Chapter 144 - Beautiful Curse

"Sister....do you understand what I mean?" 

"Ash it's late I should return now..." Irene said to Ash as she turned around and walked between the crowd of people until she reached the Iris palace with a cold look on her face and a trembling heart inside.

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"This can't be...How can something like this happen..." Irene murmered under her breath as she sat on her bed with her doors and windows shut down.

"Irene, won't you have dinner today?" Rose who was sent by the others to call her for dinner knocked at the door but received no response.

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"Irene?" She called for her again while knocking at the door.

"Rose, I don't feel like eating today..." Irene said as she opened her door slightly.

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"Why? Are you feeling sick? Should I call for the physician?" 

"No, No, No....there is no need for that I just ate a lot at the ceremony so I am full. Don't worry about me and go have your dinner." 

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With that Irene closed her door as Rose who already felt that something was wrong with her left quietly as she was in no position to mender in her affairs.

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"Is she sick again?" Violet who was just returning to her room asked as she looked at Rose who shook her head.

"She is just not hungry, how about you? Would you like to have dinner?" 

"Yeah, I am starving." Saying that both of them walked downstairs where everyone was already having their own food.

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"What happened to Lady Winter is she skipping dinner?" Lady Hilton asked as she ate a slice of her boiled broccoli.

"Yeah, seems so," Rose answered as she was about to take the first bite when Lady Maple suddenly asked her a question.

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"Lady Willson, did we perhaps make her mad?" 

Hearing her day that Rose was in deep thought too.

"I don't think she will skip food for some small disagreements especially with us." Princess Sofia who sat beside Lady Maple said while sipping onto her favourite juice sent by the Prince himself (Brazen).

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"Is that so...then who in the world did make her mad?" She murmered under her breath which was audible to Lady Coral sitting beside her.

"Lady Winter and Mad!" She said in a shocked expression.

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"Why are so shocked she is a human too isn't it normal for her to be angry?" lady Hilton said while shrugging but not everyone was agreeing with her.

"Lady Hilton you don't understand it. Lady Winter since childhood has been calm and collected with a bright aura but suddenly dark clouds surrounding her and such a scary look on her face makes it very abnormal!" lady coral says as the rest agree with her.

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"That's very weird, the last time I saw her she was with her brother and then she suddenly walked away and returned to her room without a word. Do you think it is related to her brother?" Lady Astor who has been listening to their words said as she took a bite f her pasta.

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"That's weird Irene and Ashton rarely fight and Irene never shutters her down like this unless..." Rose said as her eyes widened and Violet kept down her spoon, both of them looked at each other but didn't say anything.

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"Okay okay, it's her family matter just eat your food whatever it is she can figure it out herself." Lady Hilton said as she told everyone to eat their food although she too was curious about what happened to her but sometimes curiosities must be kept within oneself as it may have the other.

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"Ash! Ash!" 

"Huh, yes father?" Ash who was daydreaming respondent to Raymond after he poked his cheeks.

"Where is your mind? And today did you say something wrong to Irene?" He asked Ash in an angry tone.

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"Father, what do you mean?" 

"I saw you two talking when suddenly Irene left you there alone and she looked quite in a bad mood," Raymond said as Ash took a deep breath.

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"Father that I....*hesitates for a bit*...I just told sister about what will happen if I don't get admitted to the royal academy and she just got upset from it... it's all my fault for bringing up all this..." Ash said as he looked outside the window and not sure if what he was saying was true or not still Raymond believed him.

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"Don't worry your sister is a strong-willed girl, she might feel a bit restless now but I can be 100% sure that she would be the first to come in aid for you," Raymond said while patting his head as Ash let out a small smile on his face.

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"Yeah...she will always be my aid..." Ash said as he felt dang on his heart.

"Don't think much and go to bed now. It's quite late." Raymond advised Ashton who obediently did as he said and went to his room.

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As Raymond heard the door of Ash room being closed he walked towards the room where Mellisa was still in Coma. 

She is his eyes looked the same as the day they first meet although with time her one or two grey hair have started to show up.

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"Mellisa, how have you been? *sits bear her and takes her hand in his* I told you before about Irene becoming a candidate right...today she had her inauguration ceremony and I saw your reflection on her. She is becoming more and more like you. Be it in words or face.

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She looked so pretty today I am sure you would have been in tears if you saw her.....but Mellisa I am worried...our children are growing up with lots of secrets in their hearts which I don't dare to ask about.

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These kids probably think I don't know when they are lying to me but I am their father I know every facial reaction of their and I can't help but chuckle at those faces who try to fool me and become worried hoping that they aren't in any trouble." He talked and talked until a gust of wind touched his face.

When he did his eyes he saw the window being open hence he stood up and closed it down.

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"Looks like your window is broken, I told the servants to keep check of all this but they still are so forgetful," He said as he glanced at Mellisa who despite him being so noisy showed no sign of reaction which was painful for him to see.

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"Seems like you are still tired, then sleep well I won't disturb you anymore." He said with a smile on his face and went out of the room and walked towards his own room which was dead silent as if no one...not even a single soul was there.

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"Ha...I never thought that silence can be so suffocating..." He said while lying down on his bed without opening his eyes as tears rolled down his left eye.

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"Woah, how old am I? Crying like this....but then again no matter what the age is loneliness is loneliness." He said as he wiped his tears and released he didn't close his door yet so he lazily stood from his bed and closed the door properly

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Meanwhile, Ash who heard and saw his father in such a state was walking back to his room absent-mindedly as he looked at his reflection in the mirror a smile came on his face...a smile which was more like sarcastic.

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"Ashton what are you doing? Why can't you see others! Ever since sitar has gone the house has become all dull and depressing that even gathering is being affected by it...and you being a coward just ran away from there in place of comforting him. Just what a son you are!" He mocked himself as he angrily glared at his reflection.

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"Just why....why..." He murmured before taking his sword and running towards the inside training room, being frustrated he trained there till the morning and before anyone could comet I know about it he went back and pretended to sleep although he didn't feel even a bit of sleepy.

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"(I wonder how sister is doing now....if I remember correctly she didn't look good after hearing all I wanted to say...but the truth is bound to come out isn't it...)" He thought while closing his eyes and soon after Hana came to wake him up.

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Meanwhile in the Iris Palace,

Irene who didn't eat anything last night woke up early today and had her breakfast before others and then again shutter herself in her room.

"What's wrong with her?" Princess sofa who was now worried about her weird behaviour said while cutting her steak harshly.

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"Princess Sofia, please don't mind her. She must be feeling homesick.." Lady Hilton tried to coax her said as she smiled at her but it didn't really work as everyone was now bothered and worried about her sudden change in mood which was affecting everyone like a beautiful curse.