*

It has been three days since their last afternoon tea. Today, Athanasia was called again yet alone this time as Athanasé was to go for his sword lesson.

Claude has suggested to go ride a boat across the small lake inside the Palace. Athanasia was anxious inside because Athanashé was not with her, and Claude was being his grumpy self.

Then, that accident happen. Claude hasn't had a thought to save her. For him, it is good this way, it rids him the trouble to dispose her himself, his headache has been getting persistent ever since he met them.

As he watched condescendingly at her flaling about, head struggle to be above water, breaths choked up with water, a dam break loose in his head. Gruesome and agonizing memories flooded his mind, like a knife twisting inside his chest; sharp, aching, tearing him apart.

He took a deep, contemplative breath.

Her hand was flailing and legs kicking trying to keep herself afloat, and he watched numbly as she was drugged by the mystical plant.

His heart lurched again and he exhaled, trying to blow away the pinching inside his ribs.

Then he decided to save her.

*

Athanashé tapped his foot restlessly against the marble floor in their bedroom. Lilian slouched worriedly behind him. Brown eyes following the physician's every move.

"How did this happen to her? " Athanashé murmured dryly, his tone empty and flat. He was staring at the flushed blond intensely; his face stretched taut.

Lilian couldn't watched it clearly from afar, but she was sure the Emperor has stopped for a good ten seconds merely watching the Princess struggle as he menacingly rest his head on his hand like a slumbering beast. Only when the Princess nearly dragged down all the way did he fishes her up.

But she couldn't tell him that.

"The magical plant. " It was the easiest answer. The honest answer. "The Princess was enthralled with the lotus-like plant which have a mystical power to entrance people to get closer. She lean too much and fell, fortunately His Majesty save her before she could be dragged further down. "

"So, it isn't him? "

"Of course not, my Prince. " Lilian disagree. "His Majesty would never done that to his own children. "

"For him, this is all a game. Some flitting amusement he seek to fill his otherwise boring life. " Athanashé scoffed. "It's stupid. "

"His Majesty surely would like to get to know his children better. " Lilian insisted, frowning. "The Prince made it sound like His Majesty never would acknowledge his children. "

He looked away as his chest constricted.

Landmine.

"Yet it's true. " Athanashé whispered, unwanted memory flashing before his eyes.

Lilian's face contorted in real agony. "I would not comment on this further. I just hope you would give His Majesty the chance to prove himself if he is true to you and the Princess and make yourself whole again as a family. " She said, hoping that if he don't believe nothing else, he'd believe that.

After the physician was done with his examine, he carefully detailed Athanasia's condition to Lilian while Athanashé sat beside her on the edge of the bed.

He is gentle with her, combing her hair off her face and wiping her face and arms with damp towel given by Lilian, and makes sure she is comfortable before wrapping his arm around herself, legs tangling with hers.

She snuggled under the blanket, head resting on his shoulder, falling asleep with her mouth parted open. Athanashé wasn't sure what else he should do, so he held her tighter. At the sight of her sleeping, he felt her vulnerability, a twist in his stomach as he let his gaze wander slowly back down on her face as she blow a long breath out of her mouth. He felt her feverish warmth as it fused to his, creating a heat that seeped into his body to disappear into his bones.

*

In the dark vast room swarmed by moonlight, his form remained quiet. The voice of flower petals and leaves fluttering in the wind had become the only audible sound in this deathly silence. There was a longing sad emotion in his stare.

His breathe was faint and he was reluctance to leave the safety and solitude of the night. Because eventually the first morning rays would poke through the sky. There was fog in the air that hovered just above the mundane layers of earth, making the world seem ethereal and dreamlike.

Her form solidified beside him, legs afloat and untouching, but there was no warmth in her body, no beats on her heart.

He rose his hand slowly to caress her cheek but he held back before his fingertips could reach her. She looks fragile and vague, as if she could be blown by a measly flutter of the wind.

Yet as they both locked eyes, she sensed that he was determined to keep his emotions hidden.

"Among the samsara, I'm adamant in you through twists and turns. " She breathe out, eyes always so gentle and careful. "The moment I start falling for you, maybe it is destined for unhappy ending. Even if you forget me, I am still willing to be intoxicated by love. Like a moth to a flame, even if it burns me afterwards. I have no complaints nor regrets. "

He wanted this moment to be a dream, one where he would never have to wake up from, but those golden morning rays always brought more than just light to his world. They brought reality as well.

He whispered, "You shouldn't have left me. "

Without a warning, she fade away. Hazy figure cradled by the wind drifting to the sky.

He doesn't know how long he was out of it. Not that it mattered, except the fact that it was far too long. He woke up to the shining sun rays seeping through the window, glaring and more relentless than he had ever see before. Nonetheless, he was not ready to face reality just yet so he soothes himself back to sleep for another bunch of hours.

He could feel darkness creeping up on him; slowly, painlessly, peacefully. Everything in his chest becoming heavier; his breathing labored. He could feel a weight on his soul. And that feel strange. He thought he was completely empty. He thought he could no longer feel anymore.

Darkness was taking him without word, and he gladly sink himself into it.

*

Whenever Athanasia dreams, there is a part of her that wonders if it is even a dream or one of her memories. It is hard to distinguish, having transmigrated from different world, and it is frusrating to wake up every morning not knowing which is which.

This particular dawn, she dreams of Princess Athanasia in the exact same manner how The Lovely Princess novel describe her death. She dreams of the young woman skin turning pale as she falls, lifeless, with her jeweled blue eyes fading into nothingness.

She chokes back a sob, and realizes, with a painful accuracy, that it is not her sobbing as she lays on the bed with someone's arms around her.

She opens her eyes, the room still dark and thankfully, the soreness of her limbs had quite gone and the pounding on her head was not as intense anymore. In a moment of utter confusion, she finds herself trapped at his firm embrace.

Her mind numb with a realization of a strange yet familiar sensation of someone holding her like this, as if she is loved and adored and cared for.

She relaxes in his arms, feeling for his even breaths. He is dreaming, she could tell from his twitch and sudden tightness of his grasp, squeezing her against him.

She lifts her face in order to avoid being smothered against his chest, her face now pressed on the slope of his neck. Smelling his fresh, minty scent send a calming breeze through her mind.

In this new position, she could feel a tear slip from his cheeks and drop to her forehead. She squint one eye at him and stir from his embrace, one hand carefully cradling his face.

Athanashé jerks away from the touch. His body stiffen, and then he rises with his elbows and disentangling his limbs from hers.

He sits and leans on the headboard and sprawled the soft blanket over her body. His hands guide her gently, laying her head atop his lap as he sighs and make himself comfortable just by sitting in the darkness, staring sightlessly, fingers playing with her hair.

A yawn come from her as she nestles her head against the velvety fabric of his pants. She feels him move, the fingers on her head momentarily gone, and then return a few second afterward. She hears the flipping of pages and smiles against his lap.

"What are you reading?" She inquires sleepily, eyes closed.

"A West Unforeseeable Sea tale of their old warrior-king."

Her eyes snap open and she peers up at him. "West? West Unforeseeable Sea is a thing?"

"Of course," he flips into the next page, skimming through the handwritten words. "Unforeseeable Sea was an archipelagic country in north-west Harbsburg Continent. Some centuries ago, a large part of the West submerged under the sea, leaving the eastern islands untouched. Thus people began to call them East and West to differentiate the group of islands."

He glanced at her confused face and a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "It's all in first grade, Athy."

"Well," pouting, she stammered. "I wasn't informed about that."

She yawns again and smoothers her cheeks against the soft blanket. "Will you read to me more about that?"

"Perhaps next time," he leans down, lips on her hair and then he press a lingering kiss on her forehead. "It's still four in the morning. Go back to sleep, sissy."

To be continued.

U know what? I could do with some help. If any of u r interested to become a beta of this story, chat me soon😭

And the part where Diana say some sentences was abrupt, I know. I was listening on some Chinese songs and the meaning of that song was basically what I wrote, I don't have any other inspiration😭

I'm sorry for not updating, guys, stay safe and healthy and sexy. Muachh *smooch u*