CASSANDRA
As Ronald continued to study me. | knew | had toe up with an answer to his question quickly, so without skipping a beat, |
shed him a kind smile and then offered a polite exnation.
“The king simply told me that he was in need of a healer, | said. “So he invited me toe back with him to Yurene”
Ronald raised a dark eyebrow in surprise and tilted his head slightly, a typical gesture in this pce, from what I’d gathered
“And you agreed, just like that?” he wondered.
| nodded right away to keep any suspicions at bay. My answers were lies, but what else could | say? | figured that Ronald was
probably a well-respected figure here in Viokwell, but | knew there was likely something tricky between him and Kaleb. As much
as | wanted to get some useful information from Ronald needed to ensure | was safe before going any further.
So, until | could figure out this strange but polite man’s intentions, | needed to remain vague and guarded.
Ronald didn’t seem to believe me and studied me for a little while longer before releasing a light sigh. Before | could offer
something more, he walked over to a bench nearby and rooted through a metal toolbox that sat in the middle. He retrieved a pair
of secateurs and turned back to me
“Which color do you like the most?” he asked me, and when | frowned at him in confusion, he gestured at the nts. “The
flowers. Which color do you like the best?”
“Oh.” | remarked, and then | nced around at the variety of blooms around us. | noticed a small section of ivory roses. Their
petals were a perfect shade, cream with a faint hint of pink, and they were very beautiful. | pointed to them. “I like
those ones there.”
Ronald nodded and then approached the bush. He used the pruning shears to cut off a few of the flowers and then carefully
trimmed the thorns from their stems before handing them to me:
“Thank you,” | said as | epted the flowers, and | held them up to my nose and inhaled deeply. Though this was all very
strange and at least a little awkward, the roses smelled wonderful, and it was a kind thing for him to do.
“Of course,” he remarked, and his soft blue eyes stared into mine intensely. “I can see why Kaleb is interested in you. You''re
very kind”
Heat spread to my cheeks as embarrassment swept over me. | understood that people would easily assume that Kaleb would
have a crush or infatuation with me and that those feelings would be a reasonable cause for him to bring me here. But it couldn’t
be further from the truth
“Dit ista’t ike that, | muttered before | could stop myself. “Between us, | mean.”C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.
“Is that sor Ronald asked, and his lips curled into a smile. “Interesting | had thought Kaleb changed He’s never brought a female
back to Viok well with him | supposed that he felt something for you.”
“| understant, but you’re mistaken, | replied shonly, and then forced myself to smile The king has no feelings for me Between us. |
think he probably overestimated my medal abilities, but i couldn’t deny his offer | was tired of living in Wega and the fluought of
traveling somewhere new sounded lovely | was ready to move on and try something new. So, |
watty faithu back here to Yurene, and here | am
It was get le had one wided to leave Wega and had anotherte hadice |
moment wed starved but now that | was gone, all
wame was toman Bengage in a torvigund wat al and couldnt stop dunking of Aster
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Ronaldughed lightly and then smirked. “I know what you mean. Change can always be refreshing Besides. | know m cousin
well. He has always been a domineering person, and I’m sure it was difficult to decline his offer. But now that he’s returned. I''ve
noticed something different about him. | suspected that he liked you.”
“Something different?” | wondered, and | frowned in confusion
Ronald nodded and then nced at the roses
“Did you know that roses are the symbol of love and passion?” he asked, and then he continued before | could answer. These
are two things that Viokwell iscking. My cousin as well. But when you two were dancing in the banquet hall. swore | saw a
trace of love and passion in his eyes”
My heart skipped a beat.
“It''s probably just another misunderstanding | tried to assure him. “He was just being a decent gentleman-
“A decent gentleman!” Ronald repeated back, amused and then he shook his head. Now that is something my dear cousin is not.
It''s not in his nature to be decent. In fact, he’s quite the opposite, though I''ll admit that he’s made some efforts to be a nicer
person in the past few years.”
He approached me slowly, and then reached out and touched the flowers in my hands. Moments after he did, the roses fully
blossomed My lips parted in surprise at this second disy of magic and Ronald smiled at me.
“You must be wondering why | possess this ability?” he guessed, and when | nodded, he smiled. “My mother was a sorceress
Since | have half of her blood. | inherited her magical skills. They’re the reason | survived
What do you mean!” | asked, baffled by the hidden meaning behind his words. Was he referring to the war? The one between
Dark Abyss and Yurene?
Ronald seemed to read my mind and shook his head. “It wasn’t about the war, if that’s what you''re wondering. It was something
worse than that awful war, if you can believe that, and not to mention, far more brutal. It’s a tradition of Yurene. one | don’t
particrly care for.
My frown deepened.
| was tired of these vague statements. | wasn’t sure if Ronald was being obtuse on purpose or not, but given that | was speaking
to a total stranger, | was feeling a touch frustrated. | was tired of being left in the dark and having to guess what every statement
meant.
But then again, since | knew so little about Yurene and its royal traditions, | needed to y along and probe further. | needed to
know what I was dealing with here.
So | let out a soft breath and then spoke.”And what tradition is that?”
you
know
Ronald smiled at me and ran a hand through his long brown hair. “I''ll make you a deal, Cass andra. | can see that very little
about Yurene. | suppose that without my cousin’s permission, no one would dare to tell you much about this ce. Except for
me. | would love to tell you more about Yurene and its king. But in return, | want you to tell me the real reason why Kaleb brought
you here.”
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