What Do You Want, Kiha

Hearing that, the Crown Prince’s eyes widened as Kiha shouted his second name. It was the name given to him by the Empress, his mother, and no one except the two of them calls him that, and it was kind of awkward hearing her say that name again, after 7 years. Kiha stops calling him Cleon after the Empress died during their tea time. The reason was still unknown to him and he itch to ask her what happened that day but he shut his mouth.

Their love-hate relationship started when Kiha turned 10 years old. She stops visiting him as well as stops calling him her friend. The warmth between them faded as if they have never known each other and it worsened when Czarina came into the picture.

‘What the- she forgot what she said just now?’ The Crown Prince, Luriel almost spitted his own thoughts when he realizes how she made him freeze on the spot. The three people quickly move to another topic but he is still stuck on the same word. ‘Cleon, Cleon, Cleon.’ It repeated almost a hundred times on his head and couldn’t think of anything except that.

“I heard you visited Elaina Harrington earlier,” It was Kalen’s voice that pull him again. Kiha’s eyes darted on her brother for a second and a warm smile spread on her face. “Yes, brother Kalen.” She replied with her hand on the table.

Her wavy ginger hair cascading her straightened back flutters as the wind blew strongly. Her eyes glint for a second and it gives them the “I know everything feeling”. Luriel averted his gaze as he hear his cousin, Rhysand mumble something like, “that’s why she almost killed that guy that day.”

He suspiciously looked at Rhysand when an unexpected word came out from Kiha’s glossy lips.

“I can feel how much you like her, brother.” Kalen’s eyes widen as she spouted these words. No one reacted as it is so much to process at once. The black magic, the case, and even her brother’s love life, It’s just too complicated to put it all in mind.

“What are you saying, Kiha. I know what I feel.” She brought the cup of tea to her mouth and elegantly took a sip. Their mind is in shambles right now and they cannot figure out what she is saying. Or what her intention is.

“I know brother better though, you like her so much that it can be called love.” Putting the cup of tea back on the table, she looked at her brother’s eyes for the first time in 10 years. The two men watched the sibling as they exchange an indifferent gaze.

“Look at my eyes, brother. Look carefully, this is how you look at me. Are you wondering how I figured it out earlier than you?” Her cold as ice tone reverberated on his ear. He’s is confused about what his sister is thinking that she decided to spout these words.

Even Rhysand and Luriel are confused and curious at the same time. Their friend, Kalen never shows emotion to anyone even her sisters that is why they are curious how the madwoman in Richter's house figured out that he’s in love with someone when he himself isn’t aware of his own emotion.

“Brother, your indifferent eyes changes every time Elaina Harrington came into view.” Kiha’s heart rate fastened as she said those words. Kalen on the other hand felt a rapid skip of his heartbeat. Kiha smiled at him as she eat one of the snacks on the table.

“I understand, I like that child ever since.” She mumbled under her breath loud enough for them to hear. She put a smile on her face before patting her brother’s pink beautiful hair. As if nothing happened, she continued praising her long-time enemy, Elaina, in front of the hero of the Empire.

“She’s a saint, a kind and lovely princess of Harrington. I heard she also enjoys art and politics like brother. She’s a good person who knows how to treat people well, I admire her ever since but jealousy eat me up, I came to apologize and she said that pulling her hair, pushing her on the stairs, and pointing a knife on her throat isn’t bad enough for me to receive a death sentence.” Kiha’s small and soft voice trembled for a second but it soon find her courage once again.

She looked at the guys sitting next to her, their eyes solely focused on her. They knew what she did, all of them are aware of it. Even Elaina herself isn’t expecting her to bring up her crimes with her own lips. None of them are expecting her to change all of a sudden, especially her friend, Czarina.

Kiha’s only wished this time is to live peacefully without those terrifying nightmares every single night. She brought the topic to everyone because she wants to ease the uneasy feeling her, maybe she’s guilty of everything but apologizing isn’t enough.

Even though she brought her crimes, she never brought the reason behind it all. Her words, her movements, and even the way she carry herself for the last 7 years disgust her. She wants to set off her guilt by bringing her crimes to everyone that knew what she did and cast a blind eye by letting someone manipulate them.

Kalen, Rhysand, and even the Crown Prince, Luriel was taken aback for a moment. Their eyes got swayed by her once again. Her voice is sweet that it feels like she’s someone’s mother that cares about her child sincerely. She’s willing to bring all her crimes just to praise her long-time enemy, the divine healer, Elaina Harrington.

“You sound desperate, is there something you haven’t said yet?” Rhysand eyes narrowed as he look at Kiha. He crosses his long leg before resting his chin on his hand, Luriel looks back and forth from Rhysand to Kiha. It’s not their usual conversation together, and it confuses the Crown Prince the most.

‘What are you planning, Kiha?’ Luriel asked inside his mind, he sincerely wants to ask her but their relationship isn’t that deep for him to ask what worries the young lady.

“No? Elaina is just that awesome, isn’t she?” Kiha’s brows raise as she takes a bite on the cookie laying on the table. She titled her head before looking at her back where her escort knight, Ezequiel is patiently waiting. A warm smile spread around her unusually cold face, she then stand up with a piece of cookie in her hand before walking toward her knight.

Upon noticing Kiha walking toward him, Ezequiel stride to Kiha as fast as he can. She soon hands the cookie to Ezequiel. Her hand moved to his mouth and so he eat it. The young lady’s smile made her knight happier and so he asked; “How’s the tea, milady?” with a true meaning of ‘are they bothering you?’.

“It’s to my liking.” Ezequiel’s lips arch as he heard that. That word means ‘No, I can handle it.’

As the two of them are having small talk, the three guys watched them from afar. Their eyes are focused and so are their ears. As if watching an opera, Luriel smile before turning his head to his cousin.

“They look like a couple.” Luriel looks at Rhysand with malice written in his eyes. He’s expecting him to react but there is nothing even a bit of emotion. Kalen on the other hand also look at the young Grand Duke as he noticed something hot coming from somewhere. And with no other words, he knew that it was coming from the guy sitting in front of him.

“Rhysand, have you received the parcel from the County? I heard it’s from Kiha.” That was when the hot sensation forming around them faded. The guy looks at him without saying anything before shifting his gaze once again.

“She did say that she sent a gift to the Duchy but I haven’t received anything yet.” Luriel’s ominous grin bothers the two guys. The parcel will only take 2 days and 3 days if it got delayed, ever since Kiha said she sent another gift to him, Rhysand has been waiting for that gift to come but there is nothing every time he checked the delivery.

“You haven’t received it yet, young master?” Kiha peeks at Rhysand’s face from his shoulder that startled everyone, especially the guy only a few inches away from her. Confused, his eyes widened as he can fully see her beautiful orange irises that resembled a fireball.