Dawn arrived shortly; it wasn’t a sign of the beginning more like a hint of an ending.
Lilyanna woke up from her nightmares filled slumber. She knew what she had to do as she got dressed with the help of her new lady maid – Cassandra. She hurried to her parents’ chamber and was going to knock on the door when it opened unexpectedly.
“Lilyanna! Good morning.” Alexander greeted, still unused to the new relationship they had.
“Good morning!” Lilyanna smiled back, eyeing the man in front of her up and down. He was still a handsome man even if he was in his fifties. ‘This is my father.’ She thought proudly.
“Do you wish to talk to me or your mother? Because she’s still sleeping.”
“No, I meant yes, but it’s not as important as it was seconds ago now.”
“Oh, okay.”
Sensing his discomfort, Lilyanna turned around and waved good-bye as she headed back to her room.
Once in her room, Lilyanna changed into the plain, wool dress she wore when she first met Nicholas, the ripped sleeve was now sewed on. She had requested the maids to dye it black for her last night, and she was glad to see that they had followed her order.
She had made up her mind last night. If Nicholas won’t be in this world, what’s the use of her living in it? Just the guilt of him giving up his life for hers was killing her and the misery of being alone terrified her just like those nightmares she had the night before. After her father had died, Nicholas rescued her with such force like a brave warrior yet as gentle as a prince. He was everything a woman could want in her dream, and how lucky she was to have that dream came true.
With movements like a cat approaching its prey, she sneak out the castle as a servant. The only clue she left for everyone was the note on her bed. It said, “If can’t be together in this world, why not another?”
Nicholas had conquered his fear during his unsettling sleep. His anger and hates were washed away be his tears. Now all he had left was regrets, he wanted to see Lilyanna again, to feel the warmth of her in his arms, to hear her beautiful voice calling his name. And his wish was granted, because he heard her from the crowds.
“Nicholas! Wait!” Lilyanna screamed at the top of her lungs, when he turned his head from the wagon he was locked in.
“Lilyanna? Is that you?” He shouted out in surprise and blinked his eyes, in order to find out if it’s just a vision of his imagination or not.
“It is me!” The rushing crowd swallowed her as she cried out.
“Thank you.” Nicholas thought appreciatively to his mind for letting him to see the image of the woman he adored. But his mind did nothing except made him see her again, making him believe she was real. “What are you doing here?”
“To see you!” Lilyanna answered and her reply shook Nicholas like a lightning.