Dawn of Arcane Destiny

Chapter Twelve

"Lillia!" Drayce called again as the guards closed the doors behind him. She was already halfway up the stairs. She was holding her dress up to help her move swifter.

"Lillia wait!" Drayce called hurrying after her. She stopped suddenly and whirled around.

"Is this how it's going to be?" She demanded. He saw the shiny traces of tears on her cheeks.

Drayce stopped surprised. "How what's going to be?" he asked.

"You being overprotective, shutting me away with no freedom while you do what you want? Well guess what Drayce? I'm still human! A person can only last so long with hate and neglect." She started to sob. Her shoulders shuddered and she took gasping breaths.

Drayce didn't know what to say. He hurried up the stairs and steadied her. "If that's how it's going to be, I'll – I'll, she took a couple deep breaths tears running from her beautiful green eyes. "I'll leave!"

"Leave?" Drayce asked. He didn't know what to say to that. Lillia looked at him as if surprised she had said that.

"Drayce you don't know me; you don't understand what I've been through." She ripped her arm from his grasp. "I know exactly what you think of me." A fresh wave of tears started down her face again. "I guess I can't blame you." She turned and hurried the rest of the way up the stairs.

"Lillia?" Drayce asked. She stopped at the top of the stairs, without turning back. "I'm sorry." Drayce said. He didn't know what else to say. She didn't respond. She continued on her way.

Drayce stood there for a moment. How had this night gone so sour? It was his fault, he knew. Things were only going to get worse, if he didn't figure out what he was about like Caelum had said.

He trudged back down the stairs back to the dining hall. Caelum stood in the threshold waiting for him. Drayce sighed. "You're right... I'm just, I don't know, scared." Drayce said to Caelum.

Caelum nodded. "Drayce, it seems like you have a lot more weighing on your shoulders than just becoming king."

Drayce nodded. "I'm sorry for my outburst."

Caelum clapped him on the back. "I'm okay, but don't take your frustration out on Lillia. She has some deep-set issues that we definitely don't know about."

"So, I noticed." Drayce said.

"I already made your excuses. Your Uncle is furious." Caelum said.

"I'm starting to think that's his only emotion, all the time." Drayce said smirking.

"Only when it come to you, my friend." Caelum said smiling slightly but it quickly faded. "However. We have bigger problems."

"Indeed, we do." Drayce agreed solemnly.

***

Lillia hadn't shown her face since the betrothal dinner, and that worried Drayce exceedingly. The King and Queen didn't care, but what if Lillia had left? Run away, like she had obviously been considering? 

The King had requested, no more like commanded, for Drayce and Caelum to meet with him. It was most likely about the betrothal dinner. Drayce had been having a perfectly fine day so far. Might as well ruin it by talking to the grouch he called Uncle.

Drayce walked further into the castle, meeting Caelum as he entered the castle. "This is about the dinner?" Caelum asked.

Drayce nodded "Most likely."