What Abyss Feels Like

CHAPTER 4: NOT ALONE

Althea Eleanor Luce is a beautiful woman that despite being single, no one dared to oppose her or even anger her.

The Duchess of the Luce Duchy is someone who can be described as a pure flower with thorns of fierceness and boldness. She is also stubborn when she thinks about something. And no one can stop her other than the two people she holds so dear.

Edward Shriya Sol is a very merciful man who holds his family and the Sol family first before anything else.

When someone asks him what to choose in between, he will choose to respond with: "I'd rather die than to choose". Because for him, these two things and the people in it are his life. And losing even one of them is like making him incomplete. Because it only translates to one thing— incompetence. And being an incompetent royal makes him nothing. And being an incompetent head of the family also proves himself as a failure.

Esme Irina Sol on the other hand is someone deemed to be a pure lily that everyone admires and makes her stand out even wearing nothing but servant clothes especially when she is sneaking out the palace. She is simple, humble and very respectful to those who she deemed to be deserving to receive one.

She is actually entitled as a Saintess. She is a figure every noble lady looks up to when it comes to etiquette, behavior, and intelligence. She is indeed a perfect woman for the merciful Emperor, indeed.

They 'originally' died due to sickness.

But it's bound to 'change'

Because of 'her' 'wish'.

—————

A pair of beautiful red eyes with a slight blue hue in it fluttered open. She looked around her, glistening in her eyes with pure confusion and curiosity by seeing a familiar place to her. A small whimper escaped from her lips, and the chaos around her stopped. And like the red sea, the crowd that are paused by the small sound they heard divided to two with a woman with long black hair and blue eyes coming through with worry etched on her beautiful face.

"My dearest! How are you? Are you alright? You've been in a coma for one week already. Do you still know who I am?" She asked frantically.

A pair of red eyes with blue looked at her. The glistening of her eyes intensified and made the older woman panic. But before she can even call out the names of any saints, doctors and her maids, a voice of sadness, longing and full of love called out of her.

"Mother."

The ravenette woman looked at her child. Her precious daughter. Her beloved treasure. She also started to cry for unknown reasons. Maybe, mutual love? But no one dared to question it at all. Everyone there are witnesses of the mother and daughter's mutual and undying love.

"Yes, my baby Ara, I am here. I will not go anywhere." She cooed while rubbing circles on her daughter that she is now giving a loving tight hug.

The girl called Ara cried harder. She missed her mother. But after what 'happened' in the 'past', she wasn't able to be by her side until her 'supposed' 'death date'.

The two started to bond while waiting for the High Priest to arrive.

Yep! Her own and very exclusive doctor is the renowned High Priest. Shocking, right?

Ara wants her mother to know what happened to her because she can clearly recognize the worry on her mother's face. 'That man' didn't prohibit her from telling it to some people, so why not with her mother?

But she is also conflicted. Telling her mother how she died in the hands of a man she loved with the help of a b***h of a friend she made is utterly heartbreaking. So she decided. She will tell her, but after her check-up. She can’t — no! She doesn't want to lie to her mother! Her conscience will never allow her to do such a thing!

"Mother." She called out her mother once again.

Her mother who she always called 'Thea' looked at her. She hummed in acknowledgement while still holding her daughter's hand in between of hers.

"I will tell you something so important later." She breathed out.

Thea perked up. She is interested in what she is going to say. But somehow, she feels quite ominous like it's not a good thing. But she shook it away from her mind and threw it somewhere else. She is not in the mood to listen to what instincts are saying. She only thought that it's her daughter so she will not give her anything that is made of any lies or whatnot. She has complete faith with Ara.

"Alright, my baby. I'll listen. So, be good and do your check-up well, okay?"

Ara nodded her head in response. And in that cue comes a series of knocks from her room's door.

"Come in!" Thea called out.

And as the door creaked open, two powerful auras clashed together in an instant that created a gust of wind.

It's not from the High Priest nor from Thea. It came from...

"Mother. Your aura is making so much wind." Ara called out to her mother, unknowingly and unaware that she is one of the causes of that ‘wind’.

Thea looked at her daughter. And with her response, Ara is stunned.

"It's not me. It's you, baby."

Then she turned to the High Priest. But before she could even speak, the High Priest already beat her to it.

"It's not me. I swear." He said nervously as he ushered a young lad in the age of Ara's who has long pale blonde hair with golden eyes who is wearing a priest uniform.

The two adults started to talk about who knows. The young priest is just looking at Ara. While Ara herself is shocked. This lad isn't supposed to be here!

'If you are wondering. Why am I here when I am not supposed to be here... It's because I am here to assist you.' Ara heard a voice from her head. She looked everywhere to only stop at the young priest who was now smiling at her. Though it's a small smile, it's still... a smile, right?

'Talking with your mouth while I am using telepathy will make you look dumb. So act as if you are just normal and talk to me with your mind.' He instructed her that she easily comprehended and executed.

'How? I have questions for you but I bet you have no time to answer it in one go. So... why are you here? And how do you know something?' She asked cautiously.

The young lad then responded with, 'I've been watching you since before you get betrayed by those people. I also watched their demise until everything turned back to where we are now. And now that I confirmed that it happened because of you, I am willing to lend you a helping hand.'

'Watched?!' She exclaimed.

She saw how the young priest blushed. He averted his eyes and then said, 'let us say that I've been your secret admirer since day one. So I watched you, to be able to help you when in need. But when you actually needed someone, I failed.'

She saw how his golden eyes droop in sadness, guilt and disappointment. Her heart seemed to be squeezed because of it and even though she finds the phrase 'being watched' sounds creepy, she cannot help but to also feel the helplessness in his tale.

'It's not your fault.' She said as the High Priest finally started to do her check-up. But those words really hit it on the spot. He actually felt guilty. But hearing those words from the girl he was supposed to protect before everything returned thirteen years before her supposed death is a big deal for him.

'If only you knew how much I beat myself to it,' he thought as he watched her slowly closing her eyes due to being tired of the checkup and also his and her conversation that really drains her energy.

The young priest is about to turn around, he hears her again.

'Thank you. At least, I am not alone.'

His heart beat faster once again. He felt it once again! And now, he swore that he will not make the same mistake of leaving her alone to death because of his so-called duties.

'Seigi. That's my name. See you again soon, your highness.' He finally left while leaving the mother and daughter duo who are now taking their naps together.

With a little smile on her face, Ara thought, 'Seigi.'