Light from the Shadow

Chapter 22

Except the little commotion where they found Princess Ayna unconscious in the garden, everything seemed to be normal in the castle.

"I heard you are sick. Are you feeling better now?" Ares asked. She had come to visit Ayna after she heard what happened to her from her brother-in-law.

Ayna nodded. She was still resting in bed.

"I've sent someone to bring the message to... Rishi. He should be back here this evening."

Ayna looked up as Rishi's name was brought up. "You know where he is?"

This time, Ares nodded.

"I... I see..." Ayna said. The weird feeling she had lately started to creep up again. They are really close...

"It may be rude of me to ask this when you are sick but, I actually came here to ask something."

"What is it?"

"Can you let him go so he can stay here?" The princess consort asked. Her eyes were serious.

"You mean... Rishi?" Ayna asked. Ares nodded. What is this?

"Why? You know he is a working official in Remblan. He is here for a duty. He can't continue to stay in Solbaru without a proper reason."

"I know, but..." Ares twisted her fingers. She looked like she had a hard time trying to convey her intention.

"That's enough, Ares." Rishi came into the room without announcing himself. He took off his coat and walked towards them. "Can you leave us alone?" He asked Ares. The princess consort nodded. She got up from her seat and left the room quietly.

"You are fast. I thought you wouldn't be back by this evening." Ayna said without looking at him. She did not know why she felt irritated for no reason.

Rishi approached her and sat on the bedside. "I was already on my way back when I saw the messenger coming." He could not get rid of his uneasiness since last night. He pushed her dangling hair to the side so that he could see her face better. "You don't look good. Something happened?"

"Do you plan to continue staying here?"

Rishi could see the princess clearly did not like the idea.

"You haven't answered my question."

"So you do."

"Your Highness..."

Ayna did not answer him. She turned her face, sulking.

"Look here." His hand reached out to touch her face but she slapped his hand away.

"Ouch. What the hell..." He stopped. Her eyes were red. She got inside the blanket and covered herself with it. "Leave. I don't want to see anyone now."

"I'm not leaving until you talk."

"I told you to leave! Go wherever you want!" She shouted at him from under the blanket. Tears were now spilling down her cheeks but she tried not to let her sobbing voice leak out.

"Fine." Rishi sighed and got up. "We can talk tomorrow. Please rest, Your Highness."

A moment later, Ayna heard the door opened and then closed. She curled up inside the blanket, letting her tears streamed down, wetting the bed. "...Don't leave me..." The words left her lips in a gasping sob.

"You'll die out of breath if you keep covering yourself like that." Rishi pulled her blanket and saw the royal's face drenched in tears. "Wow... your face is a mess."

Why is he here? Didn't he just left? Why? What? WHAT????!!!!! Ayna was so shocked she only stared at the man blankly. She quickly pulled the blanket from him and hid herself again. Stupid!! Stupid!! What did I say just now??!! He didn't hear it, did he??!!

Rishi pulled it again, now throwing it aside.

"No!!" Ayna reached for it again but Rishi blocked her hands. She snarled at him like an angry cat. He pulled her in and locked her inside his arms. She struggled to escape from him. "Let go!!"

"Calm down, Your Highness." He whispered gently. It was so close Ayna could feel his lips brushing her ears. Her face was red. He patted her back lightly, like he always did. She stopped wriggling and buried her face in his chest.

"What's wrong? Why are you so upset?" Rishi rested his chin on her head.

Ayna clenched on his clothes tightly. Her body trembled with fear as she recalled the horror from yesterday. "He was here."

"He?"

"The man... from the mountain. He was here..." Ayna pushed him away. "He was still alive!! He followed us here! And yesterday... he came..."

Rishi's face turned dark. "What did he do to you?" His voice was cold.

Ayna shook her head. "He knew, Rishi... He knew about my power... I don't think he is just a common robber..." She pulled her hair in frustration. "I can't remember anything. I tried calling for the guards but no one came. So I just ran... and ran... "

"That's enough." He stopped her. "Don't think about it again. You are safe now."

Tears formed in her eyes again. "I was scared... I was so scared..." She threw herself into him and hugged him. "I kept calling for you... but you never came..."

Rishi tilted his head and looked at her. "Did I just hear you said you missed me?"

Ayna' face turned red. "I... I didn't say that!"

He mused. "So I must have misheard you begging me not leave you just a while ago?"

"What?!! I did not beg..." Ayna's sentence was cut. Rishi's lips had silenced her.

He paused and looked at the shocked face in front him. He chuckled.

Ayna did not have the time to gather her thoughts. Rishi kissed her again. And again. And again.

She pushed him away when she felt something was trying to find its way inside her mouth. "Why... why are doing this??" Her fingers brushed her lips.

"I'll miss you."

"What do you mean...?" Her voice fell weak.

Rishi pressed his forehead on hers. "I can't go back to Remblan with you."

Ayna did not want to hear it but he held her face firmly. "Listen, Your Highness. I have something to do here. I can't explain now but I'll tell you everything one day."

He could feel his fingers wet from her tears.

"No..." She cried. "Did you already plan not to return to Remblan when you decided to come with me here?"

"I'm sorry."

"Don't say sorry! Let's go back together! You promised you will help me...""

His heart felt heavy. He did not want to leave her but he did not have any other choice. He had to do what he had to do. He hugged her. "I'm really sorry, Ayna."

There was a long pause between them before Ayna finally pushed him away.

"We shouldn't be doing this." She wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry... I was just... confused..."

"Ayna...?" The librarian was puzzled by her sudden change.

She averted her eyes from him. "You can stay here and do what you want. I can't stop you or anything. I... can just ask Qwentine to look after my magi training when I go back... you are not moving here with your father, are you? Because I really like him. Ah... Kuan too, he said he will visit me whenever he comes to Remblan... and maybe I should ask Jyaga to teach me how to wield a sword? As expected, I can't really rely on this power, can I? I..."

"What are you saying now?" Rishi asked.

Ayna got off from the bed and poured herself a glass of water. She drank the whole glass at once.

"What I am saying is..." She turned to him. "... you are free to go, Rishi. I don't need you anymore."

Rishi felt as if a sharp blade had pierced through his heart.