64 Add to the Bucket

The ball started and everyone lined up in front of me to introduce themselves. Each was ecstatic in meeting me, not because they want to know me, but because they want to be leechers and get close to me for connectton. It was obvious that they're all plastics and trying hard.

The way they look at me, they were judging me. The way they spoke to me with their sugar-coated words and sly tone shows how much they want me to believe their lies.

I tried my best to look as if I am interested in memorizing their long names or listen to their gossips about other people, but I've been itching to join my family on the other side of the hall. They were talking to an old couple with real smiles.

King Sorin was busy talking to other people with high power. They were all showing their disgusting smiles and loudly laughing at each other. I hate it.

"Amy--- I mean, Your Highness," a young girl's voice called me.

I turned my head towards her and kept the same smile I've been wearing since earlier. She was the same height as me, but it seems as if she's younger than my age. She has beautiful green hair and eyes.

But the way she's looking at me, it seems as if she's done something wrong to me. Her brows were furrowed and her eyes were drowning in sadness.

She was with a young boy with blue skin and golden eyes. He was weirdly looking yet enchanting, yet he can't even look at me straight. He takes quick glances and looks away.

"I am Princess Tellusia of Delta Kingdom, and this is," she turned to the young boy, "Prince Marin of Beta Kingdom."

After hearing their names, I felt my chest pinched. Have I met them before? But if I did, why are they introducing themselves and not acting as if we've met before like Forest did?

"Good evening, Princess Tellusia and Prince Marin," I smiled and curtsied gracefully. I can't embarrass myself to other royalties.

"Aren't we going to discuss what is happening?" A blonde man with electric blue eyes suddenly appeared behind me.

He has his hands hidden in his pocket while he was staring sharply at Princess Tellusia.

"Prince Arias," Princess Tellusia called with her voice shaking.

Arias... if I am correct, he's the heir of the Echo Kingdom.

I stared at him, is he angry at the Princess for some reason? And why are they going to discuss the situation? Is something wrong?

I felt my forehead wrinkle while staring at him, but suddenly he gazed upon me and smiled. I felt my cheeks heat up and without another second, I looked away from him.

He just looks like an anime that came to life. He is so gorgeous. But of course, Forest is much more breath-taking, especially his fluffy hair.

"This is new, you're never embarrassed," I heard him chuckle softly which even sent my heart rate faster. Gosh, why do people in this world look too damn bewitching? They look like professional cosplayers in my world.

Wait. I was never embarrassed?

I turned to him with wide eyes, "Have we met before?" I asked.

He nodded and looked back at the Princess, "Why don't you tell her what you did, huh? I never imagined it'll be you who'll betray us. I always suspect Amelia, but it turns out, I was wrong."

Princess Tellusia stared at him with her green eyes opened widely, and within the moment, she was tearing up. Her beautiful eyes were drowning in guilt.

Prince Marin clicked his tongue and held Princess Tellusia's hand. He was about to pull her away, but the Princess stayed still on her feet.

Her surprised eyes looked down as she sniffed.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as Prince Marin let her hand go, "I didn't have any choice."

I was still in confusion about what was happening. Luckily, I remembered what Kai said that night I came here.

It was her trap that sent me back to the human world. Kai even called me stupid after that.

This young girl, it was her who created this chaos. But she has no choice. I want to feel resentment towards her, but just by looking at her tearful face, I know she didn't want that to happen.

Her hands were trembling as she keeps her eyes on the ground.

I look around, if King Sorin finds what is happening, I'm sure someone's getting in trouble.

"We'll talk next time, Your Highness. Don't worry," I stepped beside her and pat her shoulder, "I don't blame you or anyone else. You did what you had to. I'm happy that you're fine."

I took a deep breath and walked away, leaving her staring at me with a smile that was full of happiness. I don't know why but after seeing her smile, it made my heart feel full.

"So you'll just let them go? They ruined everything," I heard Prince Arias said as he kept on following me towards my family.

I stopped walking, he said he thought it'll be me who'll betray them earlier, right?

"Your Highness," I said and looked at him with a blank face, "They had no choice. They were forced to, and also, they are still children."

"But they ruined everything. It was going well until Princess Tellusia sent you back and made you forget everything," Prince Arias said with a tone as if it was him who was sent back, "Do you know what this means? Other Kingdoms will be now under his power because he has you, god knows what power you have."

My brows furrowed, "I don't know what you're trying to say. And I don't even think we're close because of your attitude," I narrowed my eyes at him, "If you're worried if I'll really betray you, don't worry, I won't."

"You can say that now that everything looks calm, but we'll see if it was your family that's in danger. I'm pretty sure you'll turn out just like Princess Tellusia," he said under his breath. I felt he didn't want to say that out loud since his eyes grew wide and he looked away with a bitter face.

I don't want to start a scandal now, especially that King Sorin is just a few meters away.

I stared at Prince Arias, he still looks beautiful even if he's full of suspicion. I guess he's just worried about his family and kingdom.

"I can't promise you that I won't turn out like Princess Tellusia, but I will never betray you. If ever I have to sacrifice a few things, it won't mean that I'm with King Sorin. I hate him as much as you hate him," I said and took a glance at my family, "He stole a huge part of my life."

I felt my throat tightening. I'll cry any minute now. I didn't want to think about what was happening all this time because I know I won't be able to face it all.

I turned around, left him and walked towards the balcony. The stars were shining brightly up in the sky, but slowly, as the cold winter wind kissed my cheeks, my eyes started to blur.

I took a deep breath, but the tightness in my throat went down to my chest, and I felt as if breathing will suffocate me. It pains me to realize everything all at once.

This was not about me being sent to a weird world with weird people being threatened by my uncle who turns out as a psycho and pervert.

This is about my family and my life. I've lived with lies. I've lived alone. I was separated from my family. I was alone.

I have a mother, and she was never dead. I have a brother who likes to call me stupid. I have a good-looking father. I have powers. I have red hair. I have everything that I thought will only appear in my dreams. I was supposed to live my dream.

But King Sorin exists, and he ruined everything. He killed my dream. He stole my life.

I hate him so much that it itches my bones to crush him.

"He doesn't know we met before, my family's meeting with King Lorcan was a secret. You can talk to me until you and Prince Forest can meet again," I heard Prince Arias spoke behind me.

I immediately wiped my tears and cleared my throat.

"That means he'll think that we've only met?" I asked as I turn around.

He nodded and handed me a glass of wine as he rests his elbow on the concrete railing with a wine glass on his right hand. His eyes reflect the stars in the sky, but he was gazing over something unseen. He frowned for a second then took a sip.

"Have you ever felt so powerless? All you can do is watch because you're not as good as the others? I'm a C level, that means I'm the pretty weak for a royalty."

I looked at him as I lean on the railings as well.

Level... yes, I remember that. Each has a different level, and most of the royalty are B level or A level. The knights and a few workers in the palace are also B level. C level isn't that bad, but for a royalty, it might be.

"They were talking about your level earlier. Some said you're progressing to A level. That makes sense since King Sorin is dying to have you in his Kingdom," he said and let out a fake chuckle, "I can only watch what the other kingdom will do to stop him, while my own kingdom is being threatened."

I don't know what to say. I was always the one being comforted and most of the time I don't even listen.

"But I know you're doing something, right?" I said softly, careful not to make him worse, "Sometimes we think out efforts don't count just because someone else is doing better. But you know what," I took a deep breath and stared at the shining full moon, "As long as we do something, as long as we add something to the bucket, it already weighs something. You know what, 9.5 isn't 10."

I chuckled when I remembered my professor who had his blood pressure went up to the sky after students rushed to his office to complain about their grade. He said that no matter what we do, 74.5 isn't equal to 75.

"In the real world, tiny things mean a lot. It can even save your life, future, and even a kingdom. So," I smiled at him, Prince Arias was staring at me with wide eyes full of surprise, I guess my message reached him, "Just do what you can, but do it in your best performance. Do it every day as if it's the last thing you can do. Never degrade yourself just because someone else is better."