Chapter 27 - The Golden Veil and the unsettling feeling.

"Victor!" Shouts echoed the hall along with the clicking of heels.

"Victor!" The shout became louder, stirring me out of my sleep.

Isn't it too early for this?

I glanced towards the clock in my room and confirmed that it was still the early morning. The sun hadn't even risen.

Besides me stood a tall figure. Black like darkness. Their hair tickled my face as they leaned over and placed their palm over my eyes.

"Sleep a little longer, princess", Ruby's calming voice said.

"What's going on?" I murmured tiredly.

"You'll find out later on so don't worry and sleep a little more".

His voice was smooth, resembling a flowing river, and somehow pulled me back to sleep.

"If you say so..."

When I fell into a deep slumber I suddenly found myself in a dark place. A figure stood up ahead, but I couldn't make out who it was due to the darkness.

"It's almost time", they said.

"Time for what?" I frowned at them.

"It's almost time. You promised".

"What did I promise?" I squinted at the figure, making out a dress.

It was pretty. A familiar pale yellow.

Footsteps echoed as the figure came closer to me, their face becoming clear enough for me to gasp.

"It's almost time you get out of my bloody way! You annoying villainess!"

The heroine smiled elegantly at me despite her words, behind her came six figures. Ruby, Lance, Edmund, Duke Camellia, Jirael and.... father.

They stared down at me in disgust.

"W-Why are you"- my words suddenly stopped coming out. I reached for my throat only to cut my hand with a blade. I looked down at my bleeding hand and caught sight of my reflection in the axe that was lodged in my throat.

Eh?! H-Help!!

I looked towards my father, but he was no longer there. Nobody was... instead I saw their retreating figures and cried after them.

W-wait! D-don't leave!! Father!! Jirael!!!

"Mallory!"

I woke up to Jirael staring right at my face, his face full of worry as it gazed at me.

At the sight of him, I jolted still recalling the disgusted face I saw and pushed him away on impulse. My face twisted in shock at the sight of him.

"Stay- oh..." I stopped my shout when I noticed his small stature and hurt face, "oh... I'm so sorry Jirael. I- I had a bad dream!"

Jirael nodded understandingly, after all, this was becoming rather common.

I wasn't sure why but recently I had been getting nightmares.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have woken you up like that. It's my fault", he apologised with his usual politeness, though he still looked a bit shocked.

"Don't worry about it. Anyway", I tried to quickly get our minds of what happened, "why are you here so early? And you're all dressed up too?"

His face brightened up.

"The war!", He beamed.

"What about it?" I furrowed my brows at this.

He revealed a teeth grin, "Its over Mallory! The war is finally over!" He hugged me at the happy news expecting me to be bouncing with joy I could only guess, but I just sat there with my eyes staring blankly at the wall.

The war... the war is over? But- but- it hasn't been nine years?... no... there was still three more years to go?

No matter how I tried to come up with a solution I couldn't. The only changes I made to the war would be to send Raphaels brother to war instead of him and the Fact that the Brennus had actually partaken in the war, due to the alliance with us.

Was that it?

Suddenly like a strike of fear I realised something I should've taken into consideration.

There might be others like me... I shook my thoughts of such a dangerous thing.

Let's not dwell on the uncertain. For now, my main concern can finally be tackled.

Escape plan back into motion!-

"Mallory?" I completely forgot about Jirael who still awaited my excitement.

"Ah right! Yeah! The war is over!" I faked enthusiasm hoping he'd buy it.

He hesitated for a moment, eyes narrowing and then... as if nothing had happened he smiled and continued to hug me back. My mind reeled with anxiety.

Finally.

Finally I could escape!

That's what I wanted to be happy about. I truly wanted to be happy about that. Yet.. the only thing that made me smile was the fact that I'd finally see his face. The face of the father who promised victory.

My excitement was interrupted by Victor who ran in. No different than six years ago, except maybe his size.

"Mallory! Save me!" He pushed Jirael away and jumped under my covers.

Oh bother... here we go again...

"That's my sister you're clinging to! Get your hands of her!" Jirael grabbed Victor by his arm, successfully pulling him away slightly before Victor pulled away and squeezed the life out of me.

"No she's mine! We have the same mom!"

It was always the same answer...

"Well considering she looks nothing like your mom that seems like a lie!" Jirael snapped back.

"What are you talking about? She looks just like mom! Look!" Victor pointed to my face, his finger faltered as he took a good look at my face and struggled to find his defence, "h-her nose?- no- no- h-her eye-no? Her hair? Yes that's it! Her hair is brown! Just like moms!"

"Right..." Jirael snarked, "is every brown haired child your mothers kid?"

Victors face froze for a moment. He seemed to consider Jiraels words a bit too seriously. Enough that I had to sigh.

Usually when this happened I would start scolding them immediately, but today was not a normal day.

The door was kicked open with a bang. Revealing a beautiful young boy with sparkling hair and eyes like jewels. His piercing eyes settled on me and the two boys who fought each other with an expectant expression.

Jirael and Victor hadn't even noticed him as he came and plucked me out of bed like I was still a little kid. It was embarrassing, maybe a bit demeaning too, but truth be told I could never wrestle my way out of Jirael and Victor. Their male-lead strength seemed to be present prematurely and the only one who could counter it was... well... another male-lead I guess.

"Thanks" I yawned at the tall boy who smiled strangely at me. He was never one to be affectionate, at least not around watching eyes anyway, but I guess today was an exception.

I could see the tremor in his hands beneath the smiling facade, but before I could reach to comfort him the door banged open finally and there Martha stood. Her hair a mess and her breathing heavy and laboured.

"Y-Young prince", she panted with a murderous glare. It shook poor Victor to his core. "You have become faster over these years, but not at all obedient. I blame the princess and her childishness!" She glared at the innocent me.

Look at me! I'm six! Six!!!

Though it never mattered to anyone. When Victor messed up. It was my fault no matter what it was... sigh..

Martha neared us like a lion at deers and my supposed "guard" Edmund backed away like the traitor he was. I glared at him and he just shrugged back. As if to say "not my problem".

And then it began.

By the time it was done. My skin had been scrubbed clean. Hair braided and designed. And I had been forced to wear a tacky green dress that did nothing to my plainness.

"How ridiculous" Martha cursed, "this is the only presentable dress you have?!" She scolded me despite it not really being my fault. "It seems the Lady has been too preoccupied lately".

Right... that must be the reason...

Victor on the other hand was dressed in a cute suit that made him look adorable. Compared to him I looked like a commoner. No. Compared to any noble kid I look like a commoner.

I sighed.

This was going to be the first time people see me. Well they probably won't notice me anyway, but I wasn't used to banquets at all.

Jirael had a fair few. I mean his birthday was a big enough event anyway, but I never attended since the only way to was to physically go there myself.

Edmund came beside me. He wore a blue suit, paired with a cape and a small crafted sword at his waist. He truly looked like a knight.

"You look a little under dressed", he commented.

"A little?" I frowned.

"I was trying to be nice".

"It doesn't matter. Nobody should notice me anyway", I shook my hands at the notion and wanted to address Edmunds fears, except he furrowed his brows.

"Even when your father greets you?" He asked with a confused face.

Oh...

Ohhhh...

I forgot that would happen. I mean... I only went by what happened in the book to Mallory and that was well... being ignored. But that Mallory didn't have a decent relationship with her dad.

I decided to not think about it.

"Edmund" I turned to the boy who was once next to me, except he was gone. He just vanished. "He must've gone to the banquet without me..."

Mother and Victor had gone a head too. Naturally, mother had no plans of even taking me. I winced as I recalled her recent attitude towards me.

After I had gotten rid of Lance she had gone to every extreme to ruin my life without physically touching me. She would lock me up in my bedroom. Deprive me of food. Scold me for breathing.

I was fine with the treatment, but...

I recalled the milk a footman had bought me last night and felt a gag in my throat. It was beyond rotten and smelt so bad I felt dizzy just being near it. Unfortunately, I only noticed the difference after taking a sip.

That's when I realised something. The milk wasn't rotten.

I shook my head and decided to head off.

"Mallory!" Edmund suddenly came rushing down the stairs right before I stepped out the doors.

"Oh? I thought you left?"

"Don't be daft. I can't leave without you princess. Anyway, put this on" like the flutter of butterfly wings something sparkly fell on my shoulders.

I looked at the golden shear fabric on my shoulders. The sparkling jewels adorning it made even the plain dress I wore seem pretty. But... when had he bought this?

I looked questioning at the boy who had just proceeded to grab my hand and drag me outside. Hurrying me towards the castle as if I'd be late. His large hand holding mine as the sound of our footsteps paired with music in the far distance was the only sound that could be heard.

Eventually, The main castle came to view like a beautiful rainbow. The bustle of people laughing and kids running around could be seen.

Edmund stopped walking just as we stood a small distance away from the palace.

"It was my mother's". He didn't stare at me when he spoke. Instead his eyes looked at the Arian family emblem. It was drawn up among the flags of the four dukedoms and in the middle of it all stood the Blackburn flag.

"Oh", I realised he was referring to the scarf and after it sunk in I gasped, "wait!- why are you giving me something like?!-"

"Because I thought it would look nice on you", he walked ahead leaving me to stare after him with a gapping mouth. My mind worked over his words.

Why do they sound so familiar?

I wasn't so sure why it unsettled me and when Edmund turned towards me and noticed how far behind I was, he held a hand towards me and beckoned me to follow.

It made me forget my unease and grasp tightly onto the hand offered towards me. Both of our hidden fear seemed so obvious to one another and yet the time spent walking to the castle was strangely peaceful.