Doom of Elianna: The Emperor's Flower

I subtly turn my head to the left, where my sister is. I saw her busily talking with the other guests and her new husband looking vibrant and positively radiant in her wedding ball gown. They were stuck together like sticky rice, and as if it wasn't enough, my sister's hand is possessively coiled around her husband's waist like a possessive maiden in love. Her dark gaze flutters like a feather while oozing with sickly sweetness as she looks at her husband's face that I couldn't help but immediately look away.

I heave a deep sigh as my stomach twist in turn. Don't get me wrong, I like her new husband, Chris, but I just truly wished my sister wouldn't get fed up with him easily. However, knowing my sister's temperament, it's like wishing for a chicken to fly.

And honestly speaking, the sight is giving me a terrible headache considering that this is already her third marriage within a span of eight years. Just as it's hard for me to trust and love someone, it is quite the opposite for my older sister Alanna. We are the opposite – a polarity of two extremes. Although despite our differences, we still complement each other. We get along well, and we rarely argue except for situations like this.

I grab the wine glass filled with water and downed it all before slamming the empty glass back to the table. Thankfully, I was alone and away from the prying eyes of my new extended family, and no one had dared to walk up to me and strike a conversation about the mundanity of life. I' am actually glad that I'm spared of that social niceties, and Alanna isn't forcing me to socialize. Instead, I've been itching to sneak out of the reception hall and inhale some fresh air.

Before I even lose the courage to leave, I grab my purse on the table, and my coat hanging at the back of my seat before walking up the exit door used strictly by the employees just a few meters away. I strategically chose this location so no one would notice if I just decided to stand up and leave. Because the hall is teeming with various guests, not just from both sides of the family but their colleagues and business partners, it will be hard to spot me amongst the crowd.

I quickly maneuvered amidst the crowds of people, trying to be as quiet as a mouse, and I could not stop my grin when I am finally a few steps towards my freedom. However, as soon as I grasp the cold metal knob, my heart almost jumps out of my rib cage when a strong hand tightly grips my bare shoulder.

"My dear sister, Elianna. Where do you think you're going?" an amused but high-pitched voice asked from behind. My shoulders slump in defeat as I mentally prepared myself to face my sister's wrath.

In reflex, I looked at her with a broad smile plastered on my lips. "It's quite stuffy. I just need some fresh air."

"That's because you're camping out in the corner of the room without planning to talk to anyone!" Alanna almost half-shouted while her nose flares in barely contained anger. Her cheeks turn bright red as it snakes down her neck.

I couldn't stop myself from giggling because of her reaction. Still, when her eyes almost look like it will shoot laser beams at me, my laugh automatically died down. I cleared my throat and shrugged nonchalantly.

"What are you saying? It's just that no one wants to talk to me."

Alanna's mouth hangs open in disbelief as she stares at me incredulously. If they weren't in public, I might already have been smack on my backside—that's how annoyed my sister looks right now. "Are you kidding me? People are asking about you. They are curious about who you are, but you're just giving off this cold and dark vibe that they're getting cold feet before they can even come near!"

My eyebrow rises in doubt. "Don't make it sound like I'm an evil incarnate who intimidates people just by my mere presence."

Alanna leans forward, closing the tiny gap between them, and whispers beside her ear. "That's because you're acting just like that. Try to be nice, please? Remember, they're family now. It's not just you and me anymore. You've always wanted a big family, right?"

I shrunk back and looked over to the teeming crowd taking up the enormous reception room. My heart should be bursting with happiness because of my sister's remark, but it felt like I got kicked in the chest instead. Out of all those people inside, no one—not even a single soul belongs to a blood relative of the bride aside from me. There's only my sister and me. We had always been an orphan.

Suddenly, my heart burns with ache, and my mouth felt dry. I looked back to my beautiful sister, who always shines with a positive light, and regards her with a wry smile. "I did—past tense. You are my only family now. I don't need anyone else."

"Elianna…I don't understand why—" Allana trails off suddenly, not wanting to continue saying what she had initially thought. A deep frown mars her beautiful face while her mouth sets into a hard line.

I'm sure she was about to say how she doesn't understand why I'm so difficult, and I would probably reply that's just the way I am. However, I swallowed the words that threaten to spill out of my mouth and put them back in the corner of my heart.

I reached out and tucked the strand of hair that came loose from her braid and whispers solemnly. "Don't worry. I'm not going to cause any trouble. I just really need some air. I will be back as soon as I can, and I will even talk to your new family if you want me to….just give me a moment of space."

Allana quietly nodded in defeat before turning her back on her. And just like always, she naturally gravitates towards the love of her life without looking back at me—her sister with who she spent her whole life. I should have grown accustomed to it. This is the third time I watched her try to build a new life with a new family, but it doesn't even make it less painful—the pain of being left all alone and the sadness that comes with it.

CROWN Paragon Hotel is built in the middle of the metropolitan. It towers over thirty floors boasting hundreds of luxurious rooms with a magnificent view of the cityscape from the roof deck, where a fantastic and brilliant rooftop infinity pool attracts many guests. And while enjoying a panoramic view of the city lights, the terrace also holds lush greenery featuring various exotics plants and flowers. When I first heard it during conversations with my colleagues, I've always wanted to come and visit. Still, because it's too expensive to even stay just for one night, I quickly tried to forget about it. That's why when I learned that this is where the couple plans to hold the reception, I admit that my heart perks up with the thought. I've been looking forward to seeing it in the flesh. And now that she's standing in the middle of the majestic scenery she heard in stories, and the descriptions pale in comparison. It was just too magnificent for words.

I start to take a leisurely walk around the place, savoring the calm stillness of the night and the mysterious scent of the flowers carried over by the wind. For a popular hotel like this, it is unusual to find the roof deck free of guests. Maybe because it's already somewhat late in the night that the people prefer to stay indoors rather than take a dip? I'm glad that I brought my coat with me. It feels frigid for a summer night like this one.

It had only been a few minutes after walking around that I thought I was all alone until I spotted a tall, dark figure wearing a white robe standing close to the ledge that separates the guests from thousand meters drop to the ground. Suddenly overwhelmed with panic, I find myself running in his direction. Still, the infinity pool separates us that I couldn't get a hold of him. He is holding to the rail, but he is leaning forward that I'm afraid one wrong footing will send him spiraling down to his death. Is he drunk or just fooling around?

"Hey, Mister! Can you hear me?" I half-shouted in worry while trying my utmost best not to scare him off.

I did not get a reply, but despite the dark, I can visibly see that his body stiffened when he heard my voice, thanks to the light illuminated by the pool. I decided to try again.

"Is everything alright? Please move away from that spot."

"I'm not going to jump," the man replied in a barely audible voice. He didn't look back; instead, he even leans forward that half of his body will almost fall over.

"Damn it! Who would believe you if you keep doing that?" I can't help but mutter in frustration as I watch the madman pull a stunt. I pulled my hair in frustration while my eyes frantically dart around the premises to look for someone that could probably help her, but the place is empty. My gaze bounces back to the man that is leaning closer to his death.

"Stop doing that! Move away from that ledge if you don't want to get hurt!" I couldn't stop my voice from rising several octaves. I did not plan to shout, but he is making me mad.

I can't believe I'm getting mad with a stranger! I screamed inside my head.

I tried to rack my brain on what's the best next thing that I can do in this situation when my eyes are suddenly riveted to the illuminating pool. If I try to run to where he is, it will take some time to reach him, but I can probably make it if I swim up to him.

Without the time to hesitate, I took off my coat and kicked away my stilettos. I'm unsure if I should be glad that I'm only wearing a cocktail dress that reaches just above my knees. "Are you really not going to step down?" I ask again, getting impatient but worried about him.

It must have finally affected him after hearing the sense of urgency and fear in her voice that he eventually turned around and look at her. I froze in surprise. He somehow looks familiar, but I can't remember where I saw him before. I'm too busy with my internship that I rarely have the time to go out with my friends and meet new people. I literally have no social life. Then, is he a patient? Just who is he?

He looks at me almost too nonchalantly while he leans backward on the glass fence. "What are you going to do then?" he asks as if challenging me.

I force out a smile. "I'm coming to get you,"

For a moment, he grew reticent as he stared at me with disbelief. The quiet tension in the air is stifling, but then all of a sudden, he throws his head back as he laughs almost too maniacally.

"You never change, do you?"

"What…what did you say?"

I stop in my tracks. Does he know me? I did not even have the chance to ask him when my mouth opens in a silent scream as I watched him lean back and fall to his inevitable death.