17 Chapter 17 - Flower (1)

Raiene could hear the sound of gulping down her own saliva, fear taken over her entire body. She clasps both of her hands and stares at his light purple orbs. At first she forgets the words she was about to say, drowning within a galaxy of wonders before she snaps to reality, she asks for forgiveness with sad and pleading words flowing through her lips.

"I'm truly sorry. It was my first time inside Qye after all," blinking her eyes in an effort to look innocent. She pursed her lips, hoping this will save her life.

"I didn't know that place is forbidden for outsiders, had I known I wouldn't even bathe inside that poisonous lake," Raiene took a step forward and grabbed his arm, she turned dumbfounded upon feeling the sturdy muscle underneath her palm, she blinked once again, "Please forgive me."

Her eyes turn wide as a pool of tears form on her eyes with quivering lips and trembling shoulders. This method had always worked on Crion, whenever Raiene did something wrong by accident, she would use this trick to make him unknowingly become guilty.

All throughout her life, she had been accused and blamed without plausible reason. No one ever bothered to hear her explanation or try to take her side, many would one-sidedly label her as the culprit without further investigation.

Overtime, Raiene finds it a waste of time and exhausting for her to explain herself, only by acting pitiful and begging would the other party withdraw and not bother to do something to her. They find it boring and a nuisance dealing with an immature child, even though this technique has only been used exclusively upon Crion eyes.

Who would have thought she would use it in front of a werewolf?

Peeking a glance through her black lashes, she was surprised to find him facing her without a single change in expression, his eyes had turned darker upon her words. He takes a step closer to her, eyes turning cold and his domineering stance advances forward, invading her personal space.

Startled, Raiene took a step backward. However, each step she took to decrease the distance, would only make him move closer. Her back had reached a sturdy tree, trapping her within his boundaries, her eyes glance around for an escape route in frantic movement, finding none and thin chance of being able to escape from the werewolf before him. She decided to lower her head in fear.

Ruby once said to her, in the presence of an angry werewolf, it is best to lower your head rather than provoking them further by staring straight at their eyes.

Raiene turned flabbergasted when he raised her head with his finger slightly moving her chin, his dark eyes staring deep into hers, as if searching in every nook of her soul a possible hidden secret.

I'm totally doomed!

His cold voice caused her to shiver, "Why are you here?"

Artha truly finds it suspicious, a witch who never steps inside the Land of Qye would be out in the forest hunting down animals. It is known among hunters not to use Qye's Royal territory to hunt and only few hunters with permission can hunt within the Kingdom of Qye's vicinity.

Judging her last attempt at taking down a deer, he could somehow rate her ability at hunting. Although, he did hear last time that she wanted an acknowledgement from someone, he still couldn't appease this tiny bit of suspicion on her.

Raiene shuddered under his scrutinising gaze, she felt scared, her entire life she never felt this type of feeling before. The only thing she is ever afraid of is inflicting pain on her mother.

Thus, the reason she chose to stay out of Arrenquile's palace matters and following each word the Officials had decreed on her in silence. She never fights back and demands for status or title, she doesn't want her mother to be punished on her behalf because of her reckless attitude.

So now, under his freezing stare, she could feel her heart erratic beating, mind turned fuzzed as words kept disappearing right before her lips, trying to calm down, she took a heavy breath and she mumbled her words slowly.

"I want to see the lantern festival," she bit her lips, sparkling amber eyes staring at mauve strong orbs, "My aunt, she lives at Black Hill," she noticed his gaze softened, but still directed at her.

"Yesterday, I wanted to prove a subordinate of my aunt, she is a hunter. I don't want her to see me as a nuisance."

He didn't say a word for a while, sweat trickling down her cheek. The temperature around her had increased by second, her mind was jumbled up in fear as her cheek turned red. She couldn't even notice his lips curling up into a slight smile, those who witnessed wouldn't ever believe that he is the Crown Prince of Suttern.

Artha never felt this way before, since the day The Queen fell asleep, he had turned into a different person. No one had ever come close, not even a single creature had the courage to stare into his eyes. Some noble princesses would try to seek his attention, many would choose to give up and scurried away.

Those who stayed, he could clearly see within their eyes, their desire for either power or wealth. This girl, the girl with rosy tender cheeks, slightly parted cherry lips and enchanted light brown eyes, however, had stared into his soul. Trying to seek within his wound, though scared, still able to gaze longer.

Artha turned around and moved away from her, he ignored the way his heart beats. He walked ahead, almost leaving her behind. She was confused and could only stand still in silence.

"Don't you need the antidote?"

His voice is heavy, stiff and cold. Strangely, Raiene is still able to trace warmth beneath those hard tones. She ignores her overrated judgement of him and follows his step, taking a few steps away from him. Still, she wasn't aware of her flushed cheeks.

Or the way her heart pleasantly palpitated.

• • ⊱∘────·☽༓☾·────∘⊰ • •

"You are a human," she whispered.

Although her voice was soft, the woman before her felt a chill through her spine, feeling small in front of her.

However, the sentences she had stated had long been known by her. So why hide it, she would be willing to sacrifice herself if that meant her child will continue to live. She bowed her head and lowered herself to show her affirmation and submission.

The mighty woman with soft blue eyes shifted her gaze to the child that she protectively cradled within her arms, a knowing smile stretched on her lips.

"But she will never be human."

• • ⊱∘────·☽༓☾·────∘⊰ • •

The first Daughter of Qye are known to be the most powerful one amongst other fairy. It is best to seek her, if you want something that couldn't easily be obtained.

Careful when you seek her help. To those who do, there's a price for each thing you ask for. Life is one of them.

However, it is up to her whether she can actually help or not.

-Excerpt from 'The Essential Book of Human Survival'.

Jonathan Lorth.