16 An answer

It's only been two months but the results of Carina becoming Vance's tutor proves to be fruitful.

One, it's because there is no longer schemes planned by the empress. Vance and Uld is completely safe under Aspera's 'protection'. Two, it's because Vance seems very promising. He is slow with his studies, but he has the right attitude, that is, being bright and enthusiastic.

Although Uld is happy, at the same time she's worried. Uld still remembers the terms and conditions she formed between her and Carina. That is, by being Vance's tutor it will pose as a shield as Aspera is a powerful family, but in exchange Carina wants the spell of eternal sleep to be performed on her for reasons she doesn't know. Carina doesn't mind the time that it will take but it looks like Carina herself is sincerely hoping for it and Uld doesn't want to dissapoint her.

Uld knows who can perform that spell, and that's the child of prophecy. But she refused to expose the child of prophecy at the moment. That's why Uld feels guilty. At this rate, it is as if she is using Carina.

"Master...I mean...Lady Carina, " Demetrius who is accompanying Uld for a stroll was revered for a second when he saw Carina in training clothes. She's currently giving instructions to Vance on swordsmanship.

Uld glanced at Carina and her guilt never felt clearer than before. Her imposing stance with the sword and the wind that sways her ponytail. It was something that is out of a picture book. "How could I ever use this wonderful person. She's my idol too. It can't go on like this," Uld thought.

"Ah, Lady Uld and Sir Demetrius," Carina bowed.

She glanced momentarily at Vance for him to take a break. "Wow, mama.. I mean mother is here too!," Vance grinned happily.

"It must've been tiring Vance. Thank you, Lady Carina. For my son to learn swordsmanship from such an honorable person,"

"A pleasure," Carina replied nonchantly.

---

Demetrius accompanied Vance to take a break while I accompany Uld on a stroll. It seems a lot of things in weighing in her mind lately. "Uld...is there something wrong?,"

Uld jolted from her thoughts. "Ah, I must've been obvious. I am sorry,"

I chuckled. Uld is actually a hard person to read. She's actually a really intelligent concubine, one that makes you question why she lives at a dilapidated place, wholly unfit for someone of her stature. Because she is intelligent, she also hides her emotions well. I only know that she is not okay from my experience of reading facial expressions.

"I still can't believe you're Xenia. Frigores do believe in reincarnation, but reincarnation only happen to children of gods and goddesses,"

"Really? Are those children humans or....?,"

Uld giggled at my curiousity. She didn't expect that something a child would normally be interested about would interest her. "Ah of course. Xenia doesn't know much about Frigore's religion,"

"Well...children of gods and goddesses are mysterious. They can be humans, angels and even demons sometimes. They can die like mortals due, but they are in a way immortal because they reincarnate again and again,"

I stopped walking at hearing her. Uld turned behind to look at me, surprised to see that I've become quiet. "Is it possible for them ot remembering at all that they're children of gods and goddesses?," I asked.

It seems Frigore really does hold the answer to everything. Could it be that they also might know the true answer to my reincarnation?

Uld tilted her head, pondering my question seriously. "Hmm...I've never heard of them forgetting. Because the children would meet their respective parents before reincarnating into their new body,"

I look at the flowerbed beside me, realizing the despair that is slowly building up. The garden is dreadful from a glance, but looking at it, it wasn't that bad. The flowers weren't roses, but just a bunch of baby breaths and daisies. Those flowers are cheap and easy to care unlike roses and lilies which require tremendous money for maintenance. However, there's beauty in simplicity. It's not overwhelming and it's calming to see.

"Lady Carina, if it's alright with you, can we make some changes to our terms and conditions?" Uld asked nervously.

I observed her face. She looks nervous....no...worried? "Is something wrong with your progress perhaps?,"

Uld quickly shook her head. "No it's...I am afraid it's impossible. As the prophecy stated, only the child born on the special year, the 1000th year can perform ancient spells and that includes the Eternal Slumber. So it can't be just anyone from the Frigore,".

"Really? When does the child of prophecy will be born?," I asked. If I have to wait for another hundred or even a thousand years for my death I would be completely satisfied.

She frowned, feeling more guilty than before. Uld just realized Carina is completely unaware of the full nature of the prophecy. She realized she quickly assumed that since she was Xenia, she knew about Frigores a lot but forgot that in the end, Xenia is still an outsider.

"It's not that..it's...I am not sure if I want to..at the moment," Uld mumbled.

I raised my eyebrows in confusion but then I got a sudden realization of Uld's underlying meaning. It's all connected together.

Vance is the child of prophecy.

Vance had to be retarded, according to Uld. It is as if that is the only way to protect him. I don't know the motives behind it but now it's clear to her.

And these past few months Uld have been using her, leading on that she would help perform the spell and biding time by saying she would research about it, only to know that there's already a person who can perform that spell and Uld doesn't even inform her.

"Are you aware of what you're implying right now?,"

Uld clasp her hands together in an effort to stop shaking. Now rather than guilt, she felt afraid. She's aware what Carina is angry about. But she does not dare to lie to her mother's saviour so she decided to come clean.