Royal Outcast

Chapter 14

Seri’s POV

“Seri.”

“Seri.”

“Hey, Seri.”

I snapped back into reality and immediately realized that I had been spacing out just now as Dillon looked at me with a concerned expression on his face.

“Uh, sorry. Yes?” I replied, still feeling a bit out of it.

“You okay? You were completely spaced out just now,” Dillon pointed out as we continued to walk through the hallways back to the room where I was staying.

“Yeah, I... I’m fine... I think,” I said. That didn’t sound particularly reassuring.

“Seri,” Mr. Dillon said gently as he reached out to grab my arm.

“Yes, Mr. Dillon?” I responded. Mr. Dillon looked at the helpers, and they looked from him back to the hand he was using to hold my arm.

Noticing their curious expressions, Mr. Dillon immediately released his grip.

“Why don’t we take a moment to get some fresh air on the balcony before you go to your room?” he suddenly suggested.

A breath of fresh air did sound like a good idea.

“Can we?” I asked cautiously. Mr. Dillon let out a slight chuckle but nodded in agreement.

“Yes. I doubt His Highness will mind if that’s what you’re worried about,” he replied.

I pursed my lips and nodded slowly, feeling a little more at ease.

Mr. Dillon led the way as the helpers and I followed him, veering in a different direction. He was in front; I trailed closely behind, with the helpers behind me.

After a short walk, I spotted a door that led to what appeared to be a balcony. Mr. Dillon came to a halt in front of it and glanced back at me for a moment before opening the door.

He held it open for me, gesturing for me to step outside. Hesitantly, I took a step forward, and what greeted me was a refreshing cool breeze and an enchanting view of a beautifully illuminated moonlit garden.

My mouth gaped open as I immersed myself in the stunning scenery. I was completely in awe of the majesty of the garden.

“Wow,” I muttered softly.

“Her Highness, Princess Lia, makes sure that the palace’s landscape is well cared for,” Mr. Dillon stated as he leaned against the balcony’s balustrade.

“I can see that,” I said, taking careful steps to the opposite side to join him.

“Her Highness did an amazing job,” I commented, genuinely impressed.

“Yeah, well, she enjoys gardening on the days she doesn't have to fulfill her duties as a princess or when she’s not in training,” he explained.

“She trains as well?” I asked, curiosity piqued. Mr. Dillon nodded in confirmation.

“Yes. She undergoes three types of training: combat, swordsmanship, and ability training,” he answered. I nodded, the pieces falling into place.

Oh yes, I remember now that the princess is known to have inherited some of her Majesty’s divine abilities.

“I see,” I replied thoughtfully.

I continued gazing around, absorbed by the beauty surrounding me.

“You don’t have to worry about meeting Her Highness. Unlike her twin brother, Princess Lia is quite the opposite of Lucas,” Mr. Dillon assured me with a chuckle.

I pursed my lips, hoping that was true.

An awkward silence fell between us as I remained lost in a daze.

“I’ll give you a moment to yourself; it seems you need it,” Mr. Dillon suddenly said, sensing my distraction.

I looked at him and slightly bowed my head in gratitude.

“Thank you, Mr. Dillon,” I replied.

“Just Dillon. Call me Dillon, Seri,” he said, our eyes meeting briefly.

“We will be seeing each other quite often from now on, so it would be preferable if you dropped the formalities. Please,” he requested with sincerity.

I bit the inside of my lower lip, taking a deep breath before nodding in acceptance.

“Okay… Dillon,” I said. Dillon smiled, a light reflecting in his eyes.

“Better,” he replied with a warm smile before giving me a subtle bow and walking away.

I smiled faintly as I watched him walk away, then I turned my attention back to the garden. I then lifted my gaze to the moon, shimmering brightly overhead.

A cool breeze swept in my direction, prompting me to hug myself as I closed my eyes to fully embrace the moment.

A few seconds later, I felt something wet slide down my cheek. It was a tear.

I clenched my jaw and looked down, quickly wiping it away before letting out a heavy sigh.

Then, gathering my courage, I looked up at the moon once more.

“Why me?” I murmured in a low, soft tone.

As soon as the words left my lips, one tear followed after another, and I instinctively covered my mouth to stifle the sobs that threatened to escape.

After a few more minutes, I managed to compose myself and finally returned inside.

Dillon stole a glance at me before quickly looking away, clearing his throat and avoiding my eyes.

The helpers regarded me with concerned expressions, but no one spoke.

“Shall we go back to your room, Seri? I’m certain you’re tired and need some rest,” Dillon said gently. I nodded softly in response, and he gestured for the helpers to lead the way, which they promptly did.

This time, we walked in silence as we made our way through the hallways.

Eventually, we arrived at my designated room.

“You can head straight to bed after you change. If you need anything, there’s a phone by your bedside in your room. A helper will come to your aid as soon as they can. However, if there’s an emergency, my room is located just in the far-right corner when you turn left at the end of the hall,” Dillon informed me.

“But… I believe you can also find Lucas on the upper floor, just above yours, so if you feel the need to reach out to him in case anything goes wrong, you know where his room is,” Dillon added as an afterthought.

“Oh,” was all I managed to say, nodding hesitantly.

“Thank you for everyone’s help and company tonight. I truly appreciate it,” I said, bowing my head respectfully to both Dillon and the helpers.

It had been a long day.

The helpers bowed back at me, and Dillon offered me a small smile in return.

“Thank you, and I hope you all get a good rest,” I expressed my gratitude once more.

“It was nice meeting you, miss. Goodnight,” one helper said.

“Rest well, miss,” another chimed in.

“Goodnight, miss. We’ll see you again in the morning,” the last helper assured me.

“Sleep well, Seri,” Dillon added with a small smile. I smiled back at them before stepping inside my room and gently closing the door behind me with a small wave.

As soon as the door clicked shut, my smile faded, and I turned to survey the enormous room.

Suddenly, I felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness wash over me, intensifying the isolation I felt.

I heaved a deep sigh before walking over to the bed to find a long-sleeved white nightdress waiting for me.

Pursing my lips, I picked it up and made my way to the bathroom to wash up and change.

Once I finished, I sat down on the bed, looked up at the ceiling, and leaned back, feeling myself sink into the plush softness of the large bed.

Everything still felt like some sort of fever dream—yet, this wasn’t a dream at all. Not in the slightest.

This was real life. My life.

I sighed deeply, trying to wrap my mind around it all.

Then, suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

I shot up from the bed in surprise.

"Yes? Who is it?" I called out, my voice slightly shaky.

There was a moment of silence, almost like time had paused, before a familiar voice responded.

"It's Lucas. Open up."

His Highness? HIS HIGHNESS?!

My heart raced as I quickly dashed to the door and flung it open. As soon as I did, I looked up and locked eyes with him.

“H-hi… y-your highness,” I stammered, my cheeks flushing a deep shade of red.

His Highness looked me up and down, assessing me in a way that made me both nervous and exhilarated, then he looked away, clearing his throat as he composed himself.

“Do you mind taking a walk with me in the garden?” he asked, his tone low and somewhat hesitant.

Take a walk with His Highness?

At this hour? So unexpectedly?

“Okay…” I agreed, my voice a bit hesitant.

I stepped out of the room, and His Highness walked ahead of me, leading the way to the garden.

After a while, we finally stepped outside, and as soon as we did, the cool breeze hit my body, causing me to instinctively hug myself for warmth.

His Highness glanced back at me, concern etched across his features.

“Are you cold?” he inquired gently. I immediately shook my head.

“I’ll be okay, Your Highness,” I assured him, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

He sighed softly and, to my astonishment, began to remove his sweater. My eyes widened in disbelief.

“Oh no, no, no, no, Your Highness. You don’t have to—”

“Just take it,” he insisted, handing me the sweater with an earnest look in his eyes. I was taken aback by his sudden gesture, my cheeks warming a bright pink.

“T-thank you,” I stammered, feeling both grateful and embarrassed.

His Highness gave me a slight nod before he began walking again.

I quickly slipped on the sweater, grateful for the warmth, and caught up to him, walking just a few feet behind.

As we walked, I looked around and found myself mesmerized by the garden, which was beautifully lit, glimmering like something straight out of a dream.

Neither of us spoke, but the silence felt comfortable, almost sacred.

In that moment, I sensed a subtle shift in our connection, something more than mere formality. It was an unspoken understanding—a shared experience.

It was quite nice.