NEMESIS

I'd been in my room all day, as Alexander asked, with Amaris as my companion. She wasn't the most fun since she was always so conscious of herself around me. She was careful about the information she relayed and her behavior. It was as if she was afraid of me. Nevertheless, it was better having her around than staying alone.

Sitting here all day wasn't different from before I accompanied Alexander to Lady Cathwulf's place, so it wasn't a difficult task. All I did was read the books that was given to me by Amaris, and when I was tired, I stared at the beautiful view of the garden behind my balcony.

It was a slow day, but night eventually came. As the sun began to set, giving way to the moonlight, I stood on the balcony, watching the beautiful scene unfold. The view of the garden was breathtaking, but it was also satisfying to watch the numerous carriages that rode to the entrance of the castle.

My room was located on the highest floor of the castle. Because it was at the far end from the front view of the castle, and on the curve that led to the side, it was almost impossible to see the guests' faces, even with my good vision. Watching the guests still felt good because it was like floating in the sky while watching miniature toys display before me.

I was alone in the room. Amaris had left not too long ago in search of something. I don't know what because while she excused herself, I was so occupied with the view. My brain only registered her absence when I received no reply after demanding some water.

The lack of sunlight made the light emanating from the castle shine brightly, so brightly that I could suddenly see the guests' faces as they alighted from their carriages.

I rested my left arm lightly on the grey marble balustrade, and propped my chin in the palm of my right hand, staring nonstop at the guests. I've always been curious about events like this. The stories I'd heard from books had made my imagination run wild, wondering how gatherings like this we're held, and how guests were treated. This view was all I could get, and I was surprisingly happy with it.

There was a straight line of carriages from the gate of the castle to the entrance, and another that led to where the carriages were parked by the coachmen of each family attending the gathering.

Among these carriages, I caught sight of a particular one from the gate of the castle. It wasn't the most beautiful carriage or the most decorated one either, but it was a familiar one. It wasn't one I could mistake.

At first, I tried to brush off the thought that gnawed at my mind, convincing myself that it was just my mind playing tricks on me. But as it became more visible when it got closer to the entrance, I knew there was no way I could mistake it for another. I'd been staring at this carriage for far too long, from a close distance, from a far distance till it faded. It would take more than memory loss to not recognize it.

Unconsciously, I held my breath as the coachman dropped from the box, and strolled to the black door of the carriage. He knocked slightly on it, speaking to the passengers inside the carriage.

Raising my head from my palm, I looked closely as he opened the door. Two females stepped out of the carriage, aided by the coachman. They wore gowns with beautiful hats that covered their faces from my view, so it was hard to pinpoint who they were.

I strained my eyes, standing on the tips of my toes, just to get a glimpse of who they were, but when the coachman suddenly reached out to help a third lady step down from the carriage, I stopped.

My lungs burned slightly, so I exhaled. I forgot I was holding my breath. I stood flat feet on the floor, a little relieved I made a mistake on my assumptions. Taking a slower inhale and exhale, I caressed my face with my cold hands, as I tried to calm my racing heart. It took a while of holding my face before I felt my heart beat gradually reduce to a normal pace.

I laughed hysterically, and peeled my hands away from my face. I'd been on edge since I saw the carriages arrive one after the other. I don't know why, but I'd also been harboring stupid thoughts too, thoughts I shouldn't be having.

By the time I turned back to the view below me, the three ladies were already out of sight. I tugged behind my ears the strands of my hair the wind blew to my face, and watched the coachman close the door of the carriage. He was about to walk back to the box of the carriage, but stopped abruptly, turning back to the carriage door.

He opened the door once again, and my eyes narrowed on the view as the coachman bowed slightly. A man walked out.

His long, faded blonde hair fell to his broad shoulders, gently swaying with the wind, scattering some strands across his face. Carefully, he pushed them away from his face as he walked away from the carriage, giving the coachman space to close the door.

My face drained of color, ice coating my skin at the sight of the familiar man. Tears clouded my vision, but it wasn't possible not to see him, not to see those green eyes, the ones I had nightmares of all the time.

He surveyed his surrounding, breathing in the air around him with a small smile on his lips. He turned to the coachman and passed a message, before he started walking into the castle.

Like a nightmare, he suddenly stopped, and looked in the direction of my room. His eyes caught mine, and I almost stumbled to the floor when a sadistic smile played on his lips.

My nemesis.