Chapter 2 : Anguish

When I realised the sun already had set, The lights outside my room flickered in the starry night sky.

I sighed "I am at it again"  pressing my temples.

This young body of mine had no connection nor power yet, but this time I had something, revenge.

I composed myself and headed downstairs. The steps reminded me of my foolish hopeful days of getting love from the emperor.

As I entered the dining room, I bowed my head.

"Greetings Emperor and Lady Diana"I spoke in a numb tone I couldn't hide.

Lady Diana had always requested me to dine together.

It never was a request to me, whatever she said, I would have gladly done it. Just like the Emperor. All of the people in Obelia were madly in love with her. Her grace.

I sensed a disdain in the Emperor 's voice as he replied to come in. It was natural, I began to ignore it now.

I was the one only allowed to be near Diana as a royal, The emperor was possessive and hated others, even his own other wives.

After the dinner whose conversation was only led by Lady Diana had come to an end.

I went away in silence.

I walked through empty corridors of the beautiful enchanting ruby palace, the atmosphere was quiet and eerie today.

I sat in a nearby fountain. The garden was flowering with Lady Diana 's favourite, Roses.

The water shimmered and beneath it held the beauty of the moon. I sighed and all the past events came back rushing through me.

I had to do something to stop the mad Emperor which can be done only by saving Lady Diana.

I clenched my heart as I knew it was common for the Emperor to have many wives but the very fact that the emperor didn't even look at my mother and cherished Lady diana was hurtful.

I looked at the roses and a cold breeze which was filled with the scent of roses washed over me.

It was never her fault, Lady Diana just loved. I smiled bitterly at this fairytale.

The following days, I locked myself in my room, brewing the perfect potion to help Lady Diana.

The smell of Red Raspberry leaf and other herb's whose smell had become entrenched with each other filled my room, no one could have smelled the herbs apart.

Only 2 months had left and Lady Diana would eventually die, releasing the monster she tamed, The emperor.

I squeezed every little drop of the herbs and tried different ways to make the potion which would save Lady.

My will and dire hope held together my grief, I squeezed down the herbs like a farmer trying to squeeze some rain from the white clouds.

My hands burned, charred and pricked yet I didn't stop for the kindness that Lady diana showed me was the one thing that kept me fighting.

I was the potion master in my last life, I had brewed many poisons but never something that saved someone's life.

I heard a knock

I ignored it.

I heard a knock again.

"Lady Diana please go away" I reluctantly told her.

Yet her presence still lingered behind the door. " Athens, please come out, just once? "

A surge of hot pain rushed to my throat and I couldn't speak.

I carefully came out of my room.

"Yes lady" I mustered some words

She hugged me tightly and smiled at me.

"Why are you ignoring me Athens?" Her voice was like a sting.

I smiled carefully " I am sorr—"

She took my hand and took me to a garden before I realised.

The wind was blowing steadily as if it was careful to not disturb Lady Diana, The leaves swayed gently like a lullaby for the child inside her womb.

The sun glistened yet it didn't blind today as if it too was conscious of the baby.

I saw beautiful slender chairs and a table beneath one of the trees, it was a mesmerizing scenery.

The tea pots were carefully kept and the smell of Chamomile and Lippe tea had enveloped the surroundings.

She smiled brightly at me, yet I could sense deception in her smile.

She sat at one of the chairs and her slender figure looked weird with her bloated womb yet she was like an angel as always.

She smiled and gently looked down at her womb, she caressed her swollen belly and whispered.

"Dear lovely Athens, I hope you take care of my child, as I may not be able to hold my child in my arms still I hope it knows warmth"

Before in the past I had dismissed her statement, I believed good people never die.

Yet how wrong I was when I realised death loved people like Lady Diana.

"I would do everything to protect your child , Lady Diana" I smiled brightly.

Tears started pouring down from her rose coloured eyes yet she was smiling like a burden of her had been relieved.

"Oh dear Athens, I hope I could have helped you more but when I realise you always end up helping me" She patted my head and gave me a kiss on the forehead.

It must have been hard, to choose between her child and her love. To know she was going to die giving birth yet she still didn't back down.

She only knew how to love.

I smiled in sorrow and we spent our day drinking tea together.

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