Back in time

Chapter 27- Emerald Hills

Chapter 27

Kame's POV

"It's just Kame that I will lose."

A short and simple sentence. One that was devoid of any lingering attachment, as if the 'Kame' that was in question was nothing more than just a simple object, or rather a plaything that was easily discarded at any moment.

In all my struggle growing up in the royal family, no other sentence hurt me more than this did.

Do I not mean anything to you? Or rather, do you hate me that much that I am nothing more than just a 'fake husband' in this charade that we are parading?

The joyous laughter that surrounded the festival became a stark contrast to the sorrowful anger that threatened to burst from my chest, the wildflower bouquet in my hand now a mockery in my face. Behind me, flower garlands were placed around the necks of the husbands or lovers by the ladies as their tokens of affection towards the men who competed today, while the men returned the loving gestures with flower bouquets.

I could not help the bitter smile that slowly crept up my face as I turned my back away from the tent, away from all the hustle and bustle of the festival as I retreated to the darkness of the night left untouched by the warmth of the fire and the festival in the central stage. Happy couples continued to dance around the giant bonfire that burned brightly in the centre, satisfied by the love that was exchanged between them.

"Now this is the centre stage where..." voices of the Main Lady-in-waiting in charge of the training of the new female attendants interjected the different celebratory tunes sung in the background as I slowly backed away from the tents.

The celebration of the vibrancy and joy of the grasslands continued to pass the night that has overtaken the daylight that guided the competitions that day. Everything remains the same as they did very other day.

Yet for once in my entire life, I could not help feel more utterly alone than I ever did on the grasslands that I grew up on than I did at this very moment.

Liquid wetness on my hands brought me back to the present, away from the wallowing self-pity that I put myself in. Blood was dripping from the hand that held onto the flower bouquet. Thorns from the stems of the flowers have stabbed into my skin from how tightly I have been holding onto them. The red blood from my hands dyed the white flowers in uneven reds.

This must be retribution for all the things that I have ever done to her. Do the words not sound hauntingly familiar? Did I not say them once about her as well? As though she was nothing more than just a mere commodity ?

With heavy feet that seemed to know better than I did on the direction that I was heading, I looked up at the dark and starless night. A heavy sigh escaped from my lips as my mind wandered.

A thin layer of fog surrounded the darkness of the lands before me, lending them a misty and mysterious atmosphere. The chilliness away from the bonfire sent shivers down my spine, and I could not help but rub my arms in a futile attempt to drive away the goosebumps that gave formed despite the thick cloak that I had on at the moment.

The scent of anemone alerted me of where my feet had brought me.

It seemed as though my feet really knew where they were going. They have brought me back to the place that held the most significant memory of my life.

With a deep breath, I took the first step up Emerald Hills as memories of the past came back to me.

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