Ceres

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The banquet would be held in the evening. As such, everyone in the palace was busy preparing. Despite the busy schedule and preparations, the royal family was still able to dine with the Fay kingdom's convoy for breakfast and lunch. Even though Orion wanted to escort the royal guests, Dwight made sure that it is Glenn who will be responsible for the safety of the Fay kingdom's royal siblings.

Everyone knew that this is a tactic. If anything ever happens to the royal guests, Glenn would take the blame and responsibility. But of course, Glenn would be able to counter such plan but he will be the only one to know.

Sir Milo was not seen anywhere in the palace. It seems like he disappeared and was not planning to go to the banquet at all.

Ceres and Leonard kept their acts. Gil was still on the move, continuously appearing and disappearing such that even the Fay kingdom's royal siblings couldn't get a hold of Gil.

Hours before the banquet, Ceres was still guarding Leona's room. All of a sudden, Leona's voice could be heard from inside. She seems to be leaning on the door.

"Aren't you even going to ask if I'm ready or if I need anything?"

Ceres didn't change the expression on her face. It was still blank.

"I apologize, princess, but I am only a lowly guard."

Ceres meant that she wouldn't take orders from Leona unless it pertains to their safety.

"I thought that you wouldn't be that cold-hearted."

Ceres didn't respond. But in her mind, she replied about something that only she knows about.

I am cold-hearted. I used to and... I have to.

Ceres couldn't help but recall her past; of her previous world and her previous life. All of a sudden, she thought that if ever she wasn't transmigrated into Ceres' body, would she still pursue such profession? Would she yearn for power to become strong? Would she have been in this kind of situation at all?

"Why did you cure me, Cerio? Not only from the poison but also from my long-time condition? Why did you even give me hope but you won't fully see it to the end? Why? Do you want something from our kingdom? Am I just a tool for you to get that something you want? I can't really understand. Maybe, I also don't want to understand."

Leona sat down on the floor hugging her knees. She knew that the reason why Ceres didn't cure her condition is because Ceres knew how selfish and undeserving she is. But, she didn't want to accept that. She can't fully accept that.

"I grew up in the royal palace as a royal princess. Ever since I was born, everyone adored me. Being the royal princess, I did get a lot of attention and get pampered a lot. I thought that my life was complete and I would be happy throughout the rest of it. But, that test came and I failed. I don't have the ability to practice magic. At first I thought, so what? It's not like everyone uses magic anyway. But before I knew it, everyone sees me as a useless princess. I am still adored and pampered but only when I was facing everyone. In my back, all of them were mocking or pitying me. I have asked myself countless of times... Why? I decided to work hard on anything I can; arts, literature, history, politics, name it. I worked on it. I knew that since I cannot practice magic, I ought to devote myself to the kingdom: to those people who still treasures the real me. I go on journeys and interact with the common people. Seeing them made me think that I wish I can do more for our kingdom. That was when I thought, I was fine. But life really hits you so hard at times. And I realize, I was not really fine. I was only deceiving myself and much worst, I have started deceiving others. If you ask why... It's because I knew all along that I am a princess, a woman. I was ought to not serve our kingdom but be married to someone. I am a girl who is not supposed to meddle with our kingdom's affairs. I was nothing but a petty decoration only to be looked at by everyone. Knowing if all too well and still continuing on deceiving myself and those around me, I realized how desperate and selfish I was. Then, I lost it all. I lost my will and my determination. I felt that I lost everything. Every single day, I question myself... Am I really supposed to live my life like this? Should I just forget about everything and go on with what others tell me? Would I really become a living doll because I have no will of my own anymore? Is this really the life that I want?

But then, I heard that those women who can practice magic can enter magic schools, academies, sects, and gain their freedom. By knowing magic, they can do various things: be it good or bad. But the most important of all, by knowing magic, they will not be bound my anything at all. It's like they live for themselves. That's when I started longing for magic; longing for it deep inside my heart.

If I had known how to use magic then, I wouldn't be that princess mocked and pitied by everyone. If I knew how to use magic, I can get away from this fate that I was supposed to accept. If only I know..."

Leona's tears were slowly forming from the side of her eyes. But, she forced herself not to cry.

"Is it really wrong for me to be selfish and desperate? Is it wrong to wish that I can live a life that I want and not be dictated by something called fate?"

For some time, the two people, each on the other side of the door, kept being silent. One was weeping for her fate and the other was contemplating about hers.

Is fate really something that everyone could not go against with? Must we all conform to such life even though we do not want it?

In the first place, how is fate decided?

"How sure are you that if I cure your condition, you would gain freedom and go against your fate?"

Leona didn't answer immediately. She bit her lips because she knew that Ceres has a point. Even if she knew magic, what use is it if she can't even go against her father's wishes and everyone's expectations?

In her life, all she knew was to meet everyone's expectations: to be good in front of everyone. If she knew magic, wouldn't that mean that she was still meeting everyone's expectations? Becoming a genuine princess that could not be looked down.

It doesn't matter if she knew magic or not. Going against fate doesn't have anything to do with her ability to use magic, right? Going against fate have to do with her own will coupled with her determination and perseverance.

If she was determined, she would be able to do anything. No one could go against her because she is the master of her own life. She will determine what she would become and what she would like to do.

She wasn't able to realize this because she wasn't being true to herself. All this time, she was only over thinking things. She kept on thinking about the multiple consequences, the multiple cause and effect, kept thinking of those around her and also, herself.

If only she had known that she should first and foremost look upon her own heart.

She was selfish yet, she was not.

She was only confused and uncertain.

"Everyone is uncertain about life. But, that uncertainty could always end with just a single step."

For some unknown reasons, Ceres felt that she also once been through what Leona has experienced. That was the reason why she partially cured Leona.

Ceres felt that she was once uncertain about something. But, no matter what she does to recall... She can only remember the feeling.

Is it in my past life? Or "Ceres'" memories?

Leona stood up from the floor and wiped her tears.

"Thank you, Cerio. Thank you for making me understand everything."

Leona now has a smile on her face but the red eyes gave away that she was on the verge of crying out her heart.

"You better prepare for the banquet."

"I will."

Leona walked away from the door. She was finally going to prepare herself to face everyone.

Right when Leona was far from the door, Ceres said,

"I will cure you when the time comes for me to cure you."

Ceres closed her eyes for a while.

Nothing ever happens by sheer coincidence. A chance meeting is probably a proof that the fate of two people has been intertwined.-tbc