The World Of Sally

Chapter Sixteen: Lines In Between

Athena, who’s looking at them felt her heart is tearing. She doesn’t want them to argue as much as she doesn’t like the reason for their argument.

‘It’s always been her. Why? Why does she receive something she doesn’t deserve?’ She’s burning of both rage and jealousy. She can’t take it anymore, so she spoke,

“Don’t act so high and mysterious. You don’t even deserve our attention.” Her face darkened. “You should be grateful.” She added. Sally’s eyes widen slightly and a small smile crossed her lips.

‘Ah, so that’s what it’s always been.’

“Yes, I apologize, Ms. Robia. I shouldn’t act so high. Thank you so much, for your attention and care.” She smiled yet her eyes were blank. Helios and Felix were both shocked at her expression as she says those words. “I shouldn’t have crossed the line. I’m sorry.”

“What? No…” Felix tried to argue but Sally didn’t let him.

“I apologize for causing so many problems to all of you, especially to you, your highness.” She apologized. Helios remained silent because he can’t think of anything to talk to. “It is time for dinner. Sorry for taking too much of your time. Excuse me.” She turned her back and started walking away from them.

“M-Ms. Esther, please let me escort you.” Felix offered, sincerely worried for her well-being. Sally looked at him with her usual calm eyes and smile.

“Thank you, sir, but I can manage. Then.” She rejected and resume walking away. Helios pressed his lips and walked towards her. He grabbed her wrist and dragged her. “Your highness!” She called but the crown prince continued dragging her until they arrived at the infirmary.

“Get yourself treated.” He ordered calmly. Sally stared at him in confusion and sighed.

“If that’s what your highness wants.” She muttered and open the door. As she enters, the clinic, Dr. Ashton immediately stood up and rushed towards her.

“Ms. Esther! Oh my God! What happened to you? Take a seat.” He said as he went to get some medicines. Sally remained calm while looking at him. Helios enters and stares at Sally who’s looking at the sunset outside the window. Helios can’t understand her. She now has a connection with the crown prince and the brightest student in the academy, yet she’s not using it as an advantage to her situation.

‘She’s such a kind woman. How annoying.’ He thought.

“Do you like to remain in such a situation? Are you stupid?” He asked directly, not minding if she’s offended or not. Sally’s eyes fell to him. There’s no sign of irritation nor anger at her.

“Not at all, your highness.”

“Then?” Since Sally is tired of explaining, she sighed and smiled in defeat.

“I apologize, I lied, your highness. The truth is, I’m really stupid.”

Helios was even more annoyed but he can’t unleash his annoyance since they’re in the infirmary and he might burn down the whole building in a snap. In addition, the headmaster of the academy might expel him which must not happen at all cost since graduating from the Lavrielle Academy means putting a lot of whip cream on the dessert. (Can boost someone’s pride and honor since the school is considered the best institution of all time.)

‘Yeah, there’s no doubt she’s stupid. How irritating.’ He grinds his teeth.

The doctor arrived and treated Sally’s wound. He kept on talking about taking care of herself more and reporting the bullying she experienced but Sally smiled and didn’t give clear responses to his demands.

“I’ll be going now, doctor. I’m tired and I want to sleep early.” She excused. She turned to Helios and bowed to him. “I’ll be going now, your highness.” She said and went out. Helios watched her as she closes the door gently.

“That child, she became warier than before. Excuse me, your highness, but did something happen?” Dr. Ashton asked.

“None of your business, doctor.” He answered and went out of the clinic.

---

The next day, everything seems normal. Felix and Helios went to their classes like they always did while Athena always appeared during lunch breaks. The only difference is there’s no one behind Athena every time she shows up.

“I’m not eating lunch. I have to do something urgently.” Helios said as he stood up.

“Oh, alright, your highness. Please take care.” Athena muttered in dismay.

“See you later, your highness,” Felix said with a smile. Helios went out of the room while the siblings went to the cafeteria. Felix can see the sadness on Athena’s face.

“Athena, don’t be sad. You know the prince is a very busy person.” He tried to cheer her up but it’s no use.

“His highness is not like that. I can feel that the gap between us is continuously growing. I felt frustrated.” She confessed to him. Felix sighed and patted her head.

“You know the prince, he’s not someone who opens his heart to anyone else. He’s not someone capable of loving.” Felix explained.

“Liar. The prince once fell in love with someone.” She argued. “I’m trying to be nice so that he will notice me someday. I want to be the person who will fill the void in his heart after he lost someone so precious. I want to be greater than that person, brother.” She added.

“Athena, you shouldn’t do that,” Felix said and stared at her eyes. “That person, she’s incomparable. If you continue doing that, you’ll be the one who’ll get disappointed and hurt in the end.”

“I know, but I still want to try.”

“Don’t be a martyr.”

Athena only smiled at him. She already became one though. Ever since she was a child all she dreamed was to be loved by the prince he loves so much.

---

Helios is walking sneak outside from the academy. He’s wearing a black cloak to hide his identity and went to the back alley to meet someone. It’s one of his Cerberus knights. It’s regarding the movement of other nobles who supported the second prince, Edmund Benedict Grandalia. Like the crown prince, he possessed golden eyes. He has brown hair and his skin is tan. Unlike the fierce, stone eyes of Helios, he’s much gentle and warm.

“They want to gain more supporters for the second prince and force my father to give my title to him? And they even make me looked like a hideous monster in front of him? Hah!” Helios laughed like a madman. The knight who was kneeling in front of him can’t help but feel anxious for the next events. “Then, how about the other?” He asked as his eyes fixed to the mysterious man in the cloak in front of him.

“I apologize, your highness, but the whereabouts of the poet remains a mystery.” He answered. His grin widens as he laughed again.

“This is getting tougher than I thought. I’m becoming more and more interested in his abilities… Keep on searching for him. Even if he’s at the end of this world I don’t care. I need him.”

‘I can sense that he’s powerful. With him, no one can bring me down.’

Helios returned on time and went to the classroom. He saw Felix who’s already sitting in his seat. His seat is next to Felix so he immediately went to his side.

“You’re back, your highness.”

“Yes.”

“Did your business went well?” He asked.

“Yes. How’s your lunch with your sister?” He asked in return.

“It went well, your highness. Thank you for asking… Your highness, may I ask you something?”

“Go on.” He responded as he leans on his chair.

“Are you interested in Ms. Esther?” He asked directly. He was silent for a second before speaking again.

“Why are you asking?” Felix is quiet for a while. He’s hesitating to answer his question. Helios stared at him before he sighed. He treats Felix and Athena as his siblings and he doesn’t want to be rude to them. “Was this because of Lady Robia?” He asked and again, he didn’t answer which means, his guess is correct.

“I am a person who will not offer his heart to a lady, Felix, and you know that very well.”

“How about Ms. Esther?”

“What about her?” The prince asked in amusement. “Do you think, think of me as a fool?” His expression darkened and his eyes glowed like a beast eyeing its prey. Hiding Felix’s fear with a composed expression, he answered,

“I apologize, your highness. I didn’t think thoroughly.”

He can feel it, despite the prince hiding his mana, his incredibly strong.

“I hope that this will not happen again, Felix.” He warned and focused his attention on the blackboard.

---

It’s sunset already. Helios is walking to the corridor heading to the library however, he saw a familiar person walking upstairs. He stopped for a while before following that person until they arrived at the rooftop of the school. The wind is blowing towards them lifting her skirt a little and messing with their hairs. She climbs to the railing while her hands were both holding each other behind her back.

“Ms. Esther, what do you think you’re doing?” He asked as he walked near her. Her hair is messy and her uniform is dirty. Her very image is unsightly which made him irk a little.

“Hello, your highness the crown prince.” She greeted as she turned around and smile while still standing on the railing.

“Come down, Ms. Esther. Are you trying to kill yourself?” He asked directly.

“What? Of course not, your highness. My apologies.” She jumped and landed on the floor. “But, your highness, why are you here?” She added in confusion.

“What happened?” He inquired after observing her situation.

“Nothing happened, your highness.”

“Don’t lie. You’re pathetic at it.” Her kind smile remained as she laughed softly.

“Your highness is sharp. Yes, something happened, but it’s not serious.” She answered truthfully. Helios sighed and looked at her.

“Do you know me?” He asked her.

“Yes? Yes, your highness. You are the crown prince.”

“And?”

“The most powerful, your highness.” She added feeling nervous.

“Yes, you’re correct. Do you know that I can end the bullying you’re experiencing right now? Just a word from me and those bastards will stop the s**t they’re doing. That’s how powerful I am.”

Absolute authority, that’s what he’s talking about. He is the crown prince not to mention that he’s insanely strong (like what he’s claiming) yet he just can’t understand why the woman in front of her is not asking for his help. ‘With one word, I can change her life, so why?’ He thought.

“What your highness said is true, however, there’s nothing to be worried about. The truth is, I want to ask your highness’ favor.” She asked shyly.

“What is it?” He asked further. Her smile widens and her eyes sparkled like diamonds under the light. She clapped her hands in bliss as she answered.

“Please ignore me, your highness.” Helios’s eyes widen a little and his breathing stopped for a while. What did she just say to him? “Pretend that I don’t exist, like I’m a dead person. I would be very grateful to your highness.”

“Are you, insane?”

---

Athena is sitting on a bench while pondering the things she’s experiencing right now. Does she slowly turn into a wicked person? But she doesn’t want to let someone stole what’s hers. ‘No. I am not wrong. I did what was right, it’s better than that girl is out of our lives.’ She muttered to herself.

“Athena?” Someone called her. She raised her head and saw a guy with ash-gray hair and hazel eyes. It’s Ethan. “You seemed in deep thought.”

“Ah, Ethan, please take a sit.” She moved a little to the left and let the man take a seat beside her. They watched the sunset together silently. “Ethan, have you fell in love before?” She asked suddenly.

“No, and I don’t want to.” He answered truthfully.

“You don’t want to? Why?”

“It’s burdensome, and I had a lot of things to take care of.” He responded. Athena stared at him for a while before taking away her attention to his. Ethan remained looking at the sunset when he suddenly asked her,

“How did you fall in love with the crown prince?”

“I don’t know. I just felt it.”

“You know he doesn’t love you right?” He asked directly to her. She pressed her lips and her eyes flashed pain. ‘This is why I don’t want to fall in love.’ Ethan thought and sighed. “It’s better if you stop hoping already or else you’ll be in great pain.” He muttered.

“I always hear it from anyone else around me, but, I still want to hope for his heart, even if it’s just a little of his affection.”

Ethan remained silent yet burning anger is evident in his eyes as he stared at the darkening sky. He can’t judge Athena nor the crown prince since a human heart is always unpredictable in many ways. Whatever the reason, he still felt annoyed and angry.

­­"That’s so, stupid.” He mumbled. Athena heard him and chuckled at the fact he just mentioned. She admitted it now to herself. Whatever it is, she can’t give up, even if her pride will shatter.

---

Upon hearing the crown prince’s words, she let out a soft laugh.

“I was just kidding your highness. I apologize.”

“Why are you always making yourself suffer? Whatever it is, I’m going to end this bullshit.”

“But why?”

“What?”

“Why are you doing this, your highness?” She stared at the crown prince. The sun finally set and darkness enveloped the world once again. She smiled at him. “I am just someone who doesn’t have anything to be given to your highness’ kindness.”

Helios pressed his lips and remain staring at her. Her eyes were sparkling and her smile remain gentle.

“I hope, your highness will respect the line I drew.”

“Line?”

“Yes. A reminder of my lowly position.”

The crown prince let out a small laugh and sweep his bloody red hair. His eyes were burning like hellfire but the woman in front of him remained calm.

“Suit yourself, weakling.” He insulted and turn his back away from her. “Don’t dare to show your devastated self in front of me.” He added sharply and walked away, not even glancing behind him.

***