12 A Frozen Heart

Lady Croff extended a bowl of green liquid towards Nesrin.

"This will help with the pain,"

"Ah-huh?"

She took the bowl with hesitation and looked at the liquid suspiciously. It didn't seem appetizing, moreover the stench of herbs was revolting.

"It's about time his highness arrives," Lady Croff turned towards the door, then she thought about something and leaned closer to Nesrin's ear.

Her voice dropped in a whisper as she continued.

"The potion will be bitter but remember to drink it completely. I was in Princess Lillian's service during her wedding night. His majesty can be too rough."

Nesrin turned into a deep shade of red, and then all colors drained off her face as she realized the depth of Lady Croff's words. She quickly downed the bowl's contents down her throat.

The taste made her want to throw up, but she controlled her urges.

Lady Croff gave an approving nod before striding out of the room.

Nesrin bit her lips.

The consummation of the wedding will be inevitable, this world was very different from hers and Izekiel was an emperor. A tyrannous emperor on the top of that, why would he care about her wishes?

But…

When she tried to think about her encounter with him after she came back to the temple this morning, a small spark of hope ignited inside her heart.

Maybe he will listen to her.

Earlier, he had smiled at her gently instead of being suspicious, Izekiel even asked about her health.

Nesrin threw some nervous glances at the closed doors of her room. Then she paced left and right, it was a beautiful dimly lit room which would have spellbound Nesrin if she was not worrying about the night that awaited her.

She sighed and finally stopped pacing.

Izekiel was late.

Maybe he changed his mind?

As these thoughts begin to ignite hope in her heart, a golden glow caught her eyes, Nesrin turned and saw a small bird flying outside her balcony. It carried an envelope in its beak.

It was a canary.

Nesrin curiously strode towards the balcony, and then her pace slowed down. Her steps became careful and when she reached the railing, she slowly lifted her finger.

The bird chirped happily and gently sat on her finger, it caused a soft smile to spread over her lips. Nesrin was fascinated by how beautiful and innocent it looked.

The bird titled its head and watched her with its big bright eyes.

"Oh! I am sorry,"

She extended her palm and took the envelope. The bird jumped from her finger and landed on her shoulder, it chirped while nestling on the curve of her neck. The dark brown locks of hairs seemed a bit too interesting to the bird.

Her heart felt giddy at the cheerful chirping of the canary.

Nesrin opened the envelope, there was a small piece of crystal along with a small parchment.

[The reward, splintered grace, has been received. <<store>>]

Nesrin clicked the 'store' option. The crystal levitated and burst into small shimmers of silver.

[Splintered grace has been added to the chest.]

[The character's affinity with wildlife has been increased.]

[New skill unlocked: The Nature's Breath.]

Nesrin remembered hearing the name of this crystal, but she couldn't quite recall it.

-what's this splintered grace, system?

[The splintered grace is a shattered piece from the orb of the ancient witch of wild. The orb is said to have controlled all forms of wildlife, the crystal increases wildlife empathy.]

The canary pecked gently at her neck.

Nesrin's face blushed from joy, she was having a sudden strong urge to keep the canary for herself. Her mother has never allowed her to keep any pets, despite Nesrin's fondness for them.

She lifted the parchment and opened it.

Her heart skipped a beat.

The canary screeched and flew away.

Izekiel has placed both of his hands on the railing, trapping her into an embrace from behind. Her heart was racing and her breaths almost forgot their way home. He was too close, an intoxicating scent of wine surrounded him.

"Could that be a love letter?"

Nesrin's hand shook a little and she quickly folded the letter back but Izekiel stopped her. His fingers brushed her hand as he took the parchment from her and read the two lines.

"'I hope her highness is doing well. We shall meet soon. -E'"

"Th-that's my friend, Ember." Nesrin quickly said, "Ember with an E."

"Let's invite that friend of yours in the palace sometime," the parchment was engulfed in flames and faded into nothingness.

"Ah-thanks! I will send hi-her a letter for sure." Nesrin chuckled to defuse the tension, "It's very late and you must be tired, let's go to bed now."

Izekiel leaned closer, Nesrin lifted her eyes in confusion and turned towards him as he removed a small golden feather from her hair. His gaze lifted from her hair and traveled to her lips, before meeting her eyes.

There was a depth and darkness in them that made Nesrin want to escape… but there was also a strange sort of compulsion in the way he looked at her.

"Princess Johanna is surely impatient."

Nesrin blinked her eyes obliviously.

He lifted her chin, she couldn't hold his gaze any more and averted her eyes while quickly saying,

"I-I didn't mean that!"

Izekiel paused when their lips were barely apart.

Nesrin's lashes flustered, and she licked her lips. He was too ethereal, and too intimidating.

"I am sorry, your majesty." Nesrin said, "I don't think I am ready for that."

Izekiel paused before placing a soft kiss on the corner of her lips.

Nesrin's heart was beating fast, she could not understand the foreign feelings that invaded her.

Izekiel's fingers clasped around her wrist and he took her inside the room, Nesrin was confused and nervous, but some of her uneasiness resided when he took her across the doors and onto the corridor.

"There is a place, I think you will like to see it," he said.

Nesrin touched the place where he had kissed, it felt warm. It was too warm, something strange that made her heart race like nothing before. She lifted her eyes and watched Izekiel as they walked across the corridor and he led her to some unknown place.

He seemed calm, Nesrin wondered if he was in a good mood.

After a while, they stopped in front of a giant crystal like ground. Ice and snow has spread over the vast area. It seemed like there was once a lake, but now it was frozen and illuminated under the shining moon.

Colors of night, blue and white have wrapped the scenery in a serene view.

It was a beautiful scene.

"Since it doesn't snow in Iyanora, this might please the princess." Izekiel said, his gaze was distant as he watched the horizon.

"...thanks."

Nesrin was never able to enjoy the snow or winters because during such times her mother was extra careful. She didn't want Nesrin to get sick and thus fall back on her studies.

So, this scene in front of her sent a spark of thrill inside her.

The only downfall of this situation was Nesrin's dress.

She was draped in a white thin gown, with a deep neckline and flowy sleeves. It was not meant to be worn outside in such weather.

"It is very beautiful," Nesrin rubbed her arms to ward of the cold, "Shall we go back now?"

"Have you ever seen snow lilies before?"

Izekiel ignored her words and stepped forward onto the ice lake. He picked up a broken snow lily. Nesrin leaned forward out of curiosity.

"They make very delicious wines." he inhaled the scent and glanced at Nesrin, "How about you bring a few of them for me?"

Nesrin blinked her eyes and watched the frozen lake with uncertainty. The cold has already chilled her, she didn't want to go out like this. There was some enchantment on the bricks around her that created a small warmth.

Izekiel lifted his hand and pointed towards the tree in the middle of the lake. He smiled but there was a strange darkness in his words as he continued.

"There are a lot of lilies there."

"But-"

"You should not delay."

Nesrin controlled her urge to shiver and hesitantly walked over the lake. As she walked further, something started to feel different below her feet. But she couldn't pinpoint it, for she had never been upon a frozen lake before.

Then there was a faint crack sound that made her pause.

"Keep walking," Izekiel told her.

Nesrin creased her brows together and slowly resumed walking. She bent to pluck one lily, then other, the cracking sound started to increase as she heard footsteps approach her.

It was making her very uncomfortable. When she had plucked around ten lilies, Nesrin smiled in relief and waved the flowers towards Izekiel.

"Well done" he nodded and returned her smile.

There was a loud sound, it all happened in a flash; too quick for Nesrin to comprehend. The ice beneath her feet cracked and a chill ran down her spine when the cold water hit her skin. But Izekiel's hand caught her in time.

Nesrin's breath was erratic as she gasped.

"Th-thanks…"

There was no emotion in Izekiel's eyes, he watched her as if she was nothing. Then he glanced at his hand that had saved her. He slowly uncurled his fingers, her wet hand slipped away from him easily.

Terror stabbed inside Nesrin's heart when she met his gaze for one last time before he stood up. Her voice was suffocated by the water and his gaze silenced any cries of help that can form. The freezing cold was claiming her body, she tried to fight it but her strength was leaving her too quickly.

Izekiel turned and walked away. His shadow slowly disappeared from her vision and with him left the light.