CHAPTER SEVEN
"You came." I stare at the man standing in front of me, although I am aware he will be here, I didn't expect he would be the first person I would see.
He's friend with Elric, after all.
"I am just here for the sightseeing so you don't have to worry about me causing a scene. Treat me as I don't exist like you always do..." I can't help but be sarcastic with him because of how hypocrite he is towards Seraphina.
I was about to pass him when he suddenly grabbed my arm, in a second I pulled my arms away from him like a reflux.
I am disgusted with him.
I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt but as I try to give him that the more I believe how foolish and stupid Seraphina was for believing a guy like him.
I ignored him and continued walking toward the yacht.
The boat was tied to a wooden dock, gently moving with the water. A narrow plank was placed between the dock and the yacht. I slowed my steps for a moment, watching how the others crossed it.
One by one, they stepped onto the plank, holding the rope at the side for balance.
When it was my turn, I lifted my skirt slightly so it wouldn't drag. I placed one foot on the plank, steadying myself before taking another step. The wood creaked under my weight, but I kept walking until I reached the deck.
A hand appeared in front of me.
I placed my hand on the railing instead and pulled myself up.
Once both my feet were on the deck, I straightened my back and let out a quiet breath. The smell of water and wood filled the air, and the yacht rocked softly beneath me.
I moved aside, giving space to the others, and kept my eyes forward—away from him.
Craige was there.
He stood near the mast, one hand resting on a rope, looking just as surprised to see me. Then he smiled, the familiar kind that eased something tight in my chest.
"You're here," he said.
I nodded, feeling a little lighter than before.
Seeing a familiar face made the yacht feel less strange, less heavy. I moved closer to him, choosing his side of the deck, and for the first time since arriving, I felt like I wasn't completely alone.
He said he was also invited to this so I reconsidered my decision of not coming here.
I was about to walk towards him when I heard three voices...it felt familiar so I look at them. They are laughing while they are humoring the Princess.
When they saw me, especially Grem, feels like he had seen a ghost. So that's their plan, lure me into believing that they wanted to hang out with me.
His other two friends also felt the cold feet that Grem felt when they saw me.
How low she can be? I look at the Princess, who's also shocked seeing me. She didn't expect my presence here.
Now, I want to go back and just have my own leisure time in the town. Why did I even come here?
But then, if I didn't come here...I would've make them believe I fell into their scheme of luring me.
I turn my back at them and walk towards Craige...and I also wonder, if he's also being true to me...to Seraphina.
"Lady Seraphina, I am glad to see you here," Elena said. "Calyx mentioned that you accepted the invitation, but I never thought you would really come. It's been a while since you indulged in events like this."
I gave a small nod, trying to keep my expression neutral.
"Thank you," I said softly, meeting her eyes. My gaze drifted toward the group of people laughing and having fun as the sun sets on the dock, standing a few steps away from us.
I notice Elena's smile.
"I heard about your amnesia," she said quietly. "I guess you really have forgotten everything… seeing how carefully you watch people."
Her words made me pause. There was no malice, but something about the way she said it felt like a statement of being wary about me.
"Seeing how you also accepted his invitation—" again with those unfinished statements I have to deal guessing what they mean with that.
In an instant, she's gone, she was taken away by her friends. I don't know how to enjoy such scenery if everyone wants to watch my actions...every move I do.
They are watching not because they are wary of me but because they want to watch me go hysterical about the Princess and Lord Raiven having their time together.
"As I heard... you're really here." I turn to my side, a man standing tall beside me. A familiar figure, I tried to remember where did I see him?
One of Seraphina's unknown friend?
You surely are famous, Seraphina.
I really want to roll my eyes at this moment but I am afraid that the person I am annoyed with will be a high rank person...that would be embarrassing.
"You're not the first nor the second who told me that." I only answered him, it's the only way for me to be sarcastic but not totally going off the boundary.
He laughs at my remark.
"It seems like people have been pestering you." He replied to me, I glance at him trying to look where did I see him.
I openly stared at him. He didn't mind me at all doing that as if he's also waiting for me to know him.
"Oh, you're that guy who fucks that girl—" I instantly cover my mouth with my two hands as I realized what I just said. He again laughs.
"That took you longer than I expected?" He again, with that move he does...moving forward just to tower me over.
With that I raised my eyebrow at him.
I push him away from me as I stepped away from him, two steps backward. Juts enough to create a distance between us.
"Disgusting." A word that I wasn't able to control myself on saying it.
"Prince Zedd..." A girl far away from us, holding a glass on her right hand. She walks towards us and greet the man in front of me.
She didn't even have the time to even look at me. Not that I want her to notice me but seeing how focus she is to this man...I can only assume of their twisted relationship.
But I heard her call him...what? A Prince?
Oh well, I must be hearing things
I wonder...
I look around to see for that man.
I always wonder...
If he has also fuck other girls his age or younger or maybe older than him. Seeing the girl in front of me, I can say she is not a high schooler.
There, I found Craige.
He's also talking to some girls.
And Raiven with his friends...Calyx and Elric, having their time with girls. It's not like they are not allowed to flirt or have a fun life but I just don't expect it this way.
I thought girls in this time are innocent and they don't give in to these boys' advantages.
When I saw a waiter, I didn't hesitate to accept the glass of wine. I raise the glass as the wine dances inside it, like waves of ocean.
The moon that shines brighter than the stars, I toast with the sky and drank the wine.
"That taste...bitter." I can't help but laugh because the taste isn't far from my situation...bitter.
"You'll get yourself drunk—" I turn around to see a young man, tall with broad shoulder, red hair and black eyes.
"I'm not that weak, you know." I said as I grab another glass of wine from the standing table near me.
Again, I drank it with one go.
"Just drink it...slowly, no one's gonna steal it from you." I look at him as I smile and give her the empty glass wine.
"Really? That's funny cause I am pretty sure Seraphina will not agree to that."
She laughs at her own remark. I watch as she walks toward the railing and grips it, the yacht resting in the middle of the lake. It has stopped so we can savor the night before heading back at dawn.
"Raiven..." She turns her head at me. She twisted her body a little bit just to look at me.
"Do you know how much I hated everything about this place?" Again, with her laugh. It's not sarcastic but you can tell she finds everything funny.
"Especially you..." She turns her body around and point at me. I've been looking at her for the past hour, this isn't her second glass of wine.
"Do you know how much I hate you?"
"What am I even saying?" She added.
She heaved a deep sigh. Put the empty glass wine down on the table.
"I just wish you stop pretending you care for Seraphina—" for drinking too much wine, she lets out a small hiccup.
And again.
"Oh well, people like you really like that method...push and pull...hot and cold..."
"Haaaays..." She makes a face, an annoyed one.
"You, and all the fuckboys in this fucking dimension," she snapped. "Everything's male-centric—even the women. We're taught to bend, adjust, and revolve around you. Fuck everything." The last word, the curse...of all words, she has to shout that last words.
Everyone looks at her.
This time, I'm the one who have to heave a deep sigh.
"What the hell are you all looking at—"
Now, she's saying words that I can't even understand. In order to stop her from humiliating herself even more, I have to put her into sleep using a spell.
"You should have detoxify the alcohol in her body than to put her to sleep." Someone butt in as he catch Seraphina faster than I am.
I look at the Prince, the Fourth Prince.
Not born of the Empress, but of a mistress. Yet his lineage was far from insignificant. His mother was a princess of another empire, he has a lot of connection.
He carved his own power.
He conquered battlefields.
He hunted monsters as if they were mere prey.
And he found the rarest swords the world had ever known.
I had seen them earlier, talking as if they had known each other for years—smiling, leaning close, completely at ease.
"Prince Zedd…"
A girl called called her.
He didn't even glance her way or anyone's way. Without hesitation, he lifted Seraphina into his arms and strode past me, every step measured and confident.
I wanted to stop him, to pull her back—but my feet felt rooted to the ground.
"You're the most stupid boy I've ever known," Sierraia muttered beside me, her eyes sharp as they followed him, assessing every movement.
"Your Highness..." Craige called him, he immediately followed the Prince carrying Seraphina without any second thoughts.
"Aren't they lovely?" someone murmured.
"The Emperor will surely be pleased… He has his eyes on Seraphina's rare blood. I suppose there will be news of a marriage soon."
"If she's truly clever… she'll take the hand of the Fourth Prince. Birds of a feather, as they say. A perfect match from heaven," she added, turning her gaze toward me, clearly testing my reaction.
"Don't you agree, My Lord?"
"You're too tactless, Princess. People will surely think you're mocking the Fourth Prince. 'Birds of a feather,' you say… Are you implying that the Fourth Prince isn't someone whose opinion matters?" Sierra who didn't even hesitate to say whatever comes in her mind.
"Stop that Sierra, nothing good will come out if you anger such royalty." Calyx commented.
I didn't even know what to say in a situation like this. Honestly, I didn't care what they thought.
But looking at her now, Seraphina had clearly changed. She wasn't the little girl I used to know…
I didn't know if I was genuinely happy for her growth, or just relieved that she wasn't chasing after me anymore. Either way… I only wanted the best for her.
I don't want her to chase things just because of...me.
I want her to know how to own her own dreams.