The wanderer & The seeker

Cyrus slowly opened the window, feeling a cold breeze brush against his face as his eyes fixed on the carriage outside. The second floor seemed much higher than he initially imagined. The ground below the ledge appeared to recede further and further the more he stared, transforming from a safe space into a deep and terrifying abyss. His legs trembled slightly, and his heart began to race. A heavy sensation settled on his chest, as if the very air was pressing against him, urging him to step back.

Suddenly, he felt something tug at the edge of his sleeve. He turned to find Fear there, trembling, with eyes full of worry. Fear whispered in a hoarse voice, as if every word took immense effort, "No... don't do this. The ground is too far... let's just go back to the room."

Cyrus didn’t respond immediately, his eyes still scanning the distance.

Before he could make his decision, Curiosity shoved Fear aside. With a single step, Curiosity stood beside Cyrus, his gaze alight with excitement and a hint of frustration. “Aren’t we moving now?” Curiosity asked with a crooked smile. “Ignore that coward. We’re here to explore, so go on, keep going.”

Cyrus’s gaze returned to the outside, his eyes narrowing as heavy memories flooded his mind. In his head, the memory replayed itself: that white piece of paper, carried away by the wind, dancing in the air just out of his reach. In a reckless move, he had chased after it without hesitation, only to find himself falling out of the window. Before he could even process what had happened, there came the violent impact with the ground. The sound of the crash still echoed in his ears, and the pain that had surged through his body lingered in every part of him. He closed his eyes for a moment, his fingers gripping the window ledge tightly.

Fear jumped as if stung by the memory, his eyes widening in terror. His trembling hands clung desperately to Cyrus’s arm, trying to stop him. In a shaky voice, he pleaded, “Don’t do it, Cyrus… please. Do you want to relive the same nightmare?”

Curiosity, who knew no patience, trampled over Fear's hesitation with indifference. He grabbed Fear violently, his hands trying to yank him from his spot. "Are you clinging to your mother or what?!" Curiosity snarled as he struggled to shake Fear off, but Fear clung on stubbornly, his iron grip refusing to loosen.

Doubt walked over with slow, heavy steps, his eyes reflecting clear boredom. With half-lidded eyes, Doubt calmly grabbed the back of Curiosity's neck and pulled him away gently, as if handling a child. With disdain, he muttered, "For once, I find myself agreeing with this filthy coward."

Then, Doubt turned his apathetic gaze towards Cyrus, his eyes cold. With a voice dripping with mockery, he added, "Pain... it's not something you'd want to experience again, is it?"

Curiosity shoved Doubt’s hand away with a sharp motion, his eyebrows knitting together in clear irritation, his eyes narrowing as if bracing for disappointment. He stepped closer to Cyrus and whispered, frustration barely contained, “You’re not backing out now, are you?”

Cyrus glanced at Curiosity, then at Fear clinging to him, engulfed in tense silence, offering no reply. Yet, he took a single step back from the window.

Curiosity took that step like a blow, his expression tightening further. “Come on, don’t back out now!”

Cyrus lifted his head and exhaled calmly. “I’m not backing down… but jumping from here? No, that’s not happening. We’ll do it from the ground floor.”

In an instant, Curiosity's chest swelled as if a small sun had risen inside him. His laughter erupted loudly, and he slapped Cyrus’s back with force. “Hahaha! A little caution never hurts!”

Soft footsteps began approaching slowly, and Cyrus turned his head to find Alyssa coming down the hallway, carrying a small tray that wobbled with some sweets and cups of tea. She was humming a quiet tune, the words of her song barely reaching his ears, while her bright face showed no concern for what was happening around her.

Beside him, Logic whispered a warning, “If you want to move forward, don’t let her notice you… it looks like she’s heading to your room.”

Cyrus returned his gaze to the window, shrinking into the shadows as if he were merely part of the background. Alyssa passed behind him without a glance, completely absorbed in the task at hand, lost in her own world.

Cyrus crouched lightly, sneaking between the trees and dense shrubs that bordered the hidden pathways of the back garden. His steps were as quiet as the evening breeze, his eyes meticulously searching for the best spot that would grant him a clear view of the scene in front of the palace. When he reached the front garden, he paused for a moment, his eyes settling on a large tree. Its thick leaves provided ample shade for concealment, while its position offered a perfect view of the main entrance.

Cyrus took his place behind the tree, leaning against its cold trunk, tilting his head slightly to observe what was happening. It didn’t take long before a grand carriage rolled into the palace courtyard, its wheels turning steadily on the cobblestone path, coming to a slow halt in front of the row of servants who stood in perfect formation along the sides of the red carpet stretching from the carriage door to the entrance of the house.

With a calm smile on his face, Alexander emerged from the palace, followed by Andromeda and Nikos.

From beside the carriage, a massive knight dismounted from his horse, clad in silver armor adorned with gold accents. His helmet was crowned with a long red plume, setting him apart from the other knights. His powerful strides carried him confidently toward the carriage, each step hitting the ground with certainty. Upon reaching it, he gripped the door handle firmly, opened it smoothly, and extended his arm as support for whoever was inside.

Slowly, a delicate hand rested on the knight's arm, to which he bowed with reverence. After a brief moment, a stunning young woman emerged from the carriage, her golden hair flowing gently around her face as the light revealed her. Her hazel eyes, a blend of brown and gold, radiated a quiet warmth that unexpectedly filled Cyrus’s heart with a sense of calm.

Her royal gown, perfectly matching the sparkle in her eyes, flowed gracefully with each step she took. The golden embroidery caught the light delicately, adding a subtle touch of elegance to her presence. As her feet settled on the red carpet, she turned to the knight with a gentle smile, whispering softly, “Thank you, Leon.”

With a slight nod of his head, the knight moved to take his place beside her. As soon as he stood by her side, an elderly man emerged from the carriage. His loose robes flowed around him like a long shadow, concealing all but his weathered face, marked by the wrinkles of time. His steps were slow, yet each one carried a quiet confidence and an air of dignity. His deep-set brown eyes moved deliberately, observing the scene around him with cautious, measured attention before he stood silently behind the princess.

It wasn’t long before Alexander advanced toward them with steady steps, followed closely by Andromeda and Nikos. When they were ten paces away, they stopped and all knelt on one knee.

Alexander lifted his head, a broad smile spreading across his face as he exclaimed with enthusiasm, “Welcome to the shining light of our great empire, my lady and esteemed princess, Eileen Norsian.”

Eileen covered her bright face with her decorated fan, a soft laugh escaping her as she said, “seriously, don't be like this. Unlike the other nobles, you are family to us. So, rise from your knees and let’s put formalities aside.”

The three of them rose gracefully after her words, and the princess stepped forward with confident strides, followed by the knight Leon and the elderly man. Her eyes sparkled silently, lost in the flood of memories that began to play in her mind. Her lips curved into a smile as she said, “Oh, Alexander, Andromeda, long time no see. I’ve missed you so much.”

She paused for a moment, her gaze softly shifting toward Nikos as her face lit up with a warmer smile. “And this must be one of your sons. He’s very handsome.”

As soon as Nikos heard those words, he scratched his hair, his eyes darting away, trying to hide his embarrassment. The princess let out a soft laugh at his reaction. However, her expression soon shifted as she slowly turned, as if searching for someone. She then spoke again, apologetically, “How rude of me! I know I sent my blessings, but I wasn’t able to do so in person. Now that I finally see you both, I want to congratulate you on the twins.”

With a simple nod, both Alexander and Andromeda thanked her. Andromeda stepped forward and said, “Thank you so much. Please, don’t worry. We completely understand. The royal family is always busy, and a village like ours is quite far from the capital. We truly appreciate your thoughtfulness despite everything.”

Princess Eileen smiled gently, but as she approached Andromeda, she handed her fan to Leon with a smooth motion. Without warning, she threw herself into Andromeda’s arms, hugging her tightly with unexpected force. “Andromedaaaaa!” she whined in a playful, childish tone. “Don’t be so cold with me! We spent our childhood together... I hate you!”

Everyone present was stunned. In that moment, Princess Eileen had broken all protocol. It was well known that no one, whether noble or commoner, was allowed to physically touch a member of the imperial family without first performing the traditional hand-kiss.

Andromeda, caught in the awkwardness surrounding her, let out a soft laugh and tried to maintain her composure in the princess’s embrace, though she couldn’t hide her discomfort. Eileen’s smile quickly shifted into a playful pout as she whispered again, “I hate you!” before finally letting her go.

Moments later, Alexander stepped forward toward the princess, who had already extended her hand to him without hesitation. He gently took her hand and kissed it, holding the kiss for a long moment. Smiling afterward, he looked at her and said, “Princess, your skin is as soft and delicate as I remember from our childhood.”

The words came out spontaneously, but they clearly affected Andromeda, whose expression darkened as her eyebrows furrowed sharply.

Nikos, standing on the sidelines like an outsider to the scene, watched with confused eyes. He knew little about his parents’ relationship with Princess Eileen, who seemed overly friendly with them. Distracted thoughts crept into his mind as he silently wondered, "Wasn’t that kiss a bit too long?"

At that moment, Knight Leon took two firm steps forward, his eyes sharply watching Alexander from behind his helmet. Alexander, noticing Leon's stance, immediately let go of Princess Eileen’s arm. Moments later, Leon lifted his leg forcefully, followed by the other knights, stomping the ground in unison, causing the area to tremble.

In a booming voice, Leon asked sharply, "What is the meaning of what you just did?"

Before Alexander could respond, Eileen spoke first. She gently placed her hand on Leon’s armored arm, smiling warmly. “Leon, don’t be so intimidating. These are childhood friends and my relatives, after all. We accept from them what we will not accepted from the other.”

After her words, Leon stepped back with steady strides, casting a sharp, warning glance at Alexander before returning to his place behind the princess.

Princess Eileen smiled, then turned her gaze toward Nikos, who was standing beside her. With a light motion, she tousled his hair with one hand while gently pinching his cheek with the other. "What a cute little one you are! Now, which twin are you?"

As she played with his cheek, Nikos confidently pointed to himself and said, "I am the firstborn heir of the family, the eldest son, Nikos Hecteria."

Eileen's eyebrows shot up in surprise for a moment before she burst into laughter. Her grip tightened slightly as she laughed, “Hahaha! Oh my. little one, you really are a copy of your father. He said the exact same thing, with the same enthusiasm, when I first met him.”

With a light smile, Alexander spread his arms slightly and said, “Why the surprise? Haven’t you heard the saying that ‘Like father, like son’?”

Eileen’s face froze for a moment before her smile returned, and she replied, “I have heard that, but it’s rare to see such a living example. So, Nikos, where is your brother? Why didn’t he come to greet me?”

Upon hearing his brother's name, Nikos flinched slightly, casting a quick glance at his parents, who were focused on the princess. Slowly, a strained smile appeared on his face as he said, “Please forgive my younger brother; he's truly unwell today. He’s locked himself in his room, but he sends his sincere regards and asks for your understanding.”

From above the tree, Doubt suddenly dangled upside down in front of Cyrus’s face, startling him for a moment before he exhaled in annoyance. Doubt chuckled mockingly, saying, “Looks like they think you’re sick, Cyrus. Or at least, that’s what Nikos believes.”

Cyrus ignored Doubt’s remark, cursing his presence silently while continuing to watch the scene with a frown.

Eileen released Nikos and straightened up. In a calm tone, she said, "I’ve heard he was born without aura veins, so his immunity might be weaker than others." She paused for a moment, muttering to herself, "I really had hoped to see him." Then, clapping her hands gently, she added, "But of course, since he’s ill, he’s excused. I wish him a swift recovery."

At the mention of Cyrus’s lack of aura veins, Alexander’s eyebrows furrowed briefly before he quickly regained his artificial smile and said, “Please, come inside, Princess. Your journey must have been long and tiring.”

Eileen shook her head apologetically, replying sincerely, “I accompanied Aesop when I heard he was visiting, but unfortunately, I can’t stay long. I must return to the capital immediately; the Emperor will soon be returning from his campaign against the Iolcos Kingdom.”

Andromeda nodded in understanding, her face tinged with concern. “I hope the Emperor returns safely, but your journey must have been exhausting. Can’t you at least stay for lunch with us?”

Eileen smiled, closing her eyes and folding her hands in front of her. “Don’t worry, it was over quickly, and we won without any losses.” Eileen paused for a moment before continuing, “But I truly apologize, I can’t stay. As soon as Aesop finishes his work here, we’ll be leaving immediately.”

Alexander took a deep breath and then replied gently, “understandable”

Eileen shifted her gaze to the elderly man beside her and gestured to him formally. “Please, Elder Aesop, the attention is all yours. You may begin your work.”