Sereia’s visit.
Editing in Progress…
~Chapter 26~
"I saw red eyes with a shadowy look" Yeona reported.
"What?!" Sereia's eyes went wide as bowls, she immediately sat up as Yen now had her utmost attention.
"Shadowy look? With red eyes?"
"Yes," Yeona answered, smoothing her dress as she came closer to sit beside her. "Then I was suddenly compelled to follow it".
"You followed it?!!! Are you CRAZY!!!!" Sereia shouted as her voice added in volume. "Are you hurt anywhere?" She rushed to pull her closer.
She intensively searched and scanned her body, hoping there was neither injury nor a curse mark or something bad in general. Likewise, she sighed in relief as none of her fears were confirmed.
"That's good, you are okay. Don't ever do something like that again" She warned in a calm and worried tone. She paused on her lips before adding, "You can continue".
Yeona smiled. She didn't understand why having someone who cared for her was so satisfying. All she had known since her parents died were curses, abuse, and neglect, but here was someone worried about her.
"Yen?" Sereia called out, snapping her fingers across her eyes.
Jerking her head, she was awoken from her thoughts.
"Yeah right," She said rubbing her temple. "I felt so compelled to follow it and I did, but I felt so confused and eventually lost."
"Then I was hearing voices? I think? But it wasn't a normal talking voice, but it was a sultry dry voice, but for some reason I thought it was my mom".
"Your mom?" "Why?!"
"I truthfully don't know, I didn't suspect it would be someone else or was veil monster, and so I began calling out to her, hoping, praying for her to respond or something but nothing happened"
Yen went silent as she wanted to be sure of her next words, but that just caused more worry and stress from Sereia, as she sat on edge waiting for her friend to continue.
"But I heard the coachman calling out for me, but I couldn't see him"
"Hmm? What do you mean? Explain some more".
"Well, just as I said, I could hear him clearly, but I couldn't see him. And when I say very clearly, I mean very clearly, like he was beside me type of clearly".
"But I looked around, and he wasn't there, even after multiple calls. Then I just assumed that it was the same voices I was hearing previously. Then the voices became overwhelming and truthfully I became very scared".
"Naturally!!" She said, rubbing her arm as she gently waited for her to continue.
"Then the series of voices continued but this time I didn't answer or call out as fear had gripped me to the core, that all I did was shield myself and cover my ears"
"WHY DIDN'T YOU RUN AWAY? YOU WERE DEFENSELESS AT THAT MOMENT. SOMETHING BAD COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU. WHY THE HELL IN DEAMARRAL DIDN'T YOU RUN!!!!??" She shouted like she was scolding her child for their stupidity.
"I would have if I knew where I was, I didn't even know the name of the forest"
Letting go of her arm, Sera began thinking. 'The forest closest to my house? Is that Anly?' she thought.
"The name of the forest is called Anly"
"Like the mountain?"
"Yes, the mountain is inside the forest and-"
"How did I not know that?"
"The mountain is at the center of the forest and… WAIT! HOW DID YOU NOT KNOW?"
"I don't know why. I mean, it wasn't a weird-looking forest when we passed there, so why?"
"More importantly, why did you forget about it?" Sereia asked, looking, in very deep thought.
The girls just sat there thinking inwardly to themselves about the entire situation. It was clear that they were scared and also worried.
Wanting to clear the tense air, Sereia held Yen's shoulders comfortingly, "Why don't we figure it out and get to the bottom of it later? Hm? What do you say?" she smiled, giving her every bit of comfort she could offer.
Nodding in response, she smiled. Sera suddenly jumped up with a happy clap as she began bouncing on her feet. She looked suddenly so ecstatic, that it confused the second lady in the room.
"So~ If we are going to figure this out later… why don't we go check out the secret door? Hm?" She optioned. Her golden eyes glistered with immense mischief.
Yen cracked a small and soft smile. Her onyx-colored hair waved according to the flow of the wind.
"Oh? You remembered? I had hoped my story was enough to distract you from the door".
Sera's eyes went wide, "So the story was just a lie?! How dare you toy with my feelings for you!!"
"Wait, wait, wait, the story was true, I just sigh never mind" she replied, rubbing her brows. "Why don't you eat your snacks, and we will be on our way"
"I guess" Sereia's golden eyes looked at hers with vivid suspicion. Yen rolled her eyes, not caring about her friend's suspicion towards her.
🌗
"The next time I get this, I will shove it up your behind," Lucian said, ready to curse his emperor out, but Nash immediately threw his hands over his mouth.
"Apologies your royal highness" Nash greeted while still trying to settle Lucian down.
"Get off me" Lucian yelled, shoving Nash off him. "I told you not to send this to me anymore" throwing some papers at his feet.
"You need this more than me," Orion said with a shrug of his shoulder and a silly-looking face.
It was clear Orion was mocking him, and this only aggravated the duke some more. Nash only sighed as he walked towards his seat.
He looked at the maids and also the guards. Waving at them, he signaled for them to all leave and give the three brothers some space.
"Right, Nash?" Orion asked, waiting for Nash to give him his support.
"Don't add me to your dumb argument" Nash said, waving his hands dismissively at his brother.
"TCH! You are supposed to be by my side".
"No, I am not"
"Damn it! Orion don't ignore me" Lucian shouted getting hold of his collar. He aggressively swung his left and right like a ragged doll.
"I am sorry" Orion answered. His apology was dry and unapologetic.
Out of annoyance, the duke threw the emperor to the side and sat down with a huff. Orion sighed as he dusted himself from the ground and walked back to his throne.
"That was very mean and rude of you," he said, which only earned a hard glare from Lucian. "I am sorry" adding quickly to his words.
"And the marriage offers that terrible?" Nash asked as he turned his attention to his brother.
"I got twelve today, burned six yesterday, and got two as I arrived at the palace gates, no tell me why I shouldn't be offended?"
"Those are a lot"
"And half of them aren't meant for me, they are for Orion. But for some ignorant and dumb reason he decided to send them all to me".
"Well, you need it more than me"
"I got my hands full of more important things"
"I just didn't want to seem like a terrible brother, hugging all the marriage invitations to myself, therefore I decided to share, but I guess doing good is now a bad thing"
"Alright then, since you did such a wonderful thing for me, I decided to return the favor," Lucian said dryly but not without a malicious smile that got his brother's attention. Nash looked at him wanting to know what he did, while Orion sat up consciously, looking at his brother as anger, slowly began to rise.
"What did you do?!"
"No, No, No, what you should ask is what have I done? I have already done it".
"Which is?"
"I took one of the letters at random and replied to it. And would you know it just happened to be for you".
"HUH?!" A menacing aura filled Orion's form as Lucian continued without care of his brother's rising anger.
"Yes! I am sure. What was the house name again".
"UM, Lucian? You need to stop, Orion will kill you" Nash said trying to warn his brother.
"It starts with an 'R' Ramoris? Ruther- Ah! Yes, Rutherford. I believe I saw two, but I just assumed they were multiple letters, so I answered two of them".
"TWO??!!" Nash groaned, knowing very well how bad this would go.
"How dare you?!"
"How dare I? If I were you, I would start looking to wear something amazing for the Courtly Celebration".
Lexicon
The term LADY is an honorary name used on noble, wealthy women. Especially those whose husbands are of high title such as Duchess, Countess, Viscountess, etc., Or those whose husbands have a very high and profitable business. Claire and Gwen are called 'LADY' as their husband had/has a very highly profitable job.
*EDITED*