Chapter Twenty-Two
_ Facts: 2
* * *
After leaving that annoying tavern, we left Evan and moved toward Marianne and the rest. The plan was truly insane; Evan had exploited all the events that occurred to manipulate the Temple. I was included in the plan, and Raphael has seemed annoyed since then, and I don't know why..
" Raf!! Why are you annoyed?!"
" Do you agree with Evan on this?! Your life will be threatened.."
' He has been worried about me from the very beginning.. '
I felt great happiness, and my heart began to beat with joy. I took a deep breath to control my excitement and spoke with total calmness.
I held his arm and manipulated my face into a pout.
" Am I ugly?!"
" Never "
He spoke with a strong, sincere tone without a moment of hesitation, which made my face heat up. Fortunately, my face wasn't very visible since we were in the night, otherwise, everything would have shown on my face.. I composed myself and looked at him.
" The plan is perfect, but you think too much. You are here, you will protect me, won't you?!"
I felt him relax a little, and he sighed and said:
" On one condition..."
" Agreed, what is your condition?!"
" You will not move recklessly, and you will follow what I ask of you to the letter "
" Your command, sir "
I acted like a soldier and saluted, which made Raf's face relax completely; he even laughed. My heart felt at ease, and since he agreed, then everything is fine..
Excitedly, I ran ahead of him by a few steps with enthusiasm and looked at him playfully, but I was surprised by a speeding carriage. It seemed its owner couldn't control it. It was approaching me; I felt a sense of déjà vu, that familiar and terrifying feeling...
My legs collapsed, and I felt the moment of the end approaching. I saw Lily's face; it was repeating again. Burning tears began to flow, and I waited for the carriage to collide with me, but I felt a warmth as if someone was snatching me away and squeezing me inside them. I couldn't open my eyes, but I recognized this scent. I felt a desire to cry like a child; I hugged him and began to sob intensely... the fear and painful memories returned to me...
* * *
The lighting was flickering and unstable, and there were four shadows: three of them were large—though one was the largest—and one small shadow. These shadows belonged to people around a bed where a beautiful girl lay, her face somewhat hidden..
" Master! Will the Lady be alright?!"
" She is fine, she was just a little scared..."
" How did this happen to my Lady?!"
It was the crying voice of a woman looking at her sleeping mistress with concern.
" Miss Marianne, do not worry, she is fine... she is strong "
Raphael sighed while looking at the one sleeping on the bed. They had gone to the nearest doctor in the area so she could rest for a while. He could have returned to her palace or his palace, but he was more worried about her and preferred not to expose her identity so she wouldn't be harmed further..
Raphael looked at Marianne and said calmly:
" Did she lose someone in a carriage accident?! "
Marianne looked at him in confusion, then looked back at her mistress and said quietly:
" The Lady lost her parents when she was eight. I hadn't worked at the palace yet, but I heard they died because the carriage overturned from the top of a cliff.. My Lady was not with them at the time.."
Raphael ran his hand through his hair and sighed. He looked at Ariana and patted her forehead gently, and no one noticed the flow of magical energy from his hands..
" Be well, Aya..."
He whispered close to her ear, and it seemed to have reached her as her features relaxed..
He looked at the others and said calmly:
" We must return... Marianne, go ahead of us to check the situation. Brian and Casper, pay the doctor's fee and leave. I will teleport Aria outside the room... then I will catch up with Marianne and take her back."
Everyone nodded in agreement and moved...
* * *
Since we left, I have been worried. Evan is crazy, and Ariana is no less crazy than him. Despite my annoyance, she managed to convince me. She is crazy; why did she ask me that question?!
She preceded me by a few steps and seemed excited, and when I wanted to catch up with her, I found a carriage speeding toward her. I felt fear and almost froze, but I controlled my fear and rushed toward her. I carried her quickly; she was very afraid and seemed to be suffering. I don't know the reason, but has she experienced this feeling before?! This is what I do not know...
She cried a lot like someone suffering until she fainted.. I carried her to the nearest doctor after quickly examining her..
I placed her on the bed, and within five minutes they were in front of the bed. Casper and the rest were nearby and seemed to have witnessed what happened...
There was a scratch on her hand, so I healed it quickly. I was looking for any flaw in her, but she wasn't hurt much, just a small accident that almost tore my heart out. How does she want me to involve her in a plot of such danger? Does she want to put herself stuck in the mouths of monsters...
After I calmed her down a bit, I gave everyone the orders, and as soon as they left, I carried Ariana and teleported quickly to her room. It was lit, and it was clear it was surrounded by illusion magic..
' She is always prepared '
I placed her on her bed and patted her hair gently. Her breathing was calmer than it was at the doctor's, and it seemed the bad dreams had begun to fade. I looked at her calm and peaceful face. How can I not love this woman?! Despite her fragility, she has saved me many times; she supported me sincerely and stood by me, and I don't know what she might do for me. If I prevent her from taking risks, she will insist more and might act recklessly, so...
' I will use the plan for us and for this empire '
I heard a voice outside the room, and when I put my ear to the door, I heard Marianne's voice talking to a man who seemed to be scolding her. Before I lowered my guard, I heard...
" Perhaps it is better if I go in to check on her.."
* * *
The palace was quiet, and Elliot had just arrived. Elliot had a strong intuition and was someone who trusted his intuition a lot. So, immediately after his arrival, he went to his sister's room. He felt something preventing him from approaching, but by his nature, he continued to the room. Before he opened its door, he heard a calm voice:
" Sir!! Are you here?!"
Marianne's tone was shaky, but she tried to remain steady. He looked at her closely and said:
" Did you go out?!"
" The Lady gave me permission.."
" How is my sister?!"
" My Lady is fine.."
There was clear concern in Marianne's voice, which raised suspicions in Elliot's mind. After a verbal battle with Marianne:
" Perhaps it is better if I go in to check on her.."
" Sir, I..."
Marianne tried to catch up with him, but as a man with a stronger body and higher status, he managed to precede her. When he entered, she was behind him. He approached Ariana's bed quietly. The bed curtains were drawn to hide what was inside. Elliot felt worried, moved quickly, and pulled the curtains. Ariana's small body appeared covered under many blankets, and she seemed to be sleeping peacefully. Elliot felt embarrassed, returned the curtains to their place quietly, looked at Marianne, who lowered her head, and said:
" She seems fine, I was worried.."
" My Lady will be happy with the Master's precious feelings "
Marianne's smile was calm, and this increased Elliot's embarrassment. He glanced at the bed, then moved quietly out of the room.
' I acted recklessly; my sister will be very annoyed..'
Marianne looked at Elliot's back, and after he closed the door, Marianne breathed a sigh of relief. She moved quietly to open the curtains of Ariana's bed and looked at her mistress closely. she discovered that many blankets had been placed to hide the outdoor clothes she was wearing. She realized that Raphael was still there. She looked around quietly searching for him, and before she turned her gaze back to Ariana, she found him sitting quietly at the end of the room..
" She is fine, you can rest, Marianne "
Raphael stood up and moved quietly toward the bed, his eyes fixed only on Ariana. Marianne sighed and bowed her head:
" I will leave her in your care, sir.."
" Do not worry "
Raphael placed his hand, caressing Ariana's head with looks heavy with many complex emotions. She bowed again and left the room...
Raphael didn't even notice Marianne; instead, he poured all his focus on her. He sat quietly on the edge of the bed, held her hand, and passed his magic quietly into her body...
" Be well, Aya "
Raphael sighed after feeling the warmth returning to her better. He smiled with a happy heart. He kept looking at her face for many minutes when he felt a change in her heartbeat.
" How long will you pretend to be asleep, my dear?! "
His tone was reproving and playful. Ariana breathed quietly, and before she opened her eyes, she spoke grumbling like a naughty child whose prank was uncovered:
" And how did you realize I was no longer asleep?!"
" It's instinct, my Lady "
He playfully flicked her nose, making her laugh. He helped her up quietly to sit properly and looked at her with a warm smile. Before she could speak, he said:
" Are you still afraid?!"
" Thank you, Raf, I have become well."
She looked at him gratefully, and there was hesitation in her voice..
" Aya!! Is everything alright?!"
Ariana sighed and looked at him. Despite the hesitation in her voice, she had a steady and determined look:
" I want to tell you everything "
" Don't force yourself, what matters is that you are fine "
He patted her hand gently, calming her, but his kindness increased her determination. She spoke quietly, lowering her head and holding his hand, speaking deeply and with a sober tone but filled with sadness:
" I will speak, please do not interrupt me.."
"..."
" Years ago, on a summer night, Lily and I went on a blind date. It was the first time we thought about going. We went, and when we finished, it was, as we expected, a silly and funny date. We were very much enjoying mocking the two young men we met..."
Raphael was listening to her despite some strange and illogical terms, but he continued to listen to her..
"We never looked at the road. There was a speeding car, and it seemed the one driving it was very drunk and didn't look at the road. I felt death closer to me than I expected. I wasn't very afraid; the fate of death had been haunting me since my childhood. But Lily refused my death; she pushed me..."
Ariana's voice trembled, and she barely caught her breath so as not to cry...
" I found myself thrown on the ground away from the car, and the person under it was my childhood friend. She put her life instead of mine. I felt bitterness and torn. Death had been close to me for a long time; why did she lose her life..."
She allowed silent tears to fall, and without a sob, she continued her words:
"After her death, I couldn't leave the hospital because of my health condition, which did not improve but rather got worse.."
Ariana regained her composure at last and spoke with a serious tone...
" Three years after her death, I found myself here in a body that is not my body, but it was suffering like me. When I confirmed the situation, it was as follows...
I moved to another world, to this body, to a place I read about in a book. You, I, Silas, even Cardinal Evan and the Duke; it was a story about you..."
She raised her head while he looked at her with mystery and shock:
" You mean my world is just a book?!"
" I don't know, maybe yes and maybe no "
"...؟!"
" Other worlds might exist, and this is one of them..."
" So you know the future of this empire "
" Yes and no "
"..."
" In the past, yes, but there are events that have changed a lot since my arrival..."
"And they are?"
" You, I "
" We, what has changed?!"
" I didn't die at the end-of-year festival, you didn't lose your mind and become a villain.."
Raphael looked at Ariana, patted her cheek, and smiled with true kindness and warmth:
" Can you tell me?!"
" Fine....."
She told him everything she had read, omitting some things she and Evan had agreed not to reveal to him. Raphael laughed deeply; it was a laugh filled with all conflicting emotions: hope, despair, sorrow, joy, love, and hatred. He looked at Ariana, patted her cheek gently, and said with a warm gaze:
" Thank you, thank you for choosing me..."
Ariana's face burned with embarrassment, and she turned to the other side, avoiding his gaze. Raphael laughed softly at her spontaneous behavior and patted her head...
He stood up quietly, dusted himself off, and said calmly:
" I will come tomorrow to discuss our plan "
" Take care of yourself..."
Ariana looked at him quietly and nodded yes. With a quick movement, Raf left the room..
Ariana was amazed by what she had told him and felt a little relief. She looked toward the window and said quietly:
" I will protect this man, even if it costs me my life..."
Her heart beat fast for a strange feeling different from any other; it was a feeling like déjà vu..
[ " I will remember this man all my life..." ]
They weren't the exact same words, but the feeling was identical. The voice she heard was her voice, but when did she say it..
' Perhaps from the memories of the body that I do not remember well... '
* * *
After I moved those large curtains from in front of me, I looked out the window. it was a bright morning that did not resemble the storms of truths that passed yesterday. I sighed quietly, looked toward the rising sun, and returned to recalling those strange facts.
' Evan did not succeed in saving me; he found the technique, but the time was too late. I destroyed the empire with my own hands; the Temple turned me into the villain of the empire..
Ariana married Duke Silvano and gave birth to his child, and why did she name him that name (Aidan)? She died at the end-of-year festival and the disasters began to pour in. The Temple had planned in advance to bring me down. If Evan hadn't saved me that night by giving me that magical tool and Ariana's presence in my life, that future would have been inevitable. Silvano is not an enemy, but a good ally..
The Temple will be destroyed in the way I desperately desire. it seems this man took my will in that future, but here I am the one who will carry out what I have sought all my life..'
' Everything has become clear now... Ariana chose me, so I must do my best...'
Bell bell bell!!!
I rang the bell quietly, and Marshall came quietly and elegantly as usual.
" Send a secret message to Duke Silvano. Tell him I want to meet him and Baron Brian tonight urgently."
* * *
" What does the Emperor want from me?!"
He looked with nervousness and grumbling at the woman sitting in front of him, who was drinking tea quietly. She put her cup on the table and said calmly:
" Does the Emperor want your loyalty?!"
" Didn't he insult me twice in the same period, and remained silent all those months? He didn't show a reaction. If it were someone else, they would have tried to resort to the Temple..."
" Perhaps for this reason, the Emperor wants you... Duke "
" Elena, let us not rush to judgment. We will know the Emperor's intentions tonight."
...... To be continued ......