Chapter 141 - Trapped In The Cobwebs Of Lies
Chapter 141 – Trapped In The Cobwebs Of Lies
"I don't care if you bring disaster, since everyone's demise is just what I want. I will treat you better. That is why I am the better option, Princess. You will simply ruin that dog… no, this Ronmin Empire even without the Hendrik."
I huffed and panted for air, licking my lips only to taste the taste of iron in my mouth. His grip was so tight my inner cheek and gums bled. If he grip a bit tighter, I was certain my jaw would fall off. When I breathed three deep breaths, I glared daggers at him.
What he had uttered was nothing but nonsense and simply aggravating. But alas, his eyes told me otherwise. It sounded ridiculous, but… what he said that was almost similar to Ashton's last words made my heart sink even deeper.
I didn't believe him completely. But from my perspective, even though I didn't know this person that much, I figured he wasn't the person who would lie about something like this. He might've wanted to save me for another wicked reason, but it seemed he was telling the truth.
My mother… my father… I clenched my teeth as I felt a sharp prick in my heart. I thought I could take the answer — that I could handle it. But… it hurts still, I felt breathless. And yet, I couldn't shed a single tear.
The truth hurt so much that I didn't know whether to get furious or cry. All I could do was stare at him blankly.
"Poor little lamb." He sighed with his head slightly tilted, clicking his tongue continuously. He reached for me and caressed my cheek with the back of his fingers.
"Beautiful yet tragic, indeed. That is the life you will lead." He planted his finger on my forehead, eyes on me. "Just in case you want to deny the truth, let me show you, lamb."
His lips stretched into a subtle smile before something pulled my consciousness back to the past. This time, however, it wasn't from my perspective. It was from someone else or something else.
The sound of caws rang in my ear as if it was coming from me. From my vantage point, which was outside, on a tree branch, I gazed at the open window. There, inside the window, was the dining hall where I used to dine with my parents in the castle in Everfell.
Three figures were dining. My father, my mother, and… me. I was happy. Even from this distance, one could tell how happy I was at this rare occasion where I get to share a meal with my parents. They also looked content, giving out a picture-perfect of a family of three.
However, every time that Rinnie would avert her eyes while talking excitedly, my parents would gaze at me coldly. I didn't notice because their warm smile would return once I set my eyes back on them.
"Ah… so it wasn't just my imagination back then," I cawed.
When I blinked, the scene changed. This time, it was already nighttime. But I stayed on the tree branch close to my window, watching my mother tucked me in. A loving smile dominated her gorgeous face, stroking my hair.
"Mother, will you go back to the palace tonight?" the Rinnie, whom I was watching from the crow's eyes, inquired. She held her mother's wrist, gazing at her as if waiting for her to say she would stay. But Mother only gazed at her and smiled gently.
"Rinnie, my child, it pains me to leave again." She breathed out, making the young teen Rinnie frown. "But Mother had her duties, you understand, right? Our people rely on us."
"Mother, do you love the people of Everfell?"
"Yes, of course. If only we can rule forever, we would lead them to the right path." Her gentle smile and eyes made the Rinnie on the bed smile. "Now, go to sleep. Mother will stay until you had fallen asleep."
"Alright." I just smiled in understanding.
Back then, I thought her words were the words of the dutiful queen. A queen who loved her people deeply. That even if it pained her to leave her beloved daughter in this castle, she couldn't turn her back from her duty. But now… everything was getting painfully clearer.
When the teen Rinnie had fallen into a deep slumber, Mother, who was sitting on the chair near the bed, looked at her. Her eyes were filled with longing and desire — not the same look she would usually give me.
She closed the book on her lap, placing it beside the sleeping Rinnie. When she stroked my hair lovingly, I thought it was an affectionate gesture of a mother to her daughter. But what she did shortly after caused all the hair on my body to raise.
Mother walked close to my feet, lifting the sheet until my foot showed. She bent down on her knees, arms over the edge of the mattress. She held my feet with both her hands, kissing it gently before placing it on her cheek, eyes closed.
"Ah… my goddess, our good goddess," she whispered. "Please hear my prayers and give me eternal life. Our Everfell needs us forever.."
She rested her forehead on the foot she was holding, kissing it once again. "Bless us with your holiness, my God. Let us be one with you and live within us." Her words were vague, but I couldn't help but feel this disturbing aura this scene was giving me.
"Blasphemy…" I snapped my eyes and gazed at my side. There, on the same branch, Ashton was staring at my mother pray. His eyes were cold and distant, giving out murderous intent he was barely suppressing.
"Your Highness, I will kill the Everfell for their audacity," he declared menacingly. "Why… aren't you making any movements until now? The faster we get that thing out of here, the better, don't you think?"
Ashton set his eyes on me, the crow. I didn't respond, but Ashton scoffed while rocking his head.
"That wolf in Ronmin is keeping you busy, huh? Should we just watch and stand back for now? I had swallowed my pride for His Highness and acted as that foolish princess playmate." He peeled his eyes away from me and set them towards my bedroom. "I might kill her if she annoys me one more time."
'Lies…' I whispered in my head, blinking only to return to the current lapse. "Everyone… lies.. They make me sick."