Chapter 2

Alessia's POV

"I have no time for this kind of talk, Stefano," I promised and I quickly stood up and took the books to put them back on the shelves.

I felt heat on my cheeks because I felt ashamed for some unknown reason.

I quickly walked away from the table but Stefano immediately followed me, he didn't seem to want to be held back.

"When will you have time? I don't know what's stopping you. You just have to go with the flow. Because life is like a flood, if you go against it, you'll have more trouble. So just go with it in the current, enjoy the flood instead, there might be some debris but at least, you won't be hurt badly." He promised me that he still followed. He's insisting that I should do it with Elijah. We already cheated, he just doesn't know and I don't intend to let anyone know that. What's so fun about cheating? That's not proud.

"You're right, life is like a flood, if you enjoy it, you'll get leptospirosis," I answered him and I know that he doesn't know what that means.

"Lepto—what?"

"That's a skin disease that gets in the flood," I answered him and put the book in its holder.

"You know that?"

"I will heal."

"But why did I just hear about that now?"

"Why, have you gone to the flood?"

"Not yet."

"That's why you don't know because you haven't had it yet," I answered him and left the shelves and went back to the table because I knew he wouldn't stop talking. Even more, I don't want us to talk outside where many people will hear.

Stefano and I sat down and now we were facing each other. His face is contorted with confusion.

"Enough with that. Why are we talking about pain? I know you're sulking because your majesty doesn't allow you to go to Eleftheria, but I hope you understand that." He diverted the conversation and it now returned to the conversation I was sulking about earlier.

I shook my head. "I'll admit, I used to sulk but not now. I understand why you won't take me with you." I answered him and that was true in my heart. No hypocrisy.

Stefano raised his eyebrows. "Just a while ago you ran away from us because you wouldn't be included, and now you suddenly accept it."

"Because I thought it was dangerous there. I love my life more than yours so I've been fine." I answered him jokingly.

Stefano grinned at me. "It's fine and you know that your life is more precious. Your majesty loves you more." He said that caused my cheeks to turn red.

I struggled with it. "Can we stop talking about that?" I stopped him because he was smiling like a fool again.

"Yes, it will stop. But don't sulk because the dear king can't be bothered anymore." He told me that his expression had now become more formal. This man is quick to change his expression.

"I told you, didn't I?" I calmly answered him and he grinned again.

"Listen to it." He ordered that my eyebrows were almost touching the ceiling when I got up.

"And why would I do that?" My voice became flat because of that. I can't think of a reason why I would obey Elijah.

"Because you did something wrong. It's wrong to sulk that the king is thinking about your safety." He calmly promised and she didn't smile again.

It seems that this is my patience. Why should I apologize? It's not my fault and I'm not guilty. But it's like eating what I want.

"Stefano, I won't apologize. Give it a rest." I stood up to leave him in the library and left the room.

I know I'm guilty, but why should I apologize? That's not too much for me to ask for. I don't know what Stefano is going to do.

I walked quickly and headed to my room to rest. Stefano's words seemed to drain my strength.

When I got to my bedroom, I saw Estrebelle playing with Sushi. He's back because Elijah sent him back and even though I didn't want to, I didn't do anything. I don't sulk with him anymore so I just let it go.

"Mr. Ales, the dear king wishes to speak with you." He behaved with me.

I sighed and nodded. I will go but not right now. I approached the tree that now has fruit. My suspicion was correct. Now with this fruit, I can see the golden seed. It already has a few golden fruits that I know Estrebelle also notices but doesn't ask about it.

I have to tell Elijah this too. Having a tree that has not grown for a long time is an important thing. Especially and its fruits can revive and cure any illness.

"I will go to the dear king first," I said goodbye to Estrebelle and she bowed to me.

I quickly left the room and made my way back to the king's office. I pass by waitresses who clean anything that has dirt in their sight.

I immediately saw the two sentinels guarding the office door. When they saw me, they immediately opened the door. They expected me to come or return.

I immediately entered the office and saw Elijah who was now sitting in his chair looking at me. The sentinels immediately closed the door so Elijah and I were the only ones left inside the room.

"Ales..." he said to me knowing that he was making me feel whether I was angry or not.

I scratched the back of my neck before speaking.

"Your Majesty, if we were talking about earlier. I apologize for everything I said. I understand your decision." I explained to him so that no rift between the two of us would grow.

Elijah did not speak. He just looked at me as if he was thinking about what he was going to tell me.

"I thought you wanted to come." He told me that now I'm just more confused. A while ago I wanted to come, but he didn't want to. Now that I've decided not to come, he seems to want me to come. Maybe because of my reaction earlier and he wanted to permit me, but my decision has changed because of what I found out.

"That was before. I thought it wasn't good to go to a place full of dangerous creatures. I love my life too much to put it in danger." I answered him and saw the mysterious smile on his lips.

Elijah stood up and approached me but he didn't touch me. He just stood and stared at me.

"I'm happy and you're not sulking anymore." He promised me in a baritone voice and I was terrified because of how close he was to me.

"Uh, sulked, but it went away right away," I told him the truth. It's pointless if I say that I didn't sulk because there was an answer earlier. "Is this the reason, Your Highness, that you summoned me?"

"Yes and no. Take a seat, Ales." He took care of me and made me sit in the chair in front of his desk and he returned to his chair. "I would like to ask you how did you able to know the clues to where the relics are?"

I tried to dig into my memory if he had asked me this before. But I don't remember him asking me how I knew. Shall I say that my grandfather said it? But the situation might only get worse if he wants to summon grandpa. I don't know if grandpa is here or outside.

So I decided not to tell the truth. I'm afraid that what Elijah wants is something I can't do.

"Sushi..." I answered him. But why do I feel like that question is a trap?

"You still answered the same." He told me that I did not understand what he meant.

"I answered the same?" I asked confused. How can it be the same if he just asked me about it?

"I tampered with your memory and erased the memory of asking you who told you about the clues. I'm sorry, but I got a feeling before that you were lying." He told me that I didn't know how I would feel. But I have no right to be angry even though I was a little hurt by that. How can I be angry if it's true that I lied?

"D-do I look like I'm lying to you right now?" Elijah stared at me.

"Is it bad if I say yes?" He asked me calmly. "Ever since the incident of you hiding your real gender, I believe my feelings more than what I see and hear, Ales. My eyes will deceive me, but not my gut. My gut is telling me before that you are a female. But I trusted you to be a man. This has never happened before. So I will believe my feelings more, Ales." He told me that I swallowed.

He didn't believe me because he sensed my lie. Maybe there's nothing I can do but tell him.

"Not Sushi," I answered him. "But my grandfather."

Elijah frowned. "Your grandfather?"

I nodded. "That day when I saw you passing through the area, I was suddenly attacked by severe pain in my chest and I became weak. But I was surprised when grandpa suddenly spoke to me in my mind. He said all that that we need to get the relics and the signs are on the back of the map." I answered him and bowed. "But I don't know where grandpa is. We haven't been with him for a long time because he left."

"Is your grandfather a sorcerer?" This confirms it for me.

I shrugged my shoulders at him. How can I know if grandpa is a magician if he is just ordinary in my eyes?

"I don't know, Your Highness. What I do know is that he's just ordinary." I answered him and held my hand tightly. But since that incident, my perspective has changed.

"What's his name?" Elijah and I met eyes and I was a little nervous because of his expression. I feel that he is gradually getting angry.

"S-sicario," I answered him and saw how he turned pale. His face seemed to be bleeding. "I-is there a problem, Your Highness?"

Elijah shook his head as if he had recovered. But I can't get it out of my mind that he seems to be scared or apprehensive about what I said earlier.

"I only know one magician, over a hundred years ago. He was named after your grandfather." He answered me. But I felt that he didn't like that matter so I didn't bother about it.

"I'm sorry if I lied. I didn't know how to say it. Even I was surprised and didn't expect that. All my life, I thought he was just ordinary." I'm not sure if my sister and I are just ordinary people. But I didn't say that. That is my last remaining secret that they cannot know.

"I understand. Maybe he hid his true identity for you too." Elijah promised. "But if he's the one I knew years back, I will need to talk to him." Elijah's lips drew into a line and I knew it meant something negative. It's like charging a huge fee.

"I-I don't know where grandpa is now. As I recall, before you found me, grandpa announced that he was leaving and we didn't know where he was." I answered him and it was true.

Elijah sighed and felt it in his senses. "I'm sorry if I have to ask you these things. I just feel the need to."

I swallowed. "It's fine, Your Highness. It's normal to ask about something that's bothering you." I responded to him and also stood up because I wanted to show him something. "Your highness, do you have spare time for me? I wanted to show you something."

Elijah was a little stunned as if he didn't expect it from me. Do I look like I can't do something like it? His shocked face turned into a smile.

"Of course, sweetheart." He said that I blushed immediately and Elijah quickly stood up to join me.