Crown in The Mist (ENGLISH)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

The docks were full of district officials. Well, there's a notorious thief on the loose and almost ten officials were shot last night. It's expected. And I couldn't help but wonder about Clarence and the rest, couldn't but wonder about what Clarence had said. That the Queen might have something to do with my mother. How she did it, I'm going to find it all out. 

I watched two officials walking along the docks, smoking, and drinking coffee. It's almost 5 o'clock in the morning and I couldn't help but want to drink coffee too. I groaned and bristled at the cold bite of the sea breeze. I could see my ship peacefully docked, which means that the official I entrusted with it didn't sell me out or which means he didn't know I was the infamous thief on the run, or he knows me but money's more important. After all, what I gave him that night was quite generous. 

I looked around. I know Ares and Pierce are somewhere, ready to move should anything go wrong. I waited for the men to get past me before I sneaked out and hid in one of the wooden barrels. I shoved my sleeve slightly to look at my watch. I have ten minutes before they go back. I need to find where that officer is. 

I surveyed the area. There were many ships and boats docked, ready to set sail later. I need to be on that ship before this place gets swarmed by people. And by then, it would be easier to leave. I touched the side of my leg where a knife was strapped. Ares gave it to me earlier, for precautionary measures. He also taught me how to use it: where to strike without killing. And hopefully, I wouldn't have to strike somebody tonight. 

So when I was certain that the coast was clear, I immediately went out of the barrel and walked as fast as I can. And when I reached my ship, I didn't waste any time and hopped into it. It was empty. I scanned for any signs of danger but found nothing.

I was about to turn around when a sharp and thin wire wrapped around my neck. The man behind me pulled the wire tighter that it was suddenly difficult to breathe. I resisted, using my elbows to get him away from me but to no avail. I forced myself to step back but it was not enough. I tried clawing his arms but he doesn't budge even a bit. His grip on the wire got stronger. So with all my remaining strength, I used it all to push myself against him causing him to stumble a little. I tried it again and this time, I heard him groan as he hit his back against the wood. His grip on the wire loosened and I used that chance to elbow him on his stomach. 

I got free from him and took out the knife strapped on my leg and pointed it at him. I was breathing hard and touched my neck where the wire has been. I winced when it stung. I looked at the wire he used and I almost cursed when I found out it was something like an electric wire.  

"I thought you'd be interested in half of the payment?" I muttered, breathless. 

He only tilted his head and said, "The bounty on your head is higher. Five million Quird." 

I narrowed my eyes on him as he straightened. "Why didn't you report me, then?" 

He scoffed. "Five million Quird is a huge amount of money. I can't have it shared with anyone. And I figured I have an advantage the moment I realized who you really are. And since I knew you'd really come back for your ship, I'm using this opportunity to capture you and give you to the Queen myself. Unless, of course, if you can pay more than what's on top of your head." 

I groaned inwardly. "I don't have that huge amount of money. But I can give you one fact: once you hand me over to the Queen you'd be a witness." 

I saw how his brows furrowed as he asked, "For what?"

"Her, killing the illegitimate daughter of the King." 

He just shook his head and took out a gun. He pointed at me and my heart ratcheted into a thundering beat. "I'll just kill you now. After all, they don't care if I turn you in dead or alive." 

He c****d the gun and things happened so fast that the next thing I knew was that the man was already down on the ground, unconscious, and Ares is on his back, gagging something on the official's mouth. Ares stood up and straightened his suit and gave me a sharp look. He crossed the distance between us and towered over me. 

"I gave you this communication chip so you could tell me what's going on on your end," he said. His voice was deadly calm that I gulped. I forgot about the chip he gave me. Or maybe I dropped it off somewhere. 

"Yes, I'm fine, thank you," I answered, dismissing his rage. I heard him sucked in a sharp breath. 

"You—" he decided not to finish his statement so I looked at my watch. It's already quarter past five. I just have to wait for forty-five more minutes before I sail. It would be suspicious for me to sail now. It's easier to sail when the dock is busy. 

"Thank you for your help, Ares," I managed to say despite his piercing glare. 

"And what will you do once you get there?" he asked as he walked towards the official and put a blindfold on him in case he wakes up. 

"Save Aizen and I have to get into the Palace." 

He frowned. "And why do you need to get inside the Palace?" 

I inserted my hand into one of my pockets and felt the golden chain of the Lazuli Diamond necklace. "I came here to confirm something. The Queen has something to do with the death of my mother." 

There was no hint of surprise on his face. "And what are you going to do with that piece of information when you get there?" 

I gulped. Honestly, I don't know. Clarence said she was paid by the Queen to steal the necklace and she has something to do with the death of my mother. But in all honesty, I don't know what to do. It was like walking in a foggy road. Not knowing where to go. Which way to go.

"I...I need to find more evidence." 

"And then what?" 

"I don't know!" I bit my lip. "I don't know, Ares." I clenched my hands and realized they were shaking. I dropped the knife on the floor and frustratedly ran my hand through my hair. It must have been the stress, the constant running, the almost-death experiences, the blatant attempt of killing me, and the mystery shrouding my identity, that I don't know which one to deal with first. Maybe it was the lack of sleep or maybe the fact that it was just me and Ares in that room that I decided to become vulnerable. I let out a shaky breath and looked at him. 

"I honestly don't know what to do now. The Queen... she... she's hell-bent on killing me, Ares. She's desperate of killing me for the reason that's not even my fault. You want to hear what I want to do?" I took a deep breath. "I just want to live my life. I want my old life back. I want that life where the only worries I had was what to eat the next day or who my next target would be. I am so damn tired of worrying whether if I'd still be alive the next day or if I'd be floating in the middle of the sea with a slit on my throat or a hole in my head. I'm tired of running. But I have to. I need to," I blurted out.

My hands were still shaking and I saw his gaze went there. I stuffed it inside my pockets. His gaze then went to my face. 

"I have no choice but to fight back. I can't let her get me that easily. But it's getting so, so exhausting." I leaned on the wooden table behind me, bracing my hands on the edges as I looked on the floor. I felt him step closer and leaned on the table too, beside me. His hands were casually on his pockets.

"And you've done well enough. Fighting back," he mumbled. I looked at him and he just gave me a sideward gpance before he looked at the sea in front of us.

"Though quite clumsily, you managed to slip out of her grasps. You've come this far. You're allowed to get tired. Everybody gets tired. Even I get tired."

I chuckled. "That's hard to imagine."

"I'm going to help you get inside the palace. I'll be going there tomorrow. The Queen has invited me. I will tell them you're my personal assistant."

"And how are you going to introduce me without them recognizing?"

"Oh no, they wouldn't be seeing you," he pushed himself away from the table and faced me. "Aizen stays in an underground cell. I think you already know where that is," he said and I nodded. I've memorized that castle with the back of my hand.

"There were about two guards there but I will take care of it. All you need to do is enter and get your dear friend out. Then meet me at the fountain where there aren't lots of Royal Guards."

"Will we go inside together?"

He shook his head. "No. You enter my chambers first and I'll be the one to think of an excuse to the Queen."

"Why are you invited there?"

He adjusted his glasses. "The Princess' birthday is in two days."

"The Princess? She never celebrates her birthday."

"She is turning eighteen this year. Though the celebration won't be extended to the whole of Carnes."

"But it extended all the way to Oregon," I mumbled.

Ares went silent so I looked at him again. He was looking at the sea. Theb his eyes met mine. "I have a feeling the Queen Regent wants me to marry her daughter. I think that's why she invited me. It's just a hunch, anyway."

"What makes you have that hunch?"

"She has been giving me hints the last time I stayed there. I've never seen the Princess, either."

"Nobody has," I answered and looked at my watch. "But if indeed the Queen wants you to marry the Princess, would you accept it?"

His gaze turned to me. It was penetrating as usual but I stood my ground and stared back. "What do you think?"

He faced me fully this time. I don't know if that was a trick question or what but I gave him an answer that what I think is the most plausible, "You will. Then you'll get your throne."

He just nodded. "I probably will."

"Why..." I trailed and he looked at me and the moment his eyes met mine again I forgot what I was about to say. Or rather I got scared to say them. But I decided to just f**k it off.

"Why is it so essy for you to marry just anybody?" My mouth dried the moment those words went out. But he just stared at me. As if thinking of what to respond. Or maybe thinking what stupid question I asked.

I waved my hand dismissively. "No, forget about that. I think I should go. People are starting to come. You should go back—"

"Not just with anybody," he cut in smoothly.

I bit my lip and nodded. "Of course. A thief as your supposed to be wife isn't a nobody at all."

"That's not what I mean."

I let out a short laugh. "Ares, you don't need to explain yourself to me. I perfectly understand. I'm tougher than you think."

"You think you're tough but you aren't. Stop pretending, Rainia."

"I am not pretending," I said rather sternly but he wasn't even fazed by it.

"You can't always be tough. Earlier, your hands were trembling. I saw it. You were scared."

I clenched my fists. "I am not. And what do you know about emotions anyway? When you don't even seem to have one." It was too late to take it back. Those words, very harsh words, left my mouth before I could even think about it.

Ares went silent but it was only for a brief moment.

Then he said, "I do feel scared. That time when I saw that shipowner, wounded in the shore, it scared the hell out of me for reasons I don't know. All I could think about was what happened or if you were alright. The only times I got scared was when I saw my two sisters in danger. Feeling it again from a total stranger was odd. I do feel scared, Rain. And these days, it's mostly because of you," he said looked at the man lying unconcious on the floor. With one swift motion, he lifted him up on his shoulder then he looked at me.

"See you at the Central in two days," was all he said before he got down from the ship.

I stood there, frozen, digesting what he just said and cursing myself for the words I said to him. Why on earth did I say it?

"Damn it, Rainia. All he did was save you and that's how you pay him?" I ran my hands through my hair frustratedly.

I messed up so bad.

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