The Lair

"Hello everyone, my name is Therese Farenas. I am pleased to meet you."

Therese decided to stop pretending she couldn't speak the letter "r" when the prince pointed it out because she also cringed at it. Inside her lives an adult who retains all memories she had, and all her classmates looked like babies to her.

Everyone looked at her with curiousness as she bowed. Strawberry red hair is very uncommon in the continent and the story of her being adopted was not very much known. Her classmates, all in the same age and nobility, were all paying attention to her.

"Starting today, Therese is going to be your classmate. Be nice to her, okay?" The teacher, a tall male estimated to be thirty years old, said, as he smiled nicely at the students.

"Yes sir Henriksen," the kids replied at the same time as if it was rehearsed.

"You may seat beside Ashton—err—the boy in the back with the flaming red hair," the teacher said, pointing at the boy who was sleeping while some other boys were drawing at his face. Some girls, now no longer paying attention to them were laughing with each other. "The kids may seem chaotic, but they are nice. I hope you'd enjoy being a part of the class."

"Thank you, sir," Therese looked at her teacher and smiled as the kids nearby who was looking was struck by her cuteness. Sir Henriksen cleared his throat and immediately thought of his pregnant wife. He just had a baby fever from the three-year old Therese.

"Nice to meet you," a girl sitting in front of Therese's designated seat greeted her. She had black hair and pale blue eyes that sparkled as she smiled at her. "My name is Mari Frankenava."

"Hello, Mari, I am Therese." She smiled back, excited to make a new friend. Suddenly, three more girls approached her and introduced themselves.

"I am Ashy Roover, that's my twin right there," a girl with a red hair and yellow eyes happily said as she pointed to the 'Ashton' the teacher referred to a while back, her cheerfulness instantly uplifting Therese.

"My name is Xianna Riverknow," another black-haired girl with brown eyes said. Her spectacles were colossal that it covered half of her tiny face. She looked shy because she hid half of her face behind her book.

"I am Dianara Torran," a girl with a bobbed hair and brown skin said and shook Therese's hands. "It's my first time being close to a foreigner! I've heard everything about the prince in your country because I saw him on his birthday. Do you know h-"

However, Ashy put her hands on Dianara's mouth to keep her from speaking. "This young lady fell desperately in love with the prince and he's all she's ever talking about!" she complained as Dianara became teary.

"You all just don't understand because you haven't seen him yet," Dianara said and sulked. "I swear you'd feel the same once you see him too. Isn't that right, Therese?"

However, Therese just smiled at her awkwardly. "Uhm, I don't think so," she replied as she remembered how he treated her. At first, she was mad, so hurt, and so determined to leave him alone. However, she understood him from the bottom of her heart because she was the person who knew him the most. She was his lover—his best friend, the reason he went out of control when she nearly died.

She understood his intentions when she saw his eyes before she left him. It was once again, begging to be saved, just like how it happened back then.

"What did you think when you first saw him, Therese?" Ashy asked, determined to counter the claims made by Dianara. Now, all of the girls were looking at her.

Therese thought. "I thought that he always looked happy," 'whenever he saw me' she added in her thoughts," but when I saw him again, his eyes looked like they were drowning in despair," she said, remembering the moment she saw Eros, then Aaron—again on the middle of the labyrinth before she left for school.

Just then—

"I'd come with you to the afterlife,"

There was silence in the group of the girls when suddenly, the boy next to them, Ashton—suddenly spoke. Turns out, he saw Therese, the beautiful Therese, and thought that she was a ghost that was meant to take him to heaven.

"My brother is dreaming while he's awake," Ashy said, laughing as her eyes had tears in them because of the ridiculousness of the situation.

Suddenly, Ashton felt as if he was slapped on his face when he realized that the 'angel' he saw was actually a person.

"I think he fell in love with her at first sight," Xianna said and blushed. The girl was an avid fan of romance books.

"I-I did not! I just thought that she looked like an angel because she was wearing a white dress!" Ashton denied as he blushed from ear to ear.

" You were willing to go to the afterlife with her, though! " Dianara said with a very menacing eyes to tease Ashton.

"My name is Therese Farenas. You are?" Therese asked, uninterested with the bickering of children—gave him her hand for him to shake, and he looked at her—her hair, her eyes, her face—and he took her hand, kissing it as he lowered himself. It was a usual gesture of greeting from a gentleman to a lady in their country.

"I am pleased to meet you, I am Ashton Roover," he said, and looked at her, his silver eyes looked so much more distinct than his sister's.

There was a hint of nobity and classiness in his manners that Therese noted, because his name was already so familiar with her.

"He's older than me, even if it isn't obvious," Ashy giggled and teased him about his height as she was taller than him while Ashton just sulked at her.

"He's going to be taller in the future. I'm sure of it," Therese said, her eyes directed at Ashton who stopped bickering with Ashy. "Lots of girls will also line up for him."

Therese was certain, for he was so famous before she regressed—a decorated war hero, a knight, and a nobleman. He even rejected the marriage proposal made my Eva back when she was three, before her marriage with Aaron was decided at age five. She always heard Eva complaining to her about how narcissistic he was for rejecting the proposal of the most beautiful woman on earth. She sent him a proposal as a second option for when Aaron, her true love, rejects her.

"But I don't want other girls!" Ashton said, blushing harder this time as Xiana was so happy to see a sight to behold—a scene that seem like it came straight from a book.

They continued to tease each other, but they stopped as the bell rang.

"I am rooting for you Ashton!" Xiana said and tapped his shoulder as she left to fetch her books.

"Brother, you won't pass with that kind of attitude," Ashy said, this time, truly concerned of her brother. "And remember, you can't do it. You have enough marriage proposals as the heir to our household."

"Good luck," Dianara said, laughing.

Meanwhile, Therese and Ashton were left standing in the classroom. However, Therese moved first and took her things to go to her dormitory.

"If I, one day become tall and great, just like you said, do you think the person I like will like me back?" Ashton asked her. Therese looked at him, remembering that the person he will marry would be Dianara.

"Yes. I think so, Ashton." she said, smiled, and left the classroom.

"I will remember that. I will plant it in my heart and keep it growing." he whispered to himself and finally left the room.

When Ashton arrived at his dormitory, a pile of letters were scattered in his bed, waiting to be opened. In their country, it was customary to be married to people who were selected by their parents, and he was facing the toll now, for he had too much to reject.

"Erin Kanola, nah," Ashton said as he looked at the portraits inside the envelops that contained letters.

"Connie Niocana, hmm"

"Kyla Hinava, no, that family is chaotic. She's also my friend's sister."

"Niki Tunase, I don't like her father. He was involved in an attempted coup."

"Eva Farenas?" He asked, the name was all too familiar for him. It was the same family name as Therese that he just met earlier. "Are they siblings? Why do they not resemble each other?"

He discarded the other envelops as he looked at the portrait of Eva intently, searching for any notable characteristics so he could remember her face. "Not bad, she's quite cute, but I don't know,"

He then proceeded to add it to the discarded ones, never to remember it again.

"Hey, let's go eat dinner," a person said.

Only one person dares to enter his room without permission and without knocking. It was his twin sister, Ashy.

"You are always so laid back and just doing whatever you want, sister," Ashton said, sadness apparent in his eyes. "I'd appreciate it if even just one day without any political thing would be granted to me,"

He layed still on his bed and covered his eyes with his arms.

"Brother?"

"Please shut up,"

"But we are all waiting for you?" Ashy said as she was confused as to how his brother haven't noticed them yet. She never showed any care for his feelings.

"What all-"

The sight that welcomed him was Ashy, Dianara, Xianna, Therese, and one other boy named Lucas who was his bestfriend and cousin at the same time.

"Dude, uncool," Lucas said with his cold tone and suddenly left the room.

"We will wait for you on the cafeteria. See you!" Ashy said, waving her hands, as she took the girls with her.

Ashton could only punch the pillow because of his annoyance, but he didn't have a choice but to follow suit because his tummy was grumbling.

"I recommend you try the pasta here Therese. It's absolutely delicious," Xianna said with her meek voice, still shy but she was trying her best to be friendly.

"Oh okay I'll try it. Thank you!" Therese replied and after they all ordered, they sat down the biggest table in the far end of the cafeteria. Ashton followed suit, who is now wearing casual clothes.

The dinner was uneventful except for when Dianara had an allergic reation to the food served for her, and Ashton went to his dormitory again, now waiting for the night. He always sneaked, wandered around at night, because the campus was so pretty with all the lights embracing it. It was the only pause in his life that makes him feel free from his political responsibilities at home.

When the clock indicated 10 pm, he started to change his clothes to black so he could hide better. There was always a guard patrolling the premises of the school, and being caught by him meant a suspension for three days.

He jumped out of his window as his room was located on the first floor, and he started walking towards his favorite spot. It was a small hill with a waterfall on it that glowed whenever the moonlight touched it. He always meditated on that spot and he loved every second of it.

After a five minute walk with his tiny legs, he soon passed two more dormitories. However,

"Oh, Ashton?" a very familiar voice had spoken.

Ashton almost leapt out of the ground when he heard her. It was Therese who was also wandering.

"What are you doing here?"

"I am quite fond of venturing at night," Therese answered.

Just then, Ashton saw a guard. He got scared and surprised which prompted him to take the left hand of Therese and pulled her to hide where he pushed her in a wall and covered her mouth with his hands until the guard left.

"I think he's gone," Ashton said. Suddenly, he felt Therese nod from his hands, and he jumped, threw his hands up in the air as a gesture for surrender, and immediately apologized.

"I'm so sorry I didn't mean to touch you without permission my lady!"

However, Therese just giggled.

"Don't be silly, it's fine. Thank you for saving me."

Ashton sighed in relief and tried to compose himself again.

"Where are you going?"Therese asked him, curiosity very evident in her green eyes that reminded Ashton of the emerald emblem that belonged to each Roover family member.

"I'm going to my lair," he replied, now walking towards the pathway that he abandoned just to hide from the guard.

"Oh, I see. So this is where we part now," Therese said and smiled. "It was nice to see you. Thank you for saving me again. I'll leave now."

"Wait—" Ashton called in a whispering manner, making Therese stop on her tracks. "Do you want to come with me to my lair? There are trees and a waterfall there. I'm sure you'll like it."

"But if that place is really as beautiful as you describe it to be, wouldn't it be bad if you share it with other people?" Therese asked.

"It's fine," Ashton said. He then started to head towards the small hill." It's nice to share secrets sometimes."

" If that is so, then lead the way," Therese answered, now determined to come with him. They both passed a lot of trees and insects, making their clothes dirty. Some of the road they took had a pathway that divided the green grass growing on it, symbolizing that it's been walked on multiple times already.

The moonlight was the only thing that illuminated their way, but it was still bright enough to lead them to the waterfall. Their small bodies saw their surroundings as obstacles that were so big and so great—

It was so bright and pristine—the crisp sparkles of the water was so beautiful it looked almost ethereal—unearthly. The trees around them were being swayed by the wind, causing the leaves to fan more fresh air and lul a tune that was so peaceful it tickled their ears. Crickets, humming birds, even frogs were there to keep their thoughts adrift.

Wildflowers of every color was growing in the surroundings of the waterfall, orchids were stuck on trees to decorate it.

It was a scene to behold. It was a paradise that seemed lost but now found.

"Wow," There said. Her eyes widened at the sight in front of her, and it was her first time seeing such a great body of water in her life. "This is breathtaking."

"It sure is," Ashton said, but instead of looking at the falls, he stared straight at Therese who was very clueless and laid-back.

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Meanwhile, a secret detention place on the lowest of the palace was packed with so many knights and two royal men, as a body of a woman clothed with a royal maid outfit laid bare on the ground. The woman had been exposed to the deadly flower as well and had died because she never had the chance to drink the antidote.

"You never caught the real culprit, father," a child's voice, belonging to a boy, said, his face stone cold to hide the anger that was boiling up inside him.

"That's fine. I can protect the queen against anyone anyway," the King said his eyes look as if they were looking forward to something that piqued their interest.

Inside the King is a maniac that was stimulated—he felt like he was in a game where he was against someone who doesn't have anything to lose, while he had everything to lose himself. It was like a war where someone's fate was already sealed—where his defeat was certain. However, he was not the kind to give up—especially not his queen, and he decided to play with his brother's game.

"I don't know what to do with you anymore," the child said again. "You don't look threatened at all."

"Because I am not, Aaron." he replied, determined to fight back his sad fate—of being betrayed by his family, and losing the person he loved the most.