Chapter 468 - Cliff and Jay

-Three Years Later at Harland-

Late at night, the car stop at the bas.e.m.e.nt parking lot a handsome young man with tan skin and short clean cut raid hair exit the car, he has a stoic expression with blue Tosca eyes make his expression colder. He only wears jeans, a v-neck t-shirt, and a black raincoat. The car beeping as he locks the car automatically then he enters the elevator.

He push the button 42nd floors, then he heard the sound of robotic female "Confirm your identity"

"Arch Knight, Radcliff Ecquillan," he said.

"Identity confirmed" the robotic female answer then the elevator moves. 

Clift leans on the wall while both his hand hides in raincoat pocket, he looks down as he waits, a few seconds later the sound of 'Ding' resound, he exits the elevator then stride to an empty room, the room is dimmed only a few lamp lights on, the coffee table was filthy with a bunch of empty noodle cup, there are a blanket and pillow scattered on the sofa, someone seems used this place as a living quarter.

The cable wire is everywhere, the giant screen place on the wall showing all CCTV at Herriond, there also mother computer in every corner making beeping sounds but there's only one chair in front of the giant screen. Cliff pinches the bridged of his eyes as he witnesses the messed his best friend created.

Then he sees a fancy box among the noodle cup, the box is pink and tied with lace so it sticks out right away like a sore thumb. He took the box, he examined the box and his expression become gloomy. He took the box then walk to emergency stairs, he climbs the stairs to the rooftop, he opens the door and the cold wind immediately greeted him harshly.

He squints his eyes as he searches for someone then he found him sitting on the ledged with his back hunch and a few cans of beer beside him. Cliff sighs heavily he walks calmly to the ledged he took one of the beer can and seat on the ledged next to the man. Their feet dangling on the air but none of them look scared but instead, they look sad.

Cliff put the box between them "You bought this?" he said while open the box, inside the box, there were macaroons in every shape and color, it looks cute, he knew exactly who loves this kinda things, someone with long bluish hair and beautiful purple eyes.

The hoodie cover his messy blonde hair but it didn't hide his handsome boyish looks, he fixed his gaze to the sparkling light below him without bothering to look at cliff "It just a habit, I bought it then I realize the one I bought it for was not here anymore…."

Cliff takes one of the macaroons then he takes a bite, it's overly sweet but it feel bitter on his tongue "Hm…I bought a ticket to the festival too, I even called her number then I realize she will never pick up the phone anymore…." he make a wry smiles.

"It scary isn't it, it's been three years but the habit isn't died down yet" Jay lift his head and gaze to the enormous building in a distance "You know, sometimes I still think she was there, sleeping comfortably in her room waiting to make trouble for the next day" he chuckles but his expression engulfs with sadness.

"Yeah….Lucas still not renovated the west wing of cestine Palace yet?" he suddenly asked. The west wing is where the imperial family lives, Lory room and the late King room was there, it's a place full of memory, Lucas never takes a step into that place anymore since he returns, he lives on the east wing instead where the king office was located, he might sleep there too.

Jay mouth curved down "He doesn't want to be reminded what he had lost, he used the money to rebuild the thirteen district so no one said anything"

"Fred didn't say anything?" Cliff thought as the King advisor he always maintains the King's dignity no matter what. The cestine palace needs to be rebuild to show the King's presence as a way to comfort the mourning citizen.

Jay stifles "he practically raised her other than Luc, he might be the one who takes the hardest blow"

Cliff sigh "You right" he drinks the beer and the bitter swept away the sweetness from his tongue, "I heard Fred has overworked himself" he abruptly said.

"Everyone is drowning themselves in work, don't you do the same" he scoffed "Gathering information from the ladies, get close with the underworld kingpin, the old you will never so that kinda job"

"our Kingdom lack manpower after all" he casually shrugs.

"Who's not, since the 'War end's' over everyone lack of manpower, but not like other country Harland is swarmed wit young blood who wants to join King's men" he grins proudly. Harland didn't need to poach or persuade their people to join their army, they need to send the news and people would come in a jiffy.

"The man and woman of Harland admired the Lucient and they know they own a great debt to the late King and princess, more people would die if not because their protection, their sacrifices is enough to moves the world moreover Harland itself…" Clift said with a bittersweet feeling. secretly he rather lost the whole country than lose Lory and the king. Harland will exist wherever Lucient is but if Lucient gone and so is Harland.

"Hey, do you think we can change it if….if we know beforehand what she about to do" Jay took a glance at Clift.

"Do you ever succeed to stop her plan before?" he returns the question.

Jay pondering for a second then he weakly said "No…."

"You remember when she make a crazy or stupid plan we only try to stop her for a moment and eventually given up" Clift snickered as he recalled when they were young.

Jay let out a long heaved "We can't ever say 'no' to her, aren't we?" he smiles faintly as he remembers a certain princess with mischievous smile popped in his room 'Hey sweety, I have a plan!'

That sentence always make him terrified but now he would give anything to hear her say those words again. he took the macaron from the box, it's a coffee flavor so it not so sweet, she used to spare this flavor for him because he told her once that the real man don't eat sweets and the dense princess gives him this coffee flavor instead.

"How long is it take till this pained gone away…. I miss her very…very much" jay munch the macaroon as the tears roll on his face but he wiped it immediately with his sleeve.

Clift tightens his raincoat because the wind tonight feel colder "It never goes away, we just learned to accept it...one day at the time" he gazes to the night sky who had no stars just a grey cloud.

"That doesn't sound promising" 

"Is not, but we need to be strong…for Luc, he needs us more than ever" he stares at Jay deeply "Lory would want us to do that"

Jay flinches a little, no one dares to say her name since she's gone, as if her name make the lost more apparent but the truth is he missed someone called her name again, Lory not only gives him sad memory she also brings a lot of happiness in his life, she had been a superior, a friend, a comrade, and most of all a family. 

He nods his head with sadden smiles "Yes, Lory would scold us if we don't take good care of Lucas"

"And you remember how long she can scold us, is on and on….it didn't stop" Clift roll his eyes as he joking about Lory.

"Gives her sweet and she would shut up!" Jay chimed in.

Cliff burst to laugh "True!" 

Under the night sky the to man laughing together while remembering their beloved Princess, the manly man share cute macaroons and cans of beer, the night is getting colder and the wind blows harder but they didn't leave the rooftop, they still many memory they want to share….just for tonight let's talk about her with a smile.