Noelle closed the book he had been pretending to read.
His mind was in no state to process written words and the arrival of Irina, she whom was believed to be dead had increased his turmoil.
She must have not known he could see her for she had even stood so close that he had been tempted to touch her
Was she real ?
It has been a reasonable amount of years since he had last seen her and all those times in his dreams. He would always see her as the child he had known her to be yet this time, she looked like a woman.
Her fiery red hair looked even redder and had grown past the shoulder he had always known it to stop. It was obvious her life had not been a smooth sail from the tiny scars he could see on her face making him wonder how many was hidden beneath her clothing.
Nevertheless, she must have found her bearing for she was dressed in an expensive wool material and the jade jewelry around her neck looked expensive. She had stood by the door at first, her calm green eyes on him as if looking for something. After a while, she had given up and had turned to leave when she turned back again almost startling him who had turned to take a good look. Her essence was what alerted him first and when he listened harder, he could hear her footsteps and when she had turned to go, he had focused harder and there she was, not in the silhouette he could see before but in her true form.
When she turned to him this time, she did not have that look she had before, this time she looked like she was seeing an old friend ater a long time. She had approached slowly and was studying his every move with her eyes making him almost give up on feigning ignorance.
As if that was not enough, she moved even closer, right behind him and dipped her head so she could get a glimpse of what he was reading. Unconsciously, he had turned the back if the book so she could see the name.
Facts and fallacies about the eclipse monster by Johnny Sicario.
***********
Irina had retired just like she was ordered to but she could not sleep no matter how she tried.
The book she had seen in Noelle's hands, she was sure was not part of her father's works while she was by his side.
Did he write it after she had been casted away and if he had, is it the same book Aveedah was talking about? The same book that had the truth?
She had wanted to ask Aveedah, in fact, she would have asked her if she had not been too shocked at where she had found her.
What is going on?
She feels lost and the cruel twist is she can not even inquire from Velaine himself because he is always stuck with her.
Does Velaine even know what he is doing?
He had told her he is in control but it did not look like that at all.
His smile reached his eyes, he showed anger, happiness, irritation and she could swear she had seen confusion in his eyes one time.
The Velaine she knew was always unperturbed, his smile may always be on his lips but that was just how his face was, his eyes were always the blank blue it is, with no emotions whatsoever and he certainly is never confused. This could not be all pretense, there is a limit to what even he can do.
She craned her neck to catch a glimpse of them. She had seen them move from the horse, her in his arms, cracking jokes and flirting and his eyes bright blue like the sea on a sunny day.
Her eyes finally picked out their silhouette in the darkness and what she made her recline.
That definitely is not pretense.
It was a bit into dawn but they were fully awake and ready to continue their journey. While Aveedah simply sat on the rock as she chewed on her last portion of meat, Velaine was returning from wherever he had gone in a different attire than the last time making Aveedah look down at hers sadly.
She had been wearing the same thing since the day before the previous one and she could not help wondering how dirty she looked or smelt.
Irina waited for Velaine to turn his back to Aveedah before she rushed to her.
She just had to confirm it.
If it really is the one, then the plan will have to be altered a bit.
"Your highness, may I ask a question?" She asked, forcing her voice to sound more polite than she actually felt.
"Go on." She replied.
"May I know the name of the book where you found out the truth? The one you said was written by my father?"
Aveedah was quiet for a while before she replied.
"Facts and fallacies about the eclipse monster." Colour drained off her face and Aveedah could tell something something is wrong.
"Why?" She asked.
The woman before her seemed to have not heard her so she repeated her question, her tone firmer now.
"Why do you ask?"
Irina snapped her gaze to Aveedah.
"Your highness." She started.
She had to inform them, if she did not and something went wrong, Velaine will be disappointed.
"I saw that same book with prince Noelle when I visited him."
She did not reply immediately.
She had to think of the implications first.
If Noelle stumbles on the truth and confronts his brother, would he win against his manipulative brother or would he be manipulated once again and killed off in a hurry to avoid another confrontation?
What if he does not confront his brother?
What will he do then?
The alliance is important to her but she was no longer doing this just for the sake of it.
She felt the need to help the lonely prince and not knowing his next move was rather disturbing.
"Irina, is there something I should know?" Velaine asked upon approaching them his horse right behind him.
He had come to tell them they could leave when he saw the looks on their faces.
"Your highness, Noelle may have stumbled upon the true fact about himself written by my father." She reported.
He stayed quiet rubbing his temple before he said.
"You will have to pay him another visit. I'll write a letter you will deliver to him."
Aveedah turned to him, questions in her eyes and he nodded, a small smile on his face.
"This is turning out in our favour."