That Prince Is A Girl: The Vicious King’s Slave Mate Novel

Chapter 397: But slowly, Emeriel felt the ground return beneath her feet. The ringing in her ears faded, the world around her slithering back in a slow return.

"I'm fine now," she croaked, raspily. "You can let go, Keira."

Her sister released her, tears tracing paths down her face. Her eyes searched Emeriel's. Probing. Looking for signs that all was truly alright. Emeriel averted her face. "Don't look at me like that. Don't look too closely."

She hadn't had an attack this intense in years. Way too long. "Please… send them away." Small, hoarse, barely her own.

"Em…"

"No." Her voice gained strength. "They should go."

"Let's at least hear why they've come."

If Emeriel shook her head any harder, her neck would break, and her head would tumble down her shoulders. "I don't want to."

"You don't mean that-"

"I don't want to see them. I don't want to know why they are here. I want them gone." Her voice rose, high-pitched, and panicked again.

Aekeira wiped her tears, nodding slowly, though her eyes remained filled with sadness. "It's okay, Em. I understand. You don't have to see them if you don't want to."

"You can go see them if you want," Emeriel's tone turned brittle. "But promise not to tell me a thing when you return. If you return. I don't wish to hear it."

"Why wouldn't I return?"

"If you decide you wish to go back to Urai, I don't need to know," she said in a flat tone. "I don't want to know. You could go with them."

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Aekeira flinched, hurt flashing in her eyes.

"You don't mean that," she whispered.

"I do! Leave me alone!" Emeriel shouted.

Aekeira reared back, as though Emeriel had dealt her a physical blow. The pain in Aekeira's eyes burned into Emeriel.

Stop. Stop hurting her. It's not her fault.

You never hurt Keira.

The guilt surged, drowning Emeriel.

But she slammed it down, burying it deep, beneath the cold wall. Emeriel let the ice seep into her being. Cold was safer. Cold meant survival.

Squaring her shoulders, Emeriel turned and walked away.

PRINCESS AEKEIRA

When Aekeira stepped into the grand hall and didn't see Lord Vladya, it stung. Disappointment flared, followed by relief. At least she didn't need to face him yet.

She quickly schooled her features, walking further into the room. Yaz and the grand king's head soldier-what was his name again?-straightened at her arrival, stiff and formal. Lord Ottai, who had been gazing out the window, turned to face her.

Those familiar, beautifully crafted black robes filled her with such nostalgia that it was all she could do to maintain her composure. Because now she remembered them on a certain someone as well.

"Princess Aekeira," Lord Ottai inclined his head with a respect that felt foreign.

It was unsettling to see the three of them bow to her. Strangely comforting, too.

"Grand Lord Ottai," she curtseyed. "To what do we owe this visit?"

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