Fleeting Hope

Editing in Progress…

~Chapter 67~

Xiner paused at the edge of the wall as she listened in on Dyce and Zahohr conversation. She didn't plan to listen in. Truthfully speaking, she thought Lord Zahohr was still inside, having a conversation with Lord Sephtis. 

So she hadn't planned on eves dropping on their conversation, and she still wouldn't have if she hadn't heard Sephtis name roll off their lips. She placed the basket of fruits on the floor as she pressed her back onto the wall. 

"I guess the question is too hard for you to understand. Then I will rephrase it. Do you pray for the dream to come to pass"?

And with not hesitation, Dyce replied. "Indeed, I do."

Xiner's eyes widened and were immediately filled with rage. Why would Master Dyce want that? Xiner loves Lord Sephtis, therefore she didn't want him to be with anyone.

She had remembered some servants talking about how their lord had received dreams of his mate. Xiner didn't believe it, as she felt Sephtis wasn't the type of god who would leave his heart to the likes of fate and dreams. So she brushed it off like it was dirty back water, but now she still heavily wanted to deny it and did not want to believe he truly has a mate.

But not only that, she will also come down to Daemarral. Why? Why would she want to come down to this dry and uneventful place? The only reason she and every other servant were living there was either out of respect for the god, loyalty, or because they felt indebted to him in some sort of way.

But not Xiner. Xiner was in love with Sephtis, as a man would to a woman. And she believed in her heart of heart that he would come to love her back.

"Then if that's the case, when she comes—" She heard Zahohr say to Dyce. She gripped her fingers to a fist as she listened to his proceeding comment.

He held the two shoulders of Dyce in a firm and tight grip. "When she arrives, protect her from Sephtis. I don't still understand Sephtis feelings, but if he truly means to let her live, then that would be good, but if not, protect her with everything you have".

Dusting the non-existing dust from Dyce should blade, Zahohr nodded, "That's good. Very Good."

"Then have a safe trip. Lord Zahohr" And with a curt nod, Zahohr disappeared from his presence. 

Xiner's heart pounded in her chest. A mix of rage and disbelief played across her face. She turned, picking up the basket of fruit as she ran away before she was caught. 

Once she got back to the kitchen, she clenched the basket so hard it could have broken, if it weren't for a maid who distracted her emotions from the brimming anger that was to come.

"The fruits are fresh today, huh" The maid asked, touching the fruits.

Xiner raised her head up to look at the servant girl, who spoke. But no matter how hard she looked, she just couldn't remember her name, though it wasn't like she could remember the names of the others.

"Yes, Master Shunth sent them from Klitonia." She answered, nodding her head towards the fruits.

"Ah~ That is nice of her to do," She said with a delightful voice. Nice of her to do? Xiner thought to herself. That was what she always did. The fruits, meat, even water that are used in Daemarral were gotten from Klitonia. Since it was the most fruitful and nourishing place in Daemarral. 

So why the maid was surprised was a shock to her. Everyone who worked there knew so. Xiner sighed as she shook her head, not wanting it to bother her.

"I mean, look at all this fresh fruit and edible vegetable," She continued on. "Don't you think it is—"

Xiner mentally groaned as she felt bored and unconcerned about her fascination with the fruits and its origin. She pulled away from her as she dusted her skirt. 

"I am sorry… um—" Xiner began, seeking for an excuse to leave there and face her angry emotions. She had not bothered to remember her name, which just seemed to make matters worse, but she ignored and just went ahead with what she wanted to say.

"I don't feel so well. I would like to go lie down for a bit".

The maid's eyes widened as worry colored her eyes. "Oh my, are you alright?" She moved closer, trying to access Xiner. 

But she stepped back, thereby creating a gap between them. "It's nothing of too much bother. In fact, I am sure it is just mild fatigue. You know, since this is the first time we are having a guest besides Lady Bunasis," She assured with a smile.

Gone was the worry and replaced with a smile, the maid's eyes had flipped hack to its usual cheerful look. "Well, isn't it such a delight? The lord is finally opening his domain up to other gods and—"

Anger flashed through Xiner's eyes at the maid before she clouded with back with her usual calm look, "Please, I just need some time to rest"

Coming back from her rambling state, the look of worry came back to her face. "Yes, right, you need rest," She reminded herself as she took hold of the basket and placed it elsewhere. She turned to Xiner back as she shoved her lightly towards her room direction. 

"You just go get some rest, and I will wash, peel and squeeze the fruit. Don't worry, don't worry" Xiner nodded as she headed to her room, without looking back. Her light footsteps soon turned to an angry stomping as she headed to her room.

Bursting to her medium-sized, dimly lit room, she slammed the door behind her and leaned against it. The size of the room is the same as all the workers in the house.

The words from Dyce played over and over in her mind. "He said he would help them be together?!" She muttered, pacing back and forth.

"He has fallen in love with this unknown woman?! How dare he? He didn't even know if it was a ploy Lady Bunasis was trying to use! And besides, he doesn't even know this woman from anywhere. She suddenly appeared in his dreams, and immediately they are claiming her to be his mate. Precocious. Very Audacious too! I don't believe the lord is so gullible to believe such things. They must have poisoned his mind with some type of stuff".

She stopped pacing and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes, dark and intense. Still filled with burning anger. 

"Lord Sephtis is mine. He just doesn't realize it yet. After all, he is too busy to notice people around him. He belongs to me. Not some ghostly figment of his dreams. She doesn't even know him like I do. She doesn't know his favorite meals, she doesn't know how warm he likes his bath. Furthermore, she doesn't love him like I do. She can't comfort him, can't touch him, and can't even be there for him the way I can."

She ran a hand through her already tangled hair, tugging the strands as if trying to pull them from its roots. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her chest heaving from her spiraling emotions.

"He dreams of her, but she isn't real. Not yet. And if she is found… No, I can't let that happen. She will ruin everything with her presence. She will take Lord Sephtis away from me. This is sickening".

Soon, Xiner's expression twisted into a sinister smile, as a dark glint sparkled in her eyes. "Yes… I can fix this. All I need to do is find out who she is and ensure she never ends up here. I will make sure of it. For Lord Sephtis sake. For us. He needs to see that I am the one who truly loves him and the one who is truly devoted to him."

She turned away from the mirror, her mind already set on what she wants to do. She was definitely not going to let some woman in his dreams to affect their relationship. 

"He will thank me one day," She whispered to herself. "He'll see that I did it all for him. And then… then he'll finally look at me with love in his eyes and hold me with so much care and affection, and I will become the Queen of Daemarral". 

🌗

Lexicon

So not to get confused. Though Daemarral is a barren land, there are other parts of it that are different. Firstly. Daemarral is the only domain in Alverton Summit that has sub-parts in it.