Vows and Bullets-Chapter 162 - 3rd week of September (Part 1)

Please DON’T READ this Chapter yet. I will update this 3rd week of September! 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Good news! My hands have healed now and I’m catching up on writing my missed Chapters. My apologies for all the delays. I will replace this Chapter with the real one soon, don’t worry, and upload a new one for the next day. I really apologize once again.

In the meantime, please enjoy the continuation of the story below titled "The King’s Beloved". This is the revised version I am planning to submit for paperback publication. Hopefully, I get a chance someday.

________________

(Part 25 - Continuation...)

Shaking her head and sighing, she quietly approached the man while removing her white furred cloak.

"More importantly, how can someone sleep in this place? It’s freezing cold out here! Winter just ended and the snow is still starting to melt."

Rania sighed. Then, she used her cloak to cover the sleeping man’s body, carefully putting it on him so he wouldn’t wake up.

"Hmm... This should do it. Now, you won’t feel cold anymore," she whispered a little cheerfully to herself. After that, she went on her way and continued walking towards their palace.

Unbeknownst to her, the man she helped was never asleep. The moment she left, he opened his eyes to reveal an enchanting and bright aquamarine color.

It had been a while since the last time Rania was able to sleep peacefully. Waking up the next day, she rose from her bed, put on a warm robe, and walked towards the balcony. She embraced herself due to the chilly morning air. Steams came from her mouth as she blew on her palm to keep them warm. A few moments later, the sun began to rise slowly. It was dawn that time, and the sky was exceedingly beautiful seeing it from the top of the palace where her room was located.

Rania closed her eyes as she let the sun’s rays kiss her cheeks. Then, opening them back up again, she gazed at the morning light. With nothing but thankfulness in her heart, she prayed to her God.

"Thank you, Father," she started her prayer, "for not giving up on me. I lost sight after losing Zeid, Ms. Lailee, and everyone. I thought... my life had no meaning without them and forgot that I still have You. In my thoughts, I even blamed You for letting it happen. I even succumbed to hatred and revenge. I’m... very sorry."

She lowered her head as she uttered her solemn prayer.

"Right. It was never Your fault. You are good and You don’t plan evil things. It is us humans, abusing free will, and choosing to use it for evil. Our choices, rooted from desires, combined together, are what made this once beautiful world a messy place. And now, we are captured by unknown invaders."

Pausing, her mind flashed the horrid scenes from that day—the day when the Magi race arrived on their planet, killing many people, and capturing young women like her.

"The Magi... Why did they come here? And that planet in my dreams... Is it their planet? Is that why they came here to conquer us? Because theirs was dying? And as for me, why did you let me survive? What is my purpose in all this? What do you want me to do?"

But just like all her other questions, they were left unanswered.

"I still don’t know a lot of things but I pray that You continue to be with me and guide me along the way. Together with everyone here, may Your Will be done. And as for Zeid, Ms. Lailee, and everyone, it was torture losing them but I know, they’re now happy with You. Please take care of them."

With teary eyes, she closed her prayer.

"Zeid, Ms. Lailee, Hannah, and everyone... I will never forget the love, hope, happiness, and everything that you’ve given me. Our memories together, I will cherish them forever in my heart. And for everything... I just wanna say... sniff... Thank you so much."

It was a very long night, both at the banquet and with Rania’s life after everyone she loved died. But that night just ended, welcoming a new dawn full of hope and future.

***

Chapter 9 THE FORBIDDEN CHAMBER

Knock-knock-knock!

The door sounded a few moments after Rania’s prayer. Maids came rushing inside her bedroom afterwards and greeted her while bowing their heads. The head maid, as what she seemed to be, stepped forward to speak. She didn’t wear an apron unlike the other maids, and her hair was tied into a tight bun.

"Rania Caeles, human, from the House of Pémptos," the head maid called her in a tone so strict and commanding. "You have garnered the favor of our king and will now be treated as a National Treasure for never in the history of Magi has there been anyone like you."

Curious as to what’s happening, Rania’s housemates came one after another and peeked through the open door. They carefully listened to every word she said.

"From here on forward," she continued, not minding the gossip-mongers, "you will have your own palace and move out of Pémptos. The king wishes for you to be untainted, hence we are separating you from the rest of your race. You will also be given anything a woman desires, with only the best maids at your waiting. You are free to roam around your new palace and do whatever you like so long as they do not contradict our laws and customs. Lastly, the king has scheduled for you to meet every last day of the month or whenever he pleases. We expect you to entertain him during those times."

Rania sighed. National Treasure, huh? Silly king, treating his wife candidates like objects. But more than that, meeting him every last day of the month? I barely managed to control my anger last time I talked to him. I still can’t—no, I would never be his wife. And I don’t want to meet him again. Hmm... What should I do?

One of the maids approached the head maid and whispered to her ear. The head maid’s face turned pale for a moment. Then, with a stern expression, she continued speaking with a hint of caution in her tone.