Chapter 108: 108: Second Annulment
Before Ray could reply, Kai jumped in.
"Him? A secret billionaire? Cutie please. Does he look the part?"
Ray wanted to punch him but held himself back and averted his attention to Anna.
"I’m saying we can take care of you. You don’t need to worry anymore."
Anna’s gaze traveled between the two of them, her suspicion etched firmly on her face. "I know you’re both messing with me and trying to make our situation a bit less bleak, and I truly understand that. But this is serious."
"It is," both Ray and Kai said at the same time.
Satisfied, Anna turned her eyes back to the window.
Ray knew she didn’t want to talk any more, so he too looked away. Deep down, he knew he’d have to do something. And as unpleasant as the thought was, he needed to unearth a part of his past that he had long buried.
****
The journey ended up lasting a week.
By the time the group arrived at the Southern borders, Anna was so tired she could sleep for a full month.
Drax drove them to a smal cottage right on the outskirts of the capital. According to him, it belonged to an old friend of his. Anna had so many questions to ask, things along the line of
Why did the border guards know Drax if he was from the west and not the south?
How many people does he know here?
But she couldn’t ask any of them because the moment Drax dropped them off, he vanished.
The cottage was small, with two rooms, a living area, a small kitchen, and two bathrooms. It was a far cry from the luxurious palace that Anna was used to, but the space reminded her of her tiny apartment back home.
She said a silent prayer, hoping that Taco was okay and living a great life.
"Here, you should change into this." Ray handed Anna a small bundle of clothes. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, avoiding her eyes. "Don’t ask how I got them, just...try it on."
Anna smiled softly, looking down at the bundle. She desperately needed a change of clothes. Travelling in the same outfit was not something she enjoyed.
"Thank you, Ray. You’re so sweet." She said, rising to the top of her toes to peck his cheek.
His cheeks turned pink and he blinked rapidly, a small clicking sound coming from his throat. "I-it’s nothing at all!" He stammered, something Anna found adorable.
But their little moment was interrupted by Kai throwing the door open.
"Cutie! I got you something I’m sure you’d like!" Kai sang as he made his way over to them. He completely ignored Ray and looked right at Anna. Then he held up a giant watering can. "Some medicated water."
Anna’s eyes widened. "Where did you get that?! They’re expensive and rare and—"
Kai placed a finger over her lips. "I know, I know. It doesn’t matter where it came from. You need it and I brought it." His eyes moved down to the bundle of clothes in her arms and his nose wrinkled. "What are these?"
Before Anna could reply, he took the clothes and held them up. They comprised of a simple gown, and some undergarments.
"Hey? Give those back!" Anna gasped, reaching out for them.
"These are so ugly. Where did you get them?" Kai asked, holding them above her head.
Anna’s cheeks turned red. "They are not ugly. And Ray gave it to me, I like them very much! Give them back!"
Only then did Kai’s eyes turn to Ray. "Oh," he said, as in "oh what a waste of time" then he sighed and gently handed the clothes back to Anna. "Don’t worry cutie, soon I’ll buy you so many pretty dresses. Finer then the ones you had in the palace."
Anna huffed in annoyance, holding the clothes tightly to her chest. "And how will you do that with no money?"
Kai laughed. He tossed the watering can to Ray who caught it expertly. "Don’t worry about how I’ll do it, cutie." He said with a wink. "I’ll be back soon, I need to make a quick trip to the city."
"Why?" Anna grabbed his arm without even thinking. She realized what she had done and stepped back, clearing her throat. "It could be dangerous. We don’t know this place very much, especially you."
Kai smiled, showing a sharp fang. "You’re worrying about me, that’s so cute."
"Never mind." Anna snapped, turning to leave.
"Woah woah, slow down cutie. I’m sorry. What I meant to say was, you mentioned you wanted a job or something. I might know a few people to ask. Nothing serious."
Anna turned to him, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. She didn’t want to think of it, but her mind went there. She turned to Ray who was holding the watering can of medicated water like he was worried it would come alive at bite him. Then she looked back at Kai who was grinning, excited like a puppy.
"Did you steal it?" Anna asked in a quiet tone. "The water."
Kai’s smile was shocked out of his face. "I’ve never stolen anything in my life, cutie. There’s never been any need to do so."
"Then how did you get it? Is there something you’re not telling me?"
"Don’t we all have secrets?"
Anna blinked. Somehow she felt he was talking about her true nature. But Ray didn’t know that yet, and she didn’t want to tell him.
So she sighed. "Fine. I’ll leave the door open for you."
And his smile was back like clockwork. "Excellent. Ray, take care of my cutie for me okay?"
"She’s mine too," Ray shot back, his voice bordering on whiny.
"I’m my own person and I don’t belong to anyone." Anna said pointedly. "Now, you should be on your way, no?" She said to Kai.
Just then, the door opened and someone else walked in.
Drax brought the cold with him. He’d changed into a burnt orange robe, and there was something different about him. Anna thought his eyes looked harsher until she noticed that they were now both green. A brilliant, hypnotizing green. She felt like if she stared into his eyes for too long, he’d bewitch her. His hair was also braided, three red stones weaved into the thick braid that rested on his shoulders.
He looked majestic. Like a king about to address his subjects.
And when his gaze snapped to Anna, she was reminded of their altercation the previous week. The visible disgust and anger he held in his eyes that time. But now it was all gone. He stared at her like a vegan would look at a piece of meat. Total disinterest.
Kai whistled low. "Look who it is."
"You look different," Ray said.
Drax nodded. "I came to tie off loose ends and also inform you that I will be leaving. Permanently."
"Where are you going?" Anna asked, agaisnt her will.
"My place," Drax replied. "A place I’ve always needed to return to but been unable to because of certain...preoccupations."
Anna swallowed, the meaning of his words not lost on her.
"I see. Thank you very much for driving us here and this place too."
"It was nothing. I also have one last thing for you."
Anna didn’t know what he could possibly have for her, but she nodded.
He crossed the distance between them and handed over an envelope. From the mere look of it, it looked important. With a deep orange and green color scheme, even the paper it was made of was weighty. Like it held something very important.
Anna opened it and took out the piece of paper folded neatly inside. She read through it, and slowly her expression changed.
"Annulment?" She asked, her voice a breathless whisper as she lifted her gaze to Drax’s "you’re divorcing me?"
"It is quite fitting, don’t you think? Especially now that she’s gone."
"Drax." Ray called, his voice a warning.
"Noctis, you will stay out of this. This is between me and her."
"What are you doing?" Ray went on. "You can’t be serious. This is not the time, Drax. Reconsider."
Anna raised her hand and Ray fell silent. "It’s okay," she said. Even as her hands trembled and her vision turned blurry. She blinked back the tears and looked up at Drax. "I understand why you’re doing this. You’re doing the right thing."
"I know I am." Drax relied.
"Drax!" Ray yelled.
"It’s okay," Anna said to him. "I’ll sign them."
Drax took out a pen and handed it to Anna. Her hand was so shaky she almost dropped it twice. But she was able to scribble some signature across the page. It came naturally to her, Princess Orchid’s signature. Drax stared at it long and hard, his eyes burning with an emotion Anna couldn’t name.
Once she was done, he took the papers and folded them back up. Then he left without another word.
