96: 96 I Have To Go

96 I Have To Go

Delia's POV 1

I turned my head in terror, but upon realizing that the person standing at the door wasn't Prince Kral, I couldn't tell if I was relieved or disappointed.

"Vivian?" I asked, puzzled. Vivian looked like she was trapped by something incomprehensible, and her once innocent face now bore the weight of adulthood's sorrow.

"What happened?" I furrowed my brows.

A girl in a gray robe stood in the doorway. She kept her head low, her beautiful platinum hair now disheveled, cascading messily over her shoulders. Her emerald green eyes were filled with turmoil, resembling a rain-soaked mushroom.

"Delia, there's something I need to tell you," Vivian said in a hushed tone.

"Now?" I looked around awkwardly. Whether it was my current state lying in bed or the mess in the room, it didn't seem like an appropriate time for a chat.

But Vivian seemed to care little about any of that. She closed the door and hurried to the side of my bed, lifting her little head, using that peculiar and mysterious tone that only witches possessed. She said softly, "I have to go, Delia. I saw my mentor in a dream. She was engulfed in flames, calling my name, urging me to leave. How can I ignore her? I'm the closest person to her," Vivian said, her face still buried in my bed, and I noticed her eye sockets filling up with tears.

"But," I said calmly, "it was just a dream, Vivian. Perhaps you were simply missing her." I couldn't comprehend why Vivian would be so distraught. Looking at her, I reached out and gently stroked her head. Her hair trembled in the palm of my hand. Her body quivered as she softly sobbed.

"It's not like that, Delia," Vivian held my hand as I caressed her, chokingly saying, "Witches don't dream. We merely glimpse the edges of fate occasionally, and then the god of fate reminds us of what is to come in this way."

"Is that so?" I furrowed my brows, gently touching her teary eyes, unwilling to part. "So, you must leave? When? Can I come and see you?"

"Delia, you..." Vivian paused for a moment, leaning closer to my face. I saw a hint of hesitation in her green eyes, but she still whispered, "Do you want to come with me?"

What?! My eyes widened, my heartbeat unconsciously quickened, and Vivian's words kept echoing in my mind. Go together? Leave this place? Leave... Prince Kral?

"Delia, I'm really worried about you," Vivian continued, "I can tell that you're unhappy. I knew it from the moment you asked me for that love potion. Something unpleasant must have happened between you and Prince Kral, right?"

A corner of my heart seemed to be suddenly exposed, and I lowered my eyes as if trying to escape.

Vivian went on, "The palace isn't a safe place. There are many dangers here. Alen told me that a great war is approaching, and Prince Kral and Alen will both leave. Once they're gone, I'll leave too. Who will be there to protect you?"

Vivian wiped her tear-streaked face, staring earnestly into my eyes, and she anxiously grasped my hand. "Besides, last night, I encountered a vampire in the palace garden, Delia. I don't know how he managed to infiltrate the werewolf's palace, but vampires and werewolves have always been mortal enemies. If he appears here again, what will you do?"

"You mean, the person in the gray cloak last night was a vampire?" As Vivian mentioned the garden, the memory of those red pupils flashed into my mind. A chill ran down my spine, and I could hardly believe that I had spent so much time with a vampire last night. The belated fear made my fingers turn cold.

"Delia, I just want you to be happy, just like when I first met you." Vivian stretched out her arms and gave me a hug, whispering in my ear, "Take your time to consider, Delia. I won't be staying here for too long."

I lost track of when Vivian left. I lay on the bed in confusion, watching the sunlight cast streaks on the smooth walls through the windows, but unable to figure out what to do.

"Kral..."

Almost unconsciously, I uttered his name, then I turned over and buried myself in the soft bedding.

Later, when Susanna arrived, I had done my best to carefully hide everything that needed tidying up in the wardrobe, even though I knew they would eventually find and clean it up. It was their duty, but I still wanted to delay it as much as possible.

"Delia?" Susanna's voice echoed from outside the door. I was putting last night's bed sheets and scattered clothes into the wardrobe. Haphazardly, I donned my morning robe and hastily opened the door.

"Good morning, Delia." Susanna was an exceptionally well-trained housekeeper. After the engagement ceremony, she seemed to treat me with even more respect.

At the moment, her sharp gaze swept across the bedroom. I assumed she knew everything, but she didn't say a word. I must admit that seeing her stern, stoic face without any emotional fluctuations was a huge relief from awkwardness.

"Delia, this is the lunch prepared for you." Susanna gestured to a line of maids standing behind her. They entered one after another, and the small dining table in the bedroom was instantly filled with dozens of white porcelain plates covered with golden lids.

"Prince Kral ordered this morning that you can rest in the room all day, and no one is allowed to disturb you. Therefore, you can enjoy your lunch here."

I was seated in front of the table, watching as the maids uncovered the golden lids, and the aroma of food instantly filled the entire room.

"If you don't need anything else, we will take our leave. If you require anything, just ring the bell on the table," Susanna said with a slight bow before leading the maids out the door. As she was about to leave, a sudden question struck me, and I hurriedly called out, "Excuse me, where did Prince Kral go?"

"I apologize. Prince Kral did not inform me of his whereabouts. However, I believe he will be back early today."

With those words, Susanna nodded to me, and then she closed the door completely.

I gazed at the beautifully arranged food before me, but suddenly, I lost all my appetite. At that moment, I felt like a trapped animal in a cage, unsure of the way out, only able to pace in circles.

I touched my empty neck, realizing that the pearl necklace that always brought me comfort had been taken away by the vampire I encountered in the garden last night. A sense of loss washed over me, and I found myself sitting in front of the table, hugging my knees, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a spark of insight flashed through my mind, and I stood up.

"Pearls... dream... Is that it?" I murmured to myself.

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