I stood in front of the door where the royals and nobles were probably discussing mine and my sister’s future. I raised my hand to knock, but I hesitated. Even from here, I could hear inaudible yellings and growls from a certain beast-men.
I was pretty sure that it was Ren and Dan.
“Are you sure you want to go inside?” Ace was stood beside me. His eyes were looking at me with worry, not because of my decision, but whether or not I can take the pressure that I would be put through.
“Not gonna lie. I want to run away from here as fast as possible, but that would cause more trouble instead. And how can they respect a princess who just hides under the shadows of others?” I said it after a sigh.
“I’ll go with you then.” He offered.
I bit back my lip before I laughed. “Thanks, but you’re not yourself yet. I don’t think there’s anything you can do.”
If he was his old self, he could definitely take the center stage and everyone would listen to him because he would curse them all and threaten their lives. At the memory, I let out a pained laugh.
“Then I will stay beside you in case anyone attacks. I’ll protect you.” He says, his eyes looking determined.
“With what? Do you even remember how to fight?” I asked him.
“I…” Ace looked away shamefully. “I don’t but...at least I can shield you.”
It’s becoming way too difficult for me to tell myself that this isn’t the real Ace. But yet again it kind of is since he was going on his instinct at the moment. I could not help but get flustered.
“You...You can stay beside me as moral support, but I don’t want you to act as my shield. I have Viex to protect me.” I pointed at the small fox on my shoulder, who raised his chin proudly and arrogantly at Ace.
I saw his gaze falter in disappointment before it was replaced with a small, yet sad smile. “Alright. I can do that.” He says.
I kind of felt sorry for him because it seems like he took offense at my words about not being able to fight. But it’s not my fault. I am worried about him as well.
I pushed the thoughts aside as I need to focus more on the matter in front of me. I knocked lightly on the door before I entered. Immediately, I could hear the yelling more clearly now.
“You’re sending children to the Rogue king? Are you insane?!” King Luke screamed.
“They weren’t supposed to exist in the first place! They didn’t grow up in this realm. They’re just foreigners!”
“Yeah? Try saying that again! I dare you, you weak troll scum!” I went in just in time to see Dan and Nate holding Ren back as he charged at the King of the Trolls.
The door creaked when I opened the door fully and everyone seemed to have quieted down. “Dear?” My aunt immediately rushed to my side. “What are you doing here? You aren’t supposed to be here.” She whispered.
My eyes met all of their gazes before I looked back at her. “No. I think I should.” I said. “If they want to say something, they should say it to my face.” I looked back up at them. “Carry on then.”
“Good.” King Rafael, Nate’s uncle and the king of Vampires, snorted. “At least now you’ll know your own faults!”
“Our fault?” I raised a brow at him. “Tell me how that is mine and my sister’s fault that we were born of royal blood.”
“My dear, your existence alone is dangerous for our kingdom. Do not take this into offense.” Lukin, the king of the dwarves, was giving me a pitiful look like he was sorry for me. Well, at least he has the sense to be sympathetic.
“Tamers have always been feared. King Ferius was also a Tamer. Your kind started this and it should end with you as well.” It was Michael, the King of the Fairies, who said it. “During King Fred’s coronation, I saw you attacking my daughter with one of your spirits. You have a dark wolf with you and you even threatened to take away her essence.”
“Sir, with all due respect-” Nate started to say, but Dan decided to add.
“Nah. WITHOUT DUE RESPECT you mean.” Dan corrected him with a wicked grin.
Nate frowned at being interrupted but still continued, “Sir, it was your daughter who harmed the princess first. Her spirit was just protecting her.”
“Suck on that, you fool!” Dan added. Now it was Ren and Nate’s turn to stop Daniel from flipping off every single people in the room.
Honestly, Dan is causing more trouble than help.
Before the meeting started, I heard from Ren that his parents wouldn’t be able to join and would send in Ren and Dan instead. Although the King and Queen of Sanver are expressing their support for me, they still fear the potential attack of the Rogue king and are preparing for defenses.
I can understand sending Ren, but Dan? Really? I mean, I love that he is very supportive of us, but insulting them is kind of....
...awesome yet troublesome. Honestly, I can’t decide.
“Brother?” Eltur and Darem came to our sides. They were both gave me a short nod and a smile for a greeting before focusing their attention on Ace. “What are you doing here? I thought we asked you to stay outside?”
Ace turned glanced at me before facing his brothers. “I’m staying with her.” He says. By the tone of his voice, he wasn’t up for an argument.
Instead of protesting, the brothers smiled instead. “Very well.” Darem said as he and Eltur accompanied us.
Ace seemed distressed when his brothers decided to join us on our spot that he looked both ashamed and annoyed at the same time. “Go away!” He whispered to his brother while casting me a side glance to see if I was looking.
His brothers simply snickered and ruffled his head. It was a sight that I never thought I’d see in my entire life.
“Then what do you recommend? What shall we do with the Tamer and her sister?” One of the nobles asked.
“You will leave my sister alone.” I said. “She isn’t even a tamer. She’s a winter fairy. And last I check, winter fairies are rare and valuable to the fae race.” I looked at the fairy king and queen as I said this. Making sure that they get my point.
“A winter fairy?!” Titania, the fairy queen, asked as murmurs surrounded the room.
Hang on, is this the first time that they hear about Stellas supernatural race?!
The Fairy king seemed to consider words as he was rubbing his chin in wonder. “So you’re saying that whatever happens to this discussion, it shall only apply to you?”
That was my plan.
“Yes. I’m the tamer, aren’t I?” Nate, Ren, Dan, and even my aunt and uncle looked ready to burst out in anger because, from my words, I sounded like I was giving up. “But before we come to any conclusion, I just want to ask if everyone here is aware that the King of Tereau doesn’t have his spirit?”
Everyone was quiet. I looked at my aunt and the rest of the princes with a look of disbelief. “Seriously? No one told them!? Even about this!?”
Fred started laughing and it was the first time that I ever heard him make a sound since I came here. “Well, that sure did silence them down.” He says. Then he took a step forward and addressed the side that was voting against me. “I get that everyone is scared for their own respective kingdom. But let me just give you all an idea of what will happen if we surrender the princess to the king.” He says. “First of all, King Ferius will have the opportunity to awaken his Chimera. Second, he will become more powerful and more of a threat than ever. What makes us all certain that he wouldn’t invade us after surrendering the princess?”
Silence fell in the room as they all took in Fred’s words. Just then, an Elven Duke raised his hand in question. “So what are we supposed to do now? I mean, either way, we are basically trapped. If we don’t surrender her then he will still attack us.”
“Tereau is as big as Thalia.” Nate says. “The rogue king was able to take down Gija and Iroca because they were just a part of Thalia. But if we all work together, we can overthrow the rogue king.”
Nate looked at me and we both exchanged smiles. But mine was a little bit of a tight smile as I wanted to say those lines! He stole my line!
Then, as if hearing my thoughts, Nate stuck his tongue out at me, which I returned with a raise of my middle finger.
“Then, what about the fairy princess?” The fairy Queen asked. “She’s a fairy. She should stay with her own kind. Not to mention our son is also a winter fairy. He could teach her.” By the way that she was talking, I could already tell what she was going on about.
I frowned. “You will not hold my sister. She says with me.” I turned my body to address Titania. The last time I interacted with her, she didn’t seem like a snob. In fact, she was kind to me.
But now, all I see in her eyes is greed the moment I mentioned that my sister is a Winter Fairy.
“But she needs to learn how to control her magic! If she can’t then her life would be in danger.” She pointed out. A ghost of a smile appearing on her dark blue lips as she made a valid argument.
I had to laugh at her statement and humor her with a nod. “Right. As if my sister needs anyone to teach her how to control her magic. Wouldn’t you agree, Prince Chace?” I smirked when I met gazes with the young prince. He was no longer wearing his coat and was now wearing a white long-sleeved undershirt and an ice blue vest.
I have to give props to the kid because even though he was humiliated by my sister, he still stood proud and tall. I expected him to look ashamed and deny everything. Instead, his gaze shifted from Ace, and then to me.
I was surprised at what came out of his mouth next. “The young fairy princess is a prodigy.” He says. “Her manipulation of magic is foreign and precise. She can control the physical form of ice at her own will.”
“And she kicked your ass.” I added.
Chace simply stared at me. He did not glare at me for using such vulgar words either. “Yes.” He nodded before looking at his parents. “And that is why I wish to stay in Thalia for the time being. I want the young princess to teach me.” He says.
“Chace, no! You can’t!” Titiana scolded him. “You cannot stay here!”
“Yes!” I quickly agreed with Titiana with a frown on my face. “Listen to your mother.” The image of Stella teaching and befriending another good-looking teen who’s about her age didn’t sit well with me.
I must stop it because...because...he might hurt Stella! Yes, that is the only reason for it. Nothing more.
Chase tried to open his mouth to say something when I clapped my hands together to catch all of their attention. “Can we go back to the topic at hand? Like, right now?”
“Rose is right. We still have to hear about your opinions.” Fred says as he addressed the supernaturals in the room. “There are only two ways on how this is going to end. We strike back or wait until King Ferius decides to attack us.” The nobles let Fred’s words sink in. I could see that they were all exchanging a look.
“We can split resources.” Ace started to speak as well, which surprised us all. “Fighting styles and techniques. It’s one man versus all of us.” Ace met my gaze and offered me a reassuring smile.
The others knew about his current predicament, and that is why his voice held more weight than the others. Even when he lost his memories because of me, he was still 100% supportive.
Very slowly, each and every royal began to speak of their agreement. Everything went smoothly afterward. With the full support of King Fred, The elves, and Ren’s family, the others had no choice but to follow. After all, most of the kingdoms with the best fighter are all in favor of fighting Ferius.
The meeting finally came to a conclusion. Everyone was finally in agreement that this was the best option. Though I have no idea what will happen soon, but right now, I am just glad that it finally came to an end.
And all of a sudden, I felt a very familiar presence in the vicinity of Thalia. Viex felt it too. We both shared a very delightful and exciting look in our eyes.
‘He sure is late.’ Viex chuckled. ‘Too bad he’s still too far away for us to contact him.’
‘He’ll be here soon. He may not be as fast as you but I bet he’s taking one of his shortcuts again.’ Viex and I laughed.
It was the very first genuine laugh that I expressed in days since the incident with Ace.
“Thanks.” I said, making Ace turn his head to me in surprise.
“What for?” He asked.
“For always looking out for me.” I answered and gave him a teary-eyed smile.
He looked taken aback and quickly snatched a handkerchief from Darem’s coat and handed it to me while looking away. “Wipe...wipe that thing off of your face.” He says.
I almost choked on my laugh at how awkward he is. He still can’t remember, alright, but I know that the real him is in there. Somewhere.
And I am going to bring him back for sure.
‘Master! I’m almost there!’