chapter 14

As we continued our stroll through the garden, I noticed two young girls standing by the blue roses. They greeted us with curtsies, and Rohan introduced them as his half-sisters, Princess Avena and Princess Forina, daughters of the former Empress Freya.

"Athanasia, this is Princess Avena and Princess Forina," Rohan said, his tone formal. "And this, my sisters, is Athanasia, my fiancée, the daughter of Duke Leon."

I greeted them politely, taking in their striking features. Princess Avena had onyx hair and iris eyes, while Princess Forina had platinum hair and iris eyes. Both sisters were exquisite, with delicate features and slender builds.

Rohan asked, "So, what brings you both to the garden today?"

Princess Avena replied, "Your Highness, we were just taking a walk."

Princess Forina trembled slightly, and Princess Avena grasped her hand reassuringly. Rohan's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable.

I see, so you both were walking," Rohan said, turning to Princess Avena and Princess Forina.

Just then, a man with striking green hair came running towards us. He was out of breath and looked frantic. "Your Highness, there's an urgent matter," he exclaimed.

I recognized him instantly - he was Kaid, the same man who had accompanied Rohan when we first met.

Kaid's eyes met mine, and he bowed slightly. "Greetings, my lady. I'm Kaid. It's nice to meet you again."

Rohan turned to me and said, "I'll see you later, Athi."

I watched as Rohan and Kaid walked away together, wondering what the urgent matter could be.

I turned to Princess Avena and Princess Forina and smiled. "Princess Forina, Princess Avena, shall we have some tea together?"

Princess Avena's face lit up. "Yes, we'd love to, Lady Athanasia."

I called for the maid and instructed her to set the table for three.

As we waited for the tea to be served, Princess Forina fidgeted with her hands, her eyes darting around the room. Princess Avena, on the other hand, seemed calm and composed, her iris eyes sparkling with warmth.

The maid returned with a steaming teapot and delicate china cups. I poured the tea, handing each princess a cup.

"Thank you, Lady Athanasia," Princess Avena said, her voice melodious.

Princess Forina merely nodded, her eyes fixed on the tea cup.

I took a sip of my tea, trying to break the silence. "I must say, the gardens here are lovely. I've never seen such beautiful blue roses."

Princess Avena smiled. "Yes, they're a favorite of ours too. Our mother, Empress Freya, used to tend to them personally."

Princess Forina's eyes clouded over, and she looked away. I sensed a sudden tension in the air, but I wasn't sure what had caused it.

"Tell me, Princess Avena," I said, trying to steer the conversation back to safer topics, "what do you enjoy doing in your free time?"

Princess Avena's face lit up. "I love reading and playing the harp. How about you, Lady Athanasia?"

I smiled, grateful for the opportunity to connect with my new acquaintances. "I enjoy reading , doing different types of arts and taking long walks in the gardens. I find it helps me clear my mind.

Avena's eyes sparkled with excitement. "What kind of art can you do, Lady Athanasia?"

I smiled, pleased to share my interests. "Well, I can do painting, sketching, and paper crafting."

Forina's gaze turned cool, her voice laced with subtle disdain. "I see you're just like other noble ladies."

I felt a flicker of discomfort at her words, unsure how to respond. Avena, however, seemed oblivious to the tension.

Avena laughed, her voice warm and genuine. "Hahaha, I guess that's true! But it's lovely that you enjoy art, Lady Athanasia."

I forced a smile, trying to brush off the awkwardness. "Yes, I suppose it's a common interest among noble ladies."

Avena's enthusiasm remained undimmed. "Oh, Lady Athanasia, may I see your artwork? I'm sure it's lovely."

Forina's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing. "I'm sure it's...adequate."

I felt a sting from Forina's words, but Avena's kindness helped to alleviate the discomfort. "I'd be happy to show you my artwork, Princess Avena. Perhaps we can arrange a time for you to visit my chambers?"

Avena clapped her hands, her smile radiant. "That would be wonderful, Lady Athanasia! I'll make sure to clear my schedule."

Forina's expression remained icy, her silence speaking volumes. I couldn't help but wonder what had caused her to be so cold towards me.

Princess Forina suddenly stood up, her movements abrupt. "My apologies, Lady Athanasia. Avena and I have to go now. We have something to attend to."

Avena's eyes widened in surprise. "Really, Forina? We have to go?"

Forina's voice was firm. "Yes, Avena. You have to take Lady Emilya's lesson."

Both princesses bowed their heads unison. "Good day, Lady Athanasia. It was a pleasure."

With that, they turned and departed, leaving me alone in the garden. I let out a deep sigh, feeling perplexed.

This whole family is very strange, I thought to myself.

A maid came running towards me, out of breath. "Princess, please...it's getting dark. You must come inside."

I stood up, smoothing out my dress. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stay out so late. And you are...?"

The maid curtsied, still panting slightly. "Greetings, Princess. I'm Lia, your personal maid."

I smiled warmly at her. "Hello, Lia. Thank you for coming to fetch me. I'll be in your care from now on."

Lia and I retired to my room after dinner. As night fell, I lay on my bed, feeling a sense of discomfort. Perhaps it was the unfamiliar surroundings, but I was struggling to drift off to sleep.

Just as I was starting to relax, I heard a faint whisper. "Athanasia...Athanasia..." The voice was soft and melodious, but it sent shivers down my spine.

I sat up with a start, scanning the room frantically. But there was no one in sight. I threw off the covers and padded over to the window, peering out into the darkness.

The voice seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. I spun around, searching for any sign of movement, but the room was empty.

As I turned back to the window, I noticed a tiny, flickering light dancing across the pane. I leaned in closer, my heart pounding in my chest.

But just as I reached the window, the light vanished.

The unsettling experience had left me wide awake. Every time I closed my eyes, the haunting voice echoed in my mind. Its slow, deliberate tone sent shivers down my spine. I tried to drown out the sound by covering my face with the blanket, but it was no use.

As the first light of dawn crept into the room, I finally drifted off to sleep, exhausted. The sweet songs of birds outside my window roused me from my slumber.

I tossed off the covers and got out of bed, determined to shake off the lingering fear. I slipped out of my room and into the dark hallway, the only light coming from the faint glow of dawn.

I held a candleholder to light my way, the flickering flame casting eerie shadows on the walls. As I walked, the hallway gradually brightened, and I caught glimpses of the breathtaking morning view through the windows.

The sight of the sun rising over the gardens was like a balm to my frazzled nerves. I sat down on the stairs, mesmerized by the tranquil scene unfolding before me. The birdsong, the gentle rustle of leaves, and the soft, golden light all combined to soothe my jangled emotions.

As I gazed out at the serene landscape, my eyelids began to droop once more. The peaceful atmosphere was like a warm hug, enveloping me in a sense of calm. I let out a contented sigh, feeling my worries slowly drift away...

As I slowly opened my eyes, I was met with a familiar face - Rohan's. I groggily realized that I must have dozed off on the stairs.

"What the hell?" I muttered, still half asleep. "Why are you even in my dream? Ugh, I don't want to see your face." I let out a sleepy sigh, my eyes drifting shut again.

Rohan's voice was low and husky. "Really, you don't want to see me in your dreams? Why? You know, Athi, I want to see you all the time."

I was vaguely aware that my head was resting on Rohan's lap, and he was gently stroking my hair. I snuggled deeper into his warmth, feeling a sense of comfort wash over me.

"Oh, come on," I mumbled, my voice barely audible. "You're so corny. Just shut up and let me sleep. I could sleep all night, but now you're here, annoying me in my dreams."

Rohan's laughter was a low rumble. "Hahaha, I'm sorry, Athi. I'll shut up."

I grumbled, "Hmm, just let me sleep." I squeezed my arms around Rohan's waist, holding him tightly as I drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

I slept for what felt like hours. I finally stirred, disoriented and unsure of where I was or how I'd gotten there.

As I sat up, I saw Lia dusting the furniture. I realized I was in my room.

"Good afternoon, Princess," Lia said with a curtsy.

I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the haze. "How long...?"

Lia smiled. "It's already afternoon. You weren't able to sleep all night. When I came to your room this morning, I couldn't find you anywhere. Then I saw you were sleeping on His Highness Crown Prince Rohan's lap."

My eyes widened in surprise. "What? Rohan was the one who took me to my room?"

Lia nodded. "Yes, Princess. His Highness held you in his arms and put you on the bed. He said not to disturb you."

I felt a flutter in my chest. Why had Rohan done that?

Lia's voice broke into my thoughts. "Oh, Princess, you should get up now. Lady Sofia is still waiting for you. You have a class to attend."