She shouldn’t have opened her eyes when she kicked him. If she didn’t, she probably wouldn’t have felt this way. Raziah just stood there, transfixed in her spot as the man dropped dead. There was arousing terror in her eyes, and her blood was boiling but not with rage. Her injuries weren’t bothering her at the moment, not even the last one that had gone deep through her skin.

He’s dead. The man before her...was dead, and she was responsible for it.

Caius’s small groaning voice pulled her back from her mental state, and she realized she was still holding onto him by the side. Plus, he got injured too when the man grazed him. It didn’t look too bad, and the bleeding was probably gonna stop soon but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t in pain. Taking him back into the cocoon of her arms, she picked up her sword and headed back in the direction of the waterfall.

The trembles had completely paused by then, and she sighted a familiar figure standing by the bank. Her eyes shone in relief that he was alright, and as she moved closer to him, she realized he was naked from head to toe. Aragon didn’t seem to care at all, and the approaching footsteps and scent informed him that it was his wife - but there was an even more thicker scent of blood coming from her.

Turning around, he saw her holding a small kid, but didn’t say anything. Caius had found some bliss in her arms, and fallen asleep with his hands around her neck. Raziah moved closer to her husband till she was just three feet away from where he stood. When she thought of reaching out to touch him, she immediately shunned the thought and mentally shook her head at herself.

"Where have you been?" Both of them asked each other in unison, and Raziah turned away from him when she felt the darkness around him increase. Her lips were set into a thin line as she moved away from him, till she was a little comfortable at the distance she set herself away from him.

"Something came up," Raziah replied nonchalantly, her eyes closing for a bit as her mind once again flashed the final blow she had delivered, and when she opened them again almost instantly, there was nothing in them again except for that familiar cold, "Why did you..." And that was the end of the line for her as her voice died off, and once again she set them into a thin line.

She had told herself she wouldn’t ask him questions right from the start, and even though her curiosity was growing bigger every day, she kept telling herself that not knowing some things was better for herself, and her mental health. Her head was already ruined and traumatized by other things, and she couldn’t afford more right now.

"Who gave you that sword?!" He asked again.

"King Eleazar, as a parting Gift."

"So he let you out. You didn’t escape yourself." Aragon said, thinking to himself even though it wasn’t showing on his face.

"I made him let me out, and I don’t see any fault in that," she responded, also keeping the emotions out of her face.

"Raziah, I gave the order to keep you there, and someone must have told you,"

Yes, she knew she went against him by coming here, but what else was she supposed to do? Keep wandering inside that shady palace? Stay inside the guest room or keep on sleeping till he returns? She wasn’t that kind of woman, and never for once did she regret coming here. The only thing that was making her feel bad was disobeying him again, and putting herself first. This was the perfect time for her to apologize to him, but what left her mouth instead was completely different, "My husband was in danger, what were you expecting?"

"Such a good wife you’re,"

Raziah sighed internally. Wasn’t that sarcasm?

"I guess you’re ready now since you’re such a stubborn bride," Aragon declared as he turned to look at her, but the wind was blowing at that moment from behind, dancing with her hair which blocked his view from seeing the look on her face. His hawk eyes trailed lower, and he sighted all the cuts she had on her body.

"I do try to be good," She said.

"Your mother right?" He suddenly asked, making her abruptly bite the inside of her lips, "It’s all about your mother. Just like she asked you to look after me whenever I’m asleep," He added sonorously, his crusty voice a shrill to behold.

"You got that right," Raziah could barely talk anymore, and she wanted nothing but for the conversation to end. Anyone else could talk to her about her mother - in fact, she would be able to bare hearing about her mother from a stranger’s lips, than from her husband’s. Anything! She would do anything to avoid him calling her mother when he was in this state of mind.

This state of living terror.

If the deity was listening to her wish, then he must have granted it to her because he didn’t say a word after that anymore, and they stayed like that for a while, watching the beautiful scenery around them. But in the mood they found themselves, it wasn’t so beautiful anymore.

Raziah’s eyes shifted from the waterfall to the full moon staring back at her, and she felt the familiar awful feeling in her heart. Ten years ago, on a night like this...

Early the next morning, the others began to arrive.

The four warriors came running out of the forest, and acacia had appeared there. Tatiana was also rushing for the King, and seeing all of them like that made Raziah realize that there was so much similarity between them all. Again, why was she the only one covered in blood? Why were they so agile?

"Your highness." Felix and Indah came running towards her too.

She just glanced at them, then looked back at the waterfall.

"You..." Felix was puzzled to see her and her sword covered in blood, but he dared not say a word about it even though it looked like she needed immediate medical attention. When he recognized the child she was holding, he fell into more awe. What was the little guy doing here? Was he also hurt?

"Your highness, Let’s take you back to the palace," Indah suggested.

"I’ll take the kid. His aunt will take care of him," Felix extended both hands, silently waiting for her to hand over the boy to him. Meanwhile, Raziah was contemplating whether to go with them or just stay here for as long as she can. There was so much going on in her head that it had blocked out her vision so much that even though it looked like she was staring at the water, there was just a null blackness in her eyes.

"Take care of his Majesty first." She replied softly.

Indah then looked down at the princess’s feet, sighting the moist blood that was all over them. Another drop dripped down at that second, and she was now very sure the princess was badly hurt somewhere but wasn’t saying anything about it. From the first time Indah had sighted the princess walking up to them with that poison cut on her hands - what she saw wasn’t a cold heartless woman, she saw a deprived woman with stories to tell, and rage that needed to be extinguished or taken out.

"He’s doing good, your highness." Indah took a step closer.

"I am too."

"That’s a lie." Indah stated in a small whisper, but everyone could hear her, "Look, you’re hurt." She pointed at it.

"How did the war go? Did all of you battle too?" Raziah enquired softly again.

Felix nodded, "Yes,"

"Covered in blood that doesn’t belong to you. No, I refuse your help. Thank you."

With that, she turned around and walked away from them all leaving them confused by her words. She refused to be the only one looking so injured and out of place. She refused to stay where everything made her feel uncomfortable, and she refused to stay anywhere close to them for the time being. She needed time to sort herself out again, mostly because her conversation with his Majesty was bothering her more than ever now.

Such a good wife you’re!

Just like she asked you to look after me while I’m asleep

Alone in the forest, her eyes burned with anger.

Why did he have to bring her mother into the conversation? And who was he to decide if she was a good wife or not? In a way, she knew she was being unreasonable but she couldn’t control her frustration right now. She came here because she felt bad that she kept on doing things that he didn’t like, and then he says those things to her?

Gosh! Now she knew she can never stop regretting marrying him in the first place. If she had just chosen someone much more normal, then she wouldn’t be standing here right now.

"I never thought I’ll see you lose your cool." An obscure masculine voice spoke from behind her, and she whirled around to find that same man again that resembled the face she would rather not see again for the rest of the day.