Chương 25: Chapter 24. Angel, Let Go

Ariesa approached the upper cities walls and stared up at the daunting stone that loomed over her. It always felt so cruel to her how the rich separated themselves from everyone else in the city. It was easy for them to pretend that the city was perfect when they weren't the ones that had to live in it. Technically, neither did Ariesa. But at least she was aware of the problem, and she did spend time down here.

Her father, the [King] of Dynarus, the one man in this great city that possessed the ability to help, constantly pretended the issue was in her head. He wasn't always so uncaring and apathetic about the people he ruled over. The unfortunate reality of her situation was that in order to escape and return the palace grounds, she had to rely on someone else. And finding even one person to trust within the upper city was, for most people, an impossible task. But sometimes, it did happened.

Ariesa approached the west wall lift and spotted her old servant, Olin, already there and waiting, despite her early return. She hadn't received a reply on her pocket watch relic, so she'd worried he'd been busy. He was wearing his navy blue suit, which paired his height, she thought he looked quite dashing. Olin had been one of the few people in his family to be so tall. His dusty blond hair was cut short after her father had suggested he do so.

He was a good looking man and the youngest amongst the others he served with. Olin stood vigilant and unmoving until he detected her movement towards him. Once she got closer, he bowed and gave her a greeting befit of a [Princess]. Ariesa sighed, she hated how often she needed to remind him to treat her like a normal girl. Olin was a [Royal Guardian] that came from a family that had all served the royal family of Dynarus. Their servitude dated back way beyond the point of Ariesa caring to learn about.

For some reason everyone in his family was named something that started with an 'O'. Some of the names were so close to one another that it was hard for most people to not mix them up at times. There was Otin, Ogin, Onin… just about every other alphabetical variation really. Olin's retired father, Oswald, had the most normal name amongst them all, which made his son's names all the more strange for being so similar. Whatever Olin's history was, it didn't matter.

What mattered most to her was that he was loyal to her. The man didn't know why she sneaked out so often, and neither did he ask. Without him, it'd be impossible for her to do her thieving training.

"Madam Hargrave, I trust you had a fine night out?" Olin said, as he twirled his excellent looking mustache. The facial hair was relatively new, but it really fit him and made him seem more… elegant.

"It was… peculiar, Olin. A very peculiar night out," Ariesa always kept her answers about her nights vague and short.

"Do you think the [Guards] you relieved are starting to get suspicious?" Olin stopped twirling his mustache and thought about his answer. That was one thing about him. No matter what the man did, he always gave an honest well thought answer or proposal. The result was that he could be… well, the man was dreadfully slow at times. After a minute he finally had his response.

"No, I don't believe they are. If I may be blunt, I believe them all to be laggards and cretins. While they may have questions as to why the servant of the [Princess] is relieving them of their posts for a few hours… it is unlikely of them to voice concern, lest they ruin the free breaks that I've given them."

"That's good… but that could change. Stupid men are sometimes the most dangerous."

"If it would ease your fears, however, I shall continue to monitor them. Now, shall we go up? Lord Hargrave might do well to have a visit from you, before it gets too late," Olin said.

"Ah, Oda has asked about you and whether or not you wish to resume your training with him." Ariesa grimaced at the thought of further training with Olin's eldest brother, and the head of the [Royal Guards].

"Eh… I think you know that answer is going to be. Last time he gave me such a shock that I thought I was going to die!"

"Yes, I heard about that. If I may be honest… I really wish you'd agree just once." She could hear the silent plea hidden underneath his words.

"Oda's still forcing you to spar with him?" Olin sighed and threw up his shoulders.

"It's for the best, I suppose. I can't always rely on my spells… even still, I wish he'd ease up," suddenly he blushed and cleared his throat.

"Apologies, [Princess], I've forgotten my company." Ariesa dismissed his apology as she stepped into the lift. She actually preferred when Olin loosened up and acted like quite literally any other normal man. But that was just how Olin was. There wasn't anyone else that she trusted as much as him. Olin hit the button that sent the lift upwards. This piece of technology never ceased to amaze her. It was unfathomable to her how she used to walk all those dreadful, eternal stairs back then.

Such was the perks of living in the same age as master [Architect] Veo Vintly. The lift wasn't the fastest thing in the world, but the convenience made up for it and after a few minutes, they arrived at the top of the wall. Ariesa breathed out a sigh of relief upon seeing there were no guards awaiting them at the entrance. That anxiety would likely never leave her. People could be unpredictable and despite Olin's assurances, those guards could one day investigate. Ariesa left Olin behind and darted for the shadows.

Olin always recommended a pathway to take, to minimize potential contact with the castle workers or whoever. But, she had her own ways to make it back into her room. Her window overlooked the royal gardens, so she made her way there. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"[Sticky Fingers]" Ariesa said, as quietly as possible. Her window loomed way above her, but the height was no issue for her thanks to her newest skill. One palm slapped onto stone with a plop sound, followed by the other. After a quick test to see if they were solid in their stick, she began her climb. Unfortunately her feet didn't receive the same sticky properties but she could manage just fine with her hands. It was one hell of a workout though.

The first time she did this, it felt like her arms were going to disintegrate. The window was unlocked, so once she got to its level, all she had to do was slide it up and throw herself inside. And just like that, Ariesa the [Princess] had returned back to her prison. Boredom immediately sat in as she looked around her highly decorated room. It was nice and at one point, she had been more than fine spending her time doing whatever it was that she wanted to do in here that day.

Things and people changed though and the person she once was would never again be the woman she is now. Her old comforts had lost their luster the moment she first ventured out from the confines of these walls. What used to be her biggest comfort lost its effects on her way before that though…

"Maybe I should go see him, Ariesa thought, who knows, it might be one his good days if I'm lucky." Before she could talk herself out of it, and after changing out of her thieving clothes, Ariesa dragged herself out her door. The extravagant halls of her home haunted each step she took towards her fathers chambers. There used to be a time when she could run down these halls, exploring every nook she could find, and be entertained for hours.

Her mother used to get so irate with her boundless energy and being unable to capture her for dinner or whatever boring event their father had roped them into. Old memories of her mother stung her eyes but she steeled herself as she opened the door to her fathers chamber. The fireplace crackled, its voice the only one that her father seemed to listen to most days. Romulus Hargrave stood in front the fireplace, book in hand, and despite the late hour, dressed still in his opulent robes.

Ariesa made her presence known lest she risk standing there for hours until her father noticed that she was there.

"…Hm? Oh, Ariesa! My lovely daughter, where have you been these last few days? Feels like it's been a lifetime since I last saw you," Romulus said.

"How funny, it feels a lifetime since the last time I saw you as well, father." Ariesa's inner voice was cold and mournful, but when she spoke, she exuded none of her true feelings. At least she hoped.

"Olin has been teaching me how to properly fight. Figured I should finally learn how to defend myself,""About time you took advantage of the resources we have. Olin's family hasn't been in our service just because of their loyalty. No where else will you find more lethal servants than his bloodline,""Olin isn't a resource, Father. He's basically family…" Ariesa felt her anger start to rise up. She had hoped to last longer than this, but her father just couldn't seem to help himself from being awful.

"Ariesa, when will you learn…" Romulus sighed and rubbed at his eyes.

"We have to use whoever and whatever we have in order to maintain our strength. I have big plans for this city and I need you—Ari, my angel—to be strong enough for when the time comes to enact these plans. I'd hate to see you fail me like your mother did. I need the strongest nearby for when I usher in Dynarus' new era." Ariesa felt her eye twitch at the dismissal of her mothers tragic death. He used to never be so cruel when he spoke of her after she was murdered.

Now, though, it was like he believed her death to have been her idea as a way to somehow weaken him. It was all lunacy and an absolute betrayal to what had not only been one of the most fearless woman she had ever known, but also a mother that cared about everyone around her. Peasant, criminal, noble, it mattered not to her. If someone was willing to accept help, then mother would offer.

"Don't speak about mother like that. How can you be such a bastard? After all she did for us… after all she did to help you maintain this ci—" Ariesa was cut off by a powerful backhanded slap. Romulus recalled his hand back to his side and let out a heavy sigh. Not a sigh of exhaustion, but a sigh of irritation. Irritation at her for defending her own dead mother.

"… Angel, let go. It's been long enough. How long will you let her memory pull you further and further down into the oceans of grief? Be not mad at me, but at her for letting you down and dying so… so," he stopped for a moment as he search for his weapon of choice, "Pathetically." Despite her mind being steeled for the blow, her father still managed to crack through enough to hurt.

It was like he forgot those long days after the murder where he locked himself in this very room and wept nonstop until he collapsed from the grief of it all. Just to do it all over again the next time he awoke. Ariesa tasted blood in her mouth as her mind caught up to the exchange. She wouldn't swallow it and back though. No, if he wanted her to show strength, then she would show him what that truly looked like.

Her head tilted down, mouth sloshed the blood that had accumulated and she spit right on those gaudy slippers he loved. Her blood stained the lush fabric and some of the rug that he stood on. Something flashed in his eyes then. It wasn't quite anger, but… something else, something way stronger than such a simple emotion. It felt most similar to… malice. Fear welled up in the pits of her stomach as she braced for his retaliation. Her eyes shut and braced for the strike.

When none came, she opened her eyes to see her fathers cruel eyes still latched onto her. Only then did blow come. He struck the other cheek this time and used the hand adorned with his most beloved ring. It was a ring with a stone that Ariesa had never been able to identify, but that didn't matter right now as the ring tore her skin. It wasn't a deep wound, but it still drew blood. The pain she felt wasn't that of the blow or the rings bite, but the intent behind the whole exchange.

Tears pooled behind her eyes despite her best attempts at masking her weakness.

"Begone from here, child. Bless me with another long break from your presence if this is the best that you have to offer me. Next time I see you, I expect you to have found the inner strength that I know you to possess," Romulus turned his back to her as a clear sign of dismissal. Ariesa found herself unable to run out of the room so instead resulted to skulking slowly out of the room, her tears unable to resist their call to creation, and audible to the man she once called her father.

Once his daughter finally managed to exit his chambers, Romulus Hargrave shut his book. He loved his daughter, but with what was to come… he couldn't protect her. Of course, he'd loved all of his children at some point. Should she die, it'd be fine. His heart had long ago hardened to the sensation of loss. All except for one…. Erina. Ariesa was all he had left to remind him of her memory, save for a few poems that she'd left behind.

For many long years after her passing, that had left him in a state of dismay, leading him down a path of uncaring and sometimes unjust cruelty. His people had been neglected all because of his broken heart. Which was ridiculous to consider as Erina was far from the most extraordinary partner he'd had. Over the years, he'd married countless beauties and powerful warriors. And yet, it was Erina that had finally caused him to become overwhelmed with a sadness that threatened to destroy his city.

Erina, the simple woman who came from nothing. Her talents laid within the mundane, growing up as an apprentice to her father's trade as a [Farmer]. Rough, grueling work that had left her hands hardened… but they'd always felt so soft somehow.

"Calus, I've received word from Aurelia that they key has been found to activating my essence. It'll only be a few more days until everything is prepared," Romulus said to his empty room. Within the deep recesses of his ancient brain, an incomprehensible voice replied.

"Good… your work has been excellent… would you like to see… Erina?" Romulus choked on his spit at the offer.

"Another glimpse? I-I… I'd be honored, but…"

"Worry not, old friend… She cannot see you, even now… when our realms are so… close to one another." Romulus felt his cheeks dampen ever so slightly.

"Yes…" was all he could breathe out in response, and soon enough, he slumbered and returned to place where his love still lived.