The Princess'choice II

Struabus 2

Emmett

I walked ahead with Lizzy listening to her stories about what happened while we were away. I stole a glance from time to time at Elidi. Although she had her hair chestnut brown now, for me she was the same. As she walked through the garden I imagined her in a nice dress, when the roses bloom. Chatting with Lizzy, dancing in the pouring rain, laughing carelessly. My imagination almost felt like a memory, but I was brought out of my fantasies when I heard my brother say.

- Listen Elidi, I love you! - Sébastien said to Elidi while their arms were locked together. Her eyes widened and I felt anger. Deep, dark, disgusting anger towards my brother. All I could do was shout at them.

- WHAT?! - both of them turned towards me and Sébastien got goosebumps for a second. He released Elidi's arm and I marched to them. I stood between Elidi and my brother and I asked.

- What did you just say? - Sébastien looked terrified even if he was older, and taller than I. His brown eyes tried to look into both of mine at the same time which caused their nervous jumping.

- Calm down Emmett, we were joking! - he said in a low voice. Suddenly a sharp pain in my right shoulder brought me to my senses. I groaned in pain and bend to the side. I looked behind me and saw Elidi gripping my shoulder and deepening her nails into me.

- We need to talk, but not now. - she said and released me hurrying after Maya and Conrad. Lizzy ran to us and we both watched as Elidi walked into the castle.

- What happened? - Lizzy asked and I couldn't answer. I didn't know.

-Get yourself together Emmett, we will soon meet father and mother. - Lizzy said and I nodded heading inside.

Sébastien

Elidi saw her attack from the previous life. Seeing what she experienced as if I was the one made me feel trapped. Suddenly she chuckled and with a sweet smile said.

- It is not a really nice thing to read people's mind without consent. - She knows? How? Does she remember? I took a step back and looked into her eyes. She looked like her disguise on the night of the ball. I could still remember as if it was yesterday, when in reality it was more than 30 years ago, in an another world.

- Berke? - I asked and she grimaced a bit before she tilted her head and asked back.

- Who? - I had to cough to hide my nervousness. She doesn't remember neither does Emmett.

- Nothing, you just look similar to an old friend of mine. But your Highness doesn't look at all as the rumors say. - Emmett chuckled.

- You'll see brother soon! Let's go in. - he held Lizzy's hand and walked ahead with her, chatting happily. Conrad offered an arm to Maya and I stood next to Elidi. She watched somehow sadly after Emmett and Lizzy. I offered her my arm and tried to cheer her up.

- Looks like you have to be happy with the leftovers. - she chuckled and accepted my arm. It was very strange. I have never looked at her as a man usually looks at a woman. Berke was a really good friend of mine since the first moment. She understood my point of view and protected us with literally her last breaths. I missed my friend and was a bit disappointed that she didn't remember me.

- Shouldn't we keep the formalities? - she asked and a smile spread on my face as nostalgia hit me.

- We are friends, there is no need for formalities. - I said the same I did to her when she asked still as Berke the exact same thing.

- Just friends? - she asked playfully and I felt that old connection awakening. She might not be the same, but somewhere, she is my friend.

- I thought there was something more between us! - she huffed dramatically and I had to join her!

- Listen Elidi, I love you! - I said with faked sincerity and after that everything accelerated. In the next moment I was left alone with Lise.

- What was all of that about? - she asked and I shook my head.

- We were joking! I saw a memory of hers, the one of that night. But she doesn't remember us. I tried to confirm. Yet, she acts like when she was Berke. Nostalgia took the best of me. That's when Emmett marched there. Lizzy, I swear, he was about to hit me. His eyes darkened and I saw that madness we saw on our last night. - Lizzy looked pensive and said.

- Let's meet with Conrad and find out what we know for now. - I followed her and soon we found Conrad in his favorite spot at the castle. Sitting in a huge tainted window, in the back of the library, but this time he wasn't alone. The maid, who joined Elidi was with him. At our sight he jumped off of the window and skipped to Lizzy spinning her around. She hugged him and I heard them whisper to each other I missed you. I clapped my hands together and they jumped away as two little birds. It was so much fun teasing these two. Conrad greeted me as well.

- If you plan to spin me around as well, don't. I've had enough of the surprises today. - I said and we shook hands grinning.

- Anna, Sébastien, her name is Maya. She used to be my maid and mother instead of my own. Now she is at Elidi's side. - Maya bowed a bit for us and giggled.

- Same duty, different master. But to be frank, the lady had an even tougher life than you did Conrad. - all of our eyes widened and Maya pat a chair next to her.

-Take a seat, it will be a long story.