Betrayal or loyalty?

I stood in front of the dining room, staring at the handle. I wanted to walk in, but I didn't know how to face Teon. I sighed and turned back to go to my room, but stopped and held the handle. I walked in—and no one was there.

I sat down and kept my head down. There was no one, and I was thinking of going back.

"He's avoiding me too," I mumbled. It made me feel sad, but I couldn't blame him—I'd lied on many occasions, even when he kept asking if I was okay.

I stood up and walked out, not feeling like eating any more—even though it was a terrible idea.

"My lady," someone called as I was about to enter my room. "Your things just arrived," she said, and I nodded.

"Okay—please, where are they?" I asked.

I walked to an annex that was almost as large as the main building. My equipment and ingredients were already stocked inside.

"Thank you," I said to the last worker inside once they were done.

I looked around and sighed as I slid onto a chair. The thought of starting over again was tiring, but I didn't have much of a choice.

I was making more, which meant I had to adjust the measurements again. I stretched in my seat and started working on it. By my calculations, it'd take a few months before I'd fully recover—and during that time, I might experience worse symptoms.

…

I have been going to the main building during breakfast and dinner in hopes of running into Teon, but I never did. When I asked, I was told he was still here.

I stood in front of his room door and raised my hand to knock, but I got cold feet again. I turned and walked back to the other building to get back to work.

I've been staying in the annex throughout the week I stayed here and haven't seen Teon at all. Whenever I asked where he was, he was always "out." I should have apologized when I had the chance.

A figure standing at the doorstep made me stop. I blinked twice, thinking I was hallucinating because it was dark. I kept my head down and approached him.

"Teon," I called quietly, unable to look at him.

"I… I just came to check on you," he said.

"Thanks," I mumbled.

"Well, I'll… go back," he said, walking past me.

"I…" I was saying, but was interrupted by a sound coming from behind the door. I turned and stared at the door expectantly, but nothing happened.

I walked inside and looked around, but there was no one there—my heart was beating in my chest; I was so scared.

I turned to go back, but something wrapped around my neck and dragged me back. My back hit the wall as it loosened its grip on my neck. I struggled to stand up as I searched for the intruder.

A figure stood by the door, but I couldn't see the person because it was dark—only the blades were as clear as day. I stepped back but hit the wall; he closed the door and stepped forward slowly.

"W… Who are you?" I asked, unable to hide the fear in my voice. He didn't reply; he proceeded slowly.

He charged at me, but I bent down just in time to avoid the attack. I rolled away and stood up, but he was faster. I fell back and tried to get away, but my pursuer was faster. He raised his sword to hit me, and I bent to shield myself with my hand—but all I heard was the sound of crashing.

"Ah, this… this is frustrating," the person croaked. Not just anyone, but a familiar voice. I looked up and the person removed the mask—my mouth almost dropped in shock.

"C… Clove?" I called.

"Faina, why did you have to be an Alden?" she asked. "You could be anything else—why did you have to be an Alden?" she asked as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Clove, w…" I didn't know what to ask or how to. Why was she attacking me?

"Fay, are you okay?" Teon asked, and I turned to look at him. I nodded slowly as I forced myself up.

"Clove, why?" I asked.

"Don't look at me like that—it makes me feel worse," she said, holding her head. "I'm sorry, Faina, but I have to kill you. You are a barrier… I can't even do it," she exhaled and turned her back to us. "You know who I blame," she said, turning to look at me. "It's Sienna," she said.

"Sienna?"

"If she had just stayed out of all this like everyone expected, then those stupid heads wouldn't have assumed she's trying to help Alden because of you—and I wouldn't have to kill you," she said.

"What are you… Clove," I wasn't making sense anymore because nothing made sense to me anymore.

"I'm so sorry, Faina," she said, and charged at us. I couldn't move from my spot; I didn't want to move.

Teon pulled me back and blocked her attack while I remained a statue. I couldn't believe what was happening; it never occurred to me that the others from Azure could be from other families. I don't know the vassals of the other noble families—I didn't even know all the Alden vassals; there was no way I'd know.

"What family do you serve?" Teon asked.

"Does it matter?" Clove asked.

"It does—I need to know who I'm going after next," he replied.

"Even if I fail, I can always come back—till I get what I want," she said.

"Who said you're going anywhere?"

"True," she replied, laughing. Don't laugh like it's okay.

My feet stopped working, and I slumped on the floor; I didn't expect something like this to happen. I didn't know how to react, or what to do.

"Faina," Clove called, and I looked up. "Both our luck showed today—if he weren't here I'd have killed you," she said. "But I can't leave without fulfilling my mission, and I'd rather not go back, so…" she said, throwing one of her swords at Teon. "Let's make this believable."

"With pleasure," Teon replied, charging at her.

"Wait," I shouted without thinking, but it backfired—Clove hit Teon's hand while he was distracted.

"Faina, I just decided to end this peacefully—don't ruin it," she said.

"Can't you… I don't know," I said, standing up.

"I came here telling myself that I could do it; I told myself I was protecting my family by doing it—but who am I kidding? I can't… I can't keep doing this," she said, dropping the sword on the floor. "I was their informant for years—why didn't they just kill you while they had the chance? Why are they making me go through this?"

"Clove, I'm sorry," I said.

"For?"

"Being the reason you're in pain," I said. I'm not expressive, but I could at least say the words I wanted to hear from the Rosens. "I'm sorry," I whispered.

"You're making it worse," she said. "You really are clueless, you know that, right?" I didn't say a word.

There had to be a way out—a way past this. I knew I was being delusional, but it felt better than accepting that we were on opposing sides.

Clove brought out something and put it in her mouth. What's that?

"I should have done this yesterday," she sighed. She coughed up blood and fell to the floor. I ran to her side and raised her up.

"Clove," I called.

"Is it that you don't know, or you choose to ignore it?" she asked.

"What?" I asked, helping her. She held my hand and shook her head.

"Phoenix," she mumbled as she closed her eyes.

"What about Phoenix? Clove, Clove," I called, but she didn't respond. "Clove," I called.

"Waison—it's Waison. They want to join the first prince because the second prince refused to become their dog. They're also planning a dethronement," she said. "I'm really sorry, Faina, but I can't do it anymore," she said.

"Clove," I called, but there was no response. I shook her, but she didn't react.