ILLUSION

Chapter 7

I frowned as I looked at him. “What did you just say? Who’s your brother,” I asked

How did her brother get into our conversation? Why would her brother will fall in love with me?

Sadness came across her face. Looks like something bad happened to his brother. Maybe they have an argument?

“I’m the King’s little sister, your majesty,”

I even surpassed seeing the ghost today the way I looked at him. What the !?

“Then you’re a princess! Why are you serving me like you’re a maid in this palace? Why Valdus let you do this? Isn’t he concerned on you?” I can’t believe the question

She pouted before sitting in a stoned chair. He became depressed and groaned. So I look at him differently now. She looks like a princess sitting there thinking about something.

“He can’t do nothing about it. It was my fault anyway. I had a different cursed for being a brat and bad. In order for me to learn and break the curse. My brother need to act like he wasn’t my brother and send me to take care of his future Queen. To serve you, “I sat across from him and let him hold my hand. “I shouldn’t supposed to say this because this thing was extremely embarassing but I trust you. I don’t want you to live in this dead place, clueless like a kid,”

That’s why! The way she speaks and move. It was gentle and graceful because she was a princess. I felt sorry for her. I don’t want to question who did this to them but I can’t help but ask myself why are they the only ones cursed? There’s a lot of bad princesses out in my world.

“Why do I feel that way. You’re the only one being punished? It was very obvious that you’re not the only one with that habit. How come?” I wonder question

“It’s because of our ancestors. They did a great mess back then which triggered the upper to cursed us,” he replied

“Amber, is Valdus cursed too?” I will ask

He was suddenly startled and swallowed. I was just looking at him and waiting for his answer when someone moved in the distance. We stood together. Amber instantly blocked my way like she was protecting me from something.

“W-Who is that ?! Let us see your face!” Amber shouted

We were silent for a moment as we felt the surroundings. But after a few minutes. Only a white horse would appear on the grass. We released a sigh of relief.

“I’ll take this to the soldier. Wait for me here your highness,” Amber said goodbye

I nodded at him. He quickly grabbed the horse’s leash and pulled it. I waited for her patiently. As I waited I wandered around until I came across an iron protruding and covered with snow. It looks like it was glued to the wall and just removed.

Out of curiosity. I slowly pulled out that thick flat steel and removed the ice that wrapped it.

I was stunned for a moment as I repeatedly read the letters written there. W-What is this?

“Your majesty! What are you doing there?”

I slowly stood up and looked in Amber’s direction. She was lookin at me curiously.

“You told me you don’t want me to be clueless like a kid, right?” I have a serious question

He nodded hesitantly. “W-What’s wrong?”

I lifted that iron and showed him what was written there. She gasped and her eyes widens. He was still slightly backward.

“Care to explain me why did you fake your kingdom’s name? Why called it Aldafor when it’s supposed to be Kingdom of Alvanticus?”

To be continued…

Chapter 7

Ameerah’s POV

“Q-Queen Ameerah���”

She looks so very nervous and afraid. He can’t even look me in the eyes. She was fidgeting her fingers when I asked her again.

“It was a very simple question Amber. Why do you seem so scared to just tell me the reason?” I’m confused question

“I-It wasn’t … It’s … It’s serious,” he averted his eyes

I was going to ask him if someone spoke from behind us. My eyes immediately locked at Ephraim’s eyes.

“It’s because they were cursed. We are cursed by their stupidity my Queen. You wanna know the whole story? I will gladly tell you but I am afraid. What will you see us afterwards,” he smirked dangerously

My eyes narrowed as I stared at him. “What are you doing here? You’re in our territory!” I said irritably as I looked around

“I want yes or no My Queen,” he chuckled

“It’s a no! And stop calling me your Queen. I am not yours. If I want to know everything. I want to hear that from Valdus not you,” I said.

This man was trying to deceive me. Why would I trust the person who loves to raise Valdus? It’s obvious in his eyes. He wants to be in the top and I won”t let him use me to get there.

“I’m afraid he will let you know. You still don’t know much Ameerah. Don’t wait for those things hidden behind you, burn you in the end,”

It was as if a moon had disappeared and gone with the wind. We caught a glimpse of Valdus on horseback and approaching us. He hop off in his horse before coming closer to us.

“Where is he?” He obviously suppressed his anger as he asked

“He disappeared,” was my short reply

He released a harsh breath before grabbing my arm. I was shocked when he hugged me tightly.

“I’m glad you don’t come with him. He’ll only poison your mind with manipulation. Don’t ever trust him. Do you understood Ameerah?” He asked a serious question

I just nodded and hugged him. “I understood,”

Valdus’s POV

I kissed her forehead before getting off the bed. I’ll make sure that man doesn’t get close to Ameerah anymore. He will ruin everything for the second time but I won’t let him. We’ll find out before he takes my queen!

“Rest Ameerah. I’ll comeback,”

I disappeared in her view and appeared outside Ephraim’s kingdom. His men immediately blocked my way. I stood straight with my face stoic. I held the sword while talking to their general.

“Tell him to show his face or I’ll f-ck him up. He did a really great mess in f-cking up my life again!” I screamed in fury

“Valdus,”

I gritted my teeth in anger but I control myself. My ranks is higher than this stupid imbecile!

“I let you stole Alderie. Why the f-ck are you still pestering me and my Queen!”

He smirked. “Then impregnate her afterwards? So the cursed in you and your kingdom will break? No way! I won’t let you escape this s**t you’d putten us into!”

I grab his collar and stare in his eyes. Dead in expression. His men tried to budge but my men was fast.

“I’ll take it as the start of war,”

Ameerah’s POV

“Isn’t Valdus still coming back?” I asked Amber

I sat on the bed after he dried and combed my hair. Before Valdus left, I saw the anger in his eyes so I no longer wonder if he looked for Ephraim when I fell asleep. I’m just worried. Maybe what a mess will happen to the two of them.

“Not yet majesty. Maybe, he was busy,” he replied

I nodded and then fell silent for a moment. What Ephraim had said earlier came to my mind. I know his answer will only deceive. I am not ignorant so as not to think that his explanation is fraudulent in case I let him explain. So I didn’t let him speak.

There’s a lot of questions in my head and I know Amber can answer that. Actually, it was just a simple questions with simple answers. It’s easy to answer but it will only be difficult for him if he is hiding some part of the truth.

Is he hiding something from me so he can’t tell the truth?

I looked at Amber. If I’m really sure. He would not hesitate to answer my question. Not unless he is hiding something or all of them.

“Amber,” I call to her

He turned to me and I looked at him with a surprised expression on his face. I got up from my seat and took the crown he was holding and I was the one who wore it. I stare myself in the mirror. The rubies imbedded in the crown was glowing proudly at the mirror.

“You didn’t answer my question properly,” I said seriously

I seriously turned to him and finally faced him. This is what my mother taught me when I was young. Held your chin up, stand proudly, and bravery must be seen in your eyes. In order to seek the world.

Even when I was young. Mom taught me to be brave in all things. Because this world was way too dangerous to be weak. We need to be strong no matter how little power we have. The weaker you are, the more you’re giving them the satisfaction to control you and hurt you.

To belittle you

“Q-Queen Ameerah���”

“That’s a simple question Amber. Why is it so hard for you to answer? Are you hiding something from me? Answer me. Why did you say Aldafor’s name to me and not Alvanticus? Why?”

She was fidgeting and her face were extremely nervous. It was as if he didn’t know what to do. I wanted to know the truth even more because I could see the fear and doubt on his face.

“It’s because the cursed. Adalfor was the one who cursed us. They make everyone forget us and in order to erase us in th upperworld. Our named was forgetten and changed. Just like what I’d told you Queen Ameerah. Everything you see was dead including us. Yes, we are not really dead but we are in your world. From any angle you look majesty. We are dead in your world, you people, “he said full of resentment

I swallowed and forced the expression on my face to stabilize. I felt like I’m about to complete a puzzle. The puzzle of Alvanticus. I know, I feel, that there are many real secrets hiding in every corner of this palace. When this kingdom. And that’s what I want to know.

“What exactly are you implying here Amber?” I have a serious question that doesn’t take my eyes off him

She looked at me and our eyes locked. I saw the folding of his hand and his smile that did not reach his ear. She looks so devastated and pained.

“Look Queen. We are once humans. We are not demons. We aren’t witches. We are not bad. We’re just mistaken because of your ancestors great desire in a having an extraordinary power. Because of greed, we’re cursed by the Aldafor’s for practicing witchcrafts especially immortality. That’s why we disappeared in the upperworld. That’s why we’re erased. We aren’t real just like your impression with my brother. Because it was our cursed. We. Are. Illusions. In an immortal body, ”

It was as if she was sitting on the bed weakly while I was just gaping at her. I was beyond shocked. T-Them? Humans? They were human then but because of the curse they came here? That became-

“The spell was done and no one can’t break it anymore. We’re now immortals so even if the curse is broken, we’re no longer human. We are extraordinary. I’m just preventing you from asking why we are calling you humans when we, are once humans too Queen Ameerah. We are not humans anymore, ”

I have not been able to speak at all. I’m doomed by the facts she’d just said. As I watched Amber speak. There was sadness and resentment on his face. I know anyone would be sad if they were in Amber”s position. Yeah, they’d succeed in being immortals. They don’t die physically but they were dead in my world and inside. Anything else they regret. It happened.