Chapter 62: The Mysterious Boy
"But it was drastically different that time."
A light, almost imperceptible smile graced Aideen’s lips as she took a momentary pause to compose her emotions before continuing.
"What do you mean by that?" Tillian asked, freezing on the spot and awaiting her reply with an evident hint of anxiety.
The princess fidgeted with a wavy lock of her long, dark red hair and spoke again,
"I was playing alone with my puppy outside my mother’s greenhouse. It was early in the morning, so Valon was supposed to attend his usual alchemy classes. However, much to my shock, he still came, as if someone had informed him that there was yet another precious living being he could torture. He was very upset that morning... He said that my hiding the puppy from him was akin to treason because, as a member of the Royal Family, he was supposed to be informed about everything new or out of the normal order happening within the palace’s territory, including, or rather especially, my desolate quarters.
Then he asked me to hand the puppy over to him at once. I cannot even begin to describe how hard I begged, how I pleaded with him not to hurt it, but he was unwavering in his decision. Even when I fell on my knees and wailed, he was still unbothered. He told me that all of this was happening because I was stupid and selfish, and had never bothered to ask him for permission to have a pet. Yet, what was the use of it? He would never say yes anyway, and I was so lonely..."
Aideen struggled with another strong urge to burst into tears. She had never shared this story with anyone before; in fact, it was the first time she was revealing such a profoundly significant and painful part of her childhood that had a lasting impact on her future in the Royal Palace.
The woman was not sure whether it was even a good idea to do so, but Tillian’s understanding silence and his overall comforting presence next to her gave her unexpected courage to go on. Once again, only with him, she felt like she could talk about absolutely everything.
And so, with another deep inhale to soothe her complicated feelings, the princess continued,