Chapter 17

I kept thinking about the events that happened yesterday as I rode back to the hunting Manor. Why was I having these weird sensations and feelings in me? and that too for an enemy? An Astmathian? It did not make any sense no matter how hard I tried. Yes he was a narcissist. A big one! But he was also kind and thoughtful. He took care of me and he trusted me. Would he have done all of that he knew who I really was? To him I was Raven. The Raven who was bold and carefree. And for the time it felt great, not being burdened by the rules and responsibilities of a princess. But in reality, I was nothing like her. I wanted to be her. I craved for the freedom, but I couldn't. I couldn't because had to be there for my family.

Family- the emotions that hit me just by the thought of this word were enough to overwhelm me. Maybe Lycargos was right. I should trust father. But that doesn't mean I would let my guard down. I just hoped Evanthia and Vass would understand. It was going to be hard for them as well. But they had people to vent out. The only person who I vented out on wasn't talking to me. And I didn't even know why. I had to fix things, with all of them. Specially now, when our enemies are trying to grow strong and infiltrating our court.

I was lost in thought when I realized that I had reached the gates of the manor. The guards rushed to open the gates for me and I went in. As soon as I stepped inside the manor I saw Evanthia screaming my name and rushing towards me. She wrapped me in a tight hug and kept whimpering

" Verina. Where have you been? We have all been worried sick for you. We searched for you everywhere." I looked in the hall and saw people coming downstairs. Aunt Val and Vass rushed towards me and wrapped me their arms around me and Ev who was still hugging me tight. I could see Aunt Val crying. Even Vass tried to hold back his emotions. And then all of a sudden someone hit me on my arms. I looked up to see it was. It was aunt Val.

"Why did you run away like this? We searched everywhere for you. Don't you ever do this again." her voice felt tangled with emotions.

"I'm sorry. I was really upset and before I knew it I was...." I stopped. I couldn't tell them about the poisoning.

"You were?" Vass asked.

"Lost in Mistos." I replied." Then I lost my horse and walked and walked and walked until I found my way to the Union road."

"Oh Thank Gods you are ok." said Aunt Val.

"Where is father?" I asked.

"In his room. He hasn't eaten anything since you left." Evanthia said.

"None of us have." said Vass.

"Then let's eat together." I said. "I'll just go and have a quick chat with father and then we have a really important matter to discuss."

"I'll inform Vasilikios to stop the search." said aunt Val.

I , Ev and Vass walked to father's room when Ev said "We know why you are upset."

"Huh?"

"We know about the Glikaraachi princess. We found out yesterday. Actually Father told us" said Vass.

"And trust me, we were furious. But aunt Val explained it to us and we aren't really ok with it. But I guess it's fine. So we decided she can be our father's wife but not our mother. Even the kingdom needs their Queen. She can be that." said Ev.

" I thought so too." I said.

As we reached father's room the guards announced us in. Father stood by the window lost in thought. His gloomy face lit up when my name was announced. He turned and looked at me. He ran towards me. His eyes were red due to the crying. I felt pangs of guilt. I shouldn't have just run away like this. He wrapped me in a tight hug.

"I'm sorry Verina. I won't marry anybody. Just don't do this ever again. ok? I'm so so sorry."

Tears welled up in my eyes. My voice broke when I tried to speak "No father. It's ok. I understand. I'm ok with the marriage now. I just needed to calm down to think clearly. I'm sorry for running away like this."

"Are you ok?" he said as he broke the hug to look at me.

"I'm fine and we can catch up on everything later. Right now can we all please eat? I'm starving. And besides, there is something we need to talk about. It's regarding all of us and Nydalidia. It's kind of urgent."

Father nodded and we went to the dining hall. It usually was packed with people but today it would just be us. Uncle Vasilikios, who was already in the room came and hugged me. He too looked tired and I apologized for my behavior. We all sat down in our seats with Vass and Ev on beside me and aunt Val and uncle Vasilikios on the opposite side. Father sat at the corner as the head of the family. The staff got us food and wine. I drank the glass of wine in one go. I needed courage to say everything. That was when I noticed that Vass didn't even touch his glass. I asked him why and he said he had decided to avoid alchohol starting today. When I asked him why he said he got drunk the night I went missing and couldn't help because he was drunk.

"Great! That just means more for me." I said as I chugged the whole thing down.

"It's wine Verina. I knew it, she's barbaric!" he said pointing towards me. I rolled my eyes.

"What more can you expect? I'm your twin!" I said.

"I need to tell you all something." I said as I stood up.

"I think Astmath has invaded our courts and nobles and.....and..." I started feeling a numb sensation in my mouth. My limbs started shaking and before I knew it I fell on the ground. I heard faint sounds of people around me and then I understood what was happening.

"Gliss...." I tried to speak but couldn't.

And then, the world around me turned black.