Heraiah

CHAPTER 6

“Fiancée?” he laughs, holding his head in disbelief. “Are you trying to make someone laugh, Hyveins?” he continued.

A part of me expected he wouldn’t believe such nonsense words from my mouth. I rejected him years ago, wouldn’t it be a surprise if the offer you offered years ago was rejected brutally got suddenly approved after 5 years? It even sounds desperate to me.

I am desperate.

With a blank stare, I gave him. “No. I am serious. You need a wife and I need you.”

He coughs himself to stop laughing and sits on the couch in front of my bed. “Why out of the sudden? Why now? And more importantly, why are you back?”

I groaned, ignoring him. I passed by him, yawning and sitting on the bed. “Stop with the bombarding questions, you’ll have your answers soon.”

I sat on the bed, putting the covers back on me. I ignored the presence of the great prince of Adreene. He was out stunned and offended I didn’t give him any detail of my comeback. I wanted to smile, but he was in front of me, watching my every move. Confused, still.

Ravier Larousse, the crown prince of Adreene. He was known for being a kind-hearted prince, although the demeanor he is showing now is not so kind-hearted. Throughout this man’s life, he was never reported to have an official girlfriend. Sure, there are rumors of him dating someone, but it is never confirmed by either party. He is protected by his raging fans, no sweetheart like him should ever be taken advantage of.

I second that.

Part of my mission is to take advantage of him and his power. Without him, there is no way I can enter the palace undetected. Although I may have some connections, it is not enough to protect myself and my intentions.

Kind-hearted prince, he cares for his people. And at least in the royal family, there is someone who cares about their people. But there is something in him that sent me more questions in my mind. He is not what he says he is, basing on what he is showing me now.

“This is improper,” He said catching my attention.

I raised an eyebrow. “Why do you think so?”

“You can’t just say we are getting married out of nowhere.”

“Why not?” I asked with a confused look.

He groans, taking off his mask to breathe out the annoyance he’s been suffocating in. He slams the mask on the table as he stood up making me jump from shock. My heart skipped a beat, that scared me. What is going in his mind?

He ignores my remark and walks closer to my bed. I moved backward leaning on the headboard of the bed as he walks closer. He takes a chair and places it beside the bed. He sits on it and stares at me with a serious yet blank face.

In the dimly lighted room, I can still see a clear view of his face. His facial features have grown mature. Last time I saw this man he was just a lost 20-year-old boy asking for my hand. How times have passed.

“Don’t disrespect me like this, I am still the prince of the kingdom you’re in now,” He seriously exclaims.

“Yeah, I know. I am merely accepting you’re offer-“

“That I gave you years ago! What makes you even think I am still an unmarried man?”

“Your finger, no ring, no reports, no nothing.”

He was taken back. “I could be dating someone you might not know,”

“Like who? Remia Clariski?”

“Yes.” He nods.

I laughed uncontrollably making him pissed off. “I know what it feels like to be in a life like yours. I’ve been in it, you think I’ll believe anything the reporters say? You must be stupid if you do.”

“You don’t know anything.”

“I know Remia would never date you, she thinks you’re arrogant and self-centered sometimes,” I said.

“What?”

I nodded attentively to annoy him. “Yes, I know her very well that you are not her type,”

“How could you say such a thing to me? You do know, one word from me and you’ll be straight to the police.”

My eyes widen. He is a dimwitted fool. “And what are you going to say? You got your ego hurt by me? Oh please,” I laugh.

“The one that should be with the police is you!” I pointed at him. “You barge into a girl’s hospital room wearing such clothes,” I looked at him from head to toe. “And the fact that you ask for my respect when you obviously don’t know what that is!”

“Well, I only did that because you suddenly showed up from the dead!”

“I have my reasons for my return,” I restraint myself before anyone else’s hears.

“Like what? What’s so important you had to come back? You successfully escaped your tragic death from the death penalty for being an Airen, and a strong one too. So what’s so-“

“You are immature.”

“What?”

“I said you’re immature,” I rolled my eyes and hugged my pillow.

The room went silent, he didn’t say anything else. He stayed put. Thinking to himself like he should. As I guessed, he is impulsive. He might be the biggest sweet heart to the people. But he is no sweet heart to me. I can believe I’m going to get married to this guy. I have no choice.

Panic brew inside of me when the door clicks open. Someone heard us, oh no.

I slapped his arm. “Hide, now.”

As he realized what was to come, he immediately turned invisible. At that moment, I knew he wasn’t just a Wage. He is one of us. Someone who managed to trick everyone too. He has a big influence on the people, everything he does, they see. They examine every move he makes. Such bothersome is that, and yet still he managed to trick them.

The door opens welcoming the yawning Ida, “What’s going on?”

My eyes looked around the room as she did. With my heart beating so fast, I could burst out of nervousness. “I had a nightmare so I decided to get some fresh are,” I said.

She nods. “Oh, okay. I thought you were with someone.”

I laugh, trying my best to not make it seem awkward. “I’m sorry for waking you up, but I am fine now. You can go back and rest,” I insisted.

“No biggie,” she laughs and closes the door.

I exhaled.

 I looked around to waiting for him to show himself again but he didn’t. I figured he already left. I sighed and walked up to the balcony closing it and covering it with the curtains. The heated argument we had and he suddenly just disappears? What a coward.

The next morning, I was told by the doctor my discharged will be tomorrow. I am still wondering where I’ll head next. At Khairon’s? I miss my old friend. I haven’t seen him in years, the day I left to meet the legions was also the last day me and Khairon got to see each other. Though we had our monthly calls to check up on each other, but we both still miss the days of our Friday night outs and lunch meet ups.

It almost feels like it was yesterday.

He had heavy schedules making it impossible for him to head out to meet me and I was cut up with training at the base. I was honestly scared we would drift of apart but luckily, we didn’t. It was quite weird he hasn’t contacted me ever since I arrived here. I’ve been all over news and yet no calls from him.

He sure must be weirded out by my sudden appearance. I escaped, he helped me. And now I am back from nowhere feeding people shits they swallow. I have been stuck in this room for too long, I want to go out.

I stepped outside wearing cozy hospital pajamas that I dearly love. But I am tired of wearing the same thing. I walked a few steps only to receive numerous stares from everyone walking pass me. Without noticing them, I walked freely with no hesitation.

I am already use to the attention, I received it for many years before. Being a child with cameras on my face because of my family’s name was quite something I had to get use to. There were no days where I could freely walk without catching people’s attention. So, a few stares weren’t such a bothersome.

Glancing around, waves of memories flashes into my mind. I haven’t been into a hospital in so long, let alone, being beat up to be here. Nothing really seems to be normal in my life. The stares I received became much more as I roamed around.

I visited the center part of the hospital in which where they placed a big aquarium for the patients. The aquarium was a cylindrical formed tube standing up from the ceiling to the floor. Inside it were corals and sea life. Fishes in different types and colors going into each group of their own.

How beautiful and relaxing this must be for the patients. Walking around it, memorizing the colors and patterns of each fish. I slowly reached for my hand on it, feeling the cold icy glass that separated me and sea life within the aquarium.

Oh, how I miss swimming.

Lost into my thoughts and the back of my ear, a familiar female’s voice was calling me from behind. I look back slowly with a blank stare.

“Ms. Hyveins!” Ida runs up to me, panting and holding her chest for air.

“Yes?” I answered.

She hands out a phone to me. “Someone is calling for you.”

Confusedly looking at it, I accepted it without hesitating. “Hello?”

“Oh my god,” someone groaned from the other line. Hinting disappointment.

Exactly the person I’ve been waiting for.

I nod at Ida and excused her, she obediently follows and leaves.

I chuckled, “finally!”

“The hell, Hera?” barks the rude voice of Khairon.

“Why haven’t you called me, you i***t? I’ve been waiting for your calls.”

I heard an enormous sarcastic laugh from him. “Why are you back? Suddenly, 5 years later, you resurrected. And what was that ridiculous act you made on that interview? You really think someone’s going to buy that?”

“Oh, come on. Everyone ate it up as it was carefully being fed by me,” I laughed.

I heard another irritated groan. “Be serious, Hera. You are now currently in every headline. Newspapers with your face all over it. You’re even on the front covers of magazines! Everyone’s got their attention on you. Do you know what that means?”

I was silent, “… I’m famous?”

“Everything you do, they watch, observed, examine, and make conclusions. Your life is in basic danger! You escaped, why come back now?”

I breathed out, I knew I was going to get this scolding from him. “Khai, calm down. I am okay, it’s okay. I know what I am doing.”

“You better know,” He snickers.

“Hey, listen. I’d never do something like this for no reason. This is suicide. And you know, out of everyone, that I never want to come back here. You think I’d be here for some stupid reason?” I asked.

The other line went silent until I heard him sigh, “Yes, I know.”

I grinned widely at his defeat on our argument. “Okay, my discharge is tomorrow. I need a place to stay.”

“Yes, yes, picking you up tomorrow at 9 AM.”

My smile became even more wide knowing he is attentive to doing things for me.