Someone Out There

Crown Prince Helias's words took Elaine by surprise.

He wanted to talk to her? Besides, why did he appear and sounded so serious at the same time?!

Despite the confusion she felt, Elaine Vernimiere still nodded. Then the Eslore Crown Prince gestured her to take a seat on the couch opposite him. The Captain indeed complied but... she wasn't that comfortable.

Maybe because she rarely sat while she was on duty.

"Do you mind a drink?"

This one shocked her even more than the invitation to sit down and chat. Her amazement was written all over her face when she replied, "I'm still on duty, Your Highness. I'm afraid it won't be appropriate for me to drink."

She noticed the slight change in the Crown Prince's expression and she quickly said, "But you can still drink, Your Highness. Should I tell the servants to bring it for you?"

Helias Casteveron wondered how a little wine might help him if he was to really ask her about herself. As such, he nodded.

Captain Elaine quickly rose from her seat and walked out to instruct the servants. Then she was back to the chamber in no time.

Complete silence occupied the chamber since Elaine returned and she really didn't know what to do or say. Just a few minutes ago, she had no idea that she will soon be sitting opposite the Eslore Crown Prince alone in his chamber to have some talk.

Come to think of it, the Crown Prince had been acting strange since yesterday's evening.

Was something wrong with him?

Soon enough, two servants walked inside to serve the wine and it brought some relief to the tormentingly quiet and awkward atmosphere. However, the servants left right away with the order from the Crown Prince.

Once the door was shut, Helias reached for the small silver jug to pour some wine for himself but... Elaine grabbed it before he did. This came off as a surprise for the Eslore Crown Prince and his gaze that was kept lowered most of the time was finally lifted to meet Elaine's gaze. He looked at her, questioningly.

"I don't think the future King of Eslore should pour a drink for himself. Allow me to do it." She didn't even wait for a reply or approval and filled the silver cup with the wine.

Without saying anything, Helias Casteveron narrowed his eyes at the cup for a while and then gulped it in one go. This action instantly triggered the concern of the Captain.

"Your Highness, if you drink like that, it will be hard for you to participate in tomorrow's hunting." She reminded the Crown Prince in a low yet concerned voice.

"You sound like you truly worried about me," Helias Casteveron remarked, making Elaine raise her brows.

A brief thought was enough for Elaine to realize that the Eslore Crown Prince was right. Until yesterday's evening, she wished to stay away from him because the way he looked at her always made her uncomfortable. But...

When she went to him before dinner to apologize, he acted like a completely different person compared to the one in her memory. Though she also found it strange, he looked like a broken person to her yesterday and even now. That wooden sword toy in his hand that was obviously meant for kids... everything was strange to Elaine. However...

All she knew was that she didn't want to do anything to make things worse for him. She didn't even know his story.

"That's right, Your Highness," she finally replied. "I just want you to be comfortable during your stay here."

"Are you always this honest?" He asked him the same question from the morning and he only realized it after it escaped his lips. "Oh. I already know the answer to that." Though he didn't show anything, that familiar response already echoed in his ears for the many times in the day.

"It seems like you have a good memory, Your Highness," Elaine Vernimiere pointed out, flashing a little smile. She didn't even know that it was only the second time that she showed him a genuine smile. However, Helias knew it.

He also remembered that the first one was in the morning.

As he watched her pouring another cup of wine, Helias realized how she made him feel better again unlike a while ago when he was full of pressure. She was always good at doing that...

Just like Marian.

"What I wish to talk about tonight... I hope it doesn't offend you," he suddenly muttered. "Please know that I think about it all day and that it's not easy for me too."

He didn't stop acting strange since yesterday's evening and Elaine was surprised over and over again.

The Captain didn't even know that she was maintaining her silence or the fact that the Crown Prince was looking at her the whole time. She was only snapped out of her thoughts by what Helias said next.

"I heard from General Cayden that you're adopted into the Vernimiere family," Helias Casteveron cautiously said and when Elaine looked at him with a strange expression on her face, he continued, "Can I ask you some questions regarding that?"

Elaine Vernimiere spent the past few minutes, wondering what the Crown Prince wanted to talk about. However... what he just said now didn't cross her mind even once!

Why would he want to ask her questions regarding her adoption?! It wasn't normal at all but she realized that it was the reason why he was so cautious before he mentioned it.

He indeed knew that it wasn't a normal thing to do. The way he looked at her said so.

"If you're not okay with it, I won't," Helias quickly said, not wishing to make her feel uncomfortable.

"It's fine, Your Highness. Please go ahead." She didn't even know why she said that but... she knew that she didn't even think twice to say that.

Her adoption matter wasn't that sensitive to her as she was always happy in the Vernimiere family when her adoptive parents were still alive, but... it indeed used to make her ponder a lot about her lost memories.

Who was she before she became Elaine Vernimiere? Will there be someone out there looking for her?