Unforeseen Side Quest

 Time quickly passed without both of them realizing, until Nevra realized she had an important matter to handle back home.

Zeya was saddened by the news but bided her farewell with a tight hug.

 It was still fairly early for Zeya even after Nevra had left.

The food definitely gave her the energy that she needed, and Zeya couldn't stop smiling from the satisfaction of the meal.

She had already moved back into her original chambers after she had woken up since she had gotten accustomed to the room.

 The clutter on her desk was nowhere to be seen as it was now replaced with several piles of neatly stacked papers and maps that she had been using to find potential hiding spots of the book.

She walked over to get a piece of paper and pen; the boredom was so tormenting that she thought of drawing to pass the time.

 'It's been so long since I've drawn something.' She thought, her hands were frozen on top of the paper, having no clue as to what she should draw.

 A knock on the door caught her by surprise as she quickly tried to get rid of any evidence. The door opened without Zeya's permission, revealing an angry Valor glaring directly at Zeya.

 "You." The Valor that the monster had possessed earlier before was seething, her glare set ablaze by the kind of anger Zeya had seen often in soldiers. "How dare you set foot here again? After what you did."

 "What a lovely surprise." Zeya exclaimed with a deadpan expression, her voice was cold and menacing. "Are you here to thank me for saving you and your brother?"

 "Hah, don't make me laugh." The Valor smirked at the audacity of the Roseabelle, her laugh was anything but humorous as she stepped into the room. "We all know that you would've slit my throat without a moment's hesitation if it weren't for His Majesty's interference."

 "I'm glad you're aware, Valor." Zeya deadpanned as her golden eyes glowed unnaturally inside the dimly lit room. "I'll assume you have a death wish then, coming in here as you please without any proper plan."

 Nox immediately rushed in between the two, hissing at Sukha as a warning to stay when she was.

Its back was riddled with spikes protruding out of its cloudy figure, a clear sign of its hostility towards the Valor but she continued to hold her ground regardless.

 "What do you think you're doing?"

 It felt like the temperature in the room suddenly dropped below freezing point, making the situation more tense than it was before.

Even Zeya was visibly disoriented, but Sukha still remained unfazed; a feat not easily achievable with so many powerful beings in the same room as her. 

 A smaller figure was seen standing nervous at the corner of the door frame, glancing anxiously from Varen to the courageously dumb Sukha at rapid speeds.

 "I should be asking you the same question, Your Majesty." Sukha turned to face the emperor, equally upset. "Why is a Roseabelle doing here in our home?"

 "I thought we agreed to take this matter into our own hands." Her temper had toned down but was still apparent. "We gave you our word that we'd kill this thing so why-"

 "Ezra." Varen cut her off coldly, holding onto his head with a frown that so very clearly expressed his distaste. "Take them both away. I'm not in the mood to deal with this right now."

 "You traitor!" Sukha turned to Zeya again, walking closer to the injured Roseabelle. Just as she attempted to swing at her, Zeya swiftly took charge, managing to pin her with just one of her hands. 

 "I think you've forgotten who you're talking to, Valor." Zeya's grip on her throat tightened, choking her out even more. "You have no idea how lucky you are, do you?"

 Desperately, Sukha struggled to free herself from the Roseabelles grip but the gap in strength between them was far too big, leaving her completely helpless.

 "Don't forget the fact that both you and that brother of yours are still alive because of my mercy. If it weren't for that damned contract I sighed, you would've never made it out the forest."

 Zeya released Sukha before she began to lose consciousness from the lack of oxygen, her limp body plopping down to the floor as she heaved desperately to catch her breath.

Kango rushed by his sister's side to help her get back on her feet before he helped her go out the door with Ezra leading the way. 

 "Let me go this instant!" She continued to yell from the top of her lungs as she was practically dragged away by her brother, her cries echoing throughout the slumbering palace.

 "Are you alright?" Varen had the courtesy to ask despite witnessing Zeya almost kill Sukha in front of him.

 "And what brings you here?" Zeya cut straight to the point, wondering what business the emperor had with her in the middle of the night. "It seems like everyone has taken a liking in disturbing me whenever I'm the most vulnerable."

 "I just happened to be passing by when I heard the commotion." He replied after a second of hesitation.

 "Don't lie to me, Varen. The number of eyes that you've placed on me have increased since we came back from the shadow realm." She called him out, not falling for his lies. "I'm sure you've been spying on what I've been up to since Nevra left."

 'I've been watching you the entire day actually.' He wanted to say out loud, but decided against it as it would only lengthen this unnecessary topic as a conversation.

 He had heard the faint echoes of her laughs earlier that afternoon when he was on his way to a meeting.

It piqued his curiosity as to who was making her laugh after seeing her in such low spirits after her difficult trial in the shadow realm.

Varen was aware of Lex's visit because he was the one that established the meeting for her, but Nevra's appearance was not called for and he normally wouldn't tolerate it however, he decided to let it go just this once.

 "Kango came to me informing of what was happening. Apparently, they had heard the maids' gossip about your friends staying at the closed off part of the palace." He finally confessed as he ran a hand through his perfect hair, ruining its shape and letting it flop down on his forehead. "They weren't aware of the temporary alliance because they were out on the mission I told you about."

 "... I understand why they had reacted the way they did. After all, I would've done the same if I were put in their shoes." She said with little sympathy in her voice, trying to regain her composure after the stressful encounter. 

 "Would you?" He questioned with a small smile.

 "You've seen me during the war." She replied vaguely, knowing that she did not need to elaborate further. "I was a monster."

"... And so was I."

 "Ahem, while I'm here... I have something I need to tell you." He cleared the silence after the incredibly awkward stillness. 

 "And what could that be?" Zeya asked, genuinely curious. "Other than the fact that you're here to spy on me, of course."

 "In a few days, we will be heading to a village out East on a little... side quest."

 "We?" Zeya repeated, visibly confused by where this conversation was heading. "Why am I going with you?"

 Both of them looked at each other with equally confused facial expressions, unsure of where the path of the conversation started to go astray.

 "I mean no offense with what I'm about to say but..." He glanced at Zeya's waiting figure, starting to hesitate to say what was on his mind. "Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately?"

 "You're practically skin and bones, not to mention how you're still healing from those injuries you received nine days ago."

 "You have no choice but to comply, dear. The effects of the contract have become much more potent because of the breach." Varen concluded, not wanting to have this erupt into yet another debate. "This is the only way I can guarantee that your health does not worsen, unless you want to stay in bed a little longer."

 "Are you wondering what your little knight might say?" He smiled as Zeya seemed surprised by the mention of Arius. "Don't worry, he was kind enough to give me a week before I give you back." 

 "So, you asked for Arius' permission when I'm the one that's going with you?" Zeya couldn't believe her ears at the disrespect she was experiencing from the likes of him. 

 "I was just trying to make things easier for you, my love." His words dripped with the sweetness that Zeya knew far too well. Instinctively, she took a step backwards, hoping to put some more distance between the two in case Varen decided to pounce on her like last time.

 "I am not impaired, Varen." She "As for the contract, Margaret can make potions for me to prevent any further damages-"

 "Those potions won't even last you an hour without me by your side, let alone heal you." 

 "I hope you know I'm not taking no for an answer, Zeya." He was suddenly right in front of Zeya, crouching down to her height in a teasing manner.

 Zeya had never wanted to bash the dashing smile Varen flashed at her more than ever, especially when he was clearly using the disadvantages she experienced with the contract.

 'Behave yourself, Zeya.' She repeated again and again in her mind, knowing that her body was still not healed enough for her to be strangling Varen. She closed her eyes so that she didn't have to look at Varen's irksome face, trying her absolute hardest to remain the bigger person.

 "So, what will your answer be?" His smile seemed lovely and innocent despite his wicked behavior, and Zeya could do nothing but to suffer through it.