Chapter 143: Chapter 143

For some strange reason, Eren found himself in love with the view of his fair lady standing tall while he was on his knees in front of her, it didn’t feel degrading to him in any way, if anything, it felt as watching the full moon in the sky, or watching a temple where he is to worship, with that delicate dress she had in that showed how beautifully she had matured into the most perfect woman, the black short hair that framed her small pale face, the scars that told the story of her fall and rise, and the purity of her eyes revealing the universe that existed in that one small mass of beauty she was, she was gorgeous in every way, and watching her, just watching her, felt so satisfying the point where he couldn’t take his eyes of her.

He knew she was hiding something; she knew that beside the pieces of truth that she kept to herself about last night, she was hiding something about that morning, he heard her heartbeats and even smelled her blood in the air, but by the time he entered the room, her wound was already close, which only meant that her energy was channeled and she was ready to attack or defend, the question was, against what?

“You don’t have to say anything, my fair lady.” Taking her hand in his, Eren kissed the back of it gently, feeling the tremble in her delicate fingers, he knew she was searching for the words to say, and that his words, his confession, were overwhelming to her, just like hers were over whelming to him two years ago, and for her he was willing to wait, a life time if needed, and more, just for it to be true this time, baring his emotions was always a struggle to him but not in front of her, it felt like the most natural thing in the world, to show her the heart she owned fully, standing up, he took the remaining step towards her until no space was left between there bodies, she was so warm, like the sun, and the sun herself leaned towards him, her body saying the words she couldn’t, nevertheless, the clouds in her eyes didn’t disappear, and they were not ones of hate, but fear.

“I will give you a moment to speak to him.”

“No, stay, there is nothing that I would say and do that I can’t do with you around.” The soft words were intoxicating but not as much as the sight of her, smiling, at last!

He didn’t see her smile, her genuine smile since the ball, and since then, there were only bitter smiles or mocking smirks, but a genuine smile like the one she was giving him, with her whole face beaming, it was a sight engraved in his mind, one to cherish, just like her.

“Hello, father!” turning towards the grave, Sara began to talk, not knowing what to say exactly, but after Eren bared his heart for her, she didn’t feel as bitter as before, she didn’t feel as sad as before, and most importantly, she didn’t feel lonely, knowing that he will be there, with his hand in hers, “It has been a while, and I missed you terribly, father…

I am sorry, I did not return, I was scared, and ashamed of leaving you the first time, I was ashamed for failing to see all the things you did for me, how much you loved me…” choking on her words, Sara took a second to gather herself, the hold tightening around her hand, giving her strength to go on.

“But I never forgot about you father, and I wish that, where ever you are now, you would be happy and peaceful, I always like to think that you are watching over me, and know that you are always in my heart, that I love you so much, and that I was the luckiest to have you as a father, to have your love and care.” tears gathered in Sara’s eyes and she didn’t try to hold them back, unable to say the proper goodbye she planned on saying, Eren’s arms came to gather her once again in his embrace, his voice low and soft as he whispered close to her ear.

“I am sure he would be proud with the daughter he has, and the woman you became, my fair lady, the things you did or the people, I know I am…”

“They called me deviant, Eren, she called me…a marred monster!” lifting her eyes to meet his, Sara saw the clear rage that he quickly contained before cupping her face in both of his hand.

“You are the most beautiful woman there is, Sara, inside and out, you are perfect, and these...” touching the scars, Eren’s heart whimpered for her as he saw her closing her teary eyes and gulping, his lips moving to catch the tears that traveled the deep grooves, “These are you, my fair lady, the pain you suffered and still managed to remain the beautiful creature you are, the pure one that still loves and gives selflessly, I love them, I love the Sara, as much as I love the Dahlia, with every part of you that makes you, you, all of you, I love you so…”

“My Lord!” the poor demoness took a step back when seeing the vicious glares her lord and the blushing woman by his side were giving her, feeling terrorized by the intensity in their eyes.

“What is it?” Eren noticed how the young demoness flinched at his harsh tone but he couldn’t care less, for she had interrupted a very intimate moment between him and his fair lady, he saw it through her eyes, the last wall crumbling down and behind was her bare self, he saw how his words fixed something in her and the willingness in her eyes to take that remaining step between them, but then, someone dared to interrupt, and he promised to kill the one who did unless they have a vary valid reason for it

“It is the human king, he sent a word saying that the human princess had disappeared, and asked if you had any knowledge about it!” hearing those words, Sara felt as if a bucket of icy water, one that was called reality, was poured on her head, bringing her back to the ugly truth she was deliberately ignoring, and reminding her not just of the pain and rejection she suffered, but of the mess she left behind when she ran away like a coward, unable to handle the price of her lies.

“Very well, I will see to it, you are dismissed!” Eren answered the young demoness, who, fortunately or unfortunately, did carry important news, the message she delivered was rather short but he read the accusation between the lines, his best friend was accusing him of kidnapping his sister, right when he had a decent portion of his morning punishing his second in command and sending his most skilled hunters to fined the men with the marked faces, turning towards his fair lady, Eren was ready to reassure her for he knew that his Sara, the one with the most selfless of hearts, would be worried for her sister, yet he stopped when his eyes met hers, which was quickly followed by her pulling her hand from his, and stepping away from his embrace, taking away her warmth and leaving behind a cold and bitter void.

She was right there, Eren thought as he felt the heavy sadness settling over his heart, she was right there, bare to him, yet in a second, the walls returned, maybe it was because she caught the accusation in Henry’s words as well, and was also placing him, whet he was sure of is that her eyes were not as pure and warm as they were seconds ago, they were clouded with something dark, a hatred he couldn’t place, but who else was there to hate but him.

It was so frail, so thin and shallow, those few moments they shared, and he stupidly thought that she forgave him, that she had shed her walls for good to trust him once more but she didn’t, and the proof was those clouds and hatred in her eyes, it only took one subliminal accusation, just one, and they were back to square zero

And who was there to blame, Eren asked himself mockingly, it was all his fault after all, he was him reaping what he planted, but even with that conviction, he couldn’t stop the pain of heartbreak, and it was intense, as if something was squeezing his heart in a death grip.

He wanted to ask her to stay by his side, to be where she was welcomed, safe, and loved, but he had to swallow it all back when he saw her eyes, for he was reminded how reality loved to fuck with him, to raise his hopes only to push them from such height.

“I must go…” the urgency and anxiety she was feeling made her tone seem harsh even to her own ears, she spoke them hurriedly and almost aggressively even when she didn’t mean to, especially with the strange emotions she saw in Eren’s eyes, one that she couldn’t understand, sadness, why was he that sad? Why did he look that broken? Was it because Nara was gone? Was he worried for her sister?

Sara cursed herself internally, feeling the hate she was feeling towards herself increase, not only she left her own sister behind in such circumstances, unguarded and unprotected, yet she was also thinking ill of her and Eren, she felt like the most despicable creature in that second, and knew she had to go find her sister.

However, it didn’t feel right, she thought as she stare at Eren who didn’t say a word, a mask of pain and sadness covering his face.

“I…believe it would be better if I went and checked on things first and see what is going on, and then we…can look for the princess?” it was a useless attempt, Eren knew, but he promised himself to never give up on her, no matter how many times he got rejected, he knew it wasn’t going to be easy, yet he didn’t know it would hurt that much.

“Okay…” it was a lie, Sara thought, but seeing the silent plea in his eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything else, she needed to go find her sister, she couldn’t wait, yet at the same time, he looked so…broken!

With a sad smile, Eren turned back to walk towards the house, probably to go to the human capital and see what was it all about, Sara watched him disappear behind the corner of the world and released the sigh she was holding.

It was just, perfect, the moment between them, the things he said and did, the words he chose, the tenderness of his voice, the look in his eyes, it was all too perfect, but the world didn’t want her to be happy apparently, shaking her head to chase away the remains of the dizziness that clouded her better judgement, taking a deep breath, she leaned in front of her father’s grave, placing her hand on it and whispered softly…

“He is a good man, father, he wasn’t before, or maybe he was but the circumstances made him do bad things, to me that is, but since then, he has been nothing but loving and protecting, even when I tried to kill him, and he was my anchor when I almost most myself, I know there is a long way for us to go, but I believe I can find it in my heart to forgive him, he wasn’t the charming prince I thought he was, yet he turned out to be the dark knight that only softened for me, I just wish to have your blessings, Father, I wish you would bless all of us , me and him, Nara and Henry, and I wish you rest in peace knowing that I will always do my best to protect the kingdom, I love you father, and now that I know where you are, I will always come and see you…

My queen, I apologize for burning your letter, and for not doing as you asked, back then, I was blinded by darkness and numbness that consumed me, not that I regret my decision, it is the path that I chose for myself, and it made me learn many things, understand many things, it lead me to meet Dahlia, and the people, it made me learn about them and fall in love with their simplicity, it opened my eyes on the real world, and because of it I couldn’t tell my siblings what you asked me to, but I will make sure to do so, when the time comes, and I will do my best to keep them safe…

I…didn’t get the chance to know you, and aside from our short encounter, I didn’t ever meet you, but I hope you would know, my queen, that I have great respect for you, for the kind of mother you were to your children, and for the kind of queen you were to the people, I also hope that you know that there was nothing to forgive, I wish you have found peace, where ever you are now!” standing up, Sara gave the grave a last smile and turned around, happy that she was able to smile again, it was another part that Eren managed to fix about her.

And maybe after fixing everything, she can at last drop her weapons and her shield and walk towards him bare.

Rushing towards the house, Sara went back to her room, to where her attire was, it was dirty and unclean but it wasn’t the time to mind that, shedding off her dress, she started putting back her attire, all while avoiding to look at the mirror, however, she couldn’t do that forever, not while she still had to take a glimpse at herself before leaving, and that is when everything went black.

…….

…….

“Make things right?” Eren, who arrived at the king’s study, stared at the troubled Henry with a frown, his best friend looked as if he was about to pull off his hair from how worried he was for his sister, it was a reaction he expected from Sara, but strangely, his fair lady remained composed, too composed, he thought to himself, his pain no longer clouding his better judgment.

Knowing her, his fair lady would have probably freaked out and ran in her silky dress to look for her sister, not waiting for a second, it was what she did when the fire demons attacked, but her reaction to her sister, and even though it distanced her from him, was rather, calm!

“That is what the note we found in her room said!” Henry said while running a shaky hand through his hair, Rima placed her palm on his shoulder, trying to sooth her troubled lover but he barely seemed to notice her, that was the reaction expected of him, Eren thought as he stared at his friend, feeling sorry for him, yet he was still unable to take his mind off his fair lady and her composed reaction.

“Are you sure it was her who wrote it?”

“It was her hand writing, here, take a look!” Henry handed a piece of paper to Eren, who effortlessly picked the princess’ scent as well as the saltiness coming from it, unfolding the note, he read the neatly written words out loud.

‘I am sorry, brother, but I must go, I must make things right before they escalate to some thing that I can never forgive myself for.’

“What does she even mean?”

“I don’t know! And Dahlia is missing too!” Henry sighed out, removing the hand from his shoulder to bring it to his lips, trying to take some of his queen’s strength but even that didn’t work.

“She is?” of course she was, Eren thought, but the way Henry said it, it didn’t seem like he knew about what happened between the sisters, according to Sara, there were plenty of people, guards, if he took Andrea’s words as well, but Henry seemed completely oblivious about all of that.

“Yes, since last night! the guards said that she went to investigate the matter of the attacks, but she didn’t return ever since!”

“I see!” so the guards lied, and Nara, whom he hated at the moment for saying such terrible things to his sister, didn’t mention a thing to her brother, it didn’t make sense one bit!

“Do you think it is some rebellious demon that took the human princess to revenge our dead children?” it was Rima who asked, knowing that the question couldn’t come out of Henry’s mouth as there was a lot of tension between him and Henry already, but again, the princess left on her own, accompanied by a single knight only, to an unknown destination, if they only knew that destination, then they could have made some theories, but there were none!

“I gave my people clear warnings not to do anything, and punished those who attacked the village last night, there were no suspicious moves in the fire empire either, so no, I don’t think it is a demon who did this, there is also the matter of the scents that lead to the capital citizens.”

“Eren, I think there is a mistake!”

“There is no mistake Rima, our smelling is absolute, however, I believe there is a scheme of some kind, unless you know any humans that can trespass into our empires and kidnap our children!”

“What do you mean?” Henry asked, wondering if his friend knew about something he didn’t!

“The scents lead to normal citizens’ houses, some were too old, some were mere women, those individuals couldn’t possibly kidnap and kill demons on their own, that is why I believe someone used their scents, their objects, and even their blood to trick us and lead us to them!”

“Blood? But no one reported being attacked or having their blood taken from them!” Henry was confused for a mere second only before realization hit him “They offered it willingly!”

“Correct! The question is to whom?”

“Demons?” Henry asked, unsure, but Eren shook his head, reminding his friend of the reality he kept on ignoring.

“Gods! And the symbols confirm it, Henry, however, I don’t think it is one of the first generation Gods as I have already encountered one of them, and he didn’t seem interested in killing demons, they are also too strong on their own, such a scheme is but a waste of time to them, and that only leaves us with one guess…”

“Nov!”