Most Trusted Guardian
1016 Words
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“I'm awfully weak,” says Mila.
Darius reasons, “It's just you haven't trained for a while, my lady. I was fortunate that I have a lot of free time.”
“Yeah, I'm envious.” She narrows her eyes but her face brightens when she takes a look at her sister.
Aurelia frowns at Darius and punches his side when he passes by. “I told you to hold back!” she grumbles.
“Sorry,” he apologizes, pushing her wheelchair. They head back to the palace on Mila's clouds.
“I'll make you pay later.”
“It's okay, Aurelia,” says Mila. “I wouldn't have learned anything if Darius held back.”
He smirks at Aurelia but she elbows his stomach. “You're lucky, Lady Mila is here,” he whispers near Aurelia's ear.
They go on their separate ways because Mila still has work to do in her office. Piles of paperwork are waiting for her. She frowns as she takes a bath, washing off the dirt in her hair and body.
“I miss you so much, Leo,” she says to herself. She feels like she's crying but her tears are getting washed off by the shower.
“Mila?” asks Aurelia, entering the bathroom in her wheelchair she controls using her power.
“Oh, Aurelia,” Mila stirs, forcing herself to smile. “Why are you here? I thought you're with Hera and Darius.”
“Darius has been called all of a sudden. Are you okay?”
“I am.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” she smiles genuinely. “Wanna take a bath with me?” Aurelia nods.
Mila helps her sister get into the tub and fills it with hot water. Aurelia sighs, feeling relaxed but it doesn't make her forget about how strange her sister is acting. Mila is brushing her golden hair right now.
“You still miss him, don't you?” Aurelia asks, Mila stops brushing her hair for a moment then continues.
“You got me,” she says.
“Let's find him.”
“No, we can't. We have duties to our people.”
“If you say so...,” Aurelia gives so soon.
An hour later, Mila is in her office, her headache getting more painful every time she checks a paper. This goes on for days and days. All she does is nothing but treat the papers on her table as if they have life, valuable enough to be treated carefully like children.
On a particular day, her left hand is touching her forehead and the other is stamping and flipping the papers. Then from behind, a familiar hand touches her cheek. She closes her eyes, trying to feel it on her skin as long as she likes.
“You've been working so hard, haven't you, Mila?” he asks.
She doesn't need to ask who this is, nor need to turn around to confirm. “Oh, Leo...,” she sobs. “I'm so tired.” Her tears pour out. “And I miss you... so much!”
“It's okay,” he says as kind as the first breeze of spring. “But right now, I need your help.” Then the words she longed to hear from him, he speaks, “I... love... y-”
She opens her eyes, realizing it was a dream. Her left cheek is against the table. Some of the papers got wet because of her tears. It's dark now and the moonlight from the huge window behind her is illuminating the whole room. Crickets are chirping louder than the birds can do during the day. The fireflies dance in the garden outside, shaming the twinkling stars.
Still sniffling, she mutters, “The documents... they got wet. I could get in trouble! I...” She stops, covers her face with her hands, and cries even more. “Stop crying!” she commands herself but to no avail. She can't hold back her tears. “He said he will return to you! You just have to trust and wait for him! Don't be stupid! Have faith-”
An odd piece of paper among the documents catches her attention. It is barely covered by a damp document. She's careful enough not to tear the document and the piece of paper. The paper is a page from a notebook and there's terrible writing on it. The ink has been smudged because of her tears. However, the inscription is readable.
It says,
“Dear, Lady Mila, Your boyfriend is in your realm. Come and give him a warm kiss. Sincerely, your most trusted guardian of the Underworld.”
“Giuseppe?” she mutters, looking all around the room. No one's here but her.
There's no need to question the letter. She believes, without a doubt, that Leo is in her realm. She can feel him dwelling in the Underworld as well as in her heart. It's like she never felt tired after days of stamping countless papers that don't seem to be running out soon. She leaves the table and her office as quietly as she can.
In the halls, she tries to walk normally without causing attention. There are servants in the hall for night duties. They greet her as she passes by. She acts as she usually does, acknowledging their effort in greeting her.
In the dead of night, she sneaks out of the palace, ensuring that no one spotted her. She concludes her success when she's now in the forest behind the palace. She's looking at it one more time, remembering the responsibilities she's gonna leave behind. Then she looks up at the moon, sighing when she remembers that time she spent with Leo on the beach under the moonlight.
“The moon sure is beautiful tonight, Mila,” says someone she knows.
“Aurelia,” she sighs, turning around. Her sister is walking on two legs, wearing her gauntlets. Darius and Hera are with her too. “What are you guys doing here?”
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- Writer
