Memory of A Future Dream

CHAPTER II: HERE WE ARE

I WAS annoyed when I saw a black vehicle suddenly appear and hover near the inn we were currently at. This one had been tailing me since I left the Capital, and with the vehicle's stealth mode, it meant that whoever was following me was an Ystella. How did I know? I was there when it was unveiled six months ago and because they were exclusively made for the elite soldiers of the king. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to own one of them, as I had already been tasked with finding the prince.

I sighed. I already gave my word to the king that I would bring back Troiar, but doing things like this behind my back showed how much he didn't trust me or my kind in general. I closed the blinds and sat on the chair beside the sole bed in this dingy and dimly lit room. We were now in the Sixth Oasis, and I decided to rest because that would be my safest option with the cargo I have with me, but now I'm not sure about that. I looked at Troiar, who was occupying the bed. He would wake up anytime now, and I'd get my answers.

He and I had come a long way from secret friends to secret lovers. He was my sun, my very own star—the one who melted the coldness within me and made me embrace my humanity again. For him, I broke the sacred rule of being an Ystella. Romantic relationships were forbidden because, as elite soldiers, pure-blooded Trastarians or half like me, the king owned us. We kept our relationship in the dark for my sake, and despite breaking the rule, the following months were the happiest days of my life...until I found out about his real identity in the most painful way.

Yes. I didn't know who Troiar was because this idiot gave me another name when I first met him. And I guess I was an idiot too for believing him because that was the name I called him until I discovered that he was Prince Troiar, the youngest son of King Strigus, on the very day his betrothal to the daughter of the king's closest ally was publicly announced.

Well, the thing was, Prince Troiar was an enigma to everyone, including me. But it wasn't a secret that he was ill-favored by the king. It was the reason why he was rarely seen in public or even in the palace until everybody forgot what he really looked like. I was hurt by the lack of trust, so I distanced myself from him, just as his impending wedding was like a dagger to my heart. But a few hours before his wedding, Troiar ran off with that device. Not long after, his father declared him a fugitive because the thing he took was of utmost importance to the monarch.

No explanations were left for me. That was two years ago, and now he was one of the rebellion's leaders against his father, causing harm to the Trastarian Army. My train of thought halted when he finally opened his eyes. He suddenly sat up when he saw me but winced when he felt the effect of what I did. I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Good evening, Your Highness." Sarcasm laced my voice.

Troiar smirked at me. "I guess I deserve that."

"And I believe I deserve an explanation," I coldly said.

Tension rose between us, and there was this serious expression on his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but his stomach growled before he could say anything. The tension faded, and an impish grin formed on his lips.

"I guess I have to eat first."

I shook my head and stood up to get the food I bought a while ago from the small table on the other side of the room. I gave it to him. His eyes lit up, along with his smile. I swallowed my emotions. I miss him terribly. But this wasn't about me.

"Eat. I'll wait, and I'll listen," I said, reassuring him that I wouldn't do anything harsh until I heard his side.