Pitiful

Ophelia went back to the waiting carriage without bothering to wake the guard who was seated and dozing off; instead, she opened the door by herself, got inside the carriage, and shut the door.

"Is something wrong, Your Highness?" Observing the princess' tedium, Katherine questioned.

"We'll just choose the first dress we see." Ophelia uttered a low groan before knocking against the carriage wall, waking the sleeping guard.

The horses neighed loudly, and the carriage soon began to move, leaving Ophelia alone in her thoughts, recalling what had happened in the garden.

She found it bothersome that Nikolai was like calm water before a tsunami. His intimidating eye contact, unnatural smile, and aggressive tone of voice all gave off a sense of threat. She was having trouble breathing because of him, and she wanted to strangle him.

How did he get all the way from Celestia to Fireria? Her eyes widened. He vanished into thin air in front of her, did he mean he could teleport, or was it just a spell cast on him?

Ophelia's eyes narrowed, and she pressed her lips together in utter shock as she recalled how he had threatened her, demanding that she attend the ball. She tsked while crossing her arms over her chest. He had no idea what was in store for him.

"Katherine," Ophelia called out and looked at the water mage beside her, who looked at her with a slight surprise.

"Yes, your highness?"

Ophelia could tell the mage was making an effort to make herself at ease with her. She was well aware that her beloved uncle Esteban had been attacking and posing a threat to the kingdom of the mage for a very long time, and many dragons had been killed in the process. She couldn't fault the mage for harboring animosity toward her and the other dragons.

"I.." Katherine's eyes widened as Ophelia sighed and held her hands. "Please, even though we only met today, I want you to be by my brother's side for my sake." She said to the mage, smiling at her own ridiculous words.

Katherine appeared more than just dumbfounded. "What are you saying?"

"I'm going to leave and I might never come back. Please, I beg of you, stand by his side at all costs." Ophelia had to beg. She was desperate.

She knew that her bond with River was unbreakable, but she was about to do something for which she had no guarantee of survival. If she were to pass away, she wanted someone to be there for him.

"I'm sorry, but I can't." Ophelia groaned in frustration as Katherine rebuffed her incredulously.

"Please, I beg you! If you are able to become a very significant figure in his life, you will have my eternal gratitude."

"His sister is far more significant than I will ever be. How come you're saying this? Nothing is more powerful than a sibling bond." Katherine stared at Ophelia in complete bewilderment, on the verge of sobbing, and felt the weight in Ophelia's voice.

"Believe me. Death has great power." Ophelia laughed at her own words, and Katherine looked at her, stunned. "Don't get me wrong: I'm not scared. I just want you to help me, and I will be eternally grateful."

Katherine swallowed and nodded reluctantly. "Alright,"

Knowing it wasn't genuine, but she was the type who enjoyed taking chances. "I appreciate it." Ophelia breathed out.

"Don't." Katherine sighed and turned her head away. "I can't do it.. but I will try."

Ophelia could only stifle a smile as she released the mage's hand. "Thank you." Though she muttered, she could still feel Katherine's gaze. Ophelia could only sigh in relief as it burned to confusion and pity.

When the carriage finally came to a stop, Ophelia shut her eyes. She sensed pressure, a rush of time, and confusion as her brain scrambled to make multiple calculations at once. She suddenly saw Nikolai's face in the pitch-black depths of her mind, and she screamed in frustration, startling the mage.

He was haunting her!

The door opened, revealing a middle-aged man with a gold tape measure around his neck and an apron on.

Claudius addressed the well-known princess of Fireria with a respectful bow and said, "Your highness." She was the sole princess among four princes.

"I want a mask and a dress." Ophelia immediately spoke up because she didn't want to wait and she didn't want to get out of the carriage. The passage of time was too quick for her. Though she had some control over it, she had the strangest feeling that someone was accelerating time for her.

A large part of her wished for a deadly illness to strike her and prevent her from going on this mission, but knowing her father, she knew she had to go even if she was bedridden. By the way, that lycan had threatened her, and she felt compelled to kill him.

"I will design a special dress just for you, Your Highness."

"I want a mask and a dress that can make people's jaws drop right now." Ophelia glared at him murderously as she demanded in a stern, impatient tone. Her rage was combining with her impatience, and she was too angry to even think clearly.

"Yes, your highness." He bowed his head and muttered before turning and returning to his store.

Ophelia was aware that she was harsh, but what could she do in a hurry? He was her mother's personal tailor. He made her incredible gowns, and Ophelia knew that if she wasn't in such a hurry, he could make a jaw-dropping gown in a single day.

She swallowed the lump in her throat and turned to face Katherine, who was staring at her with interest. "Is there anything wrong?" She cocked her brow. She disliked stares, but she understood why the mage was staring at her so intently.

Ophelia was clearly very upset about something, as Katherine could see. Ophelia was comparable to a powerful bird that had been imprisoned in a cage and would never be let out, only serving the needs of the person who had imprisoned her.

She said, "Please don't look at me like that," feeling uncomfortable but Katherine didn't avert her gaze, and Ophelia felt it. Pitiful. She was indeed pitiful.

She looked away while sighing. "You'll tire out." She muttered and narrowed her eyes when Claudius came back holding a golden mask and a black dress that appeared to have a hint of gold.

"This is the best I could come up with on such short notice." While presenting her with the dress and mask, Claudius said politely.

"I'm grateful," Ophelia gave it a slender smile in return, took it in her arms, hugged it to her chest, and closed her eyes.

Claudius beamingly smiled. "Good luck, your highness," As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately shut the door, and the carriage started to move.

Ophelia sighed heavily. "I do need luck, don't I?"

Claudius kept focusing on the carriage as it passed by on the busy street until it was no longer in view. His smile quickly faded, and he returned to his shop. There, he encountered a man with crimson wolf like eyes fixated on his own reflection in the mirror.

Claudius stopped walking as soon as he realized the man was dripping with intense danger. As Nikolai turned to face him and fixed a stormy gaze on him, the man bowed his head.

His lips curled into a snide grin. "That dress will fit her perfectly, don't you think?"