Chapter 181 - Meeting Him Again

This is the awaited romance! :D

The welcome party was very warm and lively. Even at midnight, students were still brimming with energy. Students chattered to themselves and there wasn't any restriction nor etiquette to be followed. Some chose to group themselves with those in their social spectrum. Some nobles chided to keep to themselves whilst others chose to interact.

Faustina yawned. It was already past two in the morning and some already began to head back to their rooms. Leviticus and Michelle already bid farewell to her, leaving Faustina and Anakin together into the same table. 

Never did Faustina think of Anakin actually being like this. Maybe she was too quick in judgment? Faustina turned to Anakin, who was looking at the other students showing their magic to each other. Everything was warm and fun. Anakin turned his head towards her. "What is it?" He asked.

Faustina only smiled.

"Don't you find this pleasant, Lord Anakin?"

Anakin only stared at Faustina for a brief moment until he turned his head back to stare at the vicinity. 

"Yes. I do," He answered. "It's oddly peaceful."

It was. Faustina was actually feeling the same. Everything was so peaceful and exciting at the same time. Coming into school and having your own dorm feels like you become your own person.

Faustina, who came from a place where people decided what she was and how she should live her life made her lose track of who she actually was. Coming to the capital, coming here, being a student where she was just referred to as 'Faustina'… it felt as if this was her true self.

Anakin, too. She had never seen him looking this content, as if a heavy weight on his shoulder was lifted. After the exam, he was called by the professors—and when he came back he seemed… change. Whatever they told him, Faustina was certain, it was for his own good.

There wasn't an air around him that made Faustina want to obey. Now he was just any other student. 

"I'm going back to my room," Anakin exclaimed as he stood up. "What about you… Lady Faustina?"

Faustina looked around. There wasn't anyone she could possibly talk to anymore, and she was already exhausted (even if she still feels excited). Faustina stood up, and then smoothed out her dress.

"I'll be going too."

They were on two different wings. East is where the rooms for the girls are located, and on the west are males. But other than that, they were pretty much heading in the same direction. Anakin, out of noble etiquette, laid his hand to hers. Faustina, who was trained by the best etiquette teacher, automatically dr.a.p.ed her hand to Anakin's. The two of them noticed what they did just after a student's sudden explosive magic.

"O-oh," Faustina blinked, having to draw away her hand.

"I'm sorry," Anakin averted his eyes. "Force of habit."

Faustina only nodded.

"Now then, shall we go?"

**

Faustina closed the door of her room behind her as she leaned upon its wood. She sighed in both relief and exhaustion.

She still can't believe it all happened in a day. That was how time and space in the dungeon worked. It was as if in there—in the Dark Castle—time had stopped. What seemed like several hours for them were just mere seconds or minutes to the academy. Faustina remembered the undead royals.

The undead prince.

They all looked like they were in disdain… especially the undead prince.

'I don't want to be in the darkness again,'

If they were indeed the souls of those who were cursed a thousand years ago, then they were trapped in an endless loop of hell. Faustina doubts that Magierstadt could free them from the curse. But to use them as the 'monsters' for an exam…

That was just plain cruel.

Faustina stared at the opened windows. Every dormitory had its own set of islands. Around them were the vast seas. Faustina sauntered her way towards the windows and then walked past the curtains as she headed towards the balcony. She then opened the arched, glass double door. The ocean breeze felt good to her face. It was gold and crisp as a fresh apple. There was a hint of saltiness to it as well. 

There were stars, still. Faustina stared at the vast ocean before her. She then stepped away from her sandals. She had missed this. The feeling of being barefoot. The terrace rails were the only ones separating her from falling to the sea. The island was high on the sea after all. And to get on the island students must cross over a bridge. 

This was her new home now.

Faustina then unwrapped the ribbon around her waist. The first layer of the dress fell down to the floor. Soon she was just wearing her nightgown. The ocean waves could be heard from the balcony. 

"I'm really here…"

Faustina still couldn't believe it. 

She passed the test.

Faustina missed writing letters to Eula. With all the happenstances that occurred to her life, she didn't have the time to sit down and write.

Faustina then fixated her gaze to the skies. Perhaps she could write to the constellations. Tell the distant stars about what happened to her. She doubts the skies would care, but Eula—for sure—she would make a fuss about it. Faustina wiped the tears on the corner of her eyes. 

She shouldn't cry now.

She had reached this far. There was no way she should cry.

'In Folkmanor's stories, there is called 'Romeo and Juliet'. It is a tragic love story about two lovers who are the victims of fate. The young man Romeo would get into Juliet's balcony to take a glimpse of her, and there—in secret—they expressed their love.'

Faustina blinked.

A silhouette.

Faustina took a step back in surprise. The suddenness made her fall—but 'he' instantly caught her in his arms.

"Faustina," sapphire eyes glinted against the night. Platinum-blond threads that were akin to golden threads swaying from the sea breeze.

"Y-Your… majesty?"

The king stared at Faustina's surprised expression. Her lips were parted, and her eyes were wide. The king's lips curved into a small, gentle smile. And then, tentatively he let go of her until he had stepped unto the ground.

Faustina still couldn't believe what she was seeing. Was she dreaming? 

Why is the king on her balcony?

The king was wearing a well-embellished tunic with goldwork thread as a basic dress. Also, he had worn a surcoat that displayed the emblem of the Firehawk, depicting the long history of the Feuersturm Empire. His clothes weren't the same as the ones he had worn in the castle which was also composed of fur and large robes. It was now similar to one of the High Knights. He also had his translucent blade—the sword of Feuersturm—strapped against his waist. 

The king's other hand, the one he hadn't used as a support for Faustina's fall, now evoked a bouquet. He had drawn the bouquet which was hidden behind him now, and had given it to Faustina.

"Congratulations, my fair maiden." He said. "For passing the exams."

Faustina accepted the flowers. They were a batch of roses. Somehow it made her think of something that was familiar. A blurry memory of roses, greenhouse, and the king.

"T-thank you, Your Majesty," Faustina tried to bow, but she was stopped short by the king. 

The king shook his head, and then smiled warmly.

"You don't need to bow yourself before me," he exclaims. "Because you are my savior. You are the one to sustain my life."

Faustina blinked. She still wasn't thinking straight—why was the king here? And just how did he get in here? Those questions were clearly painted in Faustina's face to the point that even without asking, her message was relayed to the king wide and clear.

"Faustina," the king then wrapped his hand around Faustina's, enclosing her hand around the warmth of his palms. The size of their hands marked a difference. His wider and stronger fingers and her delicate ones. He was also taller than her. Despite his gentle features, he looked strong.

"I'm here because I know you would not tell me about you, passing the exams." The king exclaimed as he held Faustina's hand tentatively. His sapphire eyes—blue and bright like the ocean—stared at Faustina intently. 

"You can tell me everything," the king then leaned down to Faustina's hand and then kissed the back of her palms as he closed his eyes. "You can tell me whatever it is on your mind."

Faustina felt her heartbeat going erratic as the king's sharp gaze narrowed down to her. He looked strained, almost pained, but not quite so. He still looked as gentle as ever, but there was something else in the king that threw her heartbeat's rhythm into disarray.

His lips kissed the back of her palms and then traveled unto her slender yet delicate and small fingers. He did this without his eyes leaving hers.

"I am here, Faustina." The king exclaimed as he stared intently in her eyes. "You can tell me things other than reports about your task. I want to listen to whatever turmoil you have overcome. I want to know more about you."

"Your Majesty…"

"Faustina, I don't want Orwell to be the only one you are running to," the king then kissed both of her hands without breaking his gaze. "I am here. I can listen too."