ORDINARY VISAGE - 20

I decided to run away from the palace. This time I had nothing with me except the knife, the flashlight and the bag of coins I stole. Kaltain doesn't come to see me anymore, maybe it's true that the man left for two months and left me alone. I cannot stand idly by and rely on Kaltain who is less trustworthy. Exactly at twelve o'clock when everyone was almost asleep, I sneaked into the door of the soldiers' headquarters which led directly to the old bridge to the west of the palace. There were two guards standing at the door. One of them was asleep clutching his gun while the other was leaning back and lost in thought. In the dim light, I hid myself behind a beer case while watching, thinking hard about how to distract the two guards. I stretched out the map I found in the palace's public library, guessing which way to take, in case something unexpected happened. Suddenly I saw a gun on the table, not far from the beer box. At two o'clock there is a thin iron vat for filling water close to the palace kitchen. I didn't want to make a scene in the middle of the night by shooting the gun at the iron barrel, because that wasn't my intention. As a result, I pocketed the gun and threw a rock making a fairly loud noise. The two guards in front of the door immediately ran to find the source of the sound, I took advantage of that to approach the door on either side of which was lit by a lantern, then quickly opened the door and left. When I came out, sure enough. In front of me stretched a long and old bridge, there was moss growing between the rocks. I approached the bridge and turned on the flashlight I'd taken from Shiloh's wet bag. The smell of earth wafted in the first time I stepped on the bridge. Most likely this bridge is only traversed by the soldiers of the palace. I tightly gripped the hilt of my knife as I entered the misty region. The scentless smoke enveloped me, distracting my vision. I kept walking forward slowly, until finally my feet stepped on the grass. I looked back, could see the mighty peak of the Palace. I stepped back, entered the forest overgrown by trees with large branches. Almost all trees have yellowish green leaves, I don't know why. I walked as slowly as I could, not wanting to make a sound because I suddenly remembered being chased by creepers in the wilderness with the Amyas herd. I kept walking, until I found three paths that I had to choose. I hate to run into facts where I have to choose, but the middle ground is the brightest place, for there are several candles lit along the way, as if made to guide. I wondered who had lit the candles, until finally I arrived at a yellow tree that was twice as big as any other tree, towering straight and firmly above the ground. I remember this tree. This tree was one I had seen in the Amyas area, Aqua had shown it to me. But why is it here? Even the carved door attached to the tree trunk was exactly the same. I stopped walking, feeling something was wrong, but it would be a foolish decision to turn back and grapple with the soldier guarding the door. I couldn't help but enter the door, holding my breath maybe I was immediately attacked by a lion or something, but I just found the same place as last time. Inside this room, there are ancient and antique items which are given a yellow light. Not forgetting that there is a door to outer space, well, I remember being invited by Aqua to enter it. I rushed up the stairs, gently pushing the door above me, but what I guessed was wrong. I squint my eyes as the sunlight hits me. Now I'm in a forest of red slender trees where I can smell the very sweet smell of vanilla. I went back inside to be sure, saw Samu's dark sky, then peeked back at the bright sky behind the door. I stepped outside, intending to look around, but a soft, smooth voice made me freeze.

"Nice to see you again, Your Majesty."

A emaciated cat I once poisoned spoke. He was quite fat unlike before. I stepped back, until the cat changed its form into a tall, red-eyed man with short shoulder-length hair. He smiled, but I pointed the knife and gun in both hands.

The man across from me waved, saying over and over that he didn't want to harm me, but I threw several shots which he managed to dodge. I cleared my throat. "Who are you?!"

"I belong to you, Your Majesty."

I shuddered. "I am not Your Majesty!"

The boy chuckled, probably pleased to see me scared. "It has been many years, Your Majesty. I was waiting for you to come." The man drew closer to me. I avoided his bloodshot eyes that made me cringe. "I didn't expect you to come back."

"Crazy," I said. Ignoring what he said, I tried to find out what this place was, but the cat-human followed me. I was once scratched by this cat, of course I should not be tricked. Moreover, at that time this cat was close to Amyas who had red eyes too. Most likely Amyas descended from cats too.

"Honourable-"

"Shut up!" I snapped. "Don't make me more dizzy by calling me Your Highness! I am nothing!"

"But you do own it all."

I don't know how to react. I leaned against the tree limply. "Then why am I the owner of all this? I don't even know you, you idiot cat."

The man was unmoved, maybe irritated I said an idiot. "It seems that it's true, His Majesty doesn't know anything about me, not even himself."

"I just remember popping some ginger candy," I said, "and you scratching me."

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. It was an accident."

"Don't think of me as Your Majesty," I said. The man spoke again. "I can't do that, I—"

"I told you I don't know you. You are nothing to me."

The man was silent. He glared at me. "That dream. His Majesty must have had that dream."

"Dream? What dream?"

I don't know what he was talking about, but the man put his hand on my forehead. "Forgive me, Your Majesty."

Suddenly the dream was in a white place and the red petaled flower with the key immediately popped back up, as if dug out of my memory. A burning feeling filled my chest, similar to the sensation from the failed North Goddess awakening that time. I suddenly pushed the man until he fell, while I held my chest.

"Don't you ever touch me again," I muttered, coughing. I covered my mouth with one hand, but suddenly blood filled my palm. My heart ached. "What are you doing to me?"

"Your Majesty, I—"

I couldn't stand to hear what he was saying anymore, because suddenly my eyes felt heavy. I am nobody anywhere, and do not want to be anything. Being Caviar Barnaby is a blessing to me, but not everyone knows. []