Enter the Castle. Ch.34

*Kannavis POV*

The morning after the Academy's festival ended, a golden letter from the Imperial Palace arrived at my doorstep.

"A banquet?…The three great houses' respesentatives are all invited too." I said worryingly. Such a letter arrived at such a moment reminded me of a scenario that might cause some trouble.. but I don't understand, I thought that this will happen later on in the world? Then will that thing happen too?

I deeply sighed and threw the letter to the cabinet- "haaa.. I have a bad feeling about this.."

*Prob!*

Huh? Something dropped? Between the corner of the bed and the cabinet, I saw something shiny shimmering from under, so I went to check. On the couch, Ichi was napping, but as I got closer to the narrowed corner, he started hissing and growling at my direction. Huh this had never happened before.

"Don't go there.." A graspy voice came from that corner, sending me a fright away.

This voice?!.. It's the crow… I pinched my cheek and checked out the window. It's still sunny out there and I'm in pain. This is definitely not a dream.

I lodged down under to see the letter dropped next to the totem. I haven't mentioned this before, but during the period after the welcoming party, I've had strange dreams, and woken up with blood that does not belong to me all over my body… These occurrences... it's getting out of hand.

"..What do you mean?"I asked while picking the totem up.

"… You're changing.. if they were to found out, you'll be in danger." The crow said. Its words irritated me.

"Tsk!! You're making no sense! What's happening to me and what are these strange visions?!" I yelled.

"..Like you wanted, I gave you the power to grow stronger.. in time, you'll get everything you've ever desired. Visions are of nothing you should concerned yourself off." The crow said.

"… What are you?" I asked the crow. Its words terrified me, how could such a being be this powerful to grant other such odd gifts. It does so while I am unaware of my actions too.. it's dangerous.

There was a moment a silent before it replied back to me.

"You'll learn to know of me… after all, you and I are the same. Because we're one, I am telling you.. do not go to that place."

"Ha! Yeah, sounds vaguely right. I'm not going to trust a guy who made me have strange dreams and committed homocide in my sleep which I hope that is not true of why I've woke up all bloody each time." I said mocking the crow, throwing back over the counter top while walking over to my closet.

"..Wyvern, Minotaur, Kelpie, Raiju." The crow spoke.

"…What?" I turned over to look, horrified of what I just heard.

"It was a bit of a miscalculation to let you ate the wyvern first, but oh well that happens. It did help you hunt down those beasts after all." The crow said bluntly.

What nonsense is that thing spouting? I ate what? Wait- Mrs. Gras told me the other day that a few animals in the ranch and in captive have been missing with trails of blood out around the dormitory. We were told to stay alert about this as there might be a dangerous predator lurking out..

"… Hah! you're joking right? How does someone as weak as me even killed anything?" I said nervously. Is that what's happening? It can't be, right?

"Hmm.. why don't you find out?" The crow said.

Huh what is it saying? How do I even figure out anything about this?

"..Right I take back what I say. Go to the palace, and bring us along with you." The crow continued.

"Us?" I confusedly asked.

"The medallion..." The crow said.

For a moment, I was puzzled, but I quickly remembered what he's trying to say. I opened the cabinet and that crow silver medallion was indeed presence in there.

No answers were given to me. Earlier, it warned me not to go to this banquet, but now it insists that I must take it along with me.. what a bunch of bull craps this is.

I got ready, wearing a blouse and black skirt with high boots. I attached the totem to a silver chains, wearing it as necklace, whereas the medallion, I used it as a pin on my bow tie.

"Right, all set.." I said.

At the entrance, I saw a carriage waiting at the gate. There's seem to be a figure waiting in the carriage.. As soon as that figure noticed me, they slammed the door opened and made their way towards me angrily.

"KANNA!!" A tall figure wearing a deep blue attire yelled at me, his eyes were furiously bright yellow, and veins were popping on his forehead.

"Oh brother! Aren't you happy to see me~" I said jokingly.

"HAPPY?! There's nothing to be happy about THIS?! IT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE ACADEMY YEAR AND YOU'VE ALREADY CAUSED SUCH A HEADACHE AGAIN!!!" Galium yelled at my face.

"Ugh.. I am getting a headache from hearing this. Let's go, we're going to be late because of you." I said while brushing him off, walking to the carriage.

"Wha- Yo-you little-!!" Galium was fuming red behind.

*Click, Clack, Click, Clack*

On the carriage, I sat while trying my best to look out the window across from Galium who sat with his arms crossed, staring at me profusely… his eyesight's going to burn right into my skull at this point…

"Can you cut it out?" I asked while still trying to avoid his angry gaze out.

"Tell me… why did you break off your engagement? You wanted his highness's hand in marriage and we gladly arranged it for you. So what is this? Is this some kind of farce to you?" Galium asked me.

"..Haa.. This isn't a farce, okay? I'm serious. If I didn't break it off, his highness was going to do it anyway. I can try to go along with it, but It's only a matter of time before I will be casted away from his highness's grace. Nothing will ever be great with a loveless marriage, let alone a forceful one." I replied.

Galium looked a bit shocked by my answer. In his mind, Galium would probably have doubted me, thinking that I am trying to scheme something again.

He untangled his arms, relaxing one on the seat and the other slicking back his hair, letting out a deep sighed- "…You're a wild brat, you know that? Your resolution to these type of thing sucks. That's a questionable way to end your relationship, but it seemed that you're more aware of your own feelings and others as well… I condoned you for that"

I looked at him and smiled- "See? Aren't I making you proud?"

Galium wasn't fazed by my words at all, and in contrast, scoffed at me-

"Yeah right, the only thing you did is spare his poor highness from your crazy grasp, and I haven't even mentioned how you got your pitiful self disqualified from the tournament too. Huu.. I don't need to say this any further, father will handle your madness when we get there."

"Wait- father's attending as well?" I asked Galium.

"He is and he's pissed, alright. The whole colosseum are fighting to get one of our insignias, but our own daughter of the house isn't even qualified for the match… making a fool out of yourself wasn't enough, now you're dragging your family along.." Galium said with a disgust look on his face.

"Well it's nothing new from me, is it? Always a misfortune for this SO called great family… if I'm being such a burden to you all, why not just get rid of me? That will solve all your issues." I said mockingly.

His eyes twitched as I said that, but he didn't try to continue that conversation any longer. Perhaps, he thought that it was getting too heated, so there was no point continuing this at all.

It was an awkward ride to the palace. Being here in Kannavis's body made me realize just how lucky I was having a loving family in my world. Eventhough we weren't rich or anything, but we were happy together. We didn't have a mansion nor gold so much so that could suffocate us, all we had was a forty square meter apartment, a shared bed room and each other. I know that I grew up feeling loved and full filled, but Kannavis… for her, this house is nothing but a broken home… can there be love for such a villainess?

As we arrived, we were met with huge towers, hovering over each other, connecting by flying buttresses, fortified by tall, thick brick walls, that were surrounded by water ways that flow through the Helio citiy. We crossed a stone build bridge, passing through a huge gateway. Inside we were greeted with a huge fountain with two floors and a lion stone at the top, facing out. At the center, the main castle was build in with small arch windows all over and surrounded by slim, pointy towers and each were topped by the flag of Lilium kingdom. This world's beauty always put me in awed, truly…

After we got off the carriage, we entered through the primary door ways. They were thinned but huge and graceful slabs with complex patterns, letting us through to witness the gigantic hall, with ribbed vault ceilings, lightly supported by fancy piers, grounded with textured tiles floor and at the end, leading to the other side with bifurcated staircase.

"Miss Kannavis?" A voice called out to me. A sound that lighted up my face red and got my eyes wondering everywhere through this castle.

"Irene.." I said as I spotted her at the right hallway corner. She too had a pleasant expression when our eyes met, but behind her seemed to be someone unpleasant strolling along as well.

"And your highness." I said as I greeted his highness Cercis.

"Greetings your highness, and nice to see you again, Irene." Galium said as he walked past me to greet Cercis, then kissing Irene's hand as he greeted her.

Cercis looked undeniably agitated by Galium gesture… haaa here we go again.