The Healer Of Light And The Prince Of Darkness

63. Odd Taste

The usual way a foreign envoy was sent away had something to do with feasts, presents and a goodbye-celebration or whatever. And there should be a lot of 'it was my pleasure's.

Nothing of this sort was done for the Syrian envoy.

"You seem pretty gloomy. Don't you like my presence?"

"No, of course not..."

'Just everything in general, actually.'

Noah stood before the Silver Palace dressed formally and ready for departure. Or at least that could say a bystander. Mentally he was everything else but ready.

Just one glance at her was enough to make his heart throb and the fact that her voice stayed as cold and nonchalant as her unseeing eyes didn't help too.

Everything seemed too forced, too artificial. If fact, it wouldn't a lie to say that they were like strangers to each other. But Tasia hadn't lost her memories, she must remember him, right? Noah knew that what had happened to her would always remain as a deep trace in her mind and would haunt her as a nightmare for her entire life, but as much as he knew her he thought that maybe – just maybe – they had such kind of relationship that would survive even such hardship.

'Or maybe not...'

Now he was even doubting himself whether he really knew her well or not.

"Actually, I was going to invite you for a tea, but found out you were in a hurry."

No, it wasn't possible she had such intentions. Being Cassian's beloved sister she couldn't have known that the prince was insisting on their immediate departure. Time for a cup of tea? Nonsense!

"How nice of you."

"Is it? I think of it a bit as egoistic, though. I'm the only one to be so fond of teas, but this is the only way I made up so that we could spent some time together."

"..."

"Though, now it sounds so childish..." Tasia smiled a bit at her own statement.

How wait that Noah couldn't read her thoughts, though? Noah reprimanded himself immediately when he thought of it. It was his fault to begin with. Who was to blame that he didn't even know his beloved friend at all?

"Does...Does that mean I can hope to see you one day in Syris?"

He was naïve, was what a low voice whispered to him the moment he spoke put his desperate thoughts. The silence that followed was pretty much enough to prove him that he was wrong. Tasia was just sweet-talking. She wasn't interested in him at all.

"One day if I become independent enough, I will be very happy to wander around the world. But now that I'm blind and weak I cannot even dream about doing such things."

Blind and...

Weak?!

"You are not...!"

"Your Highness? Hey, Noah!"

Tarik abruptly interrupted their conversation appearing before them. He spared no more than a second glancing at Tasia before turning to Noah.

"We'll be late if we don't leave soon. Are you ready?"

Noah turned around and stared at the girl again. This onyx-black hair and such dazzling beautiful eyes...He would miss them everyday and night, every time he closed his eyes he would see them in his thoughts.

The prince would see her, his light shining brighter than every star on the night sky.

"...Do you perhaps...want tea after all?" She asked in confusion.