Chapter 9: Covered with doubts

HUNTER'S POV

When I was five years old, a middle aged lady with a kid came in the tower. The lady taught me everything that I needed to know. She took me as her apprentice, the reason why? I'm also curious. Why would she took all the trouble of coming in the tower just to teach me those things.

She stayed in the tower for five years with Chester, and my dull life is starting to have its color that time. But not until when I heard the reason of their stay. I am born with a terrible fate ahead of me, and they are there to help me prevent it. But the chance of preventing it is unspecified.

She touch my forehead and put me to sleep, and there I found it all out. I saw a lady whose killing thoughtlessly, she's skilled, my eyes can't even keep up with her fast reflexes. She's a genius, and the atmosphere she has is definitely terrifying. When I woke up I got a fever for a week, my whole body is trembling in fear, and it has become a nightmare.

They said that I will fall in love with her, and during that time I assure them that I WOULD NEVER, and even swore that I'd rather die instead. If I fall in love with that person, that would be the fall of Liesel Empire...

She will start a war that will be the reason of millions of death, and she will most likely to conquer half or even this whole world. She was sent here by the demons from another world. But my head can't accept it.

"Hunter? is something the matter? You haven't touch your food yet." she seemed to be worried. Is that an act? Is she really that horrible person? But last night...

 "I ain't a fairy, I'm...actually a reaper before, whose hated, despised, and everything that's not nice." she said.

How am I supposed to accept this?

"After this we will attend the council's meeting, they are kinda against with me marrying you, and insisting that I should marry the duke instead." I'm sipping some coffee and made an eye to eye contact with her. "You don't have to force yourself on marrying me."

"Are you wishing for a war to breakout? West and East Empire will be affected with it too." she has a serious and pissed face. "I'll be mocking Liesel Empire if I don't take seriously the agreement with the King of Liesel Empire." the atmosphere turned awkward and suffocating for me.

"I don't get why you're trying to back down here, but whether you like it or not, you'll do what is said. It's not like I'm going to tie you here, I'm giving you the ladder to your Empire's future...So don't look at me with that doubtful look in your eyes." her eyes are fiery, her aura is so dim right now. It's like she's going to outburst in anger anytime soon.

"I'm--"

"I'm done, maybe we take different carriage for today?" she forced a smile on her face and left the room. She didn't finish her food nor touch the dessert. I made her mad, and I'm feeling guilty.

"I don't know anymore..." 

________

I dress comfortably, the suit is well made and it suits me perfectly. I also wore a mask that hides half of my face. The weather is nice, but it's a little chilly out here. She's still inside, and the butler sent me off, he told me to wait for Selena.

I arrived faster than I expected, and Selena arrived here riding a horse. I am starting to be ashamed of myself. "Lift up your head, and don't wear this stupid mask, you're not attending a ball or a banquet here." the mask I'm wearing was thrown away, she forced a smile again that looked natural.

"Greetings to Your Highness the Princess." a man came and kissed the back of her hand. She wear that smile again, "I see, so the council must have called you out too, hope there's no inconvenience Duke Zachary."

"Believe or not there's none, Your Highness. I also greet Your Highness the Prince of Liesel Empire." I just bow my head and Selena grabbed my arm, "Let's go." she said and I just nodded. /Act accordingly, you're not supposed to bow on someone with lower status than you./ she can think while putting an act.

When we enter the whole council are already gathered in one place and their heads are bowed down. They greeted her and we both sat down. The duke earlier also entered the hall where meeting is going to take place. They are giving an unpleasant atmosphere. They looked displeased with my presence as well. 

/You just have to leave all the argument that will happen later. Don't say a thing and stay still./

She said in her thought with a smiling face. The meeting started and they beat around the bush and brought the issue up. "Your Highness, are you really sure about this?"

"Do I look like I'm kidding you all here? I don't wish for a war to breakout just because of something so trivial." the whole council seemed to be speechless by her words. "Won't the outcome just going to be the same? They are obviously planning to conquer the South Kingdom through marriage." /Well it's not like marriage isn't a sweet synonym for human trafficking./   

"The outcomes are different, no one died." we're shaken up by her answer, even the silent duke that's thinking thoroughly. "I have my plans and reasons, when the time comes, I might marry the duke, but not now. Does that satisfy you?"

"Well what if I go off to marry another girl, Your Highness?" he seemed to be confident on his question. "You're not the only man here in the Kingdom." her answer made him pissed. It looks like they are both putting an act.

"Also, everyone will be busy from tomorrow onwards, I hope everyone here supports all of my ideas, and tell those nobles who are against that even made an anti-faction against me, won't be tolerated."

Her words gave a chill on our spines. Even if I'm not part of anything here. I can feel her bloodlust for a second. Her eyes are really scary for a minute. Their thoughts about her is jumbled in my head. They are all scared and the duke started to like her.

"Let's leave Hunter." she tighten her grip on my hand. She's definitely mad. We stopped for a minute and she breath in and out for a couple of minutes. "That room is suffocating, oh right let's visit the locals. The citizens have been working on it for three days." her dim aura vanished like nothing happened at all.

"Let me show you what Sapphire Kingdom is." She hop on the horse and the butler also gave me a horse, I ride it and she leads the way. I wonder, was that person in my nightmare really her? She looked harmless most of the time, just don't anger her and everything's all okay.

"You've been spacing out since earlier, is something worries you?" yeah and it's you. "I'm fine though, thanks for your concern." she squinted her eyes with a doubtful look. "I don't think so, but you can tell me if something's bothering you." I just happily smiled.

  "Thank you."   

"Oh, we're here." 

A busy street welcomed us, their attention were easily drawn to both of us. All of them are happy to see her. The busy commoners of this Kingdom are excited and even circled her horse, just what did she do? Wasn't she supposed to slaughter them all? Was the prophecy changed? 

Or was she putting a nice act to fool everybody?