Light from the Shadow

Chapter 18

Kuan and Ayna were sitting in the same carriage, Solbaru royal carriage, while Rishi and the others were sitting in another behind. They were on their way to the empire's capital.

Ayna had noticed Kuan's uneasiness since they left Lord Kanan's mansion.

"Something on your mind, Kuan? You don't look good." She asked.

The prince flustered. "Oh... no... it was nothing..."

"Are you sure?" Ayna asked again. He nodded.

He lied, of course. Ever since he saw that man, he had felt anxious. Ayna had told him that Rishi was not actually her servant like what others had been telling him. He was, in fact, the Head of Remblan's Grand Library. The keeper of Remblan's secrets. Even a foreigner like him knew how important that man was. What is he doing here? And that face... he was sure he had seen him before...

Rishi sat at the back, looking out from the small window, recalling his meeting with Kuan this morning. Kuan looked like a decent young man but Rishi could not help but to be on guard around him. He could see the shy prince was totally high over heels in love with the princess. But how long would that last...? Their magi training had not progressed much. After that incident with the bear, Ayna had not once been able to use her power on her own free will. Will she be okay on her own? He had witnessed a couple of times when she lost control of her own power... just like the other night. He looked at his chatty travel companions, sighed and shook his head. He leaned his head to the window again.

The entourage did not meet with any trouble for the rest of their journey, and before they knew it, they had reached Solbaru Empire, the largest empire in the east.

Solbaru was nothing like Remblan. It looked more like a giant military fortress rather than a city. There were knights and soldiers everywhere they went. Walls and gates were high and everyone looked grim. There was no air of festivity in the city.

"Is it always like this? Aren't you celebrating the country's founding day?" Ayna asked as Kuan showed her the way to the royal residence. He nodded and smiled sheepishly. "It's totally different from Remblan, isn't it?"

After everyone was shown their rooms, Kuan excused himself to let the Remblan's group rest. Rishi too, left the group and locked himself in his room, telling everyone not to disturb him if there was nothing important.

Ayna was left alone. She decided to walk around the castle to kill the time. The twin maids offered to accompany her but she refused them politely as there were a lot of things to unpack. The quiet castle felt cold and the stone walls around made it more so. She noticed there were few other foreign representatives staying with them – nodding their heads and smiling every time they ran into each other.

When she reached the inner garden, she saw a woman sitting by the fountain. Two maids were waiting on her. A royal? Noble? Ayna wondered.

"Good afternoon." Ayna greeted the stranger. The woman who was enjoying her tea, turned. A beautiful lady with jet black hair... just like Rishi's. She was around the same age as her.

"Good afternoon." She returned Ayna's greeting. She got up and walked to Ayna. "Are you... Princess Ayna?"

Ayna was surprised but nodded her head. How did she know about her? The black hair lady introduced herself. "I am Ares." And then her lips curled up. "I heard about you a lot from Kuan."

Ayna tilted her head to the side. "You are..."

Ares smiled. "I am his sister-in-law but I've known him since we were young. He spoke very highly of you." She smiled again.

Ayna's cheeks turned pink. "Uh... oh... thank you." She looked at the lady in front of her. Sister-in-law. So she was married to the crown prince of Solbaru. What was his name again...?

"Ares." Both were startled by a low voice coming from behind. Ayna turned and saw a tall man in military uniform with long hair, walking towards them. A row of medals was dangling on his left chest.

"Helten?" Ares called.

"You have a guest?" The man saw Ayna and recognized her. "Ah... Princess Ayna from Remblan?"

Ayna nodded. "Greetings, Your Highness." The man standing in front of her was Helten Tehra, Kuan's older brother, Solbaru's crown prince. He smiled, sinisterly. Ayna shuddered.

"Thank you for coming. We hope you enjoy the banquet tonight."

"I'm looking forward to it, Your Highness." Ayna gave her standard royal smile and bowed to the host. "I won't disturb you then, so if you will please excuse me." She turned her back and left the couple alone.

"A proud princess, isn't she? She reminds me of you back then." Helten said after Ayna had left the garden.

"Is that so?" Ares mumbled.

He turned to his wife and kissed her on the lips. "You have changed though."

"I wonder..." Ares said. Her gaze followed the silver haired lady that had just left.

Rishi told her he would not be joining her at the banquet. When Ayna asked him why, he just said royal parties were boring and threw her out of his room.

"Mr. Rishi won't attend the banquet? What a waste!" Maria said as she arranged Ayna's hair, preparing her for tonight's event.

"Not that he attended any in Remblan." Aria reminded.

"But he DID attend Her Highness' birthday banquet last time!" Maria paused and then laughed. "And he got something more than the other guests."

Ayna wanted to stuff lots of carrots into their mouth so they could stop talking about that incident.

Kuan came knocking at Ayna's door when it was about time to leave for the Grand Hall. He was stunned when he saw her in the ball gown. Her off shoulder soft pink gown with delicate lace embroideries. "You look beautiful." He had told her. She thanked him and the pair walked arm in arm happily towards the hall.