Why Let Her Suffer For Three Years?
A week before the beginning of school, Amber received a call from school that she is to come and finish up some paper works for being the top scholar of the Computer Science Department.
"Oh, there is such a thing in University A?" Hayley was baffled by the news brought to them by Amber.
They haven't heard of such a thing, they only knew that the school would contact the students who passed the scholarship to inform them that they are to attend class. Hayley and Alissa both received such call. Only Amber was different for she had to go there herself.
"But maybe there is for the top scorer, we never really heard about them anyway," Alissa concluded.
"In any case, I shall be going out for a bit. Please do inform aunt Elloise," Amber said.
She had become accustomed to this family for the past month that she had stayed here. She could call them a family friend already. But the two sides still have reserves towards each other.
On the other side, Ashton have a different look than usual. He was always calm and indifferent but currently he looks like someone who has a storm churning up inside him. And a question that kept repeating ever since he obtained the information he needed: 'Why let her suffer three years?'
A knock soon came and he gave a response to allow the guest to enter.
Amber entered, when she was taking the exam she wanted to roam the whole building but the last floor was off limits. She just found out today that the reason was because it was the student council president's office.
Hearing that the one who called her was the student council president, she had the idea that it must be because of her proposal. After that day, the two of them never bothered each other again.
"It's you," upon seeing a familiar face she couldn't help but say. It was the man who was staring at her back in the gazebo.
Hearing her words he first furrowed his brows before remembering that she had indeed seen his face back then.
"Take a sit."
Amber was the one who furrowed her brows this time. His attitude was a few degrees different compared to the call. Nonetheless she still took a sit. Ashton sat opposite her and looked at her intently.
"Uhmmm... Aren't I here to sign some papers regarding my scholarship?" after a few minutes that nothing was happening she decided to ask instead.
"3 years," was Ashton's first words.
She titled her head, what of it? Why the sudden number of years?
"Are you aware of a 3 year promise that is to be done in this country?"
~"Amber once this business promise is over, we will have a much better life."~
Her mother's words resounded in her mind. Then the scene of three years ago appeared within her.
(Flashback)
Three years ago in Ceres Country. This country was reigned over by the Wright Empire, one of the royals.
A 13 year old Amber was looking outside the car watching her parents talking to another couple who has a 5 year old young girl with them. Her parents told her to stay in the car as they entered a restaurant garden that seemed to have been booked in advance for no other customers were present.
After another hour, her parents returned to the car and they moved away.
"Mom, what did you talk about?"
"Oh about medicine. We negotiated with them about a medicine," her mother replied.
"You gave them medicine?" she asked curiously as she looked at her mother in the rear mirror.
"No, but we will give them once you become better. We will give it to them at Star country," her mother replied ambiguously.
Though confused, she just passed it off as something for the future not thinking too much about it.
(End Of Flashback)
And when she was brought here, she finally understood what medicine her parents are talking about. The little girl's face flashed through her mind once again. She has jet black hair and dark brown eyes.
Upon remembering the girl's look she looked back at the man infront of her. Looking at his facial features, she found some similarities to the two of them.
'So he must be her elder brother of some sort and he is here instead of the parents to fulfill the promise?'
Seeing as she was not speaking but that she had some reaction to the 3 year promise, he assumed that all his speculations were correct and that this teen is the one to fulfill that promise.
"You came to this country with your parents, where are they?" he asked straightforwardly despite already having an idea to where they might be.
Upon the mention of her parents, the dim light within Amber's eyes disappeared once again.
'That's right, the reason why we came here was because of that promise. So should I also blame them for my parent's death?'
At her thought she couldn't help but to have a bitter smile, 'I can't, we have been in the run for so long already. We would only have peace for a bit then the next moment we have to run around once again.
The bitter smile she gave actually startled him. In reality, he didn't thought of the worst possible scenario. He could only think that they were already abducted.
He knew the payment for the medicine after all. It was the protection of their family for her family.
"So instead of Ashton Harris, should I address you as Ashton Wright?" Amber reined in all her wondering thoughts and finally spoke.
The laid back girl who appeared a while ago disappeared. She leaned back but the way she sat down exudes one of elegance and coldness.
Star country was actually one of the countries under the Wright empire.
Wright, Hughes, Cooper, Carter and Price. The five Royal families of the world, reigning over their own major country and having some minor countries under them as well. The countries were Ceres, Kuiper, Cruithne, Achernar and Apophis respectively.
Each has three minor countries under them. Wright has the Star, Milky and Comet. Hughes has the Aster, Giant and Helios. Cooper has the Oort, Meteoroid and Meteor. Carter has the Dwarf, Moon and Ring. Finally Price has the Sun, Eris and Vulcan.
All these countries are surrounding the major five, while these major five are surrounding anotehr country known as Celestial country where most of the affluent families would usually come for vacation or when there are major business biddings.
Amber have heard just as they arrive at Star country that they will be meeting a family with the last name Wright. A family with Wright as their last name was only one, the same with the other royals.
Though known as Royals, they weren't titled as kings or queens or princes or princesses. They just have the majority of the businesses within the said countries under them. They were known as tycoons and such.
"Should I say that I am lucky to be meeting one of the descendants of a royal family?" she asked indifferently.
Yes she was a curious one but that is just one side of her, another side was a cold indifferent person. The personality that came out after their family have been chased around for so long. She couldn't trust anyone who approached them.
Her family of three were well off, both her parents became doctors. And their home was situated at Moon country. Half way around the world from where they were running away from.
And because this country was under another country, they can somehow live as peaceful as possible. But their enemies are just waiting in the shadows in order to subdue them. Something her parents completely forgot once they reached the three year promise.
"How sure are you that I am a Wright?" Ashton asked with narrow eyes. He could just be a messenger or such.
"Your parents met my parents themselves, together with them was your younger sister. Looking back, all of you have similarities. With that you can put two and two together."
Their surrounding turned colder. His parents never mentioned anything about them meeting the daughter of the couple who approached them back then.
"*sigh* No matter how much you try and intimidate me with that coldness of yours, it won't affect me so just drop it," Amber said as she look him straight in the eyes.
Despite him maintaining his look, Ashton was shock by how her eyes didn't even waver by his coldness that even his subordinates would cower from. He was young indeed but his environment allowed him to have an attitude that shows power and he grew up being trained to remain as aloof and indifferent as possible towards the people around him.
"Then let me ask you a question, why did you have to wait for another three years to give us the medicine? Is it because it was still incomplete?"