Free Web NovelChapter 10: Just Some Fresh Air
Can life get any more stale than this?
I was present in my chambers, rested on a hammock, dressed in my luxurious tunic with golden thread trim. My fingers were adorned with jewels, and a bowl of fruit on a stool made of gold sat beside me. I reached for it, picking up an apple. I didn’t eat it — tossed it in the air, catching it back before sending it back flying. I was bored, obviously. Grew tired of playing dress-up or playing the piano.
Which reminded me, Aria was seated before the piano, her fingers moved finely across the keys playing such delicate melodies she had learnt with her time in our world. Well, after a whole week passing, no baroness crawling to me, I was stuck with Aria. And I got to learn more about her.
"You’re really good at playing..." Aria.
"Thank you," that didn’t stop her from keep playing her melody.
For days I had to listen to her play in my chamber, like nowhere was entertaining in the mansion. I would have loved to stay in the wine cellar though all day, but the last incident was still traumatic.
Eventually, Aria got tired fingers and stopped playing. She spun her seat to me with a broad smile. "Would you still like to keep playing?"
I paused my throw, catching the apple. "Nope. That’s enough tunes for today."
"As you wish."
I picked up a knife beside the bowl and began peeling it before slicing it in four, taking a piece to offer Aria. "Here," I gestured the apple to her.
"No, thank you." She gently rejected it.
"Ah! So this one is poisoned." I said it as a joke since I knew why she rejected it.
"No, it’s not... I already told you why I don’t like apples. You can offer the grapes."
"Really, you told me? When?"
"...Yesterday."
"Oh, I don’t think so. Why don’t you tell me again?"
Aria sighed. "Fine. It’s still the same story. In our original world, before running to Earth to seek refuge, I had an apple tree. I nurtured myself. When time came for it to grow fruits, that’s when our home was attacked."
She paused, staring at the ground desperately trying to hold herself from being vulnerable. Seeing her wings go limp, I wanted to hear her story anyway because I was curious about a certain part in the story she didn’t reveal, no matter how many times I asked.
"I was at the apple tree. My friend came looking for me to try and get me to safety, then she was struck — she... died, slumped against the tree, and I fled for my safety, leaving her body... there."
She exhaled, composing herself back. "So you see, it brings back bad memories, that’s all. I took a bite of your apple back then because I only needed to win your trust —"
"What struck her — like, was it an animal, or some evil dragon? That part you always keep vague. You’re hiding something."
"That I can’t tell you."
"Why?"
She kept quiet as she always did — either she avoided the question or pretended she didn’t hear me.
"Aria, how many dragons died in the incident that got you guys fleeing to Earth? Just answer with either a few or a lot."
I then chewed on an apple, awaiting her answer.
"...A lot."
"Tell me more."
"I can’t. It’s an order from the queen — no dragon is allowed to reveal our history to any human. You’re not an exception." She looked into my eyes with fierce devotion.
"Fine. I don’t want to hear anymore. You already ruined the mood. I’m going outside to get some fresh air." I stood up, taking a stretch as I exited the chambers.
"I can’t allow you to leave — that’s also an order from the queen." She then stepped before me, preventing me from leaving the room.
"Oh really? So which is more important — tell me." I then raised the kitchen knife I’d used to peel my apple, pressing it against my neck.
She gasped. "What are you doing? Drop the knife!"
"No, I won’t. If you don’t let me out of this damn mansion, I’ll kill myself. I wonder how the queen will feel if she finds out the person you were supposed to protect is dead."
"Tsk, can’t let you leave — that’s also the queen’s rule. Please, Amor, drop the knife down." Aria took a careful step, drawing closer so she could snatch the knife from me, but I wasn’t stupid.
I stepped back too. "Don’t think about it. If you come any closer I’ll do it." I pressed the knife harder, drawing a thin red line on my neck as blood trickled down.
"Wait, wait, wait — it’s okay. I’ll let you outside of the mansion. Just drop the knife. Agreed?"
"No. I’m not stupid, Aria. If I give you the knife there’s no guarantee you’ll let me out of the mansion."
"But —"
"You’re overthinking. The queen isn’t around to know if I left the mansion. Besides, even if she did, you can cook up an excuse."
"I can never lie to the queen."
"Blah blah blah — well, tell her you did a bad job protecting me. Goodbye." I shifted the blade from my neck to my chest, positioning it where my heart beats.
"Stop. Please, Amor, stop. I’ll escort you out of the place — you can hold the knife. Just please," she got on her knees, "please don’t kill yourself."
Fear was etched all over her face.
Well, I wasn’t ever planning on killing myself from the onset — I just knew this was the only way to get out of the sealed chambers. In fact, the little cut on my neck was nothing. It stained my collar, but I had already adapted to severe blood loss; this was a mere scratch.
"Fine." I dropped the knife, pointing it to the ground. "You can get up. I’ll be right behind you."
Aria then got up quickly and left the room while I followed her from behind. I kept a good distance so as not to expect any surprise — if the knife got away from my hand, I would be walked back into my room.
Finally, I was getting the chance outside.
The guards noticed me holding a knife. One stalked me from behind, receiving some sort of signal for help from Aria, which I caught her doing with her tail.
"Aria, I’ll do it if you don’t call the guards off."
"Hmm? What guards? I didn’t do anything." She tried to act surprised. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
I wasn’t fooled. She then waved the guards off, and I lowered my negotiating tool.
We reached the main door. "So let us out." The door swung open and I walked out, just after Aria went through, walking down the outdoor stairs. I remembered when I first arrived a week ago — now things were a bit different, as the mansion didn’t feel alien to me anymore.
I wandered around the estate, through the flourishing garden with exotic flowers and birds in aviaries. The air — I savoured it, a natural feeling rather than the fragrance of that bleached mansion. Though I didn’t go far off the mansion, as exploring the grounds wouldn’t be easy due to the spacious lands.
Later on, I sat at the flowing fountains with a statue of the queen, then Aria approached me.
"Now, I kept my promise. Hand over the knife and I promise you a full hour to explore the estate till you’re satisfied." She stretched out her hand to receive the knife.
But... I didn’t oblige.
"No. I changed my mind — take me to Gordon’s Mountains."
