what seemed like the hundredth time, and returned to the table. Selene crouched down, pulling out a kit from underneath and placing it onto the surface. It's not the first time she's been hurt. A new habit of hers was making sure she had access to a first aid kit anywhere within this living space. In total, there might be about ten kits lying about.

She took a seat and opened the kit. The small cuts dabbed clean with alcohol burned in quick successions before slowly dying down to small pricks. Each one was individually covered with a white plaster after a thin layer of ointment was applied. It should heal nicely soon.

"Your highness, are you alright?" asked the closest knight. It was a young woman with ebony locks tied up high into a ponytail. Her grey eyes were clouded in conflict.

[ She must've struggled over whether or not she should speak. ]

Selene looked up at her with calculating eyes. A habit of the past she unintentionally grew to have. Whenever she met someone, she would tear them down with her eyes and determine what kind of person they are. Now, she tends to doubt herself. Her last calculation had been a lie.

"I'm alright." She lowered her head to break eye contact and resumed cleaning up and putting away the kit.

At the same time, she wondered why the female knight decided to speak up. It was the first time any of the knights had spoken to her ever since they were forced to come here and observe. Was it due to real concern, or did she just feel obligated to ask? Whichever it is, Selene is cautious and careful.

☽☾

Selene perched a pillow behind her before settling back into the comfy space of the bay window. She found herself often enjoying this specific spot to relax or to nap in. Maybe even more than her own bed despite it being bigger and more comfortable.

Pillows scattered beside her with blankets pulled over one another on her lap. A book laid unopened, waiting to be read. She felt chillier today than usual. No matter how many pillows and blankets there were, the cold settling into her bones did not disappear.

Realizing this, her mind began to wonder about the knights. Did they feel cold or uncomfortable too? Selene chewed the bottom of her lip in contemplation. All the knights did was just stand still and stare in silence. Nothing less, nothing more. She shouldn't care, but she would feel bad if any of them got sick.

After finally debating with herself internally, she gave in. Selene went to her closet to grab a couple of her unused sheets. Surprisingly, she had a lot. She walked out of the bedroom to the hallway where the knights usually stood on watch, struggling and semi-dragging the blankets.

The knights watched her with confused looks. Of course they would. This is the first time she's ever initiated anything with them. But once they saw the blankets bundled in her arms, those looks twinkled in slight amusement. Selene passed the blankets out individually, making sure they each got one.

The five knights smiled at her kindly and bowed. "Thank you for your care, your highness."

Hesitantly nodding, she looked downwards and fidgeted with the tips of her fingers. "I apologize if there isn't much warmth here."

The lady knight from before shook her head. "It's already enough for your highness to care and think of our well-being."

"I'll be on my way then." Selene slowly turned around, but watched the knights from the corner of her eyes.

They were grinning widely to one another, slipping the sheets around themselves in comedic ways. At the sight, she let out a little chuckle but immediately caught herself, coughing it off. The knights' smiles grew bigger.

[ Ahh, why did I do that? What's this? So embarrassing. ]

Selene returns to the bay window and shifts into place. The lonely book is now being given some attention as she lifts it up and turns to the where she left off earlier. It told a tale that everyone in the Dioryn Empire should know about. The tale of the First Saintess, Soleis.

The story centers around a village thriving under the sun and moon's protection. A day did not go by without happiness blooming all around until the disappearance of the sun and moon. This broke the balance of the world on the tip of its universe.

The oceans crashed wildly, tearing down everything in its path as lighting struck from the sky like deadly arrows. A showcase of the celestial's rage. The earth ripped itself apart with roaring cracks, separating loved ones. There, in the midst of all the chaos, the young maiden stood alone on the highest point of King's Peak.

She pleaded to the celestials for the safety of her beloved village, and for its future. Desperate enough to even willingly sacrifice her life for their sake. Enchanted by her sincerity, the celestials listened to the maiden's pleas and blessed her divinely.

The young maiden ascends, devoting her all to save the world from itself. Her tears brought life back to the dead lands. Her hands sewed the cracks of earth together once more, reuniting the separated. Her steps calmed the thrashing waves as she ventured across the seas. At the end of her journey, she returns to King's Peak.

Her last wish, to return the glorious sun and the graceful moon—for the guardians of this world to bring back the harmony as it once did before. The celestials heeded her wish, saying there was only one possible way. To sacrifice her soul, and so she did. She offered her pure soul to the celestials who forged it into two halves.

The blinding sun, to represent her love and nurture. The luminescent moon, to represent her guidance and care. When the two guardians returned to their rightful places in the empty skies, only then did the villagers find out about the young maiden's sacrifice and the truth behind her unspoken smiles.

The villagers wept for the loss of a family, the loss of a friend, and the loss of a savior. They built temples to honor her sacrifice and to never forget her noble deeds. They named her as the First Saintess, Soleis. The young maiden who protected her people when the world lost its harmony and fell apart to its doomed end. A fellow companion who will always be remembered for their unconditional warmth.

Selene closed the book and hugged it close to her chest, eyes closed in hope. Like the young maiden who desperately hoped to save her world from doom, she will desperately hope to save her life from doom.