Are you ready to die?

Eliara's name lingered between them as if it had the weight of an omen, a curse.

Iris leaned back in her chair, her dark red eyes locked on the girl chained before her. The girl in chains watched her with amusement as if she wasn't the one bound like a criminal. The smirk on Eliara's lips made Iris' fingers twitch with irritation.

"Eliara,"

Iris repeated her name under her breath, her lips curling into something unreadable. Satisfied that she finally got her name, she flipped open her book open again. But she wasn't reading it this time.

Eliara broke the silence.

"'Destined to destroy', huh?" Eliara said mocking her rich, royal accent. "Funny. I didn't realize some filthy royal had the right to decide my fate." She spat.

Iris' jaw clenched. The audacity.

"That wasn't me." She said, her voice even. "It's written in the old texts. I just happened to come across it."

"Texts written by our ancestors, right?" Eliara chuckled. "Then it doesn't mean shit!"

The guards visibly shifted uncomfortably at Eliara's disrespect at her profanity.

But Iris only smiled. A cold, dangerous smile.

"So you don't deny it?"

"I don't believe in destiny, princess. I make my own choices."

Iris tapped her finger against her book. "You chose to interfere in royal business. You chose to break the law. You chose to kill someone who was mine to kill."

Eliara rolled her eyes. "Oh please. You are still upset about that?"

Iris slammed the book shut. "I don't forget what's mine."

Eliara leaned forwad, taunting.

"Look, if you really think I offended you, why not just execute me and get over with it?"

Iris didn't answer the question immediately. Instead, she opened her book again and leisurely scanned the contents as if the conversation was nothing but an idle chatter. The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy. Until she finally broke it.

"Because I'm curious."

Eliara raised a brow. "Curious?"

Iris looked up to Eliara with a smirk, "You intrigue me,Eliara. Witches aren't supposed to be able to heal like that. And yet you do. Witches aren't supposed to be immune to magic, yet you are." She tilted her head, a smirk tugging at her lips."Aren't you curious too? About…what exactly you are?"

Eliara stiffened.

She was curious. Of course she was. She had always been. But hearing it from someone else spoken out so plainly made it sound like a weakness she didn't want to acknowledge. She sneered, "Why? You planning to study me like some rare beast? Keep me locked up like a pet?"

Iris chuckled. "Don't flatter yourself. You are not that interesting. But you are interesting enough….might keep me entertained for a while."

"Glad I could amuse you."

Suddenly, Iris leaned forward, excitement flaring in her eyes.

"I suspect.....if I chopped your head off it will grow back.''

Eliara gasped.

"What-"

"Oh? Am I wrong?"

Eliara didn't answer.

The princess shrugged, "Oh well, you are not dying soon. So let's talk about your accomplice. What is she to you? Sister? Friend? Mother?"

Eliara only clenched her jaw looking away.

Iris hummed. "You were ready to die for her earlier. You even stated that you would obliterate all of us if she died. Was it an empty threat?"

Eliara kept silent.

"Fascinating contradiction. She's nothing to you, but you would burn the world for her."

"She's annoying."

"So are you. Relatives then?"

Eliara glared. "I'm not the one studying torture techniques for fun."

"No you are the one who disrupted my plans."

"That's a you problem. I had my reasons."

Iris chuckled. "You are an interesting one, Eliara. You know-"

Before she could finish her statement, she was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Enter."

She stated.

A man she could recognize from before, in a guardians uniform entered.

"Iris, the execution is ready."

This...was the commander from earlier.

The way he referred to her was so casual. Too casual. Could this be one of her brothers? Or this is just how she prefers to be referred to? That was out of her concerns. Execution? Eliara's heart skipped a beat. Melda.

"Execution?" Iris echoed.

The man nodded. "The green haired girl. The order has been given. Your presence is requested in the execution room."

Eliara's body reacted before her mind did. She lunged forward only to be yanked back by the chains binding her wrists. She struggled violently, her teeth bared in fury. "You bitch! You said nothing about executing her."

"Language." She raised her brow, her expression unreadable. "I never said I wouldn't.

"Listen, kill me, burn me, feed me to the dragons, I don't care. But please," she fell to her knees, breathing hard "Don't hurt her, your highness."

Your highness.

This was the first time she actually addressed her with respect. But iris didn't budge, and her expression didn't shift. Instead, she just turned around.

"Marco, let's go."

"WAAAAAAIITTT-"

Melda was genuinely confused. Was this her punishment? Listening to this weird guy blabbing about how his life is the toughest to ever exist because he didn't attend a celebration? This had to be punishment enough. Well, at least she wasn't executed or something.

They had been walking forever through this long stone corridors in what she thought was the castle. He had a metallic chain that he used to direct her in the corridors which was connected to her hands. Like she was a goddamn dog. His annoying voice slowly started fading away as Her thoughts turned back to Eli.

'When we get out of here, let's forget about each other and go our separate ways.'

Those words replayed in her head like a cursed chant out to get her. Without notice, she could feel a hot liquid dripping onto her hands. Tears. She was crying.

"Oh, and so we have this commander who-" he said turning back to her and he stopped when he noticed her tears.

"Gods!!" He said as he stopped in his tracks. "Oh. Oh no. Are you alright?"

Melda didn't reply and only kept her gaze down.

"Agh I'm so sorry…" he said awkwardly rubbing her back "Didn't mean to make you cry. But hey, I get it. I'd cry too if I was weak. Guess my story was just too emotional, huh? My life must be so tough!"

Melda stopped crying, blinked and immediately and turned up to look at him. She couldn't tell if he was being serious or if he was trying to use his weird humor to cheer her up.

"If it makes you feel better," he continued with a sudden burst of energy. "By the next full moon, I'm going to quit being a royal guard. Gonna move to the provinces. Start my own banana planting business! I will use my magic to boost it." he said excitedly. "If you are alive by then, I will gladly have you work for me-"

"Execute me already! I've heard enough of your nonsense. I would never work for you. Now let's keep going."

"Suit yourself." he shrugged.

He turned and continued walking down the corridors. He grew quiet for a long time then spoke up.

"Oh I get it, you little princess killer! You wanna marry me instead. You are cryying 'cause you are in love with me, huh? Sadly, you are not my type."

Melda sighed in frustration, this man made her look forward to where he was taking her even if it was an execution room.

He was definitely worse than dying.

Still...he had made her forget for a second that she'd been abandoned. That her only person.....no no no NO. She has to stop thinking about that.

Execution.

That single simple word sent chills down her spine. And the only person she would look forward to at a time like this had said she wanted nothing to do with her. Oh well, she might as well accept her fate now.

After what seemed like an eternity, they finally stopped in front of an old rusty metal door. The green-haired guy slightly pushed it open and led her in. As they walked in she spotted the princess. Their eyes locked for a second before she uncomfortably looked away.

"Oliver, took you long enough."

The princess stated, clearly annoyed.

"Oh, I'm sorry princess." he grinned. "I couldn't tell which side was left so I…got lost hehe. But we are here now, so no worries."

The princess sighed.

Melda could clearly tell that this man was annoying even to the princess. So they kept walking in circles all this time because he doesn't know which side is left or right? Tsk!!

The other guy who stood next to the princess was clearly annoyed too, he looked a little bit too familiar. The commander? He remembered him. He's the one who actually made her and Eli surrender.

"You may leave now, Oliver." He ordered while glaring at the green haired guy who stood behind her.

"No." he stated as matter of factly.

"No?" marco questioned in annoyance.

"I'll get lost again." He said crossing his arms.

Marco sighed in frustration. "Oliver-"

"I am not leaving, sir. Unless it's with you"

Marco looked like he was about to combust.

The princess interrupted them by moving close to Melda. Her eyes locked onto her like she was deducing one of the worst things to do to her.