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GARDEN OF POISON
Chapter 187
Facing the demon
Emily stopped in her tracks upon hearing Raylen's words. For a fleeting moment, a sense of relief had washed over her at being allowed to leave the mansion, not expecting him to stop her.
"Me?" Gloria whipped her head around to look at Raylen, who had his eyes fixed on Emily. She chuckled softly before her eyebrows drew together, and she looked at him in confusion. She said, "King Raylen, Emily is the one who wishes to return to the castle."
When Emily turned, her eyes met Raylen's unwavering blue eyes. He said, "I have something to discuss with her." Then, he shifted his attention to Gloria and offered her a serene smile. "You are an understanding woman, and I am sure you would be more than happy to allow us some time to talk. We can continue our time together later."
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Gloria appeared to be at a loss for words, as her mind was still clouded by the pleasure she had received from him a short while ago. And when she continued to look reluctant, Emily spoke up, saying,
"Lady Gloria doesn't need to leave. I am just experiencing a little headache and need some rest. There is nothing to—"
"Gloria," Raylen uttered the blonde woman's name, and she promptly retrieved the shawl she had taken off earlier, draping it around her shoulders before exiting the room and the corridor.
"Now, why don't we step inside and talk about what brought on your headache?" Raylen asked, moving aside from the door to allow Emily to enter. He refrained from mentioning her tears, fully aware that she would vehemently deny them. The princess possessed too much pride to acknowledge such vulnerability in front of others.
Emily was still overwhelmed, and she clenched her hands into fists. She stated firmly, "There is nothing to talk about, King Raylen."
"You are a princess accustomed to attending countless gatherings and meeting numerous people. I find it hard to believe something so simple would have caused you a headache, unless you didn't sleep well last night," Raylen stated, a subtle twitch at the corners of his lips, and he added, "We can do this all day long, Princess. Right here. So get in."
As she heard footsteps echoing down the corridor, Emily promptly stepped inside the room. When she heard the door click shut behind her, she swiftly turned to meet Raylen's gaze.
"To avoid anyone eavesdropping," Raylen explained before he walked past her and pushed aside the curtains, allowing light to filter into the room.
Silence filled the room, and soon Raylen came to stand before her. She began,
"I thought I could do it… but I don't think I can. Attending this gathering, I mean."
Raylen's eyes subtly narrowed at Emily, for she had been fine until he left her side. The princess was well-versed in navigating crowds, which was why he hadn't continued to chaperone her after that. He questioned her,
"What happened down there? Did someone say something?"
Emily struggled to say his name because the mere thought of him filled her heart with tumultuous pain. She fought to keep herself from crumbling before she answered, "Nathaniel is here."
"Nathaniel Lynx?" Raylen verified, and she nodded in response. "It's quite unusual for him to be in the same place."
"He's here with his wife, Layla," Emily confirmed.
She had believed that this gathering was intended for unmarried men and women, and she hadn't expected to see them here.
"Did you speak to him?" Raylen inquired, and she shook her head.
"No," she whispered, her voice barely audible. She wasn't ready to speak to him. Her heart began to race at the possibility, and anxiety began to surge through her chest, slowly creeping into her mind. "I need to go home. Far away from him. I cannot bear to be where he is because it feels like my heart is being torn apart. Perhaps you should arrange a ship for me to return to Versailles. So, please," she pleaded, her readiness to flee evident.
"That is very unlike you, Princess, to run like a coward, if that is truly what you are." Raylen's words carried a taunting edge, even though he delivered them with a straight face.
Emily responded, "You can't truly understand what heartache is unless you've lived through it."
A smile appeared on Raylen's lips, and he remarked, "What can I say? It must be one of the perks of having a hollow chest."
Emily was in no mood to banter with him and said, "A pitiable existence. Never mind. I will ask Mr. and Mrs. Ruiz for a carriage. Like I said, you don't need to accompany me." She turned and walked towards the door, prepared to open it, but just before she did, she heard him say,
"If you run now, you will keep running for the rest of your life."
Emily's hand tightened its grip on the doorknob, her fingers clenching around it. She knew she didn't deserve this, and even if she had done something bad in a past life, she was sure she had paid for it by now.
"My grandmother managed to live her life both during and after Grandfather's death. I should be able to do the same," Emily stated with her back facing him.
"You're sure about that?" Raylen queried.
Emily disliked those words because they echoed the sentiments of her mother and sister, making her feel incapable. Her voice, filled with hurt and anger, rose as she retorted,
"I told you I can handle it!" Tears welled up again in Emily's eyes, her grip on the doorknob loosening.
Another bout of silence descended upon the room, and neither of them moved from where they stood. Emily's gaze remained fixed on the wooden door, her vision becoming blurred as she struggled to contain her tears, which threatened to break and spill like her emotions.
"No one is doubting your capabilities," Raylen stated, his voice as calm as the weather that imbued one with a sense of languidness. He continued, "No one has been able to endure the pain of being soulless, as they ultimately wither and pass away. Your family sent you here for the same reason. The more you run, the more unbearable it will become, eventually evolving into an endless agony greater than what you're experiencing right now."
Emily's hand slipped from the doorknob, and with a sigh, she spoke while still facing the door, "It is much harder than any of you realise."
"No one ever said it would be easy. While people may consider it fortunate to have a soulmate, the design is flawed for those who are left behind. However, it doesn't mean there's no way to fix it." Raylen's tone softened slightly as he spoke.
He considered himself to be among the lucky ones not to have a destined soulmate, knowing he was spared from the anguish that some of them endured. He had never been reborn as an earthling, having made a deal with Anastasia when she began cursing the archdemons one after another.
Emily was well aware of this. She had read every available word about soulmates when she had come of age and had begun to eagerly anticipate the day she would meet her destined partner. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to calm herself, and then said,
"Their presence caught me off guard. If I had known I would meet them here, I would have been better prepared." The last thing she wanted to do was to appear weak, and even though her eyes might betray her emotions, she continued to hold herself together.
Raylen watched Emily's back, her dark blonde hair flowing freely. He said, "There's a mirror in this room. There must be some things here that you could use to freshen up. In the meantime, I will go have a drink, as my drinking session was interrupted."
Emily didn't move from her spot, but her ears picked up Raylen's footsteps as he walked towards the liquor trolley next to the couch. Hearing the sound of the bottle being uncorked, she slowly turned to the side, before her hazel eyes then shifted to where the oval mirror hung on the opposite wall.
Approaching the mirror, she gazed at her reflection, noticing that her face had turned faintly pink due to the emotions she had experienced earlier. She adjusted a strand of her hair, letting it rest over her shoulder.
After assessing her appearance, her eyes moved to the mirror's reflection of Raylen. She watched as he downed a glass of liquor and then picked up his black coat, putting it on. Turning away from the mirror, she walked back towards the door.
"Ready to rejoin the crowd?" Raylen asked her, and Emily gave him a slight nod. He then said, "Push through the pain, Princess."
Opening the door, they stepped outside together. Raylen raised his arm, prompting Emily to furrow her brow and ask, "Is it necessary?"
"In my experience, I have learned that when it comes to heartaches, it is often easiest to make the other person believe that you feel nothing. Let him realise what he has lost," Raylen advised her with a wink, and Emily's expression turned grim. "Lighten up. It wouldn't reflect well on your image if men discovered that you've been rejected by your soulmate. Have you danced with everyone on your dance card?"
"I am not sure," Emily murmured before gingerly placing her arm around Raylen's.
"What do you mean you're not sure?" Raylen's eyebrows arched, and he glanced down at her wrist, realising it was empty. "Where is your dance card?"
"I removed it," Emily replied, avoiding Raylen's eyes as she kept her focus forward. She took it off after seeking refuge in one of the rooms, as at that moment, she wanted nothing to do with any man, her actions driven by the pain she felt.
When they reached the lower floor, Emily's body tensed up. She said in a hushed tone, "You said I was easy to lose in the crowd." She was well aware that Nathaniel would likely look at her with indifference, as that was often how it went.
"Hm? I don't recall saying that," Raylen denied in a nonchalant tone.
Emily's eyebrows furrowed as she turned to see Raylen smiling at one of the passing guests. She reminded him, "You said it before we got into the carriage."
A look of mischief appeared on Raylen's face, and mirth danced in his blue eyes as he said, "It seems you didn't get what I meant, Princess. Your tutor didn't do a good job of teaching you to infer things."
Emily's eyes narrowed at the implication of her being unintelligent. She inquired, "What did you mean then?" She observed him wear a thoughtful look on his face before he responded,
"Not too long ago, when Paxton—Mr. Hatt—went out to sea with some of the fishermen, he stumbled upon an oyster. The oyster was creamy brown outside, but when he opened it, he discovered that the inside was the colour of water. However, within it lay a solitary, precious pearl, which served as the inspiration for your gown."
'You look like you were pulled from the depths of the sea. Someone who might be easy to lose.'
The gown was indeed a shimmering silver-blue with a beige inner skirt to complement it, Emily mused. It made her happy to know that there was a meaningful story behind its creation.
Pressing her lips together for a moment, Emily said, "You could have just told me directly instead of shrouding it in mystery." The man had a penchant for the unconventional, she thought in her mind.
"I assumed you were an intelligent woman. I guess I overestimated you; my mistake," Raylen remarked with a grin that crept onto his lips when he received a glare from her, and she uncurled her hand from around his arm. He continued, "Also, it would be quite troublesome if you were to fall for me after my compliments, especially considering that your brother warned me to keep my hands off his sisters."
Emily shook her head and softly remarked, "I think the more appropriate statement is that if you complimented me, I would assume you were lying." This was because his words always seemed coated with flattery, whether directed at men or women.
Raylen's grin broadened on his lips as he said, "That too." And for those brief moments, Emily's mind was occupied by his words and actions as they continued towards the room where most of the guests were gathered.
As Emily and Raylen entered the room, they strolled with leisurely footsteps, moving through the crowd, when Nathaniel's eyes fell on them. On her. With each step they took closer to where the former soulmate stood, Emily's heart clenched a little more.
Nathaniel's eyes carried a mix of confusion and irritation, although he kept it subdued enough that the people around him remained unaware.
"I am so glad to see you here! You look beautiful in the Western-style gown," Layla exclaimed upon spotting the Princess of Versailles. She put her arms around her and hugged her warmly, asking, "How is your health now?"
Layla appeared concerned, recalling that Emily had declined her wedding invitation, citing feeling unwell and being unable to travel. Emily offered the woman a small smile and replied, "Yes, I am feeling better now."
"That is a relief, Prin—"
"Lady Layla, you may address me as Lady Emily instead of princess," Emily said to the woman, who looked slightly taken aback. "I am here to find a man who will appreciate me for who I am, not for the title I carry."
"Oh, of course! I understand," Layla nodded, swiftly fixing her surprised expression and offering a smile. She then turned to her husband, urging him to join her, saying, "Look, Nate. It's Lady Emily."
Raylen, who stood beside the princess, flashed a charming smile at the woman. "Congratulations on your wedding," he offered. His gaze then shifted away from the woman to settle on his fellow archdemon, the grin on his lips widening as if he had just discovered someone's weak spot.
"Thank you," Layla replied with a smile before saying, "I am sorry, but I don't know you."
"He is the King of Storm. Raylen Storm," Nathaniel introduced, coming to stand beside his wife. His black eyes bore into Raylen's blue ones, who looked back at him with a sly smile.
Layla quickly bowed to Raylen and said, "Greetings to you, King Raylen. I apologise for not recognising you earlier! I am Layla Lynx."
Emily sensed Nathaniel's eyes on her once again, but she avoided looking at him. The last time they had spoken was on the dance floor, where he had accused her of making things hard for them. She heard Raylen ask,
"So Lady Layla, what brings you to the Storm Kingdom? Considering everyone here came with the intention of finding a partner."
"One of my cousins is attending the gathering, looking for a potential husband. After our own wedding, I wanted to travel to another kingdom, and it seemed like a perfect opportunity to come here to attend her wedding if she were to find a match," Layla explained.
"Perfect indeed," Raylen responded, while Nathaniel and Emily remained silent.
"Though I am surprised to see Lady Emily here," Layla stated, looking at Emily and saying, "What I mean is, you have been waiting for your soulmate, haven't you?"
Emily couldn't help but wonder why Layla was asking such difficult and uncomfortable questions. She replied, "I believed it was wiser not to wait for something that might ultimately prove to be unworthy."
"That is indeed true. Most of us never cross paths with our soulmates in our lifetimes," Layla agreed. "Take me, for example. I met Nate, and we bonded seamlessly. He's the best husband I could have asked for," she added with a smile.
Emily felt more than a pinch upon hearing Layla's words.
"I must respectfully disagree," Raylen countered, capturing the full attention of the three people around him. Nathaniel's eyes narrowed into a glare.
Emily turned to look at the blue-eyed archdemon, not wanting him to reveal the truth to Layla. After all, what would be the point? Her heart was shattered, and Nathaniel had already formed a bond with Layla.
Raylen stated, "Often, when people marry someone other than their soulmate, it creates a void in their destined partner that they attempt to fill with someone else. And that someone else creates another void, which in turn results in a cycle that leaves too many unmet and unknown soulmates. A regrettable outcome for the ones meant to be together, who were left behind due to selfishness." A moment of awkward silence hung in the air before a smile broke through his lips, and he added, "I was only joking. Many people indeed do not meet their soulmates for various reasons."
"King Raylen likes to jest," Emily said to Layla, who nodded with a smile, though the thought lingered in her mind.
As if to dispel that thought, Nathaniel put his arm around his wife's shoulders and captured her attention. He asked her, "How are your feet doing? We can find a place to sit and rest them."
"You are very thoughtful, Nate, but I am fine," Layla answered.
"I should go look for Janelle," Emily attempted to excuse herself. After all, she did leave her friend without providing an explanation before.
"Janelle is here?" Layla inquired, and then she offered, "Let me accompany you."
Before Emily could depart, Raylen remarked, "I will be waiting for you later at the carriage."
Emily nodded in acknowledgment, and she left the room with Layla accompanying her.
Nathaniel's gaze shifted to Raylen when the two women departed, and he warned, "Be careful about what you say in front of Layla, Raylen."
"Hm? What exactly am I supposed to be careful about?" Raylen inquired, feigning innocence, though the other archdemon didn't buy his act. "I thought marriage was built on honesty. Besides, haven't you formed a bond with her? It should be strong enough to withstand the truth."
Nathaniel shot a sharp glare at Raylen, not knowing how he had discovered the information and whether it was through the princess. He warned, "Stay away from her. Don't assume I will leave this place in peace if you don't. Don't think I am unaware of your weak spot."
Raylen smiled and responded, "If you are referring to what I think you are, then your threat is a little feeble, Nate. You will need to try harder than threaten me with the mention of the Devil if you want to intimidate me." The look in his eyes turned serious.
Nathaniel smirked and inquired, "Does Dante know you are with his sister?"
"Why, planning to tattletale like a child?" Raylen asked, amused, as he picked up a glass of wine delivered by a maid. "Or are you worried about her?" His blue eyes peered into Nathaniel's black ones.
A chuckle escaped from Nathaniel, and he replied, "I think you might have some dust in your ears, because as I said, I already have Layla. I couldn't care less about which man she goes with or what she does."
Raylen raised his glass to his lips and took a sip. Given that demons liked to defy destiny and fate, he couldn't help but wonder if there was something more for someone like Nathaniel to choose Layla over the princess.
_____________________
GARDEN OF POISON
Chapter 188
Unconventional help of the archdemon
Seated alongside Janelle and Layla, Emily listened as they discussed Layla's recent wedding, which had taken place a few weeks ago. Despite her best efforts not to reveal her inner turmoil, she struggled to contribute more than two or three words to the conversation. Although she wore a smile, it didn't reach her eyes.
She wanted to be happy for the woman, who, like herself, had always dreamed of marrying the man who would love her and whom she could love in return. Yet Emily had never imagined that she would have to make a personal sacrifice to help her friend realise that dream.
"I will go and see if Nathaniel needs me; excuse me." Layla politely bowed to the two women before swiftly making her way towards the room, her focus on the attending guests.
"Lily?" Janelle called, and Emily turned to look at her. "Did something happen between you and Layla?"
"What do you mean?" Emily asked cautiously.
Janelle brought her glass to her lap, holding it by the neck, and she said, "Unlike many other times, you barely spoke to her today. And before that, you abruptly left the room when you saw her."
Earlier, Emily had experienced a moment of panic upon seeing Nathaniel and Layla together; their presence had thrown her off balance.
Her hands were loosely clenched. She knew she would have to do a better job of concealing her emotions, no matter how much she was hurting inside. She finally said,
"There is something I haven't told you. The reason why I'm here."
"Your secret is safe with me, Lily," Janelle assured her, her eyebrows frowning with concern.
In a hushed whisper, Emily finally confided in Janelle about her soulmate while making sure there was no one nearby to eavesdrop. Janelle brought her hand to cover her mouth, her eyes widening in surprise as she said,
"I cannot believe this. Why didn't you tell Layla? I am sure she would understand."
"No," Emily firmly stated. "I don't want to tell her, and I need you to promise me not to tell her either."
Janelle shook her head in disbelief, as if struggling to comprehend why they would choose to defy destiny. She asked, "How could he bond with her and leave you behind like that?"
"They were already in love. Did you not hear how many times Layla spoke fondly about him when we met earlier?" Emily reminded her. "They have been together for months. I might have been his destined mate, but he doesn't even know me."
"Many soulmates don't know about each other when they meet, Lily," Janelle replied, "Your family didn't confront—"
"I told them not to," Emily sighed softly. She continued, "There's no point, Jane. The decision has already been made, and there's no point in telling Layla now. It would only ruin us all."
Nathaniel had severed his connection with Emily and established a bond with Layla, forming a connection with the woman instead.
Janelle looked guilty and offered an apology, saying, "I can only imagine how our thoughtless conversation about their wedding must have made you feel now. I'm sorry, Lily. I cannot believe it's Layla who stole him from you. People—"
"It would be wrong to blame her for something she's unaware of," Emily remarked, taking a deep breath as she contemplated the situation. She went on, "Layla has led a similar life to mine, perhaps a bit more liberal. If this were to become public knowledge, it would harm her, Jane. Nathaniel is a demon, while she… she will be the one to bear the brunt of people's anger."
Emily was a princess, King Dante Blackthorn's sister, whereas Layla was merely a minister's daughter, and people would not spare her from their gossip and slander. They had made their choices, and there was no returning to the past now.
'Lady Layla, it has been a while. I heard that you have been ill for the last few months,' Emily said upon seeing the young woman. 'I apologise for not visiting you.'
'You don't need to apologise, Princess Emily. It makes me feel more important than I am,' Lady Layla replied before adding, 'I am certain you had many responsibilities in the palace, and your mother must have kept you occupied.'
Emily smiled at the young woman and inquired, 'I hope you are feeling better now?'
Lady Layla nodded appreciatively and replied, 'I am; thank you for your kind thoughts. It was a bit lonely as my father has been busy. He said that they were working on a plan to attack Totus, but it gave me the opportunity to spend more time with Mr. Lynx. He took good care of me.' Layla, having lost her mother shortly after her birth, had been raised by the servants despite her father's remarriage, as he was busy with his constant commitments to the kingdom's affairs.
'Mr. Lynx?'
'Yes, he came from the South and has been working in Slade's town. We crossed paths when he happened to visit our house, and we started talking,' Layla said earnestly. 'I believe it would be wonderful to have a husband like him, someone who genuinely cares.'
"Perhaps the most painful part of it all is that I actually like her, which makes it incredibly hard for me to hate her," Emily whispered softly, looking down at her hands resting on her lap.
Janelle reached out, placing her hand on Emily's, and said, "I wish there was something I could do to help you, Lily, to bring comfort to your heart. I am truly sorry that you had to go through this; you are the last person who deserves such pain."
Emily shook her head and offered a warm smile, saying, "You sitting with me here is more than enough."
Emily's decisions and choices had led her to question the course of her life. The faint realisation that often, good-hearted people seemed to suffer more than the wicked ones sunk into her mind. With a sense of quiet determination, she uttered, "I will be fine one day."
"You will," Janelle offered her support, though the concern about Emily's broken heart lingered in her mind. They were all demon earthlings who, at some point in their lives, waited for their destined soulmate before giving up and settling down with someone else. "How can th—"
As they conversed, they both heard a sudden sneeze emanate from the corner behind them. Emily swiftly stood up and walked over to the window, peering outside. However, she found no one there. The possibility that someone had been listening to their conversation filled her with a sense of dread.
"I should go," Emily informed her friend, who nodded in understanding, and they both rose from their seats.
They shared a warm hug, and Janelle gently stroked her back before stepping back slightly. She said, "You will come tomorrow, won't you?"
Emily nodded and returned the smile, saying, "I will see you tomorrow."
As Emily made her way towards the entrance of the mansion, she encountered Mrs. Ruiz, who was engaged in conversation with another guest. Upon noticing her, the woman turned her attention towards her and smiled. "Are you leaving now, Lady Emily?"
"Yes, Mrs. Ruiz. Thank you for hosting such a beautiful gathering today," Emily replied with a polite bow, praising the woman for her hospitality and efforts.
"I am hoping you had a good time," Mrs. Ruiz said, prompting Emily to try to concentrate solely on the enjoyable moments from the first half of her time at the gathering. "Did you find any suitable men? I would be more than happy to make arrangements for a potential match for you."
"That is very kind of you. I think I will need to talk to them a little more before making any decisions about who has caught my interest," Emily replied graciously. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Nathaniel and Layla talking to another guest. As much as she tried to keep her emotions in check, her heart couldn't help but yearn to plunge into the depths of a bottomless ocean.
Raylen materialised next to Emily's side like a ghost, and upon seeing him, Mrs. Ruiz gracefully bowed and addressed him, "Thank you for bringing dear Emily to the gathering, King Raylen. She truly shone on the first day and has given other women quite the competition," she praised.
"Her bloodline is strong. It would be shocking if she didn't radiate such brilliance," Raylen agreed with Mrs. Ruiz's words.
"I hope both you and the young lady will join us for tomorrow's open-door gathering. We have organised a few activities to make it more than the usual dance and drinks affair," Mrs. Ruiz informed them.
"You have worked hard on these gatherings, Mrs. Ruiz. You are the true star." Raylen didn't spare showering the woman with his honeyed words, and Emily observed how the older woman modestly waved off his praise, as if she were pleasantly overwhelmed by the compliments. "We eagerly anticipate tomorrow, don't we, Emily?"
Hearing Raylen utter her name felt foreign to her, as she was used to him addressing her as 'Princess'.
"Thank you, Mrs. Ruiz." Emily expressed her gratitude with a respectful bow.
Mrs. Ruiz returned the gesture and replied, "It was a pleasure to have you attend the gathering today."
Emily smiled, turning away and walking towards the waiting carriage stationed at the front of the mansion's entrance. The coachman stood at the ready, and as she reached the door, he extended his hand to assist the princess in climbing inside. Raylen followed suit, and once he boarded, the carriage door was closed.
Subconsciously, Emily turned to gaze out the window, her eyes falling upon a group of guests standing outside, whose attention was fixed on their departing carriage.
"Don't bother," she heard Raylen remark beside her. Turning towards him, she noticed him removing his coat and undoing another button on his shirt. He continued, "Don't look for him. It won't bring you any solace."
"I wasn't looking for him," Emily refuted, prompting Raylen's blue eyes to lift from the cuff of his shirt to meet her hazel brown gaze.
"And I am a virtuous man," Raylen said with a slight roll of his eyes.
At least he was aware, Emily thought to herself, and she pressed her lips together. She adjusted her skirt by smoothing out the fabric on her lap. She contemplated asking Raylen if Nathaniel had said something to him after she and Layla left the room.
As if reading the curiosity in her expression, Raylen advised, "Forget about the smoke and find another scent, another connection."
"I know. I am over him," Emily replied with a touch of pride, not wanting Raylen to lecture her on the matter. It wasn't that she didn't understand there was no point in dwelling on her former soulmate, but that some things were beyond her control.
Raylen stared at her, his blue eyes subtly narrowing. It was clear that the princess was too proud to reveal her true feelings.
"Good to hear that you are over him," he responded, pulling a cigar case from his coat pocket. Emily stared at him.
"What are you doing?" She asked him.
"If you are truly committed to letting go of him for good, we might as well make it foolproof and shift your association with the scent of smoke from pain to annoyance. So, the next time you catch the scent, your heart won't race like it's going into an overdrive," Raylen said, his tone suggesting that his reasoning made perfect sense, and he picked up a cigar.
Emily pinched the bridge of her nose, realising that either way, she was going to feel miserable. She sighed and said, "You make me angry, King Raylen. Very angry."
"That's a healthy emotion. Expressing it is good for the mind and body," Raylen responded, placing the cigar between his teeth. "It is better to feel anger than to bottle it up, Princess."
"I think my next expression of anger might involve me stabbing you," Emily muttered under her breath, and Raylen couldn't help but find amusement in her words.
"Aw, don't be mean to me, Princess. It is easier to confront your demons than to run from them. Keep smelling it until you feel nothing but indifference," Raylen imparted his wisdom. He took out the matchbox and began to flick the stick over the rough surface, but before he could light it, Emily snatched the cigar from between his teeth and said,
"I can smell it just fine as it is."
"You think the cigar is going to smoke by itself, or are you going to light it?" Raylen raised one of his arched eyebrows at her. "I believe you said it was smoke, not the cigar itself that was the problem. And that was quite coy of you."
Emily stared at him quizzically, and asked, "Coy about what?"
"Taking the cigar that was dampened by me," Raylen pointed out to her with a smirk, and Emily threw it back at him. "I know I am an attractive man, but to steal m—"
"You are getting way ahead of yourself. That will happen when the underworld freezes over," Emily replied, crossing her arms firmly across her chest.
"You might be surprised to learn that there are parts of Hell that are as cold as some of the lands here, and they can freeze you," Raylen enlightened her. "The only difference is that the inhabitants there are mostly made of bones, so they don't feel the cold."
As a lull in their back-and-forth conversation filled the carriage with silence, Emily asked him, "Will it work?"
Raylen wasn't entirely sure if she was still referring to the cigar smoke. Her voice sounded distant. He replied,
"It is a step forward."
Emily avoided meeting Raylen's eyes and instead, they both gazed outside of the carriage window, watching the trees passing by one after another. The wind that entered through the window tousled the strands of her dark blonde hair. As if recollecting something, she asked,
"Why did you say those things in front of Layla? About soulmates."
"I was merely expressing my views," Raylen replied, but his response only deepened her frown.
"Keep Layla out of it. Keep both of them out of it," Emily asserted, wanting no involvement with either of them. "Please," she added with a note of pleading in her voice.
Raylen's blue eyes flickered, and he remarked, "When you say it like that, it only makes me want to do worse things, Princess. How else will I find satisfaction in making people suffer and enjoying their plight?"
"I am sure you will find something more enjoyable," Emily stated. "Layla had a hard life."
"And what about you?"
He was a sly demon, fishing for information, a tactic Emily knew he often used against her. She replied, "I had a better life than her."
"Is that why you use so many candles?"
"I was just getting accustomed to the new room and place," Emily muttered, and then added, "And I only did it twice," though she couldn't help but think that both instances occurred in the Storm Kingdom.
Emily leaned her head against the carriage's wall beside the window and closed her eyes, allowing herself a moment of rest until they reached the castle. The cessation of the horses' hooves, coupled with the silence, brought a momentary peace to her mind, as if her brief nap had contributed to her calmness. Her eyes fluttered open, and she straightened her body when hearing the carriage door open.
As they entered the castle, Westley stood at the front, offering a bow. "Welcome back, Master and Princess Emily." He then took the coat from Raylen and followed closely behind them.
"I will be going to my room," Emily informed in a soft tone and made her way up the stairs ahead of Raylen.
On her way, Emily encountered Julia, who, upon seeing her, became visibly excited and quickly hurried over. "Princess Emily, you've returned," she greeted with a deep bow and then said, "How was the gathering, milady? Did you meet many men of Storm? Did you enjoy it? Are you tired?"
Emily's smile grew upon hearing the curious questions from the young maid. It was good to have someone so enthusiastic and cheerful by her side, even though her mother found the maid incompetent and had suggested that she bring a more experienced senior maid along instead.
"Forgive me for asking so many questions!" Julia quickly apologised.
"The gathering was attended by many delightful people, and it was different from the events we host in Versailles," Emily replied as she walked along with the maid trailing behind. She continued, "The gowns were beautiful, and the jewellery was less colourful than what we typically see back in our kingdom. There was music and dancing."
"All of it sounds amazing, milady," Julia expressed her happiness just hearing about the gathering. "Did you meet any promising gentleman?"
"I did," Emily replied, adding, "But none of them managed to hold my interest. We'll see how things unfold in the coming days."
[Music Recommendation: South Carolina - Nicholas Britell ]
Before the sky could darken, Emily locked the door and retrieved the vessel containing the necessary ingredients, ready to use it to contact her grandmother.
"Emily, my dear!" The Mother Queen greeted her granddaughter with a wide smile. She was seated in front of a large water vessel she had filled in advance, hoping to catch a glimpse of her granddaughter, as they had discussed earlier.
"Good evening, Grandmother," Emily greeted warmly, happy to see her.
"Actually it is night here. But don't you look lovely with some colour in your cheeks now? I told you that going to Storm Kingdom would hel—"
"Nathaniel is here," Emily interrupted her grandmother, who looked confused before her eyes quickly shifted to a narrowed gaze.
"What is that bastard doing there?" her grandmother questioned, her eyes flashing with anger. "It's as if he's following you, determined to torment you."
"He's here with his wife—"
"If I didn't have to guard the palace, I would have—"
"Grandmother," Emily interrupted her grandmother again, stopping her from saying more. She explained, "Layla's cousin is looking for a husband here. At the gathering."
While the Mother Queen pursed her lips in disapproval, Emily inquired further, "Also, isn't Brother Dante there with Anna to guard the palace?"
"They are," the Mother Queen confirmed, looking like she was up to no good again, making Emily narrow her eyes, wondering what her grandmother was plotting this time. Leaning closer to the vessel, the Mother Queen whispered, "I fear I may have meddled and poked a little too much with that man. Two servants gone, Emily."
"…" Emily stared at her grandmother in astonishment, marvelling at her guts of iron steel. Or maybe diamond.
"Anyway, tell me how things are going aside from those useless people I couldn't care less about." Her grandmother redirected the conversation back to Emily, who continued to stare at her in disbelief. "Today was the first day of the gathering, wasn't it?"
Emily nodded and answered, "It was alright. Better than I expected, until it wasn't."
"And what did you wear?" her grandmother inquired.
"What I am wearing right now," Emily said, adding with a soft smile, "I thought you might ask about it and would like to see it," which elicited a smile from her grandmother in return.
"My loveliest granddaughter," the Mother Queen remarked, taking a good look at the gown and nodding appreciatively. "You look just like me when I was young, except I have red hair. This is a good time for you, especially with your mother not there trying to cover your eyes and ears," she said. "You must make sure to live your life to the fullest, I have everything under control here. Also, speaking of red hair, how is Raylen?"
"Being his unapologetically insufferable self," Emily deadpanned in a hushed tone. She then noticed her grandmother's eyes shift to look behind her as if something had captured her attention. When she turned to look, she was startled to see Raylen standing behind her, causing her to scream in fright.
How did he get inside the room?! Emily was sure she had locked the door.
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