ZATHRIAN

“Hey, I think what she said was true. Maybe she was here by coincidence.” 

“Clearly not.”

That woman, she tried to backtrack, but she definitely knew something about my past.

“Do you think she looked cute?”

“Huh?” Claude scratched his head, pointing at the door where the loud girl went off. “I thought she wasn’t your type?”

“I can find someone cute without getting attracted, you moron.”

Creaking footsteps coming down the stairs were heard. I turned around to see a man in his armoury. “Hey, do you know who that was? Mercenary king?”

His hooded eyes darted at me with a glare. “Don’t even think about it, Prince.”

I surrendered my arms in the air. “I didn’t even do anything.”

“Yet.” 

I raised my glass. “What kind of person do you think I am?”

Percival looked back at me once more before he exited the tavern door with his claymore. “That girl is off limits, Lestrange. I’m warning you.”

“You know the lady, Sir Percival?” Claude butted in.

“And who the hell are you?”

“Pay him no mind. You don’t have to worry, then. We’re not interested in each other.”

“Good. Then I’m out of here. Giovanni, don’t lock the back door. I’ll be back by midnight.”

“I pray your journey goes well, sire.”

Percival took off in the middle of the day. Claude beside me poured another glass. “Your senior was scary!”

I took another shot. “Less scary than he was back at the academy.”

I only agreed to do this job because the Queen won’t stop nagging me about it. When my father, Grand Duke Lestrange, heard about it, he pressured me too. In the end, I accepted the job for the sake of my sanity. 

This was my third trip to Evermore. I’ve been here since I was a child and well—I stayed here for a short period right after my knighthood, which was a vacation reward offered by my father. Somehow I didn’t regret turning down the offer. I find this place much better than the north, with its perfect climate, friendlier people and brighter culture. I can stay here if I want to since I’m fluent in the Evermorean language pretty well.

Percival Colt was my senior at the Chivalry Academy back in Valencourt. I remember after my graduation, he told me over drinks that he realized he wasn’t the kind to swear loyalty to anyone, which made him quit knighthood a year later. That time, I simply thought he got kicked out of the Evermore Knights due to his attitude. I chuckled at the memory and sighed. I spent the rest of the night drinking with Claude and eventually returned to the hotel I was staying at.

Known as Prince Zathrian, the Marquess of Routhune, I am the first son of the Grand Duke, the second younger brother of Her Majesty the Queen.

My body throbbed in pain the moment I reached my suite that night. The hangover will surely kill me tomorrow. I should’ve not drank too much but spent the rest of the day in my suite instead. I wasn’t a fan of drinking in the first place, yet this habit started upon my return from knighthood.

I was raised in a household where everyone around me reminded me of who I am, the successor of my father. I lost my mother at a young age and I have a brother a few years younger than me. The people who raised me made me believe that no matter what path I take, my future is determined—to inherit my father’s position—as the eldest son. 

Then I met this girl from a well-known family around the age of 9 in our estate. Runathea Goldenhart.

Since we were young, Runa always dreamed big of the world, telling me she’d give up anything to fulfill it. She was kind and beautiful, her voice gentle and soft. She told me she dreamed of being a skilled travelling spiritualist, claiming the nature spirits were talking to her.

I felt inferior standing beside her, despite my title. Everything was offered to me on a silver platter, having no dream for myself. Runa was the opposite of me. It opened my eyes to think about how to write my own destiny. 

She was my motivation.

So I tried to win her affection. I impressed her by training hard in archery, swordsmanship, and martial arts, and even learned a few languages and more. In my teen years, I urged my father to send me to the top Chivalry Academy in the country to earn the title of knight. 

But the night before I left, I made a promise to Runa. Once I return as a knight, I will ask her hand for marriage. Years have passed since then, we would meet during the summer and write letters to each other.

Eventually, I came back home as the top knight of my class. I knew she’d be proud of me and she will be mine in return.

Everything was settled upon my return. I got the ring, the flowers and the presents. I was more eager to see her than anyone else. Yet I found myself alone in the plaza where our story began, in the place we promised to be for this exact moment. There was no trace of Runa waiting for me.

Days later, I received a letter. It was from Runa. She was sorry for not showing up, telling me she set out on a serious journey to become a highly skilled spiritualist.

“I want you to be proud of me too.” She wrote in the letter. “Let’s meet when the time is right. Once I return, I’ll accept your proposal.”

“I’ll wait for whatever it takes.” I wrote back. “I was already proud of you even before I knew what that feeling was.”

But that time never came... until now. 

I never heard news about her ever since. No answer to my letters either. I tried searching for her, but it felt like looking for ghosts.

And yet I kept on waiting, that’s what she asked me to.

Something sparkling on the carpeted floor by the door caught my eye. I looked at it closer. It was an invitation letter.

Untying the laces, I was greeted with a photo of a gorgeous young woman, with a green set of eyes and soft pink hair. I recognized her instantly. It was the lady from the tavern.

Lilivienne Van der Horst.

Van der Horst? The owner of this hotel? Was she also related to the holy knight who assisted me the other day?

I was telling the truth when I said she’s not my type. She was shorter than average, with a rounded face and innocent-looking features. Like a doll. Different from Runa’s appearance. When our eyes made contact at the tavern, I knew right there that she wasn’t there because of me. Rather, she was only surprised to see me that she had to blurt out my name. 

Not only my name but it was obvious she knew something about me. Not even Claude or anyone back at the Academy knew about Runathea. I’ve never met this girl before and yet the people I know and have met, and the things around me somehow have invisible strings tying to her.

I smirked to myself. There was nothing on my mind but curiosity. Who is this girl, and why did she suddenly enter my world?

Lilivienne Van der Horst, I have to meet her again.