Vivia froze.

  Ahhh, I woke him up! You cannot do even one thing right!

  Zerath opened his eyes, greeting her with a gentle smile. He sat up, moving quietly so as to not break Eurus’s peaceful sleep.

  “Are you having trouble sleeping?”

  Still occupied with cursing herself, Vivia answered with a whisper, “I felt a sudden chill so...”

  Zerath peered at her, studying every flicker of her expression.

  “Did you have a nightmare?”

  “O-Oh, no, no,” she hurriedly brushed it off with an awkward smile. “I simply felt cold.”

  “You look pale. I doubt it’s because of the cold.”

  Nothing misses his eyes…

  As Zerath got up, he patted the space on his bed as if inviting her to come down. She contempted for a moment and quietly stepped out. She kneeled and sat before him, leaning against the bed’s support.

  Zerath then said, “I remember you had trouble getting sleep on your first night here too. Was the dream you had just now simir to that?”

  He is sharp, she appreciated his quick thinking, which saved her a lot of expining.

  Vivia csped her hands together, the light in her eyes flickering uneasily as they darted to the floor, as though seeking answers that eluded her. She wasn't sure how to get across the anxiety bubbling in her chest. But seeing Zerath sit patiently with a calm and unhurried demeanor, as if he would wait for her as long as it needed, gradually helped her rex.

  “I had a dream. It felt very real - like the time when I…died. I see a woman standing before me with sorrowful eyes as burning fmes surround us. It feels intense and uncomfortable. I’m not certain, but I strongly feel she is Princess Cirette.”

  “Is she trying to tell you something in your dream?”

  “Perhaps. But I’m not able to understand or hear her. I don't know what she wants to say to me. The fmes, the woman, everything…I don't understand anything.”

  Zerath’s somber gaze looked thoughtful. He could see that she was trying to be strong, but the unknown was a scary pce to be at. Walking in the dark with no answers or a way out would make even the strongest falter. Hesitation gripped him for a moment, but he wanted to do something - anything that would comfort her.

  On top of her faintly trembling fingers, he slowly pced his hand, enveloping it in his steady and reassuring grip. His gaze met hers. For a moment, he was afraid to know if his action made her uncomfortable, but to his relief, her gaze wasn’t dismissive.

  “It’s fine, Vivia. I suspect that if this is a recurring dream, then we’ll eventually understand it. Perhaps, you’ll be able to talk to Cirette one day. We must be patient.”

  We…

  A soft tremor knocked her heart. Vivia was sharing her dream, her anxiety and her predicament. It was something that she thought she alone had to deal with. Yet a simple inclusion of himself felt like someone stood by her side who would weather the storm in the rough seas along with her.

  She couldn't help but smile. “Yes, I think so too.”

  They shared a few moments of silence.

  “Why do I feel like something else is eating away at your peace too?”

  Indeed, nothing misses his eyes, Vivia pressed her lips.

  “It’s only the dream.”

  Zerath's eyes squinted. “I don’t mind waiting for the remainder of the night for your answer. I’m a very patient man.”

  Vivia awkwardly scratched her chin. “It’s very shameful…I’m afraid His Highness Zerath would be disappointed in me.”

  He blinked. “But I wasn’t disappointed all those times when you mercilessly struck my chin in the past.”

  “...”

  Did you have to remind me of that? Her expression soured.

  “Lady Vivia can be at ease.”

  She pursed her lips, hesitant as she tried to gather her thoughts. Softly resting her back against the bed’s edge, she hugged her knees.

  “The Emberin Kingdom’s convoy will arrive very soon to fetch me. But I…I’m afraid to return,” her voice quivered.

  “Somebody from the pace killed Princess Cirette. She doesn't know who that person is, nor do I. I fear if I end up trusting the wrong person, then only death awaits me. And I don’t want to die…again,” her eyes moistened.

  Zerath felt a chill pass through his spine.

  She hugged her knees tighter. “My master has taught me to fight, and I can protect myself from danger unlike Princess Cirette. But I wouldn’t be able to tell if my tea is poisoned or when an arrow…” she recalled her moment of death with a misty gaze, “would strike my chest from afar.”

  Her voice quivered. “I feel like I can do so many things. The world is so vast, and there’re so many miracles to see. I felt my death was unfair because I couldn't get to experience the world. I’m alive as Princess Cirette now, yet even her life is far from peaceful.”

  Her eyes ached, feeling dreary and drowsy as exhaustion weighed her body.

  “I don't want to…” her eyelids began to feel heavier, “die so soon. I want to dance. I want to visit new towns. I want to eat all kinds of food…then marry a wonderful, loving husband…have children. So many things to do…”

  Her head lolled to the side, but it softly nded on Zerath’s palm as he swiftly caught her cheek. She slowly drifted off to sleep, still mumbling incoherent words. He stared at her tired, sleeping face for several long moments. He leaned in closer and whispered in her ear.

  “You don’t py fair, Lady Vivia.”

  He gingerly lifted her in his arms and pced her back on the bed, neatly tucking her inside the bnket. He then noticed Eurus peeking at him from under the bnket.

  “So you were awake too.”

  Eurus nodded once.

  “Did you hear everything?”

  He took a moment to answer and nodded once again.

  Zerath smiled. “I see. Would you be so kind as to keep her real identity from others?”

  Eurus nodded.

  He ruffled his head and thanked him. “Esthar om ven. Can you hug Vivia to sleep? I believe she’ll have sweeter dreams that way.”

  Eurus gnced at the empty space beside Vivia.

  “You want me to hug her to sleep too?”

  His head nodded in agreement.

  Zerath bent down and gave his cheek a gentle pinch. “I wish I could, too. But I can't…Not yet.”

  —

  An immediate gathering of the Order of the Council was beckoned the next morning to discuss the developments regarding Nethermoor’s situation and Eurus’s fate.

  Draconis smiled at Bam, who had just arrived to take his seat. “How is young lord Astaroth doing, Sir Bam? Nethermoor's situation must’ve felt like a big blow to his pride.”

  Bam sneered.

  “It’s a big blow for the Magic Ministry too who couldn't help my son achieve this miracle. Even the best wizards of our realm failed to carry out their responsibility and disappointed my lord.”

  Draconis’s gaze darkened.

  “You believe magic is the answer to everything? Your son is the fme demon and you’re saying fire can't defeat ice?”

  “Neither could magic,” he retorted.

  Doloros raised his palm. “Please stop. I’m very close to getting a headache.”

  Gressil, the Minister of War, yawned at their bickering. He looked around and eventually found something more worthy than Bam and Draconis's cat fight.

  In the distance, just beyond the Council’s chamber, he noticed Zerath deep in conversation with Asmodea. Though Zerath’s back was turned, Asmodea’s animated expressions spoke volumes.

  Lady Asmodea’s eyes twinkling with delight is never good news. Ah, I should retire to Mount Lavos toward peace and wilderness, he shook his head.

  Sometime ter, Asmodea entered the meeting chamber and a few moments ter, Zerath followed. He immediately sensed the shift in the atmosphere as soon as he took his seat. The intense gazes from Bam and Malphas were unmistakable.

  A knight then announced the Demon King’s arrival, and the chamber fell into silence. Nefarion’s heavy steps tapped against the floor as he took the head seat and watched everybody.

  “Let us begin.”

  enthu_reader