"I heard you lost your memories."
She said or I'll assume it as she mocked me while gazing out of the window. We were now in one of the lavish chambers of the place. Her Majesty was standing near the window, and just behind her, I had been nervously playing with my fingers.
It's not like it was my first time talking with her; in fact, we did talk in regard to the royal decree to remove Duke Edward from his position, but that was more like a formal talk. And now it seemed like a conversation between in-laws.
"I suppose it's the truth." I replied in a formal tone.
"So you forgot everything?" She asked after a pause, still looking out.
"About 4 years of memories, I think." I added to her statement. She turned, looking at me bewildered. Her Majesty didn't show much expression, but it was enough for me to understand that she didn't believe it.
"Do people change this much?" She raised her brows.
"I get that a lot." Another formal answer came from my lips.
Her Majesty was staring at me in awe. It made me worry about the memories I lost and how badly I had screwed up in that time. After a pause, I asked, "Is there anything important that requires my presence?"
After a pause she replied, "If it was old Erin, then…." Rubbing her temples, she continued, "But you now are more dignified, I assume." She took a cough, correcting herself, "Not like that… I suppose. Just…"
I winced at her stuttering. It was difficult to imagine the person I was talking with was Her Majesty! The way she was expressing herself, I can picture Cian in it. And the way she said 'dignified'... I think old me did have some lost screws.
"I hope you will remain the same after remembering everything." She ended her statement. Which left me with a firm answer: me before losing memories was someone with a very bad personality….
"Remember." Suddenly her tone changed to a serious one. "I hope you will take care of him, like a knight should."
I nodded. That was a must; I would've done that without even her telling me. But the worried look she had while mentioning Cian, it seems he, like the rumours, is Her Majesty's beloved child… Or was there something more that was hidden from me?
**
"How was it?" Cian asked me. We were sitting in the carriage, going to our town house. Cian, sitting adjacent to me, asked curiously.
"Better than expected." I replied with a sigh. My gaze fixed on the outside view.
"You look tired, though?" He said while brushing his hands against my cheeks. It was his usual gesture of showing concern.
"Because she told me to babysit someone." I said with a grin. Turning to look in his angelic eyes. His eyes were fixed on my grin, eyebrows raised; it made me question how much I had laughed before losing my memories.
"Leaving that aside" Trying to divert his attention, I added, "What did you talk about with His Majesty?"
He tilted his head and shrugged, replying in a casual manner, "Just made sure that I'm alive."
Here he goes again, hiding something from me. It was written on his face that he was lying. I sighed in frustration.
"You've become more expressive." Cian said suddenly. It was a positive comment. Brushing my hair, he leaned on my shoulder.
"It's my third time hearing it." I scratched my cheeks. "Did I change a lot?"
"Ummm" He paused for a moment, thinking, "Not much." Burying his head in my shoulder.
"More like" He added to his earlier statement after a pause, "You're honest now."
It made me raise my eyebrows; that was an unexpected answer. "Like how?" I questioned him while brushing his smooth hair.
"How should I describe it?" He kept his other hand on my shoulder, hugging me from the side. It made my cheeks blush; as a reply to his action, I leaned on him.
"Before, you had the knight aura." He continued after a pause, "Talking very little, always aloof, and your actions spoke louder than words."
"Hmm." I wondered just how many parts were missing in this description. It seems he's lying to keep my heart because the way Her Majesty described it, it wasn't near to a knight, at the very least.
"And what?" I questioned, hoping he would give me further clarification.
"And…." He stood from that comfortable position, and touching my cheeks, he leaned closer. My heart started to race. Was he going to kiss me?
But then, as disappointment, his soft lips brushed against my forehead. Rather than lustful, it was a dignified kiss filled with affection and love. Parting himself, his mouth reached my ears, whispering,
"You had quite a…." His hot breath brushed against my ears; I barely stopped myself from moaning, "Obsession with me."
He grinned. Tucking his head on my lap, he made the gesture of sleeping, which implied he didn't want any further discussion.
"Obsession?" It was surprising; the rest of our carriage journey left me thinking just what kind of obsession he was talking about.
**
Cian's POV
I whispered the word 'obsession' in her soft ears, letting her stay bewildered. It was quite fun to leave Rina wondering something in her tiny head, which could only work during a real battle.
It was a tiring journey. Lying on her lap, I decided to take a small nap.
'Obsession' I mumbled this word slowly. It was nostalgic to talk about those days when we barely talked. Those sweet memories of chasing each other were now just some random thoughts only engraved in my mind.
'Darn it.' I covered my eyes, stopping me from thinking about this brutal reality.
{My gaze was fixed on that small marigold. Trying to seek the sun's rays even though it was engulfed by big bushes.
"Your Highness?!" Suddenly a familiar voice turned me around. Looking at that face, my lips curled down. Even though I was trying my best to find peace and solace in this big university, this one person would still find me from the depths of hell, just to stay silent and stare at me.
"What's the matter, Erin?" I asked in a bored tone, crushing that flower that was resting in my palms.
She shook her head, standing close by.
Rubbing my temples in frustration, I snarled, "Don't you have anything good to do?"
Again, she shook her head, dancing on my nerves. If it weren't for the fact of us being in THE ACADEMY, I would've punished her using all my authority.
"Why are you—" Before I could complete my statement, she plucked that marigold from the bushes and presented it to me.
Bewildered, I glanced at her in frustration. "Don't you think a rose would be better?" It was the least polite reply that came out of my mouth. "If your intention was to propose to me?"
Again she shook her head. I controlled myself from cutting off that neck. Suddenly she looked down; it was my first time seeing her in that state. Leaning, I took a better look at her face.
Her eyes, like always, were lifeless and dull. Her lower lip was quivering. My earlier anger got immediately replaced by concern.
Tilting, I asked her in a soft voice, "What's the matter?"
A low voice escaped her vocals, "Nothing." It was one of the few times when she actually answered a question. "Just that… Rosses are bad."
I raised my brows, was she prickled by a throne in her childhood?
Well, even if it did, it wasn't my business to meddle. But for some reason my body did the exact opposite of what my mind wanted. Intertwining our fingers, I said softly, "It's going to be alright."
"Your Highness..." She looked up, in comfort.
Maybe those four words entirely changed my carefree life, but in a positive way for me at least.
Slowly that sweet memory started to collapse, replaced by a dark, gloomy one. It was raining heavily. Both of our clothes were hugging the skin. All wet, Rina was down.
In that rain it was difficult to determine whether she was crying or not. Nor could I feel or hear her voice perfectly because of the rain, but somehow my heart felt that she was in pain.
Standing afar, Rina called out loud, "Your Highness!"
My eyes were fixated on her; however, she didn't returned it. Glancing at the muddy ground, she continued, "Would you chase after me if I didn't?"
It was a sudden question. Before I could answer, she continued, shouting loudly in that rain.
"WOULD YOU BE OBSESSED WITH ME THE SAME WAY AS I AM?"
It was clear she didn't want a reply. One of the times when Rina had opened herself completely without even thinking for another second, I ran.
Approaching her, I covered her in my embrace. Her face resting on my chest, I patted her head.
"Idiot. That's a must." After a pause, I promised her.
"Even if you say no. I'll forever chase you, just the way you did. I'll forever haunt you."