"...my love."
A dream?
'I' turned around to look at the boy who called out to me.
Sitting opposite of me was a boy, he wore an azure coat, white undershirt and scarlet necktie. It was Hollin university's high school uniform. A prestigious university known worldwide. His face was undistinguishable, seems like my 480 pixels of a vision still haunts me in my dream.
'My' cheeks flushed, "wha-what...?"
He smiled. "It does work. Should I call you that everytime you get distracted?"
"You ought to stop reading those trashy romance novels! Lest your mind gets corrupted."
"No. It is all thanks to them that I have become proficient in how to express my love to my fiancee."
Aren't you too young to say that?
"Xavier!"
Ah....
My vision instantly became clear.
It was the memory that I buried deep inside, forcefully forgetting everything so that I could have the chance to live a normal life... A life he would be proud of.
The wind blew and the boy's black hair swayed, his delicate ocean stared at me, sweet and affectionate. His features were refined and so was his aura, despite still being a prepubescent boy, he already exuded a noble air, fitting of a ruler's.
Badump.
He would have been a great ruler.
Badump.
Badump.
Badump.
As if my heart was stabbed with thousands of needles, I couldn't breathe and only felt an immeasurable pain in my whole body.
Badump.
Badump.
Badump.
To hug and cry, complain and get comforted. I wanted to rush up to do so, I desperately wanted to do so.
But I couldn't.
I felt stuck in place. The guilt seemed to weigh me down.
'Bang!'
I instinctively shut my eyes. Wake up, Sienna. Wake up–
"Sienna."
"Sienna."
"Sienna."
"Sienna."
"Sienna."
A voice that is neither feminine nor masculine called out, however, I still didn't open my eyes. Only when it stopped and I felt a rocking sensation did I open them.
I was in the small carriage, the seat in front of me still had the bloody shards when I crushed Elliot's head.
Did I fall asleep?
I rubbed my eyes and looked out the window. It was pitch black.
Something doesn't feel right...
When I turned around, my eyes met another's. The woman's green eyes were round and dilated, her long hair that was hard to determine as black due to being covered by blood slowly crawled towards me. I glanced at her greenish-blue neck which had a deep horizontal wound, red liquid flowing out like a waterfall.
"Fuck!" I tried opening the door but found it stuck.
'Bang!'
The woman's hair restrained my limbs, I was immobile and had no choice but to stay still in place. I couldn't help but tremble. When I tried looking away, she held my cheeks with her cold and wet hands. The smell of blood and rotting meat attacked my nostrils.
"Kekekekekkeke..." She said nothing and only laughed devilishly, her dull eyes gawking at me. The blood on her neck falling endlessly.
When the pool of blood reached my waist, the woman's hand that held my cheeks began to form large blisters. There was fluids coming out of her mouth and nose yet she still wouldn't stop laughing. It was when the blood has reached my neck and half of the woman's face was rotten, her green eyes dangling did she stop. This was only because worms and insects successfully came of her mouth, nose, eye sockets and began eating her skin away.
I held my breath as the red liquid covered half of my face. I lifted my head only to find my neck being grasped tightly by a lock of hair. I don't know why I was trying so hard to survive, it was futile.
It was red.
Then, it was black.
"Haaah... Ugh, ku, hyuk!"
Fucking hell, breathe. Sienna, in... Out.
Stabilizing my breathing, I slowly opened my eyes. After a while, my senses finally became clear, my body was sticky and uncomfortable.
The place I woke up at wasn't Raina's sweet soft bed but rather the cold hard floor. I held onto the table and with trembling legs, I stood up, then sat down on the chair. "Damn... I can't feel it at all..."
My hands kneaded my thighs, after a while, the numbness went away. Doesn't mean my suffering was over though, because, my legs felt heavy and stiff.
The plan was to apologize by serving tea, obviously, I can't do that now. As the sky's still dark, naturally, the workers here are still asleep.
With the lamp turned on, I picked up a pen and paper.
'Scribble'
"Iyann..."
The entire writing process can be summed up as write, halt, sigh, and repeat. That's why, despite the short length of letter, the time spent writing took ages.
When the sunlight has pierced through the windows and illuminated the whole room brightly, Kia arrived.
Her eyes widened, yeah, I'm usually asleep at this time of day, "Milady! Is something wrong?" She asked, placing the basin she was carrying on the floor.
"I'm fine. It's just the usual."
Kia nodded, she took out a glasses-like metal and placed it on my eyes, then, I put my feet on the basin filled with warm water.
The sound of dripping sounded; Kia wringed the warm towel and wrapped my calves with it.
"Milady, if you wouldn't mind waiting for a moment, I'll visit the physician for your medicines."
"It ran out already? Alright, ask someone from the kitchen to prepare hot water and teaware."
The door creaked, then it was silent.
Feeling comfy without any distractions, my mind immediately thought of my dream–uh, nightmare.
My IQ was undoubtedly above average, I knew 15 language at 18, a master of various branches of arts and music, a genius researcher, yet, my memories have been incoherent for as long as I can remember, well, that's what my psychiatrist said.
Xavier was the prince of Quera, my home country, and a friend of mine... Probably... My fiance? Judging from what I said yesterday, he died because of a anti-royalist.
Shit... Was this what Uncle Kiel's coworkers talking about when they said he's becoming paranoid of me recovering my memories?
...
"Ugh."
And...
The woman was my stupid mother.
"Lady Raina."
"Come in." I removed the metal glasses and the towel on my calves whilst the maid laid the tea tray.
"Is there anything else, lady Raina?"
"The duke wakes up at 7, yes?"
"Yes."
"Very well, thanks. You may leave now."
The maid bowed and left. I stretched my legs, stood up, and dried my feet with a dry towel. In the cabinet on the left side of the room was Raina's collection of teas, herbs, and spices. I opened it and started scouring.
Archen looked exhausted yesterday... Eberen should be good. Anti-inflammatory, this? Nah, that doesn't go well with Eberen, oh! Fraim!
I held the two metal container with Eberen tea and dried Fraim bud. Then, from the things I bought yesterday, I took out sliced Haila, this world's ginger, but honestly, the texture's similar to bamboo shoots.
I first mixed the three ingredient in a cup, transferred it to the infuser, and put the infuser on the teapot. Holding the kettle, I poured the hot water on the infuser, after filling it, I closed the lid.
One minute, two minutes... Five... Ten minutes.
I took out the infuser and poured myself a cup of tea to taste.
A beautiful amber filled the cup, I held it up and breathe in the aroma. It was earthy with a hint of spiciness. Tasting it, there was only one conclusion: It's by far the worst tea I've steeped.
Quality wasn't the problem, I've tried every tea and spices in Raina's collection. I doubt it was my skill.
"Haaah..."
What should I do?
I don't know myself what 'do' refers to, be it the taste of tea or the fact that my exhaustion was at all time high. That every move I make has drained the little energy I have.
I... Don't want to do anything...
I just want to sleep.
It was a normal feeling. Before coming here, I worked as a researcher, naturally, I'd feel worn out with the long hours of work. After, although this body felt tired, my mind would be sober and energetic, only occasionally would I feel like this.
Perhaps, I was too tired from yesterday...?
"Pfft... Ha... Hahahaha..."
Before I knew it, my hands have already reached out to open the glass jar and take a piece of candy.
"Maybe..."
I unwrapped the blue wrapper, revealing a small white square candy. Despite my hesitation, I still put it in my mouth.
Why?
I don't know.
The longer the candy stayed in my mouth, the more flavorful it became. The unfamiliar taste overpowered my taste buds. Heavy, greasy, and pungent. Swallowing my saliva, the sweet taste seemed to pierce my throat.
Maybe I was a masochist.
Because no matter how twisted my face was, I didn't spit it out. I let it melt in my mouth for what seemed like hours.
And as if facing a huge enemy, only when it was fully melted did I breathe. Suffocating, it was suffocating.
Nausea soon overcame me, I held onto my stomach, desperately swallowing as if that'll stop the acid from coming up my throat.
"Ha... Ah." I found myself kneeling on the carpeted-floor, hands tightly covering my mouth. "Ughh..."
Fucking disgusting.
Clear, sour and acidic liquid fell on the carpet. The smell was stifling and helped boost my dizziness and nausea.
My arms that was supporting my body trembled, then it went limp. My head hit the floor, inhaling the smell made me want to fucking die right on the spot.
...
I blinked and blinked, yet no light entered my vision.
Wow, so now you're listening to what I want?
Then, my consciousness slipped and I fell into a pit of darkness.
To be continued.