SYZYGY:The raise of the Monarch

Chapter XIV

Eva heard him exit the room without a reply. She gazed at the dress on the bed, then stood up, fixating on it. She gently touched it, a sad smile appearing uncontrollably on her face. It was a simple light pink dress with white ruffles and long sleeves.

Slowly, in fear of ruining anything, she began to put it on, accompanied by a big, painful sigh. 

'I couldn't control my mana restriction; it happened a second time.' 

What had occurred earlier was an accident that no one should have witnessed.

"Vernon, what if he discovers what I am? I must kill him; he might become dangerous," she pondered. She paused moments before her sad smile vanished. Standing in the middle of the room, she felt the dress—silky and of high quality. Suppressing a tickle in her throat, her heart beat fast, and sadness filled her eyes.

"But he's my friend; he got me a dress and cares about my well-being. I haven't trusted anyone in a while. Should I give him a chance and explain it to him?"

The act of receiving a dress should have been a joyous occasion, but why did such a thing happen simultaneously?

Before leaving the room, she noticed a small drawer. Walking towards it, she opened it and found a little mirror, scissors, a white ribbon, and a hairbrush. She gasped at the finds but couldn't just take what wasn't hers. She walked out even sadder.

In the lobby of the inn, men were drinking at the bar, creating a loud chatter and high hustle and bustle. When they glanced at her, silence fell over the place. Some whistled, and some leered at her, but Eva was too upset to react. As she walked out, a man grabbed her hand, and before he could blink, she planted her fist in his face, making him lose teeth. Again, silence filled the bar, and without wasting time, Eva left.

Back at her tent, she found it empty. Vernon was gone. She looked at the food on the table and didn't touch it.

The next morning in the royal castle of Ruvia, as the sun rose, Ogen entered his bedroom to rest. He had been up all night in his library. Lying on his bed, he recalled what he had seen the other day. He put the back of his hand on his face, breathing softly.

'The rumors are true then; the spy and I are of the same kind,' he thought to himself as knocks on his bedroom interrupted him.

"What?" he said, drifting off.

"Your majesty, the food was sent to the training camps as you instructed," replied Grayton from behind the door. He heard no answer back and realized that his lord had fallen asleep.

At the training grounds, Eva couldn't possibly train in her pink dress. She sought out Captain Dorsey to ask for a favor and found him sitting on a cut tree branch, smoking a long pipe. When he saw her, a warm smile appeared on his face.

"Hoo, what a pretty dress. Is there any occasion?" Eva's cheeks reddened as she dropped her head, shy and embarrassed.

"There's no occasion. I was given this dress because my other clothes were dirty. But now, I couldn't possibly go train with frills and all," she said, shy and embarrassed.

The old man put away his long pipe, fearing the smell would stick to her gown.

"But you've got a very beautiful gown. How can you not want to show it off to everybody?" he said jokingly, while Eva's face grew even redder. She replied with furrowed brows,

"No, I wouldn't like them staring at me the same way as before. Also, it's so wrong to be all dressed up in my situation."

The old Dorsey's smile became a little sadder. He then patted on the branch next to him, telling Eva to sit down. When she did, he sighed.

"I believe God created girls and women to be the symbol of beauty and femininity everywhere, be it at home, work, war, or anything. There shouldn't be an inappropriate time for them to be 'pretty.' When one of my daughters gets a new gown, she radiates a huge positive energy around us, and I think that's a gift."

Eva looked at him with a smile.

"Men can be the symbol of beauty as well. I know someone."

Dorsey's smile became a smirk.

"Hmm, yeah, I agree. He's a beautiful young man; my daughters are all over him."

"Huh?"

"What's his name now?"

"I think you're confused. The guy I'm talking about isn't from the country; he's with us in the camps. His name is Vernon," Eva explained.

"Haa, so this time it's Vernon. I see. But be careful; this Vernon guy is a little too close to the tsar, you wouldn't want to be around him for too long." Eva froze in shock after hearing what the old captain had just said.