Unpleasant

Estoria had been smiling just a moment ago, but now her expression was grave and serious; everything in her sight bothered her. She wanted to kill them again and again until she was satisfied.

"Just had to be reminded of those worthless humans," Estoria slammed the door after entering her room.

Estoria's fists were clenched so tightly, the nails were sinking into the skin deeper and deeper.

She hadn't realized that she was still holding her breath and suddenly gasped for oxygen.

She hung her head low, tears dropping to the floor one by one. She gritted her teeth as she cried alone and silently.

After a while, Estoria heard a click sound from the balcony and lifted her head to look instinctively.

Asher had just entered, and his first sight was Estoria staring at him with tears running down her cheeks. Her makeup was all smudged, making her eyelids black with glimmering red pupils, but it was the most terrifying look of her Asher had seen yet.

Asher took a step back unconsciously, glaring and blinking rapidly at Estoria.

Once Estoria registered that it was Asher, her expression softened a little. She wasn't as tense as before, so now the situation was making her feel awkward.

She took out the handkerchief Asher had given her a while ago and started rubbing her face, which didn't help much. Her eyes only became more smoky than before.

"Ash," Estoria coughed, her throat too dry to speak clearly.

Asher rushed and handed Estoria a glass of water. After drinking the water, Estoria asked him why he was here.

"I was just wondering what you're doing after leaving so abruptly," Asher replied and sat down beside Estoria on the sofa.

"Seems like you plan on staying."

"Why would I leave? Do you want me to leave you alone so you can cry your heart out?" Asher said nonchalantly.

Estoria stayed quiet for a moment before answering, "No."

"Didn't you say your memories were lost? So what's bothering you now? Was it something that happened after that? Is it because of someone? Who is it?" Asher asked seriously.

"It's from my previous life," Estoria spoke without much thought.

"Previous life? You remember something like that but not—forget it. So, are they still alive? Are they still bothering you?" Asher believed her without much thought too.

Estoria chuckled softly but didn't reply.

***

Aluxio and Tyrion were ordered to return, for their absence had gone on for too long. They had to return to the palace soon, and two royal carriages were sent to the Stallions mansion for the princes.

Estoria and her whole family were standing outside of their residence as the princes prepared to leave. They said their goodbyes.

"Just a moment, I have something to show you," Tyrion dragged Eston by the arm and went inside the royal carriage at the front with him.

Estoria and Aluxio just stared at the scene speechless. What were they up to? They had no clue.

"I'll be back soon after settling some important matters," Aluxio spoke.

"Don't be. Take a few years; maybe you'll forget me during that time," Estoria replied as they stood side by side. She didn't look at the person beside her.

"Looks like I still have a long way to go before making you mine," Aluxio said as he stared unblinkingly at her side profile.

"You're too pure to be my type," Estoria blurted out.

"Is that the only problem?" Aluxio laughed.

Eston returned from the carriage, but he was holding the side of his neck as if he had something to hide there. He walked inside the mansion weirdly fast.

Aluxio held Estoria's hand in his palm, then he bent down to kiss her hand. After placing a soft kiss on her hand, he said, "You still haven't heard anything about me," and left.

Estoria held her kissed hand in her other hand as she watched the carriages leave.

After they had all left, Asher abruptly teleported beside Estoria.

"Did they leave already? I just woke up; why did they have to leave so early in the morning?" Asher grumbled, annoyed, looking at the carriages from the long distance.

"Can't you just teleport back to the palace?" Estoria wondered.

"I can, but that's a little tiring for me considering the distance, and I can't just go there whenever I want either," Asher stretched and yawned.

"I want to explore the market today. Do you want to come with me?"

"Yes, yes, let's go. I'll get ready in a blink," and Asher disappeared.

Later at the south-central market...

"So, what are we buying?" Asher asked as they walked through the busy market.

"We can buy anything you like," Estoria replied while dragging her hat down to cover her red eyes.

Asher noticed but didn't say anything about it. "Why are we here if you have nothing to buy?"

Estoria thought about it for a bit before replying, "I do have something I want, but you'll have to get it for me. Of course, with the money provided by me."

Asher cast a suspicious glance at her. "You only asked me because you had a task for me again, right? So what is it now?"

"I want you to find any information you can about Aluxio, or rather the second prince of this kingdom. It can be as trivial as his favorite color. Just compile everything you find out about him."

"Why are you so interested in him? Do you also like him?" Asher asked as he eyed a famous dessert café called Dele.

Estoria hesitated before saying, "No, I don't, but I also don't dislike him. It's just because of something he said before leaving that's bothering me."

Asher stopped in front of the café. "Alright, I'll come back to this café after an hour, or if you want to wander around, I'll teleport to you."

Estoria knew he could teleport next to her anytime as long as she had this bracelet on her wrist. "I want to look around a bit, but since you haven't had breakfast yet, do you want to eat first?" She looked at the café in front of them.

"Let's eat here when I return because I want to eat everything they have," Asher said and disappeared again.

"That's Asher for you, I guess," she sighed.

Estoria continued her stroll to familiarize herself with the market. She couldn't remember directions well, so she marked her way with the nearby stores.

She quickly glanced at the boutique next to her before covering her eyes with the hat. The reason she had to cover her red eyes was that while staying at her mansion or palace of a home, she had heard some things from the butlers and maids. One of them being: the trait marks of the Duke of the South, Issac Stallion. Crimson red eyes and hair as dark as the abyss were recognized even from a mile away as the Stallions. The royal capital might have not recognized them, but everyone around here, from an infant to a person on their last breath, could tell just from a single second glance.

Not wanting any unnecessary attention, Estoria had no choice but to cover her red eyes with her hat since she only had clear glasses to wear.

Estoria walked, staring at her steps on the ground when she bumped into something hard and fell back on her butt.

"Ouch," she held her hat with her hand as she looked up at the person she had bumped into.

This individual was standing still as if nothing fazed him at all while she felt like being struck by a wall.

Seeing the red hair on this person reminded her of Aluxio, but this man had shoulder-length red hair, a bit brighter than Aluxio's to be precise.

He shot glares with his also red eyes at Estoria. It was like he was looking down on her, which he literally was.

"Are you alright, miss?" The person next to him, brown hair and black eyes with a gentle look, held out a helping hand to Estoria, a huge contrast to the man he was with.

Estoria took his hand and stood up from the ground while patting her butt to shake off the dirt.

"I believe you were the one standing in my way?" Estoria talked down to the man, eye to eye.

"I believe I was minding my own business until you decided to run into me," the man threw a fake smile at her.

Estoria had been watching the ground so intensely that she would never mistake it. He was the one who suddenly came in front of her!

"Is that so? What business did you have in the middle of the path when all the shops are on the sides?" Estoria also threw a mocking smile at him.

The man just stared at her without saying anything else.

'CREEPY,' Estoria thought. She better get away from this man as soon as possible.

"Wayne," the man spoke.

"?" Estoria looked at him without hiding her expression.

"You can call me Wayne. How should I address you?" The man's eyes had become amused by her.

Estoria was doubtful of whether he recognized her now or not. Was he being nicer on purpose after knowing she was the duke's daughter? How do other people address me? My Lady? Those words from that mouth would not sound pleasant.

After much deliberation, she chose, "Miss is fine."

"Alright, miss. Where were you headed?" Wayne was staring into her soul, which made her feel even more uneasy.

"Uh, actually, I was meeting a friend today. That's why I was in a hurry. So now, if you'll excuse me," Estoria tried to slip by.

Wayne grabbed her by the waist to stop her from advancing forward.

"?? Huh?" Estoria was close to turning this man into mush, but this was a public place with many other people around. She also couldn't control her powers yet.

Wayne lifted Estoria's head with a hand under her chin. "I don't want to part with you just yet."