In the palace

Am I dead?

I can't move my limbs and all I can see is total darkness. Where am I? Definitely not in heaven considering how dark this place is. But is this hell? I was under the impression that it should be scorching but why do I feel cold?

You are not yet dead, my lady.

Wait. Raja? Is that you? Why do I feel like I'm paralyzed? Or am I unconscious and since our souls are linked, that is why we can still talk?

Indeed. After you threw fire balls to the rogue, your body weakened. Must be because you were not ready to produce such attack yet. Once you've mastered your ability, your body will no longer hold you back from your capibilities.

I don't care about the ability thing. All I'm concerned of is if I'm still alive or not. I don't even know how that happened to me. Did the rogue died? Or did he attacked again?

That attack isn't enough to kill a full blown male werewolf, let alone a rogue. But that was enough to evenly injure him. Such a luck that he ran before Demitri arrived on the scene. That mongrel would have been dead by now.

Demitri? Why is he suddenly involved here? I don't remember anything that he was there.

Yes, you heard it right. Demitri arrived and thanks to him you're still alive until now. You were severely injured and without him, you could have been lying to that could ground until now.

So where am I exactly?

Solterra's palace.

What? I swear, if I was only conscious, I could have screamed that aloud.

Indeed.

What I am doing here? This is insanity! How could he bring me here!

I see no wrong in that, though. He just wants to help. Such a gentleman, isn't he?

Don't you get what I'm worried about, Raja? The palace is not an easy place. It where most crucial things in a kingdom happens and I've seen that first hand when I was still in Eravia.

I get what you mean. But can you also see my point here? Demitri—Prince Ares, or whoever he is, he didn't bring you here to involve you in those crucial affairs you're afraid of. He brought you here because their palace has the best healers, which I owe to him, because that is the reason why you are still breathing.

I couldn't say anything.

"Why isn't she waking up yet? Are you sure you did the right thing?" I heard Demtri's low and cold voice. It was far from the hard yet somehow sweet tone he used when we were dancing.

"S-She has fully recovered, Your Highness. You have nothing to worry about for she will regain consciousness anytime soon," said by another voice I'm not familiar with. Must be one of the healers.

Their conversation was then put to an end when I shifted a bit and slowly opened my eyes. Looking at the grand ceiling, there was no doubt, I was indeed in Solterra's palace, lying in a huge bed, with more or less ten pairs of eyes—including Demitri's—staring at me.

"You may take your leave," Demitri ordered the group of healers.

I could only imagine the center of the gossip in the palace today: a lady commoner was rushed by the crown prince himself to the palace and called for about a dozen of healers to attend to her. Could there be something worse than that?

"Do you feel all right? Tell me if you're hurting anywhere so I can call the—"

"No," I cut him. "I'm completely fine."

He stepped closer to the king sized bed but left a safe distance as if he knew it would not please me if he got closer.

I rose and leaned on the headboard, my body still heavy, but overall I felt good.

"I owe you my life and I understand that you only wanted to help, but bringing me in the palace is not a good idea, Dem—Prince Ares. And wait. Whose chamber is this?"

He cleared his throat and did not answer as if he knew saying it would not please me either.

"Don't tell me this is your chamber?" I asked, horrified.

"This is indeed my chamber, Ophelia. Anyway, do you want anything? Food, drinks, we all have—"

"Pardon for my aggessiveness, Your Highness, but I don't want anything of that. Thank you very much for the help but I'm leaving," I said as quick as I could and leaped out of the bed, but before I can step further, Demitri was quicker enough to catch me with his steel-like arms.

"You were calling me by my name last night and now you're addressing me as Your Highness? Seriously, Ophelia?"

I looked at him sharply, and as I spoke, my voice was low but lethal.

"I didn't call you by your name, Prince Ares. What rights do I have as a lowly commoner to disrespect the crown prince? I dare not do such a crime."

He smirked. My forehead creased. What is he amused of?

"My apologies if I didn't introduced myself appropriately."

"I dare not ask for an apology from the crown prince. Watch your words, Your Highness. If someone would hear you, I'd be beheaded."

"Let me introduce myself right this time," he ignored what I just said.

"I'm Prince Demitri Ares De'beuvor, the first born and crown prince of Solterra. Is my identity clear enough to you now?"

So he didn't give you a fake name, after all, Raja sided with Demitri again.

"Clear enough. Now, may I take my leave?"

He sighed. "Why don't take rest first? I have no doubt about our healers' abilities, but I suggest you to rest first. After you regained energy, I will send you off myself."

"I don't see that as a necessity. I may be a little weak as of now but I can walk. And, no need to send me off. You can just ask a servant to lead me out. Considering your status here, we both know it will not be good in your image if rumors goes around."

"So what? Why would I care about the rumors? My priority here is to make sure that you're well."

I looked at him with disbelief.

"Look. I understand that as the future ruler, you do care about your people. But in this case, I can handle myself better. No need to involved yourself in such small matters, Your Highness."

He shook his head, lips apart, as if I wasn't getting his point.

"I do care about my people, but how I care for you is different," he said and looked away.

"A king should see his people fairly. You should care for each of us—"

"You still don't get it, do you?" He cut me off, eyes intesely dominating.

I didn't answer because he was right. I can't see his point.

He waited but he didn't receive any response from me. At the end, he sighed.

"What exactly happened to you by the way? I followed you but when I arrived in the scene, you were already unconscious."

"A rogue werewolf attacked me."

Rogue werewolves are werewolves that were thrown out by their packs and kingdom. They are untamed, does not follow any kind's rules, and hunts anyone they want. They do harm to others without any vital reason.

Demitri suddenly looked critical.

"And? What happened?"

"I... I don't know. I don't remember anything after I was slammed on the wall," I lied.

I didn't want to go in detail on how I chased the rogue away with my ability. I'm still confused about the things I can do, so better keep it to myself first. Well, not exactly to myself since Raja is just around the corner of my mind, giving me no privacy at all.

Pardon if this ability of mine is giving you inconvenience, my lady.

See?

"Desribe the werewolf you saw, so if he is still around Solterra, I can order some men to hunt him down," Demitri's tone was lethal.

"Um, he is huge... black, his eyes were dark amber... I think closer to crimson red. That's all I can remember."

"Was there anyone around the place aside from you?"

"No. I was alone, I guess..."

"All right. Rest first. I'll be back shortly," he said and before I could react, he was already out of the chamber.

Contrary to what I said earlier that I can manage myself, I actually feel very weak. So intead of sneaking out, I just sat on the bed and recalled every detail of what happened.

Raja and I were talking about it when a three servants arrived with trays of different food and drinks.

"What are these?" I asked, lips apart. "Why are these so many?"

"His Highness ordered us to send all of these to you, Lady Ophelia."

"I can see that. But... all of these? He wants me to consume all of these?"

"Yes," the three said in unison.

I can't believe him!

We can share if you want, Raja tried to humor me.

"We were also told to get anything else you want if there is any."

"No, no! These are fine! Thank you."

"Let us know if you're done. We will just be waiting outside the chamber."

I nodded absentmindedly. I didn't know how to treat these servants because I wasn't use to getting served, it was always the other way around.

I heaved when my eyes drifted back the food and drinks in the wide table in front of me. Am I suppose to have a feast alone?

How I wish I could help you with that problem of yours, my lady.

I rolled my eyes and started eating shortly. I was actually hungry and the hunger just registered to me now.

And oh! I must be back in the tavern after this. Thiara must be worried about me now. I just disappeared last night and didn't go home. I could only imagine how much worry that brought her.

You will sneak out? Raja asked.

I would probably do that if I only has a map of this palace.

So? What are you planning to do? Wait for His Highness to come back?

Indeed.

Or I suppose you just want to be sent off by him?

Why would I? I can handle myself, thank you very much!

Ophelia, you really don't see the real thing, don't you?

What do you mean? What is it I don't see? Are you seeing something I can't?

The crown prince is fond of you. I think he is attracted with you.

I shook my head. What a nonsense that is! That's not possible. He is a prince, Raja. A crown prince to be specific. It would be such a shame for him to like someone as low as me. That is ridiculous.

Ridiculous in your part, maybe. But what about on his side? He didn't even think twice on bringing you in the palace, in his own private chamber, more importantly, he asked all the palace healers to attend to you.

I shook my head defiantly again.

Why would you put it that way? He saw an injured and unconscious lady, of course he would help anyone in that situation. That's it. Stop putting colors in everything, Raja.

Indeed, my lady. There was a low rumble. The sarcastic dragon is laughing.

It's my pleasure to humor you, I retorted with the same level of sarcasm.

After almost an hour, I finished eating, which doesn't mean I finished everything. I only consumed what I can. Thankfully, the servants didn't force me to eat all of it.

I was about to go back to the bed and wait till Demitri comes when the double doors flew wide open, and two familiar men went in, eyes were fixed at a certain direction at once.

I froze upon recognizing Prince David and Prince Martin.