Chapter 165: The Seal
The dining hall was silent and rather gloomy, drowning in the overwhelming atmosphere of anticipation. The trio was already seated behind the long table—Tillian, Aideen, and Ahspid, restless from what was about to happen, had been waiting for their guest for almost an hour now, their minds lost in the whirlwind of tumultuous thoughts.
The princess joined her slightly trembling hands on her knees underneath the table and closed her eyes in an attempt to regain composure. She continued replaying her discussion with Ahspid over and over, each time ending it with one single conclusion: she must give up her powers if she wanted to be free.
’I told them I hadn’t made up my mind yet, but the decision is obvious... I cannot go back to the palace. What is the point of keeping my powers if I will be chained to the royal family akin to a wild but useful beast? And the mere thought of losing Tillian and everyone else in this place... My heart will not be able to bear it. I have to... choose freedom and love.’
At last, the door to the dining hall opened with a light creak, inviting Sarith inside. As if he were of no importance to them at all, nobody cared to greet him with proper decorum, making him furrow his brow as he approached the table as well.
Once he stood next to the hosts, the paladin carefully slid his beaming golden eyes over each person before parting his lips.
"Something in your eyes tells me you want this to be over with as soon as possible. Very well, I myself do not like to waste my time on things that do not require long contemplations. Therefore," shifting his gaze to Aideen, the man asked in a solemn tone, "What have you decided, My Lady?"
Aideen dug her nails into the fabric of her dress, releasing the remnants of the tension gathered in her hands. Then, with a brief, almost inaudible sigh to help her move, she stood up, fixed her eyes on Sarith, and declared,
"I do not wish to go to the Capital, Your Reverence. You... can seal my powers."
"Aideen?’