The Woman of Mystery

"Are you alright?" The young woman asked.

She tilted her head. The hand on her mouth dropped a bit. The young man before her had gone pale. He also seemed scared out of his wits. She lifted a foot… then, hesitated. Would it be okay to approach him?

Tylen forgot what air was. His hands and feet began to tingle. His mind had gone blank. If it hadn't been for the warm light, he would have suspected that he looked at a ghost.

"Sir?" She spoke again.

This time she slowly climbed a step, keeping her eyes on his face.

When he didn't react, she continued onwards until she stood next to him. His sapphire eyes followed her movements, as if afraid she'd disappear. The young woman blushed under the scrutinizing gaze. She'd never seen a pair that burned intensely at her. She didn't know what to make of it.

"Please respond." The young woman whispered, her head bowed. She tucked a stray hair behind her ear, "If you'd like, you can rest at the top. It's not much but you seem to need it."

"Um…" The Prince gasped. His chest began to rise up and down again. He gulped the lump down his throat, "What's your name?"

The young woman blinked in surprise, raising her eyebrows. She bit her bottom lip and avoided his stare. Would it be okay to answer him? She gave him the side-eye through her fringes. The flare in his eyes had been replaced by strong curiosity.

It probably couldn't hurt.

"It's Aria."

===

Tylen couldn't recall how he ended up at the top of the tower.

He sat on the floor, his legs tucked underneath him. The place had the same built as the first tower. What made it contrast with the other was the cleanliness. If the previous tower had cobwebs and dust, he found none of that here. Every furniture, every trinket and every object had been thoroughly taken care of.

The window had no board up. Instead it had its own wooden covers. They stood ajar, letting the morning sun inside. The sound of pouring water caught his attention. He looked away from the sky and towards the corner across from him.

Aria positioned herself with her back towards him. She wore a warm brown dress. It had no filling or more layers. The hem contained a few cuts. Her worn out black shoes peeked underneath.

The color of her clothing enhanced the shine of her bronze hair.

Clothes aside, her physical condition seemed healthy but too thin. Her skin had its natural glow like her hair. Something not easily achieved if she stayed in this tower her whole life.

The Prince cleared his throat, "Pardon my intrusion."

The young woman's back stiffened. She almost spilled the fresh water from the jar. Each moment he talked startled her. Most of the time, his quiet demeanor compared to an empty pit—unmoving and empty. It made her on edge.

"It's quite alright." Aria replied. She placed the jar down and grabbed the wooden cup of water. Turning around, she walked in his direction. She sat an arm away from him and handed over the drink, "Please, you must be thirsty for travelling this far. It's fresh from the river. I collected it earlier."

"Thank you." Tylen accepted her offer. He discovered how parched his mouth felt after he drank the water. It tasted rich and cool, "Refreshing."

"I'm happy it's to your liking."

The Prince rubbed his temple. The blood in his head must have rushed back up too quickly. The drink helped him be at ease, waking him from a daze. The woman said her name was Aria, correct? She seemed to be a little out of place in this forest.

He glanced at her, the sun rays glistening behind her. Her hair gleamed like new coins. The hazel color of her eyes appeared soft in this lighting. She clearly was a beauty in this hollow forest. What would a girl like her be in this place?

"I should apologize again." Tylen began to say, "But… may I know why you're in this tower?"

Aria's eyes turned into fear. She pressed her lips together. Worry lines materialized on her forehead, "Are you a knight from the Sol Palace?"

It was the Prince's turn to be astonished.

"I know this tower is the property of the monarchy. I'm sorry for using it without permission."

Her uneasiness now made sense. These towers did belong to the Royalty. Only the commanders of their troops could make use of them even without needing the Crown's permission—only to inform them. None of the parliament nor the nobles could do what she did. She must have thought he'd kick her out.

Tylen shook his head, "Your secret is safe. I do want to know why you're in this tower. A lady like you should be in the town. This is not a suitable home."

Aria smiled sheepishly, "I do have a residence in a nearby town. I am just fond of this tower. I've grown attached to it."

"May I know the reason why?"

Deafening silence fell into the room. The only sound came from the wind rattling the window covers. The young woman gazed at the floor. She played with her hands on her lap. Her voice dropped to a whisper as she recalled her past.

"This tower has a caretaker. She only came once a week. Her son loved this place and wanted to be knight and guard Aurae Kingdom from here. When he became old enough, he had left to train and his mother wanted to keep this tower clean for him to claim one day."

Aria took a deep breath. She exhaled gently, "I was only a child when she found me here. I woke up and had no memory of how I got here. My head and my body were in so much pain. I could barely move. I quivered on this floor, nowhere to go. She brought me to the town and searched for a doctor. He could only cure the pain but he warned us that I've been cursed—destined to die young."

Tylen leaned forward, entrapped by her narrative. None of his other muscles moved an inch.

"He didn't mean to let me hear the latter part. He thought I was asleep. Since then, I stayed by the caretaker's side. I'd go to this tower with her and have met her son. Sometimes I live here for a bit when I'm in need of some solitude."

"Is one of those times now?"

The young woman chuckled under her breath. She peeked at his face, "It is. The doctor's words haunt me. Another year would pass. Then I wonder, how young did he mean? I come to this tower out of gratitude for what it gave me. It's my sanctuary."

The Prince fell at a loss for words. He didn't know where to start. One by one, the pieces fit like a puzzle. Yet, something inside him said to be cautious. Somehow he doubted things would be this easy.

Since when did he think like that?

Didn't he long for answers as soon as possible?

What held him back now?

"Then, I am grateful for your invitation to such a precious place." He settled as an answer.

Aria grinned, touched by his thoughts. She stood up and brushed the front of her skirt. The buttons of her bodice skewed, a sign that it was too small. Her sleeves also seemed to stretch the fabric, "You are welcome to stay as long as you like but I do have some chores."

Despite his hesitation, Tylen didn't leave. His mind flipped and turned for anything that could help him relieve his confusion and questions. He helped around the tower, asking anything that came to his mind. He avoided any mention about the Royal Family, afraid that it might scare her off.

If she remembered something of it, she wouldn't have chosen to distance herself without reason.

The Prince forced his mind to work double time. The curiosity gradually ate him up. His sanity threatened to go to the edge. He really needed to be more patient. His lack of it had already caused him to be in various troubles.

"Is something wrong?"

Tylen whirled from the window, a rag in hand. He found Aria at the center, a broom in her hand. She had tied up her hair into a bun. A white bandana swept her fringes away. She seemed more youthful in this look.

She raised an eyebrow, waiting for his response.

"Yeah…" The Prince nodded. He scratched the back of his neck, "Everything's fine."

"Alright." Aria went back to sweeping. The bristles scrapped the floor, creating a scratching sound. She turned around and checked for areas she missed. The top button at the back of her dress remained open, revealing her shoulder blades. A string of fabric dangled from the neckline.

The rag fell off Tylen's hand. His knees buckled and he held on the windowsill for support.

His sense of sight must be deceiving him. Shaking his head, his lips turned blue… but he couldn't look away. A spot of tan skin contrasted against Aria's fair complexion. It stood out between the opened back portion of her clothing. It attracted him like a bee to pollen on a flower.

He knew that mark.