Chapter 140 - One of Them

Ah, it's that dream again.

Alexandra found herself in the middle of a vast and open field. The breeze was cool and gentle as it caressed her skin, Alexandra couldn't help but close her eyes and enjoyed the peace she was currently having. It was peaceful and silent, the atmosphere was relaxing and calming. She was aware that she was currently dreaming but it feels like she isn't, it felt real.

Usually, as far as she can remember, her dreams were all weird and unbelievable. There would cars flying inside her dream or fishes walking on the soil. It was way too weird that she couldn't forget it easily. But now, she was currently experiencing something peaceful, something, relaxing, something, comforting. It felt like she already experienced this before but when?

Amidst of her enjoying her peaceful moment, she heard a melody. No, a voice. A gentle and sweet voice singing a song that resonated and echoed inside the place. It was a familiar voice but she can't remember where she heard it. Everything inside this dream felt way too real and familiar as if I already experienced this before, she thought to herself and she looked around the place, trying to look where the voice came from.

"In a world far away,

where flowers are blooming beautifully,

where peace lies in everyone's heart,

where love exists,"

The voice sounded so distant yet so loud, it was ringing inside her ears but it didn't bother her, rather it felt like the voice was comforting her. She continued to roam her eyes around the place as she listened to the song the voice was singing.

"Come, my darling,

in this place, you call home,

where you are free,

where darkness and light are equal,"

She remembered singing that song before. At the lake, when Harrison took her out and they waited for the winter star to appear in the night sky. But her voice couldn't be compared with the voice that she is currently hearing now, it is sort of more beautiful and melodic. However, no matter where she looks around, she couldn't find anything. It was as if she was imagining the voice inside her head but she knows she isn't.

"Who are you?!" She shouted, however, her voice sounded low like a whisper. As if something there was something preventing her to make her voice louder, something was blocking it. She knitted her eyebrows, all of these are making me confused and annoyed.

"This is the home,

which was lost,

yet found,

buried in everyone's minds,

engraved in their hearts,"

Then she looked behind her, it felt like her world was in slow-motion when she turned her head and looked behind. Her gem-like blue eyes which resembled the deep ocean met a pair of enchanting blue ones that looked like the color of the sky in the morning or the color of the beautiful sea. Platinum blonde hair that flowed past her shoulders, her hair looked so silky and smooth. Porcelain skin, small face, a warm gaze. A tender smile plastered across her soft pink lips, her expression gentle.

She was wearing a white dress that has long sleeves and flowed past her knees, covering almost her whole body yet she still looked beautiful in that. She was slender yet tall. In addition to that, she was also beautiful and pretty. She looked young like she was in her mid-20s. She opened her mouth to speak but the words that she first spoke were inaudible and Alexandra could only understand these words:

"…O sweet daughter of mine,"

Then she was already back to reality.

--

A month has passed.

Time was definitely way too fast when you have many things to do. It felt like it was still a week ago when she met one of the Elders. Yes, she met them and the encounter was sort of unexpected and she wasn't prepared for it. It happened 3 weeks ago. She still remembered going to her father's office and saw a man who looked like he is in his mid-20s sitting casually on one of the couches and speaking to her father with no signs of respect.

--~--

"Where are we heading, young miss? I thought I already told you that his highness, your father, already canceled your plans for the tea party because he has things to do inside his office," Carlos said as she followed Alexandra behind her as they climbed up the stairs. "To Father's office, I don't have anything to do anyways since Ferdinand is taking a day off. Besides, I have something to talk about with papa!" Alexandra said in a cheerful tone of voice as she climbed up. There was a grin across her face as anxiety and excitement crept up to her as she got near the floor her father's office can be found.

"I see," Was what he only said and he followed Alexandra quietly. Their walk to the office was peaceful and silent as nobody dared to speak. But the atmosphere that surrounded them was relaxing. Not more than 10 minutes, they finally arrived in front of the wooden door of his office. As usual, Carlos was the one who knocked on the door. He knocked three times before he spoke, "Your highness, the young miss, Alexandra is here to see you," Was what he said and seconds later, they heard a voice coming from the inside.

"Come in," That voice, it belongs to her father. Carlos held the knob of the door before he twisted it and gently swung the door open, slowly revealing the insides of the room. Alexandra peaked her head out and looked inside before she walked in with a smile on her lips. "Papa!" She called out to the man who was sitting behind the desk while holding a fountain pen in his hand. She grabbed his attention, making him lift his head and look at her with his same cold and sharp gaze which became gentle as soon as their eyes met. Besides him, Lysander was standing still quietly like a stone statue.

He stood up from his seat as he pressed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger. He was tired of staring at the documents and reading them. Alexandra appeared at the right time, it's not bad to take a break for a while. Alexander walked around the desk and was standing in front of it now, he held his arms open and bent down. Oh, this is new, she thought to herself as the expression on her face brightened. She ran towards him, her arms wide open, indicating that she is going to hug him. "Young miss, please be careful. You might trip," Carlos said as he watched Alexandra run towards the open arms of her father.

Her father wrapped her arms around her and carried her inside his arms just like what he used to do before. It has been so long since somebody carried me like this because I would usually refuse them and would like to walk. It would be harder to escape or run off somewhere if they are carrying me, she thought to herself.

"What brings you here? Did Carlos didn't tell you that I canceled our plans for today?" Was what he said as if he was annoyed by her presence when he isn't. "I wanted to see you and I have something to ask you!" Alexandra said in a loud and cheerful voice, a wide grin plastered across her face which looked like it reached her ears. Just before one of them could speak, they heard a voice coming from their side.

"Oh, who might this be, Claudiel? Is this your daughter?" The voice sounded manly and deep, Alexandra and her father turned their head around to the direction of the voice and saw a man, a young one to be exact, sitting casually on one of the couches. His feet raised and placed on top of the table. Alexandra's eyes widened as she heard his manner of speaking and how he looked right now. Is he an idiot? My father doesn't tolerate things like this, this is a completely disrespecting him.

She looked at her father's expression and saw that he looked completely relaxed and okay with it. Alexandra was now confused. "Sir Friyedor, I told you that don't call me with the use of my second name and please, sit properly. There are still other people inside the room, just to let you know," Was what her father said and the man stood up, a grin across his face. Sir Friyedor? Sounds like a fried door for me, she thought to herself as she watched him walk towards their direction. "What about it? It's not like they don't know that we aren't close anyway. You are already like a grandson for me," The male responded as he walked towards them.

"As you can see, I am holding my daughter right now and it would be really bad if she copied you just because she saw you sitting like that. Kids like her are easily influenced by other people especially to elders since they think that they are doing the right thing so they are copying them," Her father responded and hugged Alexandra tighter. Oh, this is completely new. Her father was acting like a real father right now.

"Oh come on, it's not like your daughter is that dumb and stupid if she tried to copy me. I am sure that she was taught some manners by the maids at her palace, right? Besides, I know that she is a smart girl and she can differentiate right from wrong. All of you, the members of the Everly Bloodline, are smart and powerful even when they are just 3 years old. But I wonder if she is as powerful as them since she is a girl. She might be the same as the other girls," His last sentence was a mumble but they were still able to hear it. It doesn't mean since she was a girl, she is as dumb or weak as other people. Ferdinand, Lysander, Isabella, Rowan, and other people can prove to him that, she was as smart as her eldest brother.

"Please don't use such vulgar words," Alexander said and let out a sigh. The man just let out a loud laugh, "I see that you became close with your daughter. Really, you are unexpected and confusing sometimes. Anyways, I must have scared you seeing that you are clenching Claude's clothes tightly," He said and looked at Alexandra's hand who was holding onto her father's shirt tightly. She unconsciously did it while she watched him speak in front of them.

She loosened up her grip and she could see the wrinkles because of her clenching it tightly that was on her father's shirt. Alexander let out a sigh once again, "Alexandra, meet Sir Friyedor, one of the Elders," Alexander introduced his daughter to the man in front of them. Eh? One of the Elders? Alexandra blinked multiple times as she stared at the man. This man is one of the elders? That group filled with powerful and strong people despite their age. The one who helps her father when it comes to making decisions? He is one of those? I thought it would be someone sort of mature or someone like Lysander, she thought to herself.

"I bet she doesn't believe that I am one of the Elders. Well, you can't judge a book by its cover anyway. Despite my young and good-looking appearance, I am actually already 189 years old," He said and smiled at Alexandra who was staring at him. "A-Ah, nice to meet you. I am Alexandra Alice Elizabeth Everly, turning 8 this year," Alexandra said and bowed her head to show respect.

"Gosh, she's so cute and small! Can I hold her for a second? Please, Claude?" He pleaded, showing the emperor his cute puppy eyes. But despite that, his efforts were still in vain as Alexander refused to hand Alexandra to him. "I refuse. Besides, Alexandra isn't that comfortable when others especially strangers or the people she just met would carry her. She isn't a baby who you could just easily carry," He said. Friyedor just pouted and clicked his tongue, even if he persuades the man in front of him any further, he would still refuse.

"Fine. Anyways, does she have any friends?" Somehow, that was quite offending for Alexandra, she doesn't know why. Alexander furrowed his eyebrows and before he could speak, Alexandra interrupted him. "I do have. They are many of them, the people working inside this palace and my palace, my knight, and also a student at the academy. Although he rarely comes because he is busy with the academy," Alexandra said.

"Well, that's good that you have a friend who is near your age but he rarely visits you, right? That must be sad and lonely. Don't worry, I am going to send someone to you. I am sure you are going to like that person. That means you will have another friend. Isn't that fun?" He said and smiled at Alexandra who had her eyebrows knitted because of confusion. What does he mean by that? Is he going to find someone for me? That's really thoughtful of him but I think I am okay with my situation right now.

Before either of them could speak, the man spoke. "Well, I am going now. I still have many things to do," And within just a blink of an eye, he disappeared and vanished into thin air. Kinda reminds her of Harrison when he leaves the room or something. Alexander just let out a sigh.