{The Letter}
The girls were in class when the mailman arrived.
"It seems that you all have letters from your families. The mailman is here to deliver your letters" Miss Sunshine said.
Everyone was given their letters. Anastasia squeezed hers tight.
She knew nothing good would come from the letter.
"Aren't you excited to read yours now?" Gabriella asked.
Anastasia gave a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I love reading mine in private"
"Really? Then it means your family must really miss you" Gabriella said. "You have no idea" Anastasia replied.
Class was over, Anastasia went to the garden. She sat down on the grass as she massaged her neck.
"Alright here goes nothing" She whispers as she brought out the wrinkled paper.
{Stupid brat, you had one fucking job to do and you had to screw that up. I heard you've grown wings, I'm sure it's high time I cut it off for you. Come home so we can have a little chat.
If you don't come home I'll have to drag you here myself. You've somehow managed to make yourself an enemy with a noble, he wants you dead. If you don't return home so we can iron things out as a family, I'll send your head on a plate to him as a present. Don't test me bastard and know your place}
"Wow so much violence in a letter"
Anastasia looks at the sky. "I've made an enemy with a noble? Could it be Tristan? Gosh when will this end?"
"If I go there's no telling I'm coming back alive"
Later in the evening Azriel sat in the audience room. He was informed that there was an issue that needed attention.
"Your Majesty, we are here to inform you about this startling realization of ours" A man said.
"Realization? Don't beat around the bush, i'm too busy for your guessing games. Get to the point" Azriel said.
"We found this disturbing letter just by the fountain this afternoon. The contents are quite disturbing... So we or rather I figured it would be best I brought it to your attention" The Man said.
Azriel snaps his finger and a servant took the letter from the man and handed it over to him.
He read the content of the letter. "Quite disturbing Indeed" Azriel murmurs.
"What do you want me to do with this letter of yours?" He asked slightly pissed.
"Well I was suggesting that we find out who the letter belongs to and help them"
"What makes you think that I will be willing to help anyone just because you want to make yourself feel so righteous?" Azriel asked.
"Pardon my manners your Majesty but the letter came from your castle which means it might be one of your guests. One of them must be In trouble and perhaps as their guardian you are obliged to protect them"
Azriel sighs. "Protect them?" He tastes the word, It tasted like ash in his mouth.
"This person doesn't need protection... If they needed protection they would have come to the emperor beforehand. The way I see it you're just looking for attention" Charles said in disgust.
"I suggest we give this thought into consideration. We could check it out just to be safe. I can't live freely knowing that someone out there needs help and protection....." Rose said.
"From the looks of the letter they're asking for this person to come home" Charles said.
"Zain" Azriel calls out. "Yes your majesty" Zain replied.
"I need results by dawn. Find out who owns this letter and bring the person to me" Azriel said.
"What do you intend to do with this person brother? Rose asked.
"It's only fair I know who I'm going to protect. I can't just hand my protection to anyone... I need results by dawn" Azriel said.
"As you wish your Majesty"
Following morning, the news had already reached Anastasia that a letter was found and the emperor is searching for the owner.
"No no no no no Please don't be what I'm thinking" Anastasia said.
She ran to her room, praying and begging every god in heaven the letter shouldn't be hers.
Anastasia cursed under her breath when she couldn't find it.
"It is my letter..... How did this happen? How could this have slip my mind?" Anastasia asks in confusion.
"Your letter?" Hannah asked in confusion.
"Yes.... I must have dropped it somewhere after reading it. How can I be so careless with something so important? Now the emperor is probably going to find out who the letter belongs to" Anastasia said.
"Calm down my lady. He doesn't know who it is yet. Also there was no name of the sender neither can it be traced back to you. Let's see how everything plays out okay.... Just relax..... Trust me the emperor has no clue"
"I hope so because If he finds out we're going to be in so much trouble"
"That's for sure" Hannah said.
{Dawn came too quick}
"Forgive me, your majesty but I regret to inform you that I was unable to find the owner of the letter" Zain said.
"How can you?.... My trusted knight not know how to do a simple thing? How could you not know how to get a simple task done?" Azriel asked.
Zain lowered his gaze. "Ask Luke to summon a seer" Azriel said. "Right away, your majesty" Zain said.
"Why do you need a seer?" Luke asked as he met Azriel in his private study.
"I had the strangest dream last night" Azriel replied.
"A nightmare?.... That's new" Luke replied.
Azriel sat on a chair with his legs crossed.
"I need him to interpret my dream" Azriel said.
{About half an hour}
The seer knelt before Azriel. "Your imperial majesty..... You sent for me" He said.
"Caesar..... I need the interpretation of my dream" Azriel said.
"I live to serve his majesty" Caesar said.
"There was a trial for a girl named Anastasia. She committed a crime that could be easily forgiven. I was so fueled with rage that forgiveness wasn't something I could afford"
"Her punishment was death by flames..... She picked up a sword and stabbed herself. She looks me in the eyes and said she didn't mean to hurt me.... But she loved me" Azriel said.
The seer arranged some stones and bones. "Your majesty.... You were given a vision. The trial represent punishment for betrayal from the person you least expect. I am sure you saw the woman's face clearly" Caesar said.
"Yes" Azriel replied calmly.
"There's a manipulation that could cost you everything but the face you saw isn't who you think it is... I strongly advise that you remain calm when such events occur. Because your anger would make you do things you'd end up regretting.... Remember whatever is done cannot be undone" Caesar said.
Azriel wondered why he had such a dream. Nothing has ever thrown him off balance before but somehow this dream seemed to be doing a wonderful job.
Caesar left the castle. Azriel ran his fingers through his hair.
"You don't need to think too hard about this bro" Charles said.
Azriel remains silent. "So much interpretation for one dream?" Rose asked.
"Anastasia?.... Wasn't that the girl you thought was your fated bride?" Charles asked.
"Who's face did you see?" Luke asked cautiously.
Azriel sighs. "I clearly saw Guinevere" He replied.
Luke choked on his spit, he coughs violently. "Your reaction is pretty suspicious" Charles said to Luke.
"Don't be silly, I was caught off guard" Luke said.
"Don't fret, didn't Caesar say the face he saw isn't who we think" Rose said.
"That makes total sense" Charles reasoned. "So if Anastasia isn't Guinevere.... Then who is?" Azriel asked.
"Anastasia might be anyone..... Caesar just told you everything.... Let's not dwell on that right now" Luke said.
"That's right" Rose said.
"How's the search going?" Charles asked changing the topic. "What search?" Luke asked in confusion.
"Oh a letter was found yesterday.... We can't figure out who it belongs to" Rose said.
"The contestants received letters from their families yesterday. Everyone claimed their letters are with them. Zain ordered everyone to provide him their letters.... Which they did" Charles said.
"Ohh.... it's mine" Luke simply said. "How can it be yours?" Charles asked. Luke took off his glasses.
"A lady gave it to me... She received it from her abusive father. I had to address it immediately..... The letter must have fall out of my cloak" Luke said.
"Where did you read the letter?" Azriel asked.
"Over by the fountain" Luke replied.
"Recite the letter word for word" Rose said.
"Stupid brat, you had one fucking job to do and you had to screw that up. I heard you've grown wings, I'm sure it's high time I cut it off for you. Come home so we can have a little chat"
Luke ruffles his hair. "If you don't come home I'll have to drag you here myself. You've somehow managed to make yourself an enemy with a noble, he wants you dead"
"If you don't return home so we can iron things out as a family, I'll send your head on a plate to him as a present. Don't test me bastard and know your place" Luke smiles the moment he was done.
You must be wondering why Luke claimed the letter as his own. Let's go few hours ago.
When Azriel sent for the seer. Anastasia approached him. "Luke are you busy?" She asks in a panic.
"What's the problem?" He asked equally panicked.
"Let's go to a more private place" Anastasia suggested.
"Don't worry, I've casted an illusion spell. Everyone looking at us now would think we're discussing about the types of dessert.... Just tell me what the problem is Anastasia" Luke said.
Anastasia paused from shock. "Anastasia? That's the first time you've said my real name" She said.
"I'm sorry... I got carried away" He said.
"Please don't get carried away in front of other people" She said. "I won't" Luke said.
"I got a letter from home.... It isn't a pleasant one..... I planned to burn it but I forgot... Unfortunately it slipped out of my pocket and now the emperor has it" Anastasia said.
"What's it about?" Luke asked. "My father wants me to come home for a little chat. I don't want to go back to that hell.... I know my memories hasn't been recovered but I have a bad feeling about this" She said as she trembled.
"Don't worry I'll handle it" Luke said. "What if the emperor finds out the truth? What if he traced the letter back to my father?"
"Anastasia calm down.... Just tell me what the letter said. I need it in details" Luke said.
Anastasia gave a rundown of everything.
"Is your name written in the letter?"
"No... He didn't bother to write his name or mine" She said.
"I'll give him credit for his smartness. He knew no one would suspect him if the letter was found" Luke said.
"He's a conning man" Anastasia said. "Go rest... I'll handle this" Luke said.
{Back To The Present}
"Why didn't you say anything since?" Rose asked.
"I'd admit I've been searching for the letter but I didn't have time to bother about it since I've dealt with the issue myself" Luke said.
"Why did you go alone?" Charles asked. "I didn't want to bother you" Luke replied.
"Is that the reason for the bruises?" Charles asked again.
Luke examine his wrists, he remembers he tried to cook yesterday but he trip on air and hit the pot causing the oil to spill on his hands. He tried to treat it with magic but it was useless.
"I didn't want to worry you" Luke replied.
"Have you lost your mind? Do you know you could have gotten hurt?" Charles asked.
Luke smiles softly the moment Charles caressed his cheeks. They both forgot Rose and Azriel were present before them.
"I'm sorry for making you worry. It won't happen again" Luke said. "It better not" Charles replied.