The fear Losing her

The town of Oaklene was noisy with the sound of traders, but for Celeste, every sound of footsteps behind her felt like a threat. She wore a rough cloth hood to cover her striking purple hair.

"Kina, don't look back," Celeste whispered low.

While they were looking for a horse carriage, a voice greeted her from behind. Like the voice of an old woman wearing a black cloth hood while smiling at her.

"My my... dear, I feel like very soon... you will be given a blessing,"

said that mysterious old woman. Celeste smiled bitterly. Her manner indifferent watching that old woman who seemed to be playing around.

"Um... sorry grandma... I think I need to go now... I'm sure I'll meet you again," said Celeste calmly and quietly. While giving that old woman a sweet smile.

That old woman went quiet. Looking toward Celeste's sparkling eyes.

"Can you follow me for a moment?" asked that old woman while smiling hoping Celeste would agree. Celeste smiled awkwardly. Her smile didn't reach the corners of her eyes. Then spoke again.

"Um... I'm sorry grandma, I need to go now there's something urgent," she said again while briefly waving her hand. The old woman shook her head.

"I promise after I look at your hand... I'll leave," said that old woman while smiling. Without waiting for Celeste's answer she pulled her hand gently. Stepping toward a small hut. Celeste had no choice but to follow that old woman even though she didn't want to.

Same with Kina. Had to follow her mistress loyally. When they arrived at that place. That woman told her to sit in front of her.

Celeste's eyes scanned the entire hut.

"Wait here for a moment." Said that old woman then went inside that hut. While waiting for that old woman the two of them chatted as usual. But Kina who already looked bored tried to look around that place.

"Your Majesty, I've never seen this street before..." said Kina. Her eyes darted looking at the surroundings of that hut which was close to a large tree. Celeste only went quiet. She kept pressing her fingernails as if unable to wait for that old woman.

In a few minutes, that old woman still hadn't appeared. Kina who was behind Celeste opened her mouth.

"Your Majesty, were we tricked?... a prank?" said Kina while snorting quietly. Not a trace of that old woman could be seen. Celeste calmed Kina who looked like she wanted to get angry. She shook her head slowly to make sure their conversation wasn't heard.

But right at that moment that old woman appeared while using a black hood as if she were a fortune teller.

"Sorry, my dear... there was a problem earlier when I was looking for my purple hood," she said while making a gloomy face.

Celeste shook her head slowly.

"It's okay, grandma..." she said while smiling. Without pleasantries. That old woman told Celeste to raise one of her hands onto that old table. She began slowly stroking her hand.

What is this grandma going to do?

Celeste whispered in her heart. But she let whatever that old woman was doing continue. Then, she blew on Celeste's hand.

"It seems like two men are chasing after you... isn't that right?" said that old woman quietly while looking toward Celeste seriously.

Celeste went quiet and didn't answer. But that old woman spoke again.

"It seems... one of them has feelings of love so extreme toward you... and he is the father of what you are carrying," said that old woman again. Celeste's eyes flew wide.

"What do you mean grandma?... I'm not..." before she could finish her sentence that old woman cut in.

"Everything depends on your decision... dear.. whatever you do now... you need to make a wise decision," she said while slowly closing Celeste's palm.

"What do you mean grandma?"

"I can see your past... truly tragic," she said again. As usual her face was still serious as if. Everything she said sounded real. Celeste went quiet for a moment.

"She held her stomach," confused but not knowing whether what that old woman said was true or not.

"Is it really true?.." Celeste asked again while staring at the old woman's face in front of her. But suddenly that old woman laughed happily.

"Thank you for being our first customer," said that old woman while clapping her hands. Their mouths fell open watching an older man appear behind that old woman while holding grilled food.

Kina's shoulders shook slowly. Holding back her laughter. Celeste slowly facepalmed.

I knew it!!

She said then stood up wanting to be angry.

"Thank you grandma for the joke,"

said Celeste while forcing a smile then pulling Kina who was still shaking with laughter.

"Alright..." Kina answered then picked up the things they had brought earlier. But before that she turned back. That old woman smiled.

"Don't forget... every decision is in your hands... dear..."

she said while waving toward Celeste.

Celeste nodded even though she didn't actually believe what that old woman said. She just went along with it. They stepped away from that place.

Then walked to the horse carriage sales area. Then dealt with everything about that carriage. After they were done Kina invited Celeste to stop by the market.

"I want Your Majesty to taste the most delicious food here,"

she said while slowly pulling her hand. Celeste looked around her. Watching Kina who looked happier than in her previous life, she smiled happily.

Then without thinking long she followed and ate everything that Kina gave her. That whole day, for the first time she felt true freedom and real happiness.

"In my previous life... I never went to a place like this," she whispered quietly while looking at her surroundings. Celeste who was sitting in the middle of that fountain looked at Kina who was so full of energy.

She slowly closed her eyes while enjoying the fresh breeze in the town that was lively with sounds, the noise of horse carriages, children running, and the aroma of delicious food.

Pak pak pak.

The sound of shoe soles echoed.

"Your Majesty... let's go..." said Kina while pulling Celeste's hand. For some reason she felt Kina had too much energy until she couldn't keep up with it.

"Alright... let's go," said Celeste then walked back toward the palace. For some reason Celeste felt something was going to happen at the palace.

In a few hours they finally arrived at the palace grounds. At that time, the atmosphere outside looked strange. Kina furrowed her brow then whispered into Celeste's ear.

"Your Majesty, it looks like both those men are at the main door," she said. Celeste let out a heavy breath.

"The moment I arrive here... my head starts to hurt,"

she said while slowly stepping down from that horse carriage with Kina's help. She had just stepped down from that horse carriage. Two men could be seen standing in front of the palace grounds as if welcoming her.

Killian waved his hand toward Celeste. Caspian meanwhile went quiet staring at her from a distance.

Tch... what an ego...

She whispered quietly then took one step at a time with full elegance. The maids who were there bowed their heads toward Celeste.

When she was almost reaching the place where both of them were standing. She pouted.

Both of them looked excited watching Celeste walking toward them.

"May I..." said both of them but,

Zuppp!!

The wind swept past both of them. Celeste passed them without saying anything. Cold and distant. Both of them blinked then followed Celeste who was already far ahead climbing the upper stairs.

Caspian called her name repeatedly.

"Celeste!!... can you hear me!!" said Caspian loudly. Killian only shook his head then walked following Celeste from behind. Killian managed to glance briefly toward Caspian with a victorious smile before he jogged to catch up with Celeste.

Before leaving he whispered toward Caspian.

"Treat a woman like a princess," he said then walked away.

"Don't follow me!!" Celeste called out with one short but piercing sentence. Killian pouted.

"Why?!" asked Caspian while following her from behind. Caspian didn't move a single step. He was hoping Celeste would turn around and bow respectfully like always.

But when Celeste's shadow disappeared behind the palace's large door, his hand that had been gripping tightly started trembling. He wasn't just angry, he was starting to feel... afraid.

Caspian kept calling Celeste's name, his voice echoing through that cold palace corridor. But every time that voice reached her eardrums, Celeste only remembered the old woman's words from earlier.

The father of what you are carrying...

Celeste instinctively held her stomach behind the thick fabric of her gown. Her heart was beating fast. Not because of love, but because of hatred.

If it's true there's "something" inside here, it will never belong to you, Caspian. Never.

Celeste kept walking without looking back, her gown trailing following the rhythm of her quick steps. Killian meanwhile with his calm face kept following at Celeste's side, as if he had been personally invited into the Empress's private room.

"Celeste! I am calling you! Stop!" Caspian's shout echoed, his tone full of authority trying to be forced. He stood stiff in the middle of the palace grounds, his hands clenched tight at his sides.

He wanted to chase, but his feet felt heavy, his ego as tall as a mountain stopping him from looking "desperate" in front of the maids and guards.

Celeste didn't respond at all. To her, Caspian's voice was just meaningless background noise.

"Why are you following me?!"

Celeste finally snapped when they reached her room door, her eyes sharp looking at Killian who was grinning beside her.

"Because that man's voice downstairs is too noisy. I feel my ears are more at peace when I'm near you,"

Killian answered in a teasing tone, completely ignoring Caspian who was still standing frozen below with a face that was growing redder by the minute.

"Don't follow me!"

Celeste called out that final sentence before going inside her room and slamming the door.

BAM!

Caspian who was watching from a distance could only press his lips together. He had been left behind. By his own wife, in front of his rival.

She... has she truly stopped looking at me?

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