Chapter 123: Chapter 123 - Betrayal (Part 1)
One year had already passed.
Four seasons had changed since the white-haired maid named Jennie quietly vanished from the Royal Palace of Seraiya.
Spring had changed into summer.
Summer had changed into autumn.
Autumn had changed into winter.
And now...
Spring had returned again.
Thousand of white flowers decorated the palace gardens, filling the air with their mild fragrance that went through all open windows of the royal castle.
Life had gone further.
Sixteen birthday of Princess Lilia KingHeart was celebrated.
From the happy girl she had grown up to be a graceful young woman that was loved by all citizens of the kingdom.
Her silvery blonde hair touched her waist.
Her emerald eyes were matured ahead of time.
Being the carrier of the Legendary Divine Mark, she studied the statecraft at morning, and then trained with the Royal Knights.
Everybody respected her.
Everybody honored her.
People called her the Jewel of Seraiya.
And yet...
There was something in her heart which couldn’t be explained.
Not even by Lilia herself.
The modified flow of history had erased the memory about Jennie.
She didn’t remember anything about a white-haired maid anymore.
She didn’t remember sunsets which she enjoyed together with Jennie.
She didn’t remember laughter in the palace gardens.
She didn’t remember anything about a girl who once saved her life.
And yet...
Some memories wouldn’t leave her heart forever.
That morning, as usual, Lilia had breakfast at the eastern balcony of the palace, from where the view of the palace gardens was perfect.
Servants put down the silver tableware: fresh bread, fruits, tea.
Lilia thanked them with a smile and reached for the teapot.
Without even thinking...
She poured two cups of tea.
She blinked.
"...Hm?"
There was one cup before her.
There was another cup, untouched, on the other side of the table.
The maid silently remarked:
"You poured an extra cup of tea, Your Highness..."
"You poured an extra cup..."
Lilia looked at the cup of tea for a couple of seconds.
"I..."
She made an embarrassed smile.
"It seems I haven’t been attentive enough..."
Her laughter was unsure.
"What an odd mistake."
The servants looked at each other silently.
It wasn’t a mistake.
Almost every morning she did it.
But none of them knew the reason why.
After breakfast Lilia walked along the royal library.
She politely greeted all scholars and borrowed several books, and then entered her personal reading room.
There...
She also stopped.
The comfortable chair was opposite to her seat.
Without even noticing, she moved it from its previous position right opposite to her.
Exactly in front of her seat.
As if somebody was supposed to sit there.
Only after opening her book did she notice.
"...Again?"
She frowned.
"Why do I do this all the time?"
Nobody gave her an answer.
Only silence filled the room.
Later in the afternoon Lilia wandered around the royal gardens.
The gardeners politely bowed to her.
Her eyes traveled through rows of flowering flowers.
Then she stopped.
White lilies.
Their smell was carried by the warm breeze.
She stayed there for some time.
Something warm started to fill her chest.
Gentle.
Comforting.
Familiar.
She touched one of their petals lightly.
"...These are beautiful."
The smile appeared on her lips.
For a while...
She felt like she should have been accompanied by somebody who quietly admired the flowers with her.
Somebody whose face she couldn’t remember any longer.
This feeling went away as suddenly as it had appeared.
In the evening the sun slowly sank behind the western mountains.
The golden light filled the royal balcony.
Lilia put her hands on the stone balustrade and silently watched the sunset.
She had watched many sunsets before.
Why did she do it?
She didn’t know the reason.
She only knew that every time when the sky turned orange and yellow...
Her heart felt unusual lonely.
As if she had once enjoyed watching this scene together with somebody.
With somebody whose laughter was carried by the evening breeze.
Whose name had been erased from the history.
The first stars appeared in the sky.
Lilia sadly smiled.
"I wonder..."
"...why sunsets make me miss someone."
The wind answered only with silence.
Somewhere far away...
Beyond kingdoms...
Beyond forests and mountains...
Jennie continued her journey, not knowing that despite the modified history that erased her from Lilia’s memory...
It would never manage to erase the place in her heart.
The next morning, the Royal Palace of Seraiya was bustling with activity.
Knights paraded in impeccable formation in the castle courtyards.
Scholars hastened down marble corridors with maps and reports in hand.
Various messengers appeared from all corners of the kingdom.
Although spring has brought sunshine...
Politics never knows of peace.
Princess Lilia came to the council chamber exactly on time.
At the age of sixteen, she had already become a very important member of the Royal Council.
King Aldric KingHeart was sitting on the Lion Throne in his usual majestic pose.
Beside him was sitting the queen, elegant as always and silently listening to the discussion.
Behind the throne was standing Arthur as the captain of the Royal Hands, protectors of the king.
In front of the opposite wall of the chamber was standing Lucas KingHeart, now the youngest Commander of the Royal Knights in the history of Seraiya.
He bowed respectfully.
"Sire."
"The western border is stable."
King Aldric nodded.
"Good."
"But nothing is ever stable."
A huge map of the continent was spread across the council table.
A few nobles were leaning over.
King Aldric pointed at the western frontier on the map.
"Our neighboring kingdom..."
"Tricus."
Lilia was silently looking at the map.
The Kingdom of Tricus had for many years been peacefully bordering Seraiya.
Its fertile fields provided grain to the whole western part of the continent, and trade caravans traveled safely from one kingdom to another throughout the year.
Many years ago...
In order to deepen the friendship between the two kingdoms...
The eldest daughter of King Aldric KingHeart, Princess Eleanor KingHeart, had been married to the Crown Prince Victor of Tricus.
This wedding was celebrated all over the continent as a sign of everlasting peace.
Lilia was smiling softly.
"I haven’t seen Sister Eleanor for quite a while."
Queen Celestine smiled.
"I’m sure she misses you as well."
King Aldric put his hands together.
"Peace has lasted many years."
"But recent reports make me worried."
Lucas stepped forward and placed several reports on the table.
"There have been cases of increasing activity of monsters along the western trade routes."
"A number of merchant caravans have requested military escorts."
Arthur put his arms akimbo.
"The Hunter Guild also has reported strange migration of monsters."
Lilia remembered Snow’s words from so many years ago.
Animals are the first to feel the danger.
Something inexplicable but somehow familiar resonated in her soul with those words.
For just a brief moment Lilia frowned before the feeling was gone.
King Aldric looked around the chamber.
"I am going to send additional forces to reinforce the western border."
"Not because I mistrust Tricus..."
"But because uncertain times require preparation."
The nobles nodded in approval.
Lilia spoke wisely.
"Then if our kingdoms cooperate, both borders will be safe."
King Aldric smiled proudly.
"Exactly."
"I will send a diplomatic delegation to Tricus."
"We will reinforce our defenses together."
Arthur nodded.
"I will organize the royal escort."
Lucas placed a fist over his chest.
"The Royal Knights are ready."
The discussion went on for an hour more, talking about supply routes, trade agreements, and patrol plans.
When the council dispersed, the sun was high in the spring sky.
As everyone was leaving the council chamber, Lilia stayed behind for a brief moment.
Her eyes looked out of one of the palace windows.
Outside there were royal gardens with swaying white flowers.
Without even noticing...
She smiled.
That was a smile full of warmth.
The kind she rarely showed during the council discussions.
Arthur noticed it as he walked past.
"The same flowers again?"
Lilia blinked.
"Oh..."
She turned away as if being embarrassed.
"I guess I just like them."
Arthur smiled.
"Then maybe we should plant more of them."
"I think that the palace looks great with them."
Lilia nodded.
"...Yes."
"It does."
None of them knew why the sight of the white blossoms was so soothing for their souls.
Very far away, across countless mountains and forests, another traveler with white hair looked at the same blue sky.
Despite the distance...
And despite the forgotten memories...
There was an invisible thread connecting their hearts.
Neither of them knew it.
But the fate was already drawing both of them together for the day when they would meet again.
When Lilia left the palace’s balcony, the soft spring wind ruffled her hair.
Upon vacating her spot, she inexplicably turned and glanced behind her, as though to see whether someone was following her.
But no one was there.
There was no one in the corridor behind her.
She laughed at herself.
"What am waiting for...?"
Her fingers touched the railing of the balcony.
It was warm as if she had leaned against it countless times while talking to somebody.
This sensation lasted barely a moment before fading away.
At that moment, a younger maid was observing the scene from afar.
She whispered to the older one,
"Her Highness has been doing this every day."
The older maid replied, "Sometimes it feels she has been waiting for somebody who was supposed to come."
But remained puzzled about what the reason behind the princess’s behavior was.
