20 Chapter 20 - To the Eastern Empire

Ophelia had been busy packing her things for a while, she was almost done for there was not much things to pack. She had no others things to do when she finished her tasked and in a moment she found herself in front of the young lord's room.

'What are you trying to do Ophelia?'

'There's nothing wrong with visiting him like this right? I just want to make sure he's fine now'

(Knock, knock)

"Come in..."

Ophelia, slightly gave a nervous reaction at the sound of Icarus' voice that vibes in her ears. This had called her attention which summoned the unnecessary churn in her stomach as she entered. Icarus stared at her for a moment, and Ophelia felt her hot cheeks get wet warmer for a moment. He was about to take a shower.

'Why do I always enter at this timing?'

"Sit here, and wait for me..." he pats down on his bedside as he walked past her, entering the bath.

Without much hesitance, Ophelia sat in silence. She had calmed down slowly when Icarus entered his bath. In that moment she released herself and laid down on his bed, comforted by the young lord's soothing sent.

(Plop)

As she layed down on his bed, she allowed herself to be drowned with his scent –it smelled like a cool mint fabric conditioner had been spilled unto the mattress. Unknowingly, she had close her eyes and doze off to sleep.

~

"Hey...Ophelia...phelia"

Ophelia felt chills when a cold droplet fell unto her face. Right, the young lord is in his bath and it was a matter of time till he finished. Blinking her eyes like a butterfly flutters its wings, she could see those twilight eyes like the dawn so close to her.

Averting his gaze she looked at the ceiling in front, her cheeks getting hot again. Icarus always had this hobby of studying her face, though he didn't feel bothered at all. The young lady on the other hand felt a knot on her stomach as her heart started to beat loudly at the close proximity.

'....damn, how long is he gonna stare at me...'

"O.phel.ia..." he called out one last time, thinking that she wasn't fully awake.

"Y-yes?" she blurts out in response.

'....look at me Ophelia...'

He wanted to say that, but he felt that she must be uncomfortable at the moment and decided to just flash a profound smile at her. Ophelia slowly shifted her gaze back at him, trying to ignore the short distance between them. Was the young lord even aware at their position?

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Icarus blurted out of the blue as he felt like teasing her.

Ophelia didn't know how to respond to this, she felt embarrass for visiting him when it had dawned on her that she was going to see him later on when they head for the Eastern Empire.

'...I can't just say that I was worried about him....that I missed him...'

"I see, don't worry I'll guide you in the Palace...I'll be by your side, so there's no need to be scared." Icarus assumes that Ophelia had needed his advice, but this was just part of him teasing her as she seemed to be even more speechless and blushed harder at their distance.

"Umm, I, actually kind of wondered how you were doing, I'm glad you're in high spirits."

She responds nervously at him and allowed herself to be reflected in his eyes.

'Is he really fine now? I doubt it, I'm sure he needs to get out of the mansion first...does this mean he still have some hallucinations?' Ophelia fixated her eyes on him, partly nervous and scared, but she trusted the young lord won't do anything this time.

"So to speak, you were worried about me, yes?" Icarus grins at her, feeling satisfied with his remark.

"Y-yea" She hesitantly agrees as he let the gap between them widen and resumes to drying his hair.

"I'm glad you were thinking about me, because I missed you too." Icarus stated without a halt and spared her an affectionate gaze which Ophelia had never imagined to receive.

'...surely my ears are not fooling me right?'

"Ha?" She blurted out in response, feeling slightly embarrassed and stunned when she caught his gaze at her. There was no denying it, Ophelia certainly had a crush on him along the way, and it just seemed to grow even more now. Somehow, Icarus had gave off an unsettling mature aura around him. It felt like he knew her and saw through her.

'...Maybe his acting up again...what could he be up to now?'

"I wanted to see you as soon as I can..." he responded steadily with seriousness in his tone. They were just two feet apart and Ophelia had just notice he wasn't wearing his shirt yet.

'...gods, calm down Ophelia, this guy is not sane...'

"....do you see this?-" He intervenes for her to focus on him again and points at his bare neckline almost on his chest where an unnatural part of his flesh seemed to be torn apart, but it was barely visible with its scar.

'...How far does he want me to take this?'...

Ophelia had thought of endless possibilities what the young lord meant and how she was going to respond to this. Maybe she should just play along?

(Flick)

"...what are you thinking about?"

He flicks Ophelia with his finger on her forehead gently and smirked at her. With a touch of his hand, he reached out to Ophelia's right hand and allowed it to gently contact his scarred skin.

...'...Remember me Ophelia...'

His eyes screamed silently as he let Ophelia touch his bare skin.

Ophelia's fingers tingled at the sudden contact. Why is he doing this? She had always put her feelings for him in the back of her mind, always putting it away, afraid it might break Icarus and her in the process of surviving in the Marcias. Looking at his scar carefully, it looked barely noticeable in a certain distance. Ophelia certainly felt a weird sensation as she caresses his scar. Where did he get this?

"How...where did you get this?"

'But more importantly my lord, you're not making any sense. This is driving me insane'

At her question, Icarus turns his back on her not minding the studious expression Ophelia had on. Deep inside, he had felt his heart tinged in pain.

"Sorry, you can leave first, meet me by the lobby later." He changed the heavy aura with his few words and went back preparing. Ophelia had to leave now, there was no point in staying with him for it would make things awkward in this silence.

~

"That...impudent...no, get the hang of it Phelia...he must not be well' Ophelia was in the lobby, the first floor of the mansion, fuming with embarrassment from earlier. Her things that were packed were now slowly being transferred to the carriage, and like what Icarus had told her, she sat by the waiting lodge.

..'I don't think I can handle being alone with him...this, why am I feeling this way?'

Ophelia had been left hanging by the young lord as he had turned his back on her. She had only knew Icarus as the forsaken young lord who happened to be taken care by the same mother figure as hers. But why was Icarus acting all cheeky and mischievous like there was something between them that she wasn't aware of? And on the other hand, she had been battling herself inside with her dumbfounded crush on him.

'Back in the room, why did he look at me with such affectionate gaze?'

Like a longing, his expression had shown through vividly and was pictured on her mind. She didn't get the young lord at all.

'His just not yet in his right mind, this little game of his might disappear once we step out of this mansion.'

~

A moment later, Ophelia and the young lord –or rather the crown prince, had find themselves opposite to each other in the same royal carriage that would lead them to the Eastern Empire. Despite the refreshing breeze, Ophelia couldn't help but feel awkward in the shared silence.

"Ophelia..." he began.

'....what now?' she wondered and looked up to Icarus.

"....Don't leave my side...stay with me all the time, don't go anywhere without me"

He added before looking away at the blue jewels before him that were filled in confusion.

'...Is he serious? We're out of the mansion though...The Duke must have also told him about it... but hearing it from him, gosh, Ophelia stop misunderstanding...'

"I'll do just that...your highness" Ophelia with no other choice but to comply in mixed emotions.

(phh)"...That's right, it's 'your highness' from here on out " Icarus returned his gaze again to her sparkling irises.

'...So this is the real Icarus huh...this cheeky brat...but he seems to be happier...'

"Your highness, you seem to be brighter now, it's good to see you this way." Ophelia attempts to lighten up the mood.

"Is that so? I'm only like this when I'm with you though, please take care of me in the future" he smiles at her dazzlingly, he had been teasing her earlier, though he meant most of it but it was fun watching her reaction.

...'Did he eat something weird? We're out of the mansion now, so he should be fine.'

(Phh), the young lord burst out a sincere laugh at Ophelia...

"W-what is it?"

"Nothing...hahah...I should assure you by now, I'm not insane Ophelia." And with that, he flashed another heart-throbbing smile at Ophelia.

..'...how charming...' At this, Ophelia blushed and gently laid back defeated in her seat.

'Whatever...' She thought and smiled back at the young lord.

The two had wondered back into their own thoughts as the peaceful silence accompanied them on the way.