Married to the Rogue

Chapter 9: Sunrise

|Cassandra|

"Princess, your breakfast is ready," I heard Monette saying behind me but my eyes remained at the scenery in front of me.

I must say that I despise each corner of the palace. It always be a reminder to me of my endless cage and chains. That I could not set foot outside this enormous jail to do what I wanted, to seek my dreams, to have a life for myself.

Yet, after I discovered this place, I realized that there are still far more beautiful things on the places you hate. All you need to do is to discover, seek it through, know it better, and you'll see what lies behind the shadows and doors. That there would always be good things on everything.

I shut my eyes tight as I memorize on my mind the scenery in front of me. The sun has already appeared on the horizon yet its rays kissing my skin were still as warm as a touch of human. The hues of amber had were now painted on the horizon, the sun's reflection on the sea, and the clear blue sky.

I would always visit this place every morning. I would be here before the sun rises so I could witness the ethereal scene everyday. I am always looking forward to see it. And each time I saw the sun emerging on the horizon, it would always gives me hope and determination to face a long and tiring day.

There would be a time that the weather would not be so good. But still...I would find myself going here since this tower had became my safe haven from the tense atmosphere of the palace. This is the only place where I felt safe and...free.

It was quite ironic to think that I was in the same situation when mother was still alive. I never went outside our house, or more so, I never cross the borders that my mother had set on me. She told me I could roam within the proximity of the fence, but not beyond.

And now...even with the years have past, I was still in the same page. I was still in the same situation.

Yes, I could eat the food I wanted to eat, I have few pieces of elegant dresses, I have shoes, jewelries, a life that every lady would wish. Yet...this things were not the one that I am seeking.

Somehow, I would always reminisce the past of what would happen if mother was still alive? Will she...allowed me to go outise and chase my dreams?

'I hope you chase your dreams.'

I closed my eyes as I remember those words. It was my mother's. I could not help but smile . Of course, she would support me with everything if I told her what I wanted.

"Princess, are you not hungry yet? Or do you want me to bring your food here?" Monette asked as she appeared beside me. I turned to her direction then met her gaze. Her usual demeanor, neutral and expressionless, greeted my eyes. I smiled at her, and she her expression instantly changes to smile back at me.

Monette had become a mother figure to me as I grow up. She was the one who was always beside me when I got sick, when I first past a test, when I was able to produce water through magic, and many more little things for the past year. Even I know that it was only her duty to serve me as a princess of the palace, I've still grown to like her along the years.

And she's...a good person. I never seen her hating me, even once. Maybe I did see her dark red aura, but it was always when she found out that something terrible happened to me.

"No. It's fine, Monette. I will be having my breakfast inside my room," I tell her and smiled sweetly. She reflected the smile I was giving before she nodded her head.

"Alright then. I'll be waiting for you downstairs," she said.

"No, I'll be with you in a few seconds," I tell her. I made a once last glance at the scenery in front of me...before I decided to turn my back against it and finally followed Monette who was waiting for me at the door of the tower. She opened it for us and I was the first one to descend the stairs before I felt her presence following behind me.

"Has father already arrived yet?" I asked, after we had arrived at the foot of the tower.

"He has not, princess," Monette replied right away.

I automatically heaved a deep sigh of relief upon hearing that. I wonder when will he come home?

It's been a month since he left the palace for a business trip on the west. He told us about this plan of his but his trip was indefinite so no one, even my stepmother, knew when will he come back.

It's not that I need something important from father. But...seeing him back safe and sound everytime he was on a trip would always make me sigh in relief. I always feel worried when he's not in palace...especially when I started to see traces of black on his aura.

The color of black would always be a sign of bad omen. I had first seen it from mother for the first time. I thought I was only seeing things that day, and I still have no idea what even black aura means.

I've only gone to know its meaning when I keep seeing it on some of the knights working on the palace. And when I heard the news of their death the next day, it was only then that I realize the true meaning of the color.

Death is...inevitable. No one lives for a couple of centuries unless you are a great witch or warlock, and that is only according to the books and teachings of my professors.

But who knows, if I had trusted my instinct that day, if I had known that black aura means a sign of sudden death, would mother still be at my side?

I sighed heavily. I should really stop thinking of the past.

And the worry for father finally comes back when I set foot inside the palace. We entered through the back doors and the knights guarding the entrance quickly opened the door for me. I whispered my thanks to them before I finally walked inside.

I quickly made my way upstairs to went straight to my bedroom. But along my way back, at the distance, I saw my sister coming to my direction. I swallowed, suddenly thinking of taking a longer route so I could avoid meeting her halfway. Why is she out early in the morning? It's still ten minutes past six. She usually gets out of her bedroom around seven in the morning.

My gaze landed on nearest hallway where I could take my turn to avoid my sister. But it seemed her purpose was to really see me early in the morning, especially when she called my name.

"Cassandra!"

I sighed heavily as my shoulders fell into disappointment. As much as possible, interacting with my sister, Stephanie, was the last thing I wanted right now. Yet, seeing her nearing my direction, I was left with no choice but to meet her to know her concerns.

"Good morning, Steph," I immediately greeted when we both stop in the middle of the hallway. Her one brow automatically shot up, her usual expression when we cross path.

"Where have you been? Are you in that tower once again?" her voice sounded pitchy and laced with fury. Well, I clearly know that Stephanie did not like me the first time I was brought here.

She hates me. The aura I am seeing around her right now was a clear evidence to it. And I had never seen it change into other color everytime we were interacting.

"Yes. I was there once again," I tell her. She pursed her lips and even rolled her eyes.

"I was only here because father told me to call for you in person," she continued using the same tone. My body flinches upon hearing her news. And Stephanie noticed it right away that the smirk on her lips grew wider.

"And I will be telling him that you went to the tower again even he had told you not to,"

I swallowed hard, then dropped my head low.

"You are the only person here who go against his words. And I don't even know why he still let you live at the palace when you should have been punished a long time ago," she added.

I remained silent because...what could I even say back to her when everything she was telling was...true.

"Well, I am not basically here to reprimand you. He has arrived. And we'll be having our breakfast as a family in the grand dining seven sharp. Be there," she give emphasis to the last two words before she turned her back and left with haste. Her personal handmaidens followed behind her.

'Why did father wanted me to tell that to her? We have servants to do that,' I heard her complaining as continued walking farther away from me.

I heaved a deep sigh then glanced to Monette. "I thought father has not..." I did not finish my sentence on purpose.

"That is what I thought, princess. But King Brion might have arrived when I was on my way to fetch you that's why we both did not hear the news," Monetter explained.

I nodded my head in agreement because she has a point. We resumed on our way to my bedroom. And upon arriving inside, I quickly do my usual morning routine. I was done ten minutes before seven so I used I immediately went to the dining with my remaining time.

I dine my breakfast inside my bedroom whenever father is not around. I found out that it was the best thing to do if I don't want to complicate my relationship toward my sisters and Aunt Antonette.

But now that father is here, I am back to being her obedient daughter who seemed fine with everyone.

Well, that was what I had been doing for the past years, so, why complain now?

Aunt Antonette was already there with Stephanie and Briana when I arrived at the grand dining. Our youngest brother was not there since he was sent to dormitory school to study. Stephanie was the same but she comes home often, especially on weekends. Briana was the same, and she was the civilized among Stephanie and Aunt Antonette when it comes to me. That's why, seeing her smiling in my direction when our gaze met, I could not help but smile in return.

I automatically chose the seat beside her.

"I heard you went again at the tower?" Briana asked the moment I had taken my seat. I smiled at her then nodded my head.

"Yeah. I quite...like the place very much,"

"Father will scold you if he found out that you went there early in the morning," she suddenly whispered. The smile on my lips turned into grimace.

Father always reprimand on me, so, what's new?

Not long after, the dining hall suddenly became more silent when all of our heads turned toward the entrance and saw father gracing his way inside.

My gaze automatically locked on him, studying the colors of his aura, finding the color of death that I once saw. I heave in relief that the swurls of black could not be seen on his aura. It means that I might be seeing things when he left a month ago.

I hope so.

Father quickly find his seat on the end of the table. It seems like everyone was holding their breath and the the atmosphere became heavier.

His gaze then darted at me. And just like my usual days whenever we are together and whenever he would say something about what I was doing that was against his desires, I braced myself for a word of his admonition. My heard was throbbing against my chest as I wait for his words to come, but yet, I heard none.

He only heave a heavy sigh and gestured that we should start eating.

Maybe...he'll castigate me after breakfast?

But the reprehension that I was waiting never comes. Instead, father started opening up the topic about the approaching coming-of-age of my sister Briana. She'll be twenty one soon, so...a celebration will sure be held on her special day.

"We will be inviting prominent families. I hope you behave accordingly," he said. Everyone was listening to every word he was saying, and of course, I did the same.

The breakfast ended after father shared his plan on the celebration. I was still waiting for him to call for me for a private word, yet, it never happens, even until the palace was starting to get busy for the preparation.

"Princess," Monette whispered, and her voice was laced with alarm.

"Hush down your voice, Monette," I said in the same tone.

The cold gust of wind blew in our direction. I shivered but I continued walking toward the tower. It was located about a hundred away from the palace. So I need to sneek out everything morning just to get there.

"We should get back to your room. If your father finds out your out again early this morning--"

"He won't. We'll be back after the sun rises," I tell her. I inhaled a deep breath when we finally arrived at the foot of the tower.

Then without wasting another second, I pushed the door open and walked inside. I could feel Monetter following behind as I started climbing the spiral stairs.

It has 145 steps in total and it would take me a few minutes before arriving at the top. I was catching my breath when my foot climb the last steps of the stairs. But my breathing stop when I saw that someone was already standing on the observation area.

My heart was pounding erratically when I realized who was the man standing before us. Hearing Monette gasped in surprise was a confirmation of my hunch.

"W-What..." she could not finish her sentence.

Seeing father here should be a warning to me that I needed to go back if I don't want him to discover that I continued coming here at the tower.

But...maybe, I was just adamant without my knowing that I did not mind if father discovered that I am here or not. He already knew that I was sneeking every morning to be here. So, what's the point of going back now?

I arrived beside him, and he seemed to be not surprise of my presence. My gaze remained at the scenery in front of us. No one dared to say even a word. Even until we both witness the sun rising on the horizon. It's rays quickly dispersed at the entire land. And it was breathtaking to had a glimpse of this scene every morning, where the sun would give light to the once dim world.

We remained in our position even until the sun was already soaring in the sky. I did not know how long we were in silence. When I saw him moving from my peripheral, it also became my catalyst to shift on my position. He turned his back against the scenery then started walking toward the exit of the tower.

I swallowed hard, finding my words to say something to him. But I could not seem to find my words, even Monette had already uttered her greetings.

I shut my eyes tight and clenched my fist.

Say something, Cassandra! You might have not a good relationship with your father, but at least, give your greetings to him! I scolded to myself.

"I won't stop you from coming here anymore. But please, always be careful,"

I automatically opened my eyes upon hearing that. I looked where I had last seen him but he was not there.

I run my way toward the exit of the tower and immediately saw father descending the stairs. I inhaled a deep breath.

"I will, father! Thank you!" I finally uttered. I saw him stopping from his tracks for a few seconds, before he finally continued descending down.

I unconsciously went back to the observation area after father disappeared on the walls of the tower. I gaze at the scenery in front of me.

Maybe, just maybe, like the rays of sun which continued to reach the impenetrable darkness of the forest without fail, if I did the same effort...maybe someday, father will finally gave me his attention. Even if it was little.