I woke up with a start, confused and a little bit groggy. Sitting up, I had to stare blankly at the space in front of me to process everything. Unlike the other times when I dreamt of memories of the past, the dream last night remained clear in my head. It was neither hazy nor vague. Nor did I feel that something is amiss.

Helen’s statement is still ringing in my mind. And just like she said, I was able to understand her now. Why she doesn’t want Nadia to use her magic and why she said that the world is not a safe place for them. Because it truly isn’t. Helen must have been fearing that Nadia would get into trouble. 

And it happened. I am now being hunted down as she feared so.

I let out the first sigh for the day.

Also, I immediately wanted to apologize to Helen for breaking that promise. 

‘I’m sorry, mother…’

Patting my face, I looked around and my eyes landed on the sofa where Lukas slept last night. The blanket was neatly folded on top of the pillow and I thought to myself, ‘At least he knows how to tidy up.’

Thinking of how deep I was sleeping and how I was able to drift off to dreamland despite him being there, I honestly thought it would be a sleepless night. I was already dreading it but God must have favored me or probably pitied me. Dealing with that guy almost every day sure is exhausting after all.

Life is still fair…

As I was thinking of what to do during the afternoon, Freesia brought another letter that came from Bea, inviting me for tea in the pavilion. Since I have nothing to do, I decided to go. 

Erin and Amy came with me while Evelyn did her job as a bodyguard. I have no clue where Lukas is at the moment but since he wasn’t showing himself, I would just assume he went off somewhere. Or he could be lurking around, who knows…

On the way to the pavilion, I met two royal guards who were on patrol that greeted us politely. It had been a long time since I last came to the palace so it makes sense that I would see fresh faces. More so when new royal knights were just recruited.

The future of the empire is bright.

“Bea!” I greeted her as soon as I saw her.

“Nadia,” a sweet smile on her cherry lips.

The pavilion we are in is different from the place where the empress and I usually stay. That was in the palace garden while although this is still a garden, it’s much more public and it’s closer to where Bea stays.

“I haven’t seen you for so long, how are you?” I inquired as soon as I sat down and exchanged pleasantries with her.

“I’m well, thank you,” Bea smiled graciously. “I should be the one asking you that. How are you?” she added in a worried tone.

“Surviving? Hahaha,” I chuckled to play it off.

So true, though…

Bea seemed weirded out that I was acting so nonchalant about it. But hey, I’m used to it now.

“I heard you got attacked yesterday again. You’re not hurt, aren’t you?” Was her standard question, of course.

Everyone seemed to ask me those questions as if they all share the same script.

“Thankfully they weren’t the same psychopaths who first attacked me,” I breathed, feeling somewhat grateful even though I shouldn’t.

How low have I fallen to accept and even feel glad that they aren’t trying to kill me and were just messing with me? Maybe I need a therapist…

Bea looked at me with pity in her dark eyes, which made me pity myself as well.

“Don’t you get tired from all of it? It must be so hard for you,” she muttered.

“You have no idea. To be honest, I’m only a few inches away from completely going insane. It’s that bad…” I divulged.

It’s still a miracle that I am still a functioning person like everyone else. Maybe if there is no one keeping me safe, if my family is not fully devoting themselves for my sake, if Lukas wasn’t around, I probably would have lost it, yes…

“I still don’t understand why these enemies of the empire are specifically targeting you even though you are not of royal birth.”

Bea’s brows furrowed lightly, showing the proof of her words. Meanwhile, I hid my grimace by putting the rim of the teacup on my lips and quietly sipped.

Right. My friends are still not aware of my real situation. They do not know that I can use magic and that the reason why I was being hunted was because of this said magic. They must have been fed with a seemingly believable lie such as being targeted because of political disputes.

A bitter laugh escaped my mouth, disguised as a joke.

“Haha, who knows… Probably because I’m the daughter of a former general?”

Bea shook her head in discordance and muttered about how politics and power struggles are troublesome. Even her, as the running candidate for the crown princess position, is also stuck in that vicious situation.

I’d rather be in her shoes than in mine, honestly.

She turned towards me, her eyes solemn, and that’s when I knew she was going to say something— sincere?

“Nadia, it is safer here in the palace. You should live here with me,” she then took a sip on her tea and added, “–so I could have someone to talk to.”

A crooked smile broke my lips, “That is your purpose? You must be really lonely.”

Bea nodded, “I am. Although not really… But yes. It does get lonely.”

The corners of my mouth turned upwards.

“You are contradicting yourself.”

The wind blew nicely and brought that scent and feel that only autumn has. 

Hmm, what kind of smell though? The smell of trees and plants dying? Ain’t it morbid? Fufufufufu~

I regarded her for a moment and my eyes immediately twinkled after thinking of something.

“I guess it must be lonely when Ezekiel is busy and he does not have time to see you, huh,” I casually remarked.

Bea pursed her lips. She did not blush or get flustered from my words but her eyes flickered for a split second which I caught, betraying the calm exterior she was putting on. She also did not refute my words or anything.

“Fufufu, so I am right.”

Is my best friend finally coming to terms with her feelings? Oh my~ They are growing up fast… 

Bea put the cup down and looked at the scenery.

“Have you heard about the floating rumors?”