17th August, XXXX
After the talk under the star, Sebastian is back to the usual Sebastian.
By usual, I do not mean the following me around part.
He followed me when I was out browsing the market. He followed me into the book shop. He followed me into a boutique. Finally when he wished to follow me when I went to a friend’s tiny tea party, I had had enough.
“Your majesty, don’t you have to work?”
He shrugged again, like country matters were no big deal.
“Don’t shrug at me! You were a workaholic back then! What has happened? I am so worried about Arerin whenever you appear in front of me! I don’t want to be the bad witch who leads Arerin to downfall because the King is chasing after me!”
A spark appeared in his eyes. A teasing smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“I am chasing after you. That’s a fact.”
“Sebastian, I am really worried about Arerin. In this past year, I am sure you’re not in Arerin for more than half a year!”
Sebastian gave me a quick tap on my forehead and a teasing smile.
“The matters I have to deal with are completely the same as our previous life.”
So… he already knew the solutions to everything. That’s why he had so many spare time.
“Anyway, don’t follow me everywhere!”
“I did not spend enough time with you in the past.”
I widened my eyes in surprise. So that’s why he was following me around. A bitter smile appeared on my face.
“But it’s too late now.”
I turned and walked away. But he was still following me.
“Sebastian, I am going to Lady Beatrice’s home. For a tea party. Boys not invited.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you still…” Sebastian grabbed me and pushed me back behind him.
A sword pierced through his body. Then Sebastian coughed out blood.
I froze.
That’s not happening. Where were the guards?
I looked up and saw Lucien and Felicity being surrounded by Sebastian’s royal guards. Why were they still here? Why couldn’t the guards discover them before it’s too late?
“Sebastian, it’s all because of you! You made Felicity lost most of her power. You made me enemy of every country. But guess what? The gods still love me! Felicity still retains a tiny part of power! We escaped from Edehan’s guards and the first thing we did was to kill you. Are you honored? Sneaking up undetected is nothing with Felicity’s power!” Lucien shouted and laughed frantically.
I ignored the crazy prince.
“Capture them with power suppressing shackles! Feed them Black Prison until every single drop of their power has been removed from them!” I commanded. I was shaking with anger, with fear, with desperation.
“Yes, your majesty!” They shouted.
Sebastian leaned onto me. My hand wet with his blood.
“Sebastian. Sebastian!”
A small smile tugged at his mouth. “Are you alright, Liana?”
Why are you still worrying about my safety, when you’re the one drenched in blood? Why are you still smiling?
Tears dropped. There must be a way to save him.
“Stop smiling! Healers! Are there healers?”
“We have sent guards to find healers,” Captain of Sebastian’s royal guards said.
“The sword pierced close to my heart, Liana,” Sebastian said calmly, but very apparently he was getting weaker.
“Why are you still so calm! You’re about to die!”
If only I was not so pre-occupied at that time. If only I had spotted Lucien and Felicity, then I could have saved Sebastian.
Tears continued to drop.
Time…
Sebastian…
“Reverse the time! Reverse it back to before everything has happened! Why didn’t you do that at the time of the assassination!”
“I … I can only… reverse time back for 3 seconds.” Sebastian looked more and more pale. More blood dripped out at the corner of his mouth.
“But… you’re lying. It’s not funny. Then how come we came back in time? Stop playing Sebastian, it’s not funny! Reverse the time! I… I… You can’t die.”
“That can only be done once. After… after that to protect the balance of this world… my power greatly reduced, just like yours. It’s a miracle.” With effort, he raised his hand and touched my face gently. “Not one of my ancestors could bring anyone back through time…Not a single one.”
Sebastian’s voice was getting weaker.
“Don’t sleep! You promised me you’d spend time with me! You can’t leave! If you do, you’re… you’re betraying… my trust once again.”
Tears continued to drop.
“Do… do you hate me?”
Tears dropped on his hand. One… two… three…
“I… I don’t hate you.”
“I wish you would hate me. If… you cannot love me… hate me at least.” A tiny smile. “Be happy, Liana.”
“How can anyone be happy while hating someone! If you want me to be happy, don’t die! I don’t want to hate you… I don’t want to…”
There must be ways. Where are the healers? There must be ways.
Tears dropped. One, two, three…
A miracle… I went back in time as well… I lost part of my power as well…
Time is like a river. If you think of it that way can I manipulate it like water?
“Sebastian… just… try one last time. Let’s reverse time, just for 3 minutes. Please. For me, try one last time. You can’t betray me again. I can’t handle that.”
With an indulging smile, he took hold of my hand. I squeezed my eyes shut and imagine pushing water back. A technique I have mastered since I was four.
When I opened my eyes, the two of us were standing on the pavement. Just like 3 minutes ago, before everything had happened. I started to cough.
Sebastian rushed forward and took out his sword. Within seconds, the Lucien who planned for a surprise attack was lying on the floor. Felicity once again seemed to be drifting in a dream like state.
When everything was under control, Sebastian turned and looked at me meaningfully. He seemed to be waiting for something. What?
He walked towards me and helped to soothe my coughing. He then whispered in my ears, “Your command, my Queen?”
“What…”
“Weren’t you giving commands like a Queen just now? Only the King and the Queen can order the royal guards around.” A small smile hang on his face, like a devil giving out invitation.
So that’s what “Your majesty’ and his smile was about.
As if I will step into this trap. I turned my head away from him and stomped away.
“Don’t follow me.”
“You asked me not to break my promise. I am spending time with you.”
“When did I say that? I don’t remember.”
“As long as I remember, that’s enough.”
“I am going to a tea party. Boys not invited.”
“They will, if you are king.”
“That’s cheating.”
And the sun is shining, not a single drop of rain from the sky.
