CHAPTER 8

Too noisy, too crowded, too full of extravagance, things that went against Prince Aerus' mood. He hadn't come to the party, much less to a palace that reminded him of how his wife had not been helped. If he joins the party then it means he is happy over Lia's death.

His eyes hardened when he saw the dancers appear from a corner, waddling after hearing Lia's light welcome. Her crisp, same voice should have awakened Prince Aerus, but it didn't.

He often heard Lia's voice on many occasions. Some did come from girls who happened to have the same voice as his wife, the rest were just hallucinations. So this didn't impress him or perhaps surprise him.

"Where would you go? The party has just begun." One of the chiefs of the planet rebuked him when he saw him stand up from his chair. Looking confused and suspicious, the planetary ruler raised the glass in his hand and downed his drink after nervously seeing the cruelty in the prince's eyes.

"I don't like noise," Prince Aerus said simply, then snuck out very quickly out of the banquet hall, walking down the halls looking for a suitable place to be alone. Countless maids were passing by, making him look annoyed that he couldn't find a quiet, empty opening until he looked up and found a sturdy balcony. His feet slithered towards it.

He exhaled heavily as if he was being forced to support the two largest planets in the universe. His expression was chaotic, the pain that pierced through missing his wife. His gaze drifted off into the distance, at various angles to the Centraxus that made him sick. His hands were clenched into fists, ready to punch anything. Even if he was too crazy then he would destroy the Unirex palace with both hands.

"I'm in Centraxus," he whispered, feeling the wind against his face. "It's a shame I'm here again," he continued. "Would you be angry that I was here again when I made a promise on your grave that I would never come to this land again?"

The night wind seemed to whisper to him, pinching his face and waking him up for a few very short minutes. His eyelashes moved gently, as soft as his love tapping. "I miss you too," he hissed.

"Prince!" someone called out, in a voice that was both authoritative and confident.

Prince Aerus turned his head, briefly feeling his heart stop beating, thinking it was his wife's voice, even though it was true. So much hope welled up in his heart, entrenched in his mind, that it seemed as if it had sprouted so many root fibers that it was impossible to pull out. However, when he saw the figure, Lia, in front of him, who he thought was someone else, his face slowly became stern and cruel.

He didn't even answer Lia's reprimand at all. His eyes scanned Lia's appearance, squeaking when he saw the stick in her hand. Without another word, he left from where he was standing at the moment.

Disgusting, of course! Lia could hardly believe what she saw. Prince Aerus ignored her blatantly. Her chest rumbled, sending her to want to run and hug the prince from behind, until then she came to her senses and restrained herself.

"Wouldn't it be rude to just leave?" said Lia, suppressing her voice to remain solid. "You came to the banquet I did. You shouldn't have behaved like this, Prince."

"I just want to go back to the banquet hall," Prince Aerus curtly, almost walking again before finally stopping again after hearing Lia's words behind his back.

"You don't want to go back to the party hall, but you want to run away and hide somewhere else."

"The word hide seems a little off."

"Is that true?" Lia walked over to Prince Aerus, stood in front of him, raising an eyebrow. "Then what is the right word to describe what you are doing right now? Escape?"

"I just wanted to be alone because I don't like noise."

"I'm not sure that's your only reason." Lia tilted her head, looking into Prince Aerus' eyes. "Do you still hold a grudge against Centraxus?"

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, so are the rumors are not true?" Smiling sarcastically. "I heard you have a grudge against Centraxus because the previous king and queen refused to help you. Ah, rather they refuse to break the seal inside your wife's body. Is that true?"

"You have no right to ask that."

"Of course I have." Lia raised her hands like someone arrogant. "I am the current queen of Centraxus, and I have to make sure all the planets' relations with Centraxus run smoothly. I don't want any conflict, Prince. I hope you understand."

"Well I understand," nodded Prince Aerus modestly. "I will return to the party hall now."

Lia held Prince Aerus' chest, making the prince glare while jerking her hand quite hard. "So rude," said Lia. "I didn't even touch you. We just accidentally stuck together."

"I don't like being touched," said Prince Aerus, furious. "What do you want to talk about? If there's nothing important then I'll be right back in the party hall."

Lia hid a smile behind her veil, then approached Prince Aerus again, looking up to get a perfect look at her husband. "Do you still love your wife?"

Frowning, Prince Aerus looked offended by the question. So he immediately left because he thought their conversation was not important.

Not giving up, Lia held Prince Aerus back again. "Why do you still love someone dead? You should have forgotten about her." His eyes glanced sharply at the prince. "If I wanted to marry you for a business, would you accept my proposal?"

***