Predecessor (2)

“You’re right…” she mumbled, frowning. “Maybe I should never trust anyone.”

“Vessel, if you want, I can teach you every night.”

Valencia flinched, her eyes blinking. She looked at his eyes, checking if he was serious. Her frown curved up into a warm smile.

“Really? You will?”

“Well, my vessel cannot be inferior to the Light one…” Vrastos whispered. Valencia lunged, wrapped her arms around Vrastos, and hugged him tightly. “Hey—”

“Yes! I want to learn!”

Vrastos paused and sighed in relief, hiding his smile.

“And let that pretty boy know that he must give you a designated time and place for yourself to cultivate.”

Valencia pulled away, looking at him with confusion.

“Cultivate?”

“Tell that pretty boy that he owes you this much at least… forcing my vessel to marry him without telling her everything. What a loser like his predecessor.”

Valencia chuckled and nodded, hugging tighter. Vrastos grinned and held her, patting her head.

“Thank you…” Her words were so soft, and an ache in his chest tensed.

He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her away.

“I have to go now!”

“But—”

“Bye!” he said, hiding his flushed face as he walked into his portal and disappeared.

She paused, averting her gaze before letting a smile linger on her face.

“I must return… or else everyone will burn the forest to search for me,” she joked. Then she grabbed her coat and walked down the path to the road.

Valencia continued strolling until she saw the mansion. However, Kael’s horse hurdled by. Kael stopped and dismounted, storming toward her when he caught a glimpse of her. She stopped, frowning. Then—

“Are you okay?” he asked, hugging her.

Valencia tightened her jaw, biting the corner of her bottom lip.

“What else do you know… about my parents?” Valencia asked, forcing herself to stay calm.

Kael clutched her shoulders tightly.

“I just know… that Late His Majesty had erased his very existence. My father went to visit the palace that night… and saw the knights bringing in a body to the dungeon.”

“What?” she pulled away. She looked at him with serious concern.

“It’s like… everyone got brainwashed into believing that your father could have been the one who killed… the late Crown Prince.”

Valencia took a step back, panting. Her face turned pale as she couldn’t breathe steadily.

“My… my father? How?” she asked, her hands trembling.

“All I know is that people knew your father defeated the Demon King… but somehow, after doing so, he killed the late Crown Prince,” Kael revealed.

Valencia glared at him, her body shaking uncontrollably. Kill? If anything, that bastard is the reason why my father is dead! My father probably tried to fight back… why?!

“Calm down…” Vrastos’s voice echoed inside her head.

She flinched, frozen.

“I…”

“I saw them trying to take his aura core, and I unleashed a dagger into that bastard’s heart.”

Valencia cried silently and stared at Kael, who sorrowfully smiled.

“I’m sorry… I hid these from you because I was afraid that you would reject me if you had known…” he said.

Valencia looked at the ground, refusing to respond to him.

“I… want a designated place… where only I could enter. No one else… even you,” Valencia demanded softly, seething.

Kael closed his eyes, refusing to pry, and nodded.

“Very well… I’ll get that going. Please, just come back before my mother kills me…”

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