Chapter Nine
_ A Real Dream
Before he opened the door, he heard Casper's voice, who spoke in a low tone when he realized his master was standing in front of the door.
"Your Majesty, there are suspicious people in the inn looking for you. They gave descriptions almost exactly like yours. The inn owner is distracting them so you can escape from here. They might approach here. We are currently trying not to intervene. The owner told me there is a secret room behind the bed. Press the woman's eyes."
"I understand. You and Brian leave and take the carriage. Make sure no one at the palace knows about my absence until I return."
"I follow Your Majesty's orders."
Casper left, and Raphael turned to Ariana, who was sitting with ragged breaths. When Raphael bent down to her, he found that her skin had become pale and her breathing had become shallow. He placed his hand on her forehead and found that her temperature had risen.
'Is this one of the side effects?!...'
"Raph, what's happening?!"
Her exhausted question pulled him out of his thoughts, so he took a deep breath.
"We must leave... First, we have to hide there."
He signaled her to try to stand up with difficulty, so Raphael held her and moved her toward the secret space. But Ariana's steps were weak, yet he noticed the approaching noise, so he grabbed her waist and quickly pulled her with him to hide...
He was holding Ariana in that small space and trying to muffle the sound of her breathing with his hand, as she looked at him with wide eyes...
'She is very tired. I must get her out quickly. If I move now, the magical side effects will appear, and they will discover us. Who are they?!...'
Raphael activated his senses to hear sounds indicating about five people.
'Their magical aura is high. They are not a match for me, but she is with me, and she might get hurt.'
He tried to figure out what they were saying...
* * *
When I entered the secret space, I tried to focus on the sounds so I could know who they were...
"They were here..."
One of them spoke. The other, who seemed to be their leader, spoke:
"How were they able to escape? Search for them."
"Nothing, there is nothing..."
"There is a faint trace of magic, but no one is here."
The conversation was among the group, until their leader spoke again:
"Are you sure it's the man who was described to you?!"
"I didn't see his face, but he carried all the specifications we were told about."
"Captain, if he wasn't the target, why would they run away?!"
Their leader sighed then spoke with impatience after a search that lasted for an hour:
"There is no place we can find them. Let's leave... They will be here another day... Come on... You, watch the entrance."
The group left, but I knew one of them was still present. When I made sure they were gone, I looked at Ariana, who was gripping the edge of my robe; it seemed she was suffering. I opened the secret space and took her out.
"Are you alright?!"
"I... am fine."
Her voice was fragmented and her breaths were heavy. I cannot treat her now. I need a quiet place. Then I whispered to her:
"We will get out of here, and go to a safe place."
She nodded positively, then held onto me and I instantly teleported us to the nearest location to the Marquis's palace. I couldn't find a suitable place other than the Imperial Palace, but I didn't want her identity to be exposed or for her to be scared, so I decided to go to her house.... We were standing in front of the road leading to the mansion...
She looked at me in surprise then smiled weakly and said:
"We will walk for three minutes, in that direction. We will find the secret door to the mansion. It is a secret passage directly to my room."
She held onto my arm tightly to stand straight and we headed to the specified location...
A wall covered with climbing plants, and no sign of any door. I approached it while supporting her, then she moved the stones in a certain pattern, and a door opened in the floor, which at first glance looked like dirt, but it was a gateway...
I went down with her with steady steps, I was the one holding onto her tightly, afraid of her falling. She smiled at my face despite the fatigue... We continued our descent for almost a whole floor, then the gate closed and we started walking with steady steps in a long, somewhat narrow corridor. Her breathing was loudly audible, and her steps became slower, and it seemed her pain was intensifying. I felt her gripping my arm. I was truly worried...
I had never felt this worry before. I took a deep breath then pulled away my hand that was holding her, and she looked at me with concern. 'What is that look?!' My heart thumped strongly. I placed my hand behind her back and the other under her knees and smiled playfully to reassure her:
"We won't reach your room until tomorrow. This is faster... Guide me."
She smiled weakly and began to point the way until we reached a steeply sloping staircase.
"This staircase leads directly to my room on the third floor."
"Hold onto me tightly so neither of us falls."
Her small arms hugged my neck tightly and we started ascending that staircase. I started hearing her breathing heavily and the worry and fear started intensifying inside me. I continued the ascent at a steady pace, forgetting that strange feeling in my heart. A small warm body and the refreshing scent of jasmine and lemon flowed from her body. My heart is beating violently, I feel like it will explode...
Perhaps because my senses were cautious, I felt her body relax even though she was still holding me. I lowered my head to see... She had fainted. I don't know how it happened, but I found myself running like a madman until I reached her room...
When I opened her room, the temperature level was good. I pushed aside the curtains of her bed and took off her robe, and I don't know what's wrong with me, I can barely breathe. Her small body that looked like it would disappear, and her breaths started fading. I felt for a moment that she would vanish. Was it because of a feeling inside me that I must protect this fragile existence, but she has become my need and my salvation? I don't know, I feel like I will die seeing her suffer...
I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands were trembling. I wiped her cheeks, her eyes were closed and her smiling lips had turned blue and lifeless.
'Don't disappear please, don't leave me... Aya.'
My lips trembled, but I told her my desire for the first time:
"Don't leave me Aya... please, my Aya."
I must gather myself. Her breathing is weak, and her temperature is high. She is still resisting. She told me she trusts me...
I put my trembling hand back on her heart and regained my composure.
'Ariana trusts me, don't disappoint her.'
I took a deep breath and started pouring the magic inside her again with intense focus and calmness. 'She must survive.' This is my desire...
The magic was poured higher and much slower; it took thirty minutes. When I finished, I placed my hand on her nose and mouth. 'Her breathing has stabilized...'
"What is happening to the young lady?!"
This voice startled me, and I didn't even realize that I hadn't even put on my cloak. I turned to the source of the sound, it was the maid. 'When did she arrive?'...
She was trembling with worry and crying. 'She cares about Ariana intensely.' I took a deep breath and spoke calmly:
"She is fine, she was just affected by the storm on our way back, that's all."
"What were you doing to the young lady?! What is that?!"
"I am the one treating her."
I was forced to tell her, she is someone Aya trusts..
"But, how did the young lady's condition worsen?"
She was speaking and her body was shaking from crying. She must calm down. How will she take care of Ariana..
"It was my mistake, so I am sorry... What matters now is that you take care of her. Her temperature is high, you must start caring for her."
She wiped her tears with her sleeves then headed to Ariana with determination and began removing the unsuitable clothes. In truth, I couldn't leave until I was reassured about Aya..
"Is there anything I can do?!"
"Her temperature is very high and won't drop easily, she must be placed inside cold water to lower it."
"Alright, I will do that."
"Wait a moment, I must prepare suitable clothes for her, so I can change her immediately after the cold bath."
I nodded positively and went to Ariana and lifted her easily. Her maid came carrying the clothes and we entered her bathroom. The cold water was turned on and when the tub filled, I placed Ariana, who, despite being asleep, gasped from the cold and held onto me tightly. Her maid looked at me helplessly...
"Can you remove my robe?"
The maid placed the towel on a nearby table then took off my cloak. When she moved it away, she looked at me with confusion, so I took a deep breath and entered the tub with Ariana and tried to immerse the largest part of her body in the water, even carrying water to her head, until her temperature dropped.
"Sir, you will also get sick, the weather is cold."
"It's alright, it seems her fever has dropped."
When I made sure her temperature had dropped, I carried her out. The strange thing is that even though she was unconscious, she was clinging to me tightly...
The maid came with a towel to cover Ariana. When I made sure she was covered well, I was about to put her down, when the maid spoke:
"Wait a moment, Sir."
She went out and quickly returned with another towel..
"Sir, dry yourself with this and sit in front of the fireplace until the warmth returns to you."
I placed Ariana down and seated her on the chair here, then took the towel and left the bathroom. I took off my shirt and hung it in front of the fireplace. 'My clothes are dripping.' I placed the towel on my upper body and started walking around this room. A large bed covered with light sky-blue curtains, a small desk, a tea table in front of the window... When I approached, I found some books. 'This place looks like her private space.' Her scent fills the room, sweet and refreshing. The room resembles her, simple and beautiful. I looked out the window, it was noon and I should not be late...
CHECK!!!
I noticed the sound of the bathroom door opening, the maid was supporting the unconscious Ariana. I approached them and carried Ariana and returned her to her bed... Her maid approached and bowed deeply:
"Thank you truly, Sir."
I placed my hand on Ariana's forehead, and I don't know, seeing her peaceful face which had returned to life, my heart was relieved. I spoke:
"I didn't do anything, Ariana is dear to me."
The maid's look was complicated, but she smiled through her tears:
"The young lady will be happy."
"I must leave, convey my regards to her when she wakes up."
"You haven't dried yourself, Sir, you will get sick."
"It's alright, the situation is safe."
The maid gave me the cloak and I put it on and placed the towel on the floor, and headed to the secret door. Before closing the door that faced her bed, I looked calmly at her place: 'Don't get hurt, Ariana.' And I left...
After I closed the door, I instantly teleported to my room in the palace, the time was late today and it was noon. I entered the bathroom to take a hot bath and return to my work, but what caught my attention was the basket on my bed. I remembered that I had transported it here so no evidence would be left. The basket and the plate of biscuits, I put my hand on my hair and smiled, I took a piece of biscuit and put it in my mouth and arranged the biscuits well and covered the basket again, but I cannot deny, I liked the matter...
After I finished preparing, I left the room and bumped into Marshall standing in front of the door..
"Your Majesty, are you alright?"
"I am fine."
I left the door and walked forward, hearing his voice:
"Your Majesty, were you asleep?"
He was hesitant to ask the question, but he asked it. I turned to him with a sarcastic look:
"Do you think I ran away from the palace at this age?!"
It was a tricky question, but Marshall hesitated and said:
"It was like that in your childhood, so..."
"Rest assured, I am fine."
The look of that old man who had served me since I was five years old was strange, but it was warm...
"I must resume my work, summon Roalf to my office, and if Casper Wilton and Brian Karos arrive, send them directly to me."
"I follow Your Majesty's orders."
I headed to my office with an important thought in my head: who knew about us?! And what do they know?!
* * *
"Yayy... how long are you going to stay asleep?! We have a lot to do today."
I opened my eyes to see the familiar voice owner, the voice I had missed a lot...
She pulled the blanket off me, and I saw her small face with dark black eyes and short black hair which made her white skin stand out strongly like the moon in the middle of a dark night. I smiled and tears flowed, and I threw myself onto her and hugged her tightly, tears were falling from my heart..
"Lily, I missed you."
She laughed playfully and mocked me:
"You missed me so quickly, Aya, did something happen to your mind?"
I tried to gather myself and spoke:
"Was everything that happened a dream?!"
Yoorim laughed and said with a warm, sad smile:
"No, what is happening now is the dream, Aya."
"Lily, are you joking with me now?!"
"No, I also missed you, and I wanted to meet you. Aya, we have left, that world has ended, perhaps we should give our new world our hearts to change our destiny."
"How can I change my destiny, this world..."
"I know, in the past you couldn't live properly. In this world, maybe you will find a way and the happiness you didn't find there, maybe I too will find my happiness."
"Are you here too?"
I was truly surprised, and Lily's eyes sparkled and she smiled and rubbed her cheek shyly:
"I don't know what this world is, but I think maybe I will find my happiness in it. You and I couldn't be happy until the end, maybe we will become happy someday."
I knew her words meant goodbye, and I felt my heart ache.
"But, Lily..."
Lily hugged me tightly to comfort my heart and laughed through her tears:
"I remember you were the one who comforted me when I cried, you've become childish."
I laughed and the tears soaked my cheeks, I held onto her tightly:
"Lily, will I meet you someday?!"
"I don't know, maybe someday."
"I hope we meet, I also think I've become happy in this world."
Lily laughed and pulled away and said:
"It's time to say goodbye, Aya."
I didn't want to say goodbye to her, I truly missed her, more than three years have passed since we parted, I don't want to part from her again, my sobbing increased and I held onto her hand more tightly, but she patted my hand and said kindly:
"It won't be our last meeting, goodbye Aya."
I tried to hold on more and through my tears:
"Goodbye Lily."
Lily released my hand and left quietly and disappeared. I didn't want to let her go but I must let her live happily, right...
I knew I was in a dream, it was a real dream, I put my head back on the bed and closed my eyes, trying to wipe away my violently falling tears. I went back to sleep again...
When I woke up again, the transparent sky-blue curtains covering the bed were closed and light was streaming through them. 'It looks like I didn't sleep much.' I raised my upper body and felt something warm on my cheek, when I put my hand there I found tears, it seems I cried so hard that my tears fell while I was asleep. I had barely processed anything, until I felt a body rushing towards me and the sound of sobbing..
"My lady... I was worried about you."
"Marian, what's wrong with you?! I am fine."
Marian stepped away, wiping her tears and said with a tearful voice:
"Your condition was critical, and you haven't woken up since yesterday, and I summoned the doctor but he didn't say anything."
"Oh, did I sleep for a whole day?"
I was truly shocked and looked at Marian who was looking at me with an innocent look like a child fearing the loss of its mother. I sighed and said:
"Don't worry, it's nothing major, I'm fine."
Marian wiped her tears violently and said:
"Should I bring breakfast for you... rather, it will be lunch."
I smiled at her:
"Yes, bring the food, and then you will tell me everything."
She nodded yes and set off enthusiastically for the kitchen. I remembered what had happened. As I recall, when I talked to Raph I was very excited despite his strange fluctuations but I was cheerful, for the first time he expressed himself sincerely... I was happy.
I decided within myself that I would support this man with all my strength, he is a good person and I won't allow them to hurt him and turn him into a monster...
When we started the treatment, those dangerous transformations scattered us. I knew that the subsequent effects of cutting the flow were bad for me but I didn't expect them to be so strong and fast. I could barely gather the sounds when Raph reached me and my feet weren't supporting me, so Raph was moving me, I was stripped of strength and will, and the strange thing is that he was very close to me and protecting me strongly, I knew he wouldn't leave me, so I relied on him in turn, after we left he transported me to the road to Silas mansion, it might seem like he was helping me but he was literally carrying me...
I tried to stay awake but my strength started to betray me, he carried me in his arms despite the feeling of embarrassment that completely overwhelmed me but I truly rely on him, when he carried me I clung to him, he was my straw that protected me from drowning in despair and darkness, then I started to lose consciousness but I was hearing fluctuating sounds and hallucinations: "Don't leave me... Aya... my own."
It was Raph's voice, but it's impossible for him to say that, it's madness. I shook my head violently to distract my mind from these useless things and tried to get up from my place to reach the bathroom. Poor Marian, she was so distracted that she didn't bring me washing water. I entered the bathroom and washed my face to regain my energy and as I came out of the bathroom, a carefully folded shirt caught my attention. When I picked it up in my hand, I was able to recognize it immediately, it was the shirt Raphael wore yesterday, how did it get here and why did he leave it...
I returned to the room and sat in my chair in front of the window until Marian entered with the food trolley, and when she saw me sitting in my place, she was surprised and said with concern:
"My lady, you must stay in bed, your body is still tired."
I sighed and motioned for her to hurry, Marian put down the food and even though she was smiling she was still worried about me, and after she finished placing all the food I opened my mouth:
"What happened yesterday, and why is Raph's shirt here?"
I lifted the shirt in my hand, so Marian took a deep breath and said:
"First you must eat."
My eyes opened in shock then I looked at her, her stern looks made me finish my meal quickly, and after I finally finished I looked at her pleadingly and she smiled gently and said:
"What happened is that the Sir carried you here, and you were unconscious...."
She told me everything in meticulous detail, I felt very embarrassed. 'I held onto him in a stupid way, he was so kind to take care of me.' I smiled happily and Marian looked at me with strange looks then said with a smile:
"My lady, the Sir is handsome, and also a powerful magician who uses the very rare healing magic."
'Healing magic is incredibly rare, Raphael has strong abilities, but why is all this happening to him?!'
I looked at Marian in amazement, then I realized two things, the first is that Marian knew my method of treatment and the matter is not harmful, and the second is that Marian did not recognize Raphael's identity, perhaps because the Emperor had not publicly appeared in the capital as the Emperor, it is good that it is so, we will be in trouble if she knows who he is...
I looked at Marian and rubbed my cheek in embarrassment:
"Yes he is handsome and good, but no one should know."
Marian spoke playfully and with a bright smile:
"I am Marian Belmer, I pledge allegiance to my young lady Ariana Silas."
I laughed at her behavior and said pretending to be angry:
"You have to complete your work, don't be lazy."
Marian laughed and bowed and before she left she said pointing to the window:
"My lady, that bird."
I turned to look, and it was the white magical bird, and as I recall its name (Biff) which comes to me when I receive a message from Raph. Marian completed her speech:
"It has been standing here since early morning, I tried to feed it but it refused."
I smiled at Marian and said:
"Never mind, prepare mint and honey tea for me and I will see."
Marian nodded yes and took the dishes and left the room, and when she left the room, I signaled Biff to come and the bird flew into my lap, so I stroked him then took the message out of his belly, Raph had sent a message since early morning,
I opened the message and was astonished by it....
...... To be continued ......