Chapter 28 - Betrothed (2)

Feeling elated, she held close to her chest the store bag containing her gifts, a long thick sky blue scarf with white peony pattern circling it and a bracelet with a few peonies charm. Raiene couldn't suppress her giggles, imagining a wide smile painted her mother's face upon laying eyes on her gifts.

It was a little bit confusing to choose what kind of gift Raiene should buy for her mother. If she could, she wanted to bring the whole store and presented everything to her mother. This could be the only chance Raiene could sneak out Arrenquile and get a piece of Qye in a form of gifts. In the end, Raiene spent almost an hour contemplating what she should buy for her mother.

However, Artha accompanies her patiently by her side, not rushing nor urging her to be quick when making decisions. Though his words sound cold and sharp to her ear, he did give a few helpful suggestions here and there, resulting in Raiene choosing with careful and keen eyes.

Her eyes caught the scarf, imagining her mother's image and the warmth it could provide her. The bracelet wasn't expensive, but the design and its quality could still be compared with other jewellery. Despite being the Royal Consort inside Arrenquile, Raiene knows her mother isn't fond of luxurious trinkets, so she chose a simple one instead, surely she will love it.

The night has engulfed the entire street, as once the crowd filled with creatures has turned solemn and silent, though there are few who roam the night, some are more inclined to stay inside stores instead of walking aimlessly. The chill wind blew Raiene's hair turning it into a mess as shivers ran down her spine. She was about to raise her hand to put her hair into place when a big hand did it for her.

Raiene was about to say thanks to Artha when suddenly she felt her shoulders covered with thick black cloak, successfully covering her from neck to foot, Artha secured the button and turned around to leave. Stunned, a smile slowly etched her lips as a tinge of sparkle flashed within her now amber eyes. She quickly follows Artha, not far from behind him. 

"We should return," Artha uttered.

Raiene immediately shook her head, "I can go by myself from here, you don't have to fly me back. You have left your post for a long time already, I can't let you spend more time with me like this," biting her lips, her eyes wandering aimlessly, reluctant to utter parting words.

There's a certain unspeakable comfort that exudes from the guard body, Raiene felt both safe and pleasant by his side. This unknown feeling of being home, which is absurd if she thoroughly ponders over it. He is a stranger just a moment ago, one who could easily imprison her for the name of Qye's safety and yet she feels this way?

She felt dejected at once, they will be on their separate ways within a few days, she will forget him and though he still remembers her existence, he will eventually regard this encounter as one of his many passing events, one he wouldn't regard as important.

Oblivious to Raiene thoughts, Artha observe the way the girl bit her lower lips and how her white cheeks had turned red from cold, as tears pools within her orbs and stubbornly stays within her flickering light brown eyes, not sure whether her tears the result from cold or sadness of separation. Her appearance tickled his heart, despite his brain telling him to stop, his mouth utter the words easily.

"Do you want to meet again tomorrow?"

Raiene whips her head so fast she could feel her jaw hurt from the impact, resulting in her grunts a little, little sparkles flashing her orbs facing Artha's dark ones, she mumbled the question through her lips filled with doubt.

"We can?"

Artha wasn't fond of shapeshifters, they're the kind of creatures who have a widespread reputation as scammers, they could manipulate others with simple words and the kind that lures its prey into their little trap. However, right at this moment he can imagine two rabbit ears twitching above the girl's head and the simple thought of encountering her as shapeshifter doesn't irritate him much.

His wolf scoffed once again, honestly Artha has lost count.

Ignoring it, he tries hard not to smile down at her and nod his head.

Raiene clapped her hand, before a barrage of questions flowed through her red lips within seconds, proudly showing off her lungs capacity.

"Where should we meet? Is noon okay with you? What time are you free? Can you give me a short tour of Qye's 12th Peonies? Or do you have a short course in mind? What's your favourite place? Am I not bothering you at all? I-"

Before the girl could speak further, Artha reaches out his hand and rubs her head a few times, resulting in her frozen in place. Eyes turning round in surprise and cheeks turning apparent rosy red, Artha could be seen smiling down at her though it disappeared within seconds.

"Tomorrow. 2 hours before the Nymph sings. Find Grea's Bakery."

His short and curt statement brought Raiene into silence, thinking over his words once again, she was about to ask when Nymph usually sang when her eyesight caught a familiar figure up ahead.

Gasping in disbelief, she turned to face Artha, seemingly faced with the hardest decision in her life before she just nodded her head and waved her hand in repeated motion at Artha. Afterwards she leaped towards the figure and disappeared within the filled crowd. Leaving behind the werewolf, not witnessing the way his face had abruptly turned dark at once.

Artha was in the middle of contemplating whether to catch up with her disappearing figure when a hand tightly clasped his clenched fist, the tiny fingers tried to unclenched it though he gave up within seconds, Artha looked down to find a familiar face.

"Let's go," Alron tried to pull his brother away, dismissing his keen gaze directed at him, clearly plastered with questions Alron knew he didn't have the answer to. Staying rooted, his eyebrow pulled up as he gazed around the surroundings before uttering the questions.

"Why are you here?"

"He came with me."

Ezana came along with a few bags in her hands, Artha can decipher the situation immediately, directed his gaze upon Alron and decided to wait on his answer instead. There's a high possibility of Alron pleading to visit Aola's Market or a bunch of unreasonable excuses like buying Elrin pleasantries or Aunt Deair a few trinkets.

However, this is not the first time they visited the Kingdom of Qye, their mother hometown. So trinkets and pleasantries couldn't be the excuse for such a dangerous trip to crowded and bustling markets such as Aola's Market. Not to mention the situation brewing at this moment.

It has to be noted, since the Queen of Suttern, their mother, had fallen asleep after helping someone who was meant to die, other countries and few small aristocrats had seen it as a chance to attack the Kingdom. Whether it is outside or inside, both threats come their way in full force, so the safety of the Suttern Royal Family is highly challenged at this very moment. As the Crown Prince and future King of Suttern, Artha had to stay vigilant in order to protect the Kingdom and his family.

"Aunt."

Artha knows he can't blame her, though as the one of the older generation inside the family, she shouldn't try to risk Alron safety just to satisfy his desire.

"It's my fault. I'm sorry, but you're not inside the palace and Alron feels bored." Ezana tried to coax him, hold his other free hand and this time managed to make him start to move forward.

It was an unusual view to behold, seeing a small adorable child and a beautiful woman dragging along a man down the road, while surrounded by a few guards nearby. Though everyone who witnessed it didn't have the courage to gossip or whisper about such a scene, presumably because of their guards uniform and stance that screamed officials right at them.

"So how old is she?"

"..."

"Is she wearing a ring?"

"..."

"Or bracelets?"

At first, Artha tried to ignore his aunt's questions, knowing fully well that if he happened to reply just one, it wouldn't stop her from chirping those silly questions. However, feeling irritated by her repeated weird questions, Artha steps faltered and turns to stare at her.

"Why do you want to know?"

However, this question was answered by Alron instead.

"Stupid Artha. Witches are betrothed from the age of ten years old, they wear rings or bracelets of union since they turn fifteen years old. If no changes of intention are made to be known, they will get married upon reaching twenty years old," Alron exclaimed, staring at Artha as if he is looking at a fool, feeling proud as he discovered a marvellous fact that Artha seemingly wasn't aware of.

"Didn't we learn this on Basic Culture of Creatures," Alron left lips turned up, shaking his head in disbelief and narrowing his eyes upon his older brother, "is it because it's already five years since you finished class, your head has holes in it now?"

Artha's face turned dark for the second time.