What in the world just happened?
Why does he have the sexiest face in the universe?! It’s bad enough that his hair is silky, his skin is smooth, and he smells amazing, too! And why did he have to give me such a line with that sexy voice of his…?
The moment Duke leaves the room, I slump right onto my butt. I just lose the strength to stand. Thank goodness I am the only person in the room.
“Alicia?”
After a little while, Gill enters the room with a look of surprise on his face. I am about to say, “Oh, finally finished your book?” with all the cutting sarcasm I can muster, but I don’t have the energy even to do that.
“What happened? Duke left the room looking really happy, but when you didn’t follow him out, I started to worry…” Gill stops there, peering into my face.
He left the room looking happy? I suppose Duke gave me such a killer line knowing it would knock me out of commission like this. At first, I thought he was tenderhearted, but maybe he’s actually a sadist at his core…
At last, I am starting to see Duke’s true colors.
“Your face is all red…but it’s not a fever, I take it?”
“No…I’m going to stay here for a while until I compose myself,” I say, leaning back against the wall.
“Understood.” With a little nod, Gill opens a window to let some fresh air into the room.
A cool breeze softly wraps around me like a blanket. I can feel my body temperature start to lower. My heart is calming down, too. Gill sits beside me and resumes reading his book. Apparently, he hasn’t finished reading it.
Gill and I sit in the warm sunlight, enjoying the cozy atmosphere for a while.
The next morning, we go to Roana Village to visit Will. The village has mostly settled down, so Will told me it would be safe to visit during the day.
As we walk through the dark, quiet forest, Gill’s voice rings out behind me. It sounds a little young for his years.
“Alicia…can I ask you something?”
“What?”
“Duke’s mother…have you ever met her?”
I shake my head slightly. “I haven’t. His mother has been deceased for a while. I have seen a portrait of her, though, and she looked very strong.”
“Strong, you say?”
“Yes… Prince Duke’s mother wasn’t from Durkis.”
“What do you mean—?”
“We’re here.” I intentionally talk over Gill’s question. I have seen her portrait only once, before my past life memories returned, so I don’t know anything for certain. I shouldn’t speak carelessly about it.
“Think Gramps is doing okay?”
“I’m sure he is,” I answer, setting foot into the fog.
“Huh?!”
It is Gill who gasps. I am too shocked to make any noise. The thick, dark air that used to shroud Roana Village is no longer there. There are hardly any people keeled over on the ground, either. The sky is still cloudy, but the village atmosphere is much brighter than it was the last time we came.
“What’s happened here?” I wonder aloud.
“I don’t know.”
We just stand there in a stunned daze.
“Alicia! Gill!”
Rebecca’s perky voice calls out from the distance.
“Gramps?” Gill gasps, his eyes wide as he notices the man walking beside Rebecca.
……I don’t believe it.
“Who are you?” I mutter, my feet glued to the spot.
Even in the way he walks, he exudes dignity and grace. I am overpowered by his magnificent presence.
What a perfect picture of nobility. The moment he appeared, the air around us transformed. I haven’t felt this intimidated since my audience with the king… I feel my back straighten on its own. So this is what the phrase “on pins and needles” was truly made for.
“Alicia. Gill.”
He smiles as he greets us. His voice is the one unchanged thing about him; it is so gentle and warm.
How could a person’s entire vibe change so drastically? His coarse, graying hair is tied back, making his face clearly visible. A familiar golden eye shines on the left side of his face, and his right side is covered with a black eye patch just like mine.
He’s in the same condition as me, so why is he giving off such a different impression…? Even his clothes are much nicer than before.
He stands in front of us, and before I know it, I drop to one knee.