XX – Cauterize the wound       Jin still hasn’t come back.   And Aria… has never felt so exposed, added by the knife-like feeling of humiliation, of feeling less-than human in her infuriatingly short and miserable life before, during and even hours after the ‘examination’ (for a lack of a better term) and although the Princess was more than aware that Eden had only nothing but her best interests at heart, the experience was just as life-scarring as it is.   She knows Eden’s mother–is Mrs. or was it Doctor Brighton the proper name to refer to? –was not even at fault too and had been doing her job and moral duty to a patient and to her princess but Aria, no matter how irrational, how petty, and childish… she still couldn’t find it in her to quell the licks of fiery resentment bubbling up on her chest. &nb

XXII – The Rightful Heir       The next morning, Princess Aria very nearly crushed the delicate porcelain teacup she had been holding in her hand when she heard from her father during breakfast that Sir Edward of House Sanscroft has passed away in his sleep peacefully last night.   And so, out of respect for Sir Edward Sanscroft–and to her father–Aria forced herself to attend the morning meal (despite wanting to get the hell away from there as soon as possible, run to Jin’s arms and mourn with him, she'll allow herself to mourn for Sir Edward herself behind closed doors much, much later because right now, her friend needs her more than ever) and listen to King Arion lament of his friend’s past endeavors and bravery during the entire meal.   Her father looked like he was this close to tears but managed to keep it together as he hold his chin up as proud as any k

XXIV – The Monster       When Jin finally came to, he was surprised to find himself lying on a bed in one of their many guest-rooms that was located in the… upper floors–still feeling a little dizzy but all the more better than he remembered earlier.   His wounds were already cleaned and bandaged from what he can tell as he began to sit up, careful to not make a sound.   Confused, Jin looked around the room… only to find the Princess of the kingdom on a lone settee in a far corner of the room, a few meters away from where he was with her head a bit turned away.   Her expression told him that the Princess was strangely but not unusually distracted, probably lost in her own thoughts–which was normal, she was usually like that after all but she–she was literally staring blankly at the doorway, her posture slack

XXVI – Of birthdays and new beginnings       “With all due respect your highness, I have known my nephew since he was born,” Sir Alfred Crossram was saying with utmost seriousness, his brown eyes glaring daggers at his nemesis from across the not-too large table.   Meanwhile, Jin Sanscroft’s eyebrow briefly twitched in annoyance as he watched two of the supposedly esteemed people in the kingdom from the head of the table with a more or less unimpressed gaze. He wondered when the two of them will realize just how childish and stupid the two of them are being at the moment.   “Be that as it may, Sir Crossram,” Princess Aria countered evenly on the other side of the table, shifting her wide-brimmed, purple-colored hat over her narrowed red eyes to block the sunlight away from her face, “...I know for a fact that my friend here prefers dark chocolate over strawberry–he told me himse

XXVIII – A Night to Remember       In a sea of colorfully dressed people was the cream of the crop of the Northern kingdom gathering for one of their many balls–nobility and high-ranking officers dancing and frolicking about with painted smiles on their lips and overly polite words, their fine jewelries of different colors glinting against the extravagant chandeliers like twinkling stars in a starry night sky… but not her.   Because the next and rightful Queen of this snow-filled country had far too many things to think about than simpering and making allies with this stupidity, this sorry excuse of human beings.   So, she stands alone as a backdrop of darkness and watches from the shadows as its silent spectator while the people who referred themselves as ‘nobles’ sloshed their watered-down wine and pranced around the room.   It was a chilly November, the f