Break

Chapter 10: Reunited at Last

The buildings or Klestia all seem clean and neatly painted. Most of them are a pure white or soft cream, and the ones that aren't are many soft and beautiful colors. A sigh escapes my lips as I gaze dreamily out at the scenery. We turn onto another wide street, the tan bricks on the road providing a much smoother ride than the treacherous roads leading here. The road soon becomes a long bridge. Below us is a the ocean in all of its brilliant blue and white glory. Josephine even seems overtaken by the view.

"Wow!" I gasp. "It is so... blue!"

"Indeed it is," Faust chuckles. "The Inilisto Ocean is known for the best fish and shellfish as well."

"Milady, if I weren't mad at you for agreeing to marry someone so quickly, I'd ask if I can stay with you," Josephine says as she gazes out the window with me.

"You can," I say absently.

"Sweet."

"The castle is on the other side of this bridge," Rafael tells us. "Oh, and it is massive."

"Anyone else feel like Sanfellios sucks?" Josephine asks. "Look at this place!"

"Sanfellios could be better if it made peace with Haio," Rafael points out.

"True, but this good?"

"Yeah, no." He pauses before saying, "So, princess, you're going to be living here, huh?"

"Yes," I reply, keeping my tone formal. Something lurches in my heart for some reason. It doesn't feel like excitement. "I will always visit Sanfellios though. It is my home."

"I don't doubt that," he says almost sadly.

"Is something wrong?"

"No. I just got thinking about some things. Everything is fine."

"Stop lying," I demand. "I order it."

"You don't have control over me," Rafael snaps. "Just leave me to myself for right now."

"I do have control over you," I argue angrily. "I am the princess!"

"In my eyes, you aren't and never will be," Rafael says.

"Then what am I to you?"

"We will discuss this later."

"What? Why-"

"I said that we will discuss this later."

I close my mouth and glare at Rafael. Last night and the night at the inn, he was so kind to me. Now, he seems so... tense and agitated. What ruffled his feathers?

The palace guards open the gates to the massive castle. Unlike in Sanfellios, the castle itself is not made of rugged, grey stone, but neat and orderly tan bricks stacked perfectly atop one another. The yard we enter is filled with flowers and hedges, and a fountain sprays crystal clear water out of its top and into the pool below. The carriage goes around the fountain and to the massive doors of the castle. Two servants open both sides of the carriage and help Josephine and I out.

Faust hops down then holds up his arm. In a mere second, a hawk swoops down and lands right on him. The general detaches a note from its leg and carefully unties the ribbon from around it. He moves his arm upwards, and the bird flies off.

"What does it say?" I ask him.

"They will be here by tomorrow," he tells me. "Also, he told me to tell you to make yourself at home."

"I think I will," I say with a huge grin on my face. I look to Rafael, whose dark attire and hair seem so out of place here. He looks everywhere but at me.