Treasures of Andalia Chronicles: Ring of Flames

Chapter Six: Grand Tour with the best Haute Couture

AMARIS

I was hoping for Moryen to come with us to this informal palace tour but she seemed uncomfortable about something. Her hands were fidgeting, and her eyes kept darting from one place to another. Her chuckle was all awkward when I tried to strike a conversation, and she made sure to keep the talk short. While everyone was preparing to leave, she left with her handmaiden before any of us could take a breath. I think no one else noticed how sketchy her actions were except for me because they were all busy talking with one another but Saevel—he was also acting strange. He was eager to end the conversation with Caius just to get out of the dining room, almost as if he were chasing something or someone. Moryen just left the room in a hurry, and now Saevel wants to leave the room, too. Maybe it was Moryen who Saevel was chasing after.

I know I shouldn't pry on other people's businesses. However, I can't help but be worried about her. I have this gut feeling telling me that Moryen was someone special to Aleiah, and I can't help but protect her little sister in her place.

I'm supposedly not to trust anyone in here but she seemed too pure to be a scheming bitch, and so is everyone else—uh...maybe Saevel doesn't count since it was pretty obvious that he really hates me (as Aleiah).

The king and queen excused themselves after we passed through the entrance of the great hall. A grand and overly ornamented carriage awaited in the front. The queen got on it and said that she'll be attending a social gathering for noble ladies in a noble's manor. Her handmaidens got on the second carriage while the guards rode the horses. After we bid goodbye, the king went back to his office to finish the paperwork he left for days.

He planted a kiss on my forehead and tapped Caius on the shoulders before leaving. I stroke the spot where he kissed me. That shower of love wasn't supposed to be mine but I couldn't help but feel happy knowing that a father's love was no longer a fantasy of mine. Caius was staring at me while I was pondering about it but he smiled when our eyes met.

I smiled back.

Most of the royal guards left with the king and the queen, but one of them remained by Caius' side while Valerick and Katya were beside me. She lowered her head the whole time while the guards were scanning the surrounding for possible enemies, one hand resting on the hilt of their blades.

"So, where do you want to go first?"

I glanced at the garden in front of us. "Where do you propose we start?"

"I guess the garden would be the first choice."

"Garden it is."

We strolled along the pavement of the maze-like garden while Caius was telling me stories of his childhood. He was trying to reminisce in hopes of juggling my memories. Unfortunately, that wouldn't work because I wasn't Aleiah. I'm not the person in his memories. But I felt bad if I dismissed him since he looked like he was enjoying while telling me all about his childhood.

He said one time, all the four of them snuck out of the palace on the first day of the Lunar Festival, and it threw the whole palace into chaos. The royal guards formed a search party and turned the kingdom upside down to search for the missing royal children. In the end, they were found near the lake where the lanterns were set to be released. When they came back home, Queen Seveena broke into sobs due to too much worry. The king was also worried for them but he reprimanded the four spoiled brats, and they never did such a thing again.

I kept laughing with each story he told, immersed in the world he tried to pull me in. We stayed at the fountain for a long time with no one to interrupt the fun. That was until two soldiers arrived. His laughing face suddenly died and was replaced by a much sinister look. He was scared of what the soldiers' news might be.