Chapter 28 – The “Whats and Whys”
Demian’s POV
”Thank you very much, King Symon, Queen Seana.” said Lady Stheno while curtsying in front of them.
“It’s our honor… Now please enter the portal before it completely closes.” said King Symon.
Upon entering the portal, we were greeted by those who were crying, namely Princess Lizette, Princess Ember, and Princess Shreya. When we got close to them, Stheno immediately asked them why they were crying.
“Ashleigh… S-She still doesn’t wake up.” Ember stammered.
“W-What?!” at once Stheno and Prince Elgin said.
“The sun is about to rise. She still doesn’t wake up. We gave her the miracle water but she still doesn’t wake up.” Lizette explained as she wiped away her tears.
“T-That can’t be! Isn’t that water a… miracle isn’t it? She should have woken up.” said Cadmus.
“Is there something wrong with her, mother? Why does she still not want to wake up?” Stheno asked her mother in astonishment.
“No honey… It’s just… Ashleigh… It’s not too late. She can still-”
I interrupted her explanation when I realized my brother wasn’t with them.
“Where’s Calux?” I immediately asked.
“We do not know.” Lizette replied.
“We were with him earlier in Ash’s room—”
I did not let Shreya finish with her explanation instead I ran upstairs.
I don’t want to hear what Shreya has to say next. I immediately went to Ashleigh’s room and there was no turning around and the door opened.
And there I saw Calux standing, Standing on the side of Ashleigh’s bed. His back is turned on the door so he could not notice me right away.
I didn’t want to wander around so I immediately confronted him.
“What are you doing here in Ashleigh’s room?” I asked him while I am standing at the door.
“Demian… Nothing… I’m just watching over your princess.” he replied while looking away from me.
I slowly approached Ashleigh’s bed and reached for her right hand.
“Then you can-” I stopped speaking when we heard the speaker.
“C-Calux?” We turned to the speaker.
“Milady? Y-You’re awake!” I said happily and immediately reached out her hand to kiss its back.
I smiled at Ashleigh and held her soft hand tightly.
I am so happy that the woman I love has woken up.
“Milady… It’s me, Demian.” I said while holding her hand.
“D-Demian?” Ashleigh said slowly and touched my cheeks gently with her soft hands.
“Y-Yes Milady.” I said and burst into tears.
She just giggled while holding my cheeks.
“Why are you crying? Is there a problem?” she said slowly while lying down.
“N-Nothing Milday… I’m just happy… You’re awake.” I said and kissed her hand again.
“Uhm, I’ll leave you two alone… I’ll just call Duchess Matilda and the others so they know Ashleigh is awake, Please excuse me.” said Calux who now turned his back on us.
“All right.” I answered immediately.
When Calux came out I turned my attention back to Ashleigh. While still holding her hand I could not help my excitement to see that the woman I wanted was awake.
“Y-You’re acting weird… What did I miss?” the astonishment of her question was obvious.
I was about to answer when the door suddenly opened.
“A-Ashleigh!” said Shreya and immediately approached her to hug her.
“S-Shreya! Why are you acting like that too? Demian was acting weird earlier too. Now you? What did I miss?” she asked in astonishment.
“Ashleigh… Don’t you remember?” Elgin asked.
“Remember?” wondered she asked again.
“Don’t you remember anything?” Elgin asked her again.
“I don’t know, What should I remember?” Ashleigh asked confused.
“What happened yesterday? You don’t remember?” Ember asked her.
“Well… I remember the three men who attacked here but the rest? No… I don’t remember.” Ashleigh replied.
Ashleigh grabbed her arm and took a deep breath.
“Tell me? What happened last night?” curiosity was already dominating her question.
“You lost consciousness last night… We thought the red wine you were drinking might have hex… If my mom didn’t find out about your condition right away…” Stheno took a deep breath before continuing. “You will not wake up again and you might die.”
Ashleigh’s eyes widened at what she heard. She couldn’t believe what she found out.
“So… we left and go to Zennon to find the cure to get rid of the hex or black magic in your body. We also found out who is responsible for what happened to you.” said Cadmus.
“Who?” Ashleigh asked confused.
“The twin witches. They were my opponents back then… maybe they found out that you were my new friend so they used that opportunity to scare me.” Stheno explained.
Ashleigh smiled at Stheno.
“I understand what you said… if you think I’m angry because of what happened, I’ll leave you guys. You… You’re wrong Stheno. Don’t worry, you guys are still my best friends.” said Ashleigh and took Stheno’s hand.
“Thank you Ash.” said Stheno and then Ashleigh.
I smiled at them all. Especially to Ashleigh… She is really weird she has a good heart that is really golden. That’s what I like about someone like her.
“Ohh god! Guys Ms. Aislinn texted. We don’t have school today and tomorrow… Principal Alastor and Ms. Aislinn heard what happened last night so they suspended the class for two days.” said Shreya as she stared at her phone.
“OK! WE CAN RELAX TODAY AND TOMORROW WHOOOOOOOHHH!” Cadmus was overjoyed at Shreya’s news.
“Jax!” Ember scolded him but in the end, she just smiled and had fun too.
“Let’s go down, I’m already hungry.” said Elgin.
“Of course. That’s why I feel like my stomach is grumbling hahaha Let’s go! We need to eat breakfast.” said Lizette and like children, they both preceded to run out of Ashleigh’s room.
“Those two really get along as long as they talk about food.” laughed Cadmus.
When they left, Ashleigh and I were the only ones left in her room again. She peeked out the window and was silent. I immediately approached her and touched her shoulder.
“Milady, There are dresses in the cabinet. Get dressed and then wait for me in the garden. We will have breakfast there.” I told her.
She turned to me and smiled.
“All right… Thank you Demian.” she says.
I just nodded and smiled at her before leaving her room. When I came out I saw Calux leaning against the wall on the side of Ashleigh’s door.
“I told you to stay away from her, didn’t I?” he said as he closed his eyes as leaned against the wall.
I ignored him and just walked, But before I could completely walk away he held me tightly on my shoulder.
“Stay away from her.” he said in a whisper.
“Or else what?” I asked him without emotion.
Suddenly his grip on my shoulder loosened and he let go. He doesn’t seem to be able to answer. He suddenly walked away to his room.
I adjusted my clothes and swallowed before going down the stairs.
Ashleigh’s POV
I got dressed and left the room immediately. As Demian said, I immediately went to the garden where Demian and I would have breakfast. While walking I noticed the man standing near a fountain.
‘Is that Demian?’ I asked in my mind.
I immediately approached it and stared at its back. As I approached I stood next to it.
“I see that… you are happy with my twin brother.” he says.
I looked at him there and I noticed that he has no emotions while staring at the fountain.
“What do you mean?” I asked him,
He did not speak. He suddenly dropped a coin in the fountain. It looks like he wished so he dropped the coin.
“Do you like my brother?” he asked directly.
I could not answer immediately. I do like his brother but not in a romantic way. Alas, I am not the one who is loved at first sight. Duh, we do not live in a fantasy love story! and one more thing, it is very impossible for me to like his older brother… Okay, let’s just say we are close but I have only known the person for a short time. And they think I like him right away? Let’s just say his older brother is kind and sweet but I don’t immediately like someone, especially if I only know him just now.
“Why did you ask such a thing?” I asked him.
He took a deep breath and sat down at the fountain.
“Nothing, I just noticed that you and my twin are very close.” he said while looking up at the sky.
I frowned and stared at him.
“Huh? Why is it bad to make friends and get close to other people? Is there a law in this world that forbids making friends with men?” I asked him sarcastically.
“Nothing, There is no such a law about that.” he answered immediately and then turned to me.
“Nothing, But why do you ask me such questions?” I asked him in astonishment.
“I’m just curious… that’s all.” he replied.
Curious, but his questions are purely weird.
“I’m sorry if I offended you with my question.” he said and then laughed.
This person is really weird. And really different from his twin.
“But do you like my twin?” he asked me again.
I gasped and then stared at him seriously.
“Look, I do like your brother but…”
“But?” he asked
“But not in a romantic way.” I said seriously.
He couldn’t speak to what I said. Maybe because he didn’t seem to expect my answer.
“What is the reason you asked me that? That made you very curious.” I asked him in astonishment.
“I just noticed that you two are too close. It’s natural for someone to be surprised and curious, isn’t it?” he answered and asked me again.
I gasped and looked away.
“Look… I just don’t understand why you two are so sweet to each other. I’m a curious person so I asked you.” he explained.
“Do you know the idiom-proverb ‘Curiosity killed the cat’ right?” I said while smirking.
“Yeah, I know that.” he answered.
“They say cats are dying of curiosity. Be careful you don’t look like cats dying of curiosity, Right?” I said sarcastically while smirking at him.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
He frowned and turned to his left.
My face became serious when I noticed that my phone suddenly rang. I immediately picked up my phone to see who was calling me.
“Who is that?” Calux asked.
I smiled again.
“Remember what I told you Calux… Curiosity kills the cat.” smirking I said and I immediately answered the call. “Hello? Brother?” I said smiling while waiting for my brother to speak on the other line.
“Hi Princess … How are you there? You’ve been gone for almost a month. We miss you… When are you coming back here?” It was obvious that my older brother missed me in his voice.
I cried when my older brother asked and I immediately wiped it so that Calux would not notice my appearance.
“Uhh… I don’t know yet brother… We’re still a bit busy right now.” I answered.
“My princess… don’t get too hard on yourself, okay? Take a break sometimes too.” he says.
I keep myself from sobbing, I don’t want my older brother will think that someone is bullying me, well, there is, but… There is no doubt that my older brother will be paranoid.
“I know brother… I know.” I answered.
“Aren’t you having a hard time with your school work?” he asked worriedly.
“Not much brother. Because I have some good friends here who help me.” I answered.
“Really?”
“Of course brother.”
“Janielle might be jealous of that. By the way… Janielle called earlier, She was asking when you would come back and she said she wants to bond with you again.” brother’s story is on the other line.
I smiled and sometimes noticed that Calux was staring at me.
“Brother… Please tell her that I will call her as soon as I return. I still don’t know when our school break will be, So I can visit there. And look brother the class is just beginning. So I don’t know when will be our school break.” I explained.
“Well, you do have a point. But please gives us a call sometime. We are so worried about you, young lady!.” said my older brother.
“Yeah… I will brother. By the way… Is Sis Almira with you brother? I would like to talk to her if she’s with you tho.”
“She’s not with me right now. She has a class and she is also busy so I can’t be with her.” my brother explained.
“It’s okay brother… maybe next time when she’s not busy anymore.” regret I said.
I miss Almira, She is like a big sister to me. She is the one who plays a big sister to me and Janielle whenever she is around.
“All right, I’ll just call again. Our class will start. Be careful baby… I love you.” the sadness in my older brother’s words was obvious.
“I love you too brother.” my answer.
I waited for my older brother to drop the call before I put my phone back in my pocket.
“Are you close to your brother?” he asked while staring at me.
“Yes, So much.” I answered while looking at my bracelet that my older brother gave me on my 18th birthday.
“He gave that to you?” he asked.
“Yes, he even saves his money to buy it and give it to me on my birthday.” I said.
“Wow… he must be a good brother.” he said incredulously.
I just laughed as I stared at my bracelet.
“Milady?!”
I suddenly raised my head and stood up when I heard someone call me.
“Looks like he’s already looking for you. Go to him.” said Calux.
“Yeah, Excuse me…” I replied and immediately went to where Demian was.
When I arrived at a small but neat gazebo I found Demian arranging our breakfasts.
“Where did you come from Milady?” he asked as he sorted out the food.
“I was just walking around. Wait… Why did you take so long?” I asked him.
“Hahaha… sorry to keep you waiting. I even prepared our food for breakfast. I hope you like it.” he says.
I smiled, he pulled up a chair and then made me sit there.
He is very gentlemanly, Unlike his twin who is full of questions, arrogant, and bully.
We have already started eating breakfast, I can say that this breakfast is delicious.
“Did you cook it?” I asked him.
“Yeah… with a little help from my mom.” smiling he said.
“It’s delicious. Too much delicious!” I said and then spit out the pancakes again.
“Milady.”
I stared at him as he put his hand to my face and wiped my lower lip with his thumb.
I feel like my cheeks are too red because of what he did.
“You are cute when you eat.” he whispered while smiling.
My face blushed even more because of what he said.
“Liar!” I said and then continued eating.
But he just laughed out loud.
Third Person’s POV
Unbeknownst to them… Prince Calux watched them from afar while peeking through a bush.
He watches the two how happy they are. He could not understand why he felt strange, especially in his heart. Why does it seem to be stabbed every time he sees the two together and happy?
Why is he angry? What right does he have to be angry? he was just the girl’s bully. He has no right to be angry.
Or does he feel something even more? Feel something towards the girl?
He shook his head and telling to himself that it was just absurd. He took a deep breath and tries to gather himself together. He knew he hasn’t had a right to feel this kind of strange feeling, but why? Why does he feel like he is jealous? Jealous?
“No…” he whispered to himself.
“No, It can’t be… I despise her.” he thought to himself and clench his teeth.
“I really really despise her! B-But why do I feel this? Why?” he whispered while clenching his both teeth and fist.
On the other hand, his girlfriend Diasspro was just not far away and staring behind him. Wondered why it was there and what he peek at. She approached the young man to call but was stunned to see who he was looking at.
Suddenly the girl’s mood changed because of what she saw. She looks jealous.
‘Why are you watching her Calux? What is with that woman that made you always follow her?’ said the girl in her mind.
“Do you really despise her? or do you have feelings for her?” she whispered to herself while staring in the direction where Ashleigh is.
The princess’ gaze slowly go to the prince’s back and suddenly her both hands started to form a fist, She bit her bottom lip and hardly closed her eyes to hold her tears, then she left shortly after.
While walking, She couldn’t hold back her tears anymore… She couldn’t see clearly the path she is walking.
‘I’m the one you’re going to marry Calux so… you should just pay attention to me! Only to me Prince Calux Zephyr…’ she whispered to herself as her tears started to drip down her cheeks then suddenly her face started to turn the red cause of the anger she is feeling. The anger she is feeling towards the girl, and through the man who is betrothed to her.
To be continued…