I sat beside Rohan, holding his hand and watching him sleep. Lia and the others had tried to persuade me to leave, but I refused. I wanted to be there when he woke up.
As the hours passed, Rohan's face remained peaceful, but his grip on my hand tightened occasionally. I wondered what he was dreaming about.
The room grew darker, and the only sound was Rohan's steady breathing. I felt a sense of calm wash over me, and my eyelids began to droop.
Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, Rohan's eyes flickered open. He looked up at me, his gaze unfocused.
"Athi?" he whispered, his voice hoarse.
My heart skipping a beat. "I'm here, Rohan."
Rohan's eyes locked onto mine, and he tried to sit up. I helped him, propping pillows behind his back.
"What...what happened?"
Rohan's eyes narrowed, his expression puzzled. "Fainted? Weird? What are you talking about, Athi?"
He looked around the room, taking in the concerned faces of Lia and the others. His gaze snapped back to mine.
"I...I don't remember anything," he admitted, his voice laced with frustration.
Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he grasped my hand tightly.
"Athanasia, forgive my transgression," Rohan implored softly.
"I am unconcerned with your regret, Your Highness," I responded serenely, shaking off his hand with polite firmness.
"The hour is late; I bid you goodnight."
The next day, His Majesty ordered me and the Crown Prince to have tea together. We sat in the garden, surrounded by the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the melodic songs of birds. Rohan sat beside me, with His Majesty seated across from us.
"As your coming-of-age ceremony approaches, Athanasia, I wish to celebrate it in grand style at the Emerald Palace," His Majesty said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "And, of course, Rohan will be your escort. I desire your social debut to be nothing short of spectacular."
I replied, "It would be my honor, Your Majesty."
His Majesty chuckled, a pleased smile spreading across his face. "Excellent! I'll send the royal designer to you both. I expect you to wear attire that will leave everyone in awe."
Rohan smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement, as he set his teacup down. "Yes, Father, everything will unfold precisely as you wish."
A week had passed, and the entire palace was abuzz with preparations for my coming-of-age ceremony banquet. I stood on the stairs, watching as servants and maids scurried about, their faces set with determination. Letting out a gentle sigh, my personal maid approached me.
"Your Highness, please come with me," she said, her voice soft yet urgent. "Your bath is ready, and we need to dress you up. You must look perfect today, as it's your special day. Come, come, we must hurry."
The maids bustled around me, each one tasked with a specific duty. One gently washed my hair, while another massaged my body and face with soothing oils. After the bath, they carefully applied my makeup, accentuating my features with delicate strokes.
My dress, a sunshine-yellow princess-style gown, was carefully draped around me. The illusion neckline added a touch of elegance, and I felt like a radiant princess, ready to take on the world.
Athanasia's anger simmered just below the surface as she struggled to control her tears. Rohan's eyes narrowed, concern etched on his face, as he led her to a tranquil terrace. The moon cast a silver glow, and stars twinkled like diamonds against the velvety blackness. A gentle breeze carried the scent of blooming flowers, but the peacefulness of the surroundings did little to calm Athanasia's racing heart.
Rohan's voice was low and soothing as he asked, "Why are you crying?" Athanasia's response was laced with fury. "I'm not crying." Rohan's fingers gently brushed away the tears on her cheeks, his touch sending shivers down her spine. "Don't cry, Athanasia. You look beautiful even when you're crying, but please, tell me what's wrong."
Athanasia's voice trembled with anger. "You know about the wedding announcement, don't you?" Rohan nodded, his expression unreadable. "Then why didn't you tell me? How can we get married?" Rohan's eyes locked onto hers, his gaze piercing. "Why don't you want to marry me? Don't you want to be my Empress?"
Athanasia's response was firm. "No, I don't." Rohan's face darkened, and he grasped her arm, pushing her against the wall. "What do you mean by that, Athi?" His breath was warm against her skin, and his eyes blazed with intensity.
Athanasia's voice cracked as she spoke, tears streaming down her face. "We got engaged to get married, but I never wanted this. I said yes because His Majesty, your father, didn't give me a choice." Rohan's grip on her arm tightened, his voice low and menacing. "Shut up, Athanasia. I don't want to hear your excuses. You'll marry me, no matter what. Even if you don't want to."
Athanasia's defiance faltered, and she whispered, "Fine." But her mind was racing with another question. "There's one more thing... I didn't see my uncle, Arionand Adrian. Where are they?" Rohan's expression turned cold, and he remained silent, his eyes fixed on hers.
The tension between them was palpable, the air thick with unspoken words. Athanasia's heart pounded in her chest, and she wondered what secrets Rohan was hiding.
Athanasia's eyes blazed with fury as she demanded, "Your Highness Rohan Seymour, I'm asking you something. Answer me!" The air around her seemed to ignite with her anger, black fire swirling like a tempest. The Phoenix within her stirred, its presence palpable as she rose to her feet, tears welling up in her eyes.
Rohan's voice was calm, but his words were laced with a hint of warning. "Athanasia, calm down. Your uncle, the Grand Duke, is injured, and Arion was sent to the war."
Athanasia's anger vanished, replaced by a crushing weight. Her legs gave way beneath her, and she collapsed to the ground, her body wracked with sobs. Tears streamed down her face as she accused, "You... you did this, didn't you?" Her voice cracked with anguish. "You're a bastard...sob..."
Rohan's expression softened, and he sat down on the floor beside her, his knees bent. He gently wiped away her tears, his touch tender. "I didn't do anything, Athanasia. Please stop crying. Let's go home first. Come on, wipe your tears."
Athanasia's sobs continued, her body shaking with grief and anger. Rohan's words were like a soothing balm, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that he was hiding something. She looked up at him, her eyes red-rimmed, and whispered, "Why... why did this happen?"
Rohan's gaze locked onto hers, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. "Athanasia, we'll talk about this later. Let's go home now." He gently helped her to her feet, his arm around her waist, supporting her as she swayed.
The moonlit night seemed to fade into the background as Athanasia's world narrowed to her grief and Rohan's enigmatic presence. She leaned into him, her body weak, and let him guide her, unsure of what lay ahead.