Kissing the Fae

Chapter 25 - The Chalice

"That means we came here for nothing..."

We were all bewildered. Finding out the truth took my hopes, it fled away in the air, making me weak as I thought of it.

When I got out of the tower, they immediately ran to me, worried after seeing the look in my face. I felt like my confidence to win now was gone. In just a snap, my dream not only for myself but for the whole Acres Kingdom went to the drain upon knowing the news came from the mouth of the Empress.

Until now, I still can't get over the fact that the power of Glamour wasn't possessed by the Pixies.

Growing up, I believed they had it. I was too confident that their leader has it. It didn't even occur to me the chance it could be passed down, or not to others until now.

"The Pixie's leader doesn't have it," I told them again using my weak voice. "The Power of Glamour was last carried by the former leader, my great grandmother's sibling. And we do not have an idea if another being has it, and if that's the case, we need to find whoever carry the power of illusion."

"How do we do that?" Deniz knotted his forehead. "We don't have a lead, Rani Letisha. It will take time and energy before we find whoever owns that power—"

Everyone stopped. That was when I realized I slipped.

Terran and Deniz looked at me closely. Their eyes were blazing in sternness as they both studied me. I can't look away, I fought the urge to as I felt the coldness sipped through me as their kins stabbed me right in my soul.

It felt like they were digging deep into my soul. It was scary and it sent me chills. My insides were screaming, and I can't seem to move my feet to get away from their strict gazes.

I know... I should have told them my plans in the first place. Why we were here? And what the challenges I'm facing right now to secure my position in the Acres Kingdom.

And now, they look annoyed.

In the end, I was the one who break our eye contact. With that, I sighed deeply and fixed my attention to my clothes, running my hands to it as if getting rid of the mud.

I never knew I'd back down because of their stares. It was too deep that it looks scary to me.

"So, you're after their power, huh?" It was Terran who mocked me. "What exactly your purpose here, princess? Does acquiring the Power of Glamour part of the challenge, huh? Or it was your desire to really have it?"

I didn't like the tone of his voice. It sounds like I was greedy for power when it was clearly to win the challenge.

I smirked at him. "I need it to secure my position as the leader of the Faye region, Terran. If I fail, I will lose everything I work hard for."

I can't afford to lose it.

At some point in my life, I blamed the King most for giving me this kind of obstacle instead of the directors. He knew it was impossible — if possible, it will be too difficult for me to get it after knowing it hasn't been own by the Pixie after the war.

And even if the Empress have it, I'd suffer first before everything. I would sacrifice a lot of things on the process of getting the Power of Illusion, and it might even caused death.

Not only for me, but all of us.

Not having the power of illusion will be the end of my leadership.

"I can't lose, Terran. The King gave me the challenge to own the Power of Glamour and now, after learning everything from the Empress, I felt like everything vanished into the thin air. My hope and faith, my confidence to win this game, my eagerness to prove everyone they were wrong about their assumptions to me — or a woman leading, and disappointing my people..." I shook my head in disapproval. "I can't let that to happen, Terran. I need to remain in my position, I have to fight for it. Being a leader has caused me a lot, and I can't bare losing myself if I ever fail."

My soul has been bruised and broken upon training to get the crown. I gave up my passion to accept the position, one has sacrificed her life for me, and letting everything falls apart after my hard work to get the people's trust will be my downfall.

I can't let it happen. Never in my life will I let it happen.

I worked for it, and it should remain to be mine.

"I work hard for it, Terran..." I whispered, even my voice cracked thinking of losing. "You witnessed how I suffered to get the title, you have witnessed everything I did to be the leader of the Faye region. You all knew how I almost died, training nonstop to be the princess..."

I'm not just a leader but the princess of the Acres Kingdom.

Before having the title after my name, I was criticized by people. They didn't see my potential, and they thought I deserved to be the next queen in the future.

The Acresians doubted my capability to rule not just because I'm a woman, but simply because they thought I don't have the charisma to lead.

They thought I would just fail them. With that said, I have proven myself. I didn't... I trained hard to get their loyalty and praise, their trust that I can rule, and that I deserved everything.

And now, I was challenged. They must have thought that again, I don't deserved the position for someone doubted me again.

"Rani Letisha..." Terran smiled at me. It was too genuine I felt like it was too unreal. "We know how you work hard for it. And we're here, okay? We will never leave you behind. We will find whoever possess the Power of Glamour. You will remain in your position..."

They only knew my position was at stake but they didn't have an idea what I need to do to secure it.

And now they learned about it, they were still willing to help me get through the obstacle. Sometimes I just asked what did I do in the past to deserved a friend like them. They were too caring and obviously, they knew and understand the importance of our titles.

It was a great responsibility we have to attend to. If we fail, everyone will be put at risk. And those people above would question you again.

It's an endless queries. A cycle that has no end.

If you fail and prove yourself, they would kept their mouth shut. Once you fail again, they'd put you in interrogation room and not only they ask you, they'd tell you you don't deserved the title.

And again, if you have proven yourself again, they would act as if they didn't let you down.

It sounds exhausting, right? Yes, it is. It has never been easy for us. It was draining but we kept fighting for it.

"This place has a lot of trees! Means a lot of food to harvest!" Deniz happily said.

After an hour of calming ourselves down, we left the Achlys with no words from us — or from the Pixies. As we trek again to our next destination, they were cheering for us.

The whole travel was filled with their words of wisdom and honestly, yes, it somehow lifted the burden I kept in myself.

And now, we were here in the town called Chalice.

"This is actually the best town so far outside the Acres Kingdom. Trees, foods, and obviously, the people and not to mention the shops. I can see it from here," Terran smiled at he looked down, where the main town is located.

We were on top of the hill. And luckily, we have found trees that has a lot of fruits on it.

"I guess so... We also need to ask the people out there."

"Of course, princess. That's the goal," he said.

I looked down to see those earthy roofs. Houses... This isn't an empty place and I'm thankful for that. No cold street, and I hope the people of this town would cooperate and nice to talk to.

We don't want violence to happen, right? Clearly, we weren't someone who uses violence to get what we wanted. But I hope the people also shared the same sentiment as we do.

"I think I've heard of this town before..." Rin whispered.

My head snapped at her. But later, my attention was back to Terran when he spoke again.

"Oh, for the a bit information about this place, the leader loves flower especially the roses. Well, they all do. They weren't named after Chalice if not. Also, she was young... A beautiful maiden and I heard Deniz—" Suddenly, a grape was thrown at him, targeting his head which made him stopped.

"Oh, shut up, Terran. Do not even try to continue your sentence."

I chuckled, getting the thought, then averted my gaze to Deniz who has now a reddish ears.

"So, I guess you have flirted with the Chalice's leader, huh?" I teased, smirking.

It wasn’t a surprised, to be honest. After all, he’s Deniz. A boy who doesn’t run out of girls.

“Geez... Don’t believe him, Rani Letisha. Terran is just ruining my image.”

“What did I ruin?” Terran chuckled. “What was her name again, Deniz? Was it Rose or Rosie?”

“Shut up!” Deniz looked so embarrassed he had to turn his back to hide his cheeks! I caught a glimpse of it and I almost die in laughter when it was pinkish.

“See what I mean?” Terran leaned on to my ears and whispered, “He actually fell in love with her but was rejected. Not once, but thrice...”

“Oh, so the Prince of the Nixie get to receive a rejection, too! That was a great news, huh. I guess that Rose or Rosie did the right thing.”

“You think so?” Terran stood up straight. “Well, as expected from the well-mannered woman. She wasn’t blind after all. Deniz’s charm must have been not effected, ey?”

“Oh, shut up, Terran. You’re putting lies on Rani Letisha’s mind.”

Deniz started to pick up the goodies and put it inside the container bag. Once he was done, he faced us and he looked annoyed which made us chuckled.

“Let’s go. The time is running,” he reminded and started walking away.

“Alright. I think he was that excited to see Rose again.”

“Rosie,” he corrected and Terran bursted out, laughing as we followed Deniz and I couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle.

His laughs were contagious.

“Of all girls he flirted with, the leader of the Chalice was the only one whom he remembers the name.”

“I remember everyone!” Deniz defend himself. “Each of them, I remember every names. It was engraved in my heart and soul.”

“Oh? So, who was the last girl you have kissed, then?”

We all stopped, that includes Deniz who seems frozen in his spot after hearing Terran’s question. His shoulders tensed, and I could even hear his breathing became ragged.

Ah, he was nervous. Why? Was if because of his question? Or the fact that we were standing in Chalice where the woman named Rosie rule?

I guess it was the latter.

Shrugging, I smirked. “Maybe the Sisters...” I assumed and Terran, again laughed with all his heart.

I even heard Deniz chuckles. Even the little Fairies who were not surprisingly, quite since we left the Achlys.

“That was not a good joke, Rani Letisha,” Deniz tittered before he bursted out.

Rolling my eyes, I walked again. These guys were just probably exhausted from the travel.