CHAPTER 18

As he rode his horse, he began to recall exactly what happened that day after they left the palace.
They were having noodles at the food stall when the Saintess discovered that they were being followed. They returned back to the inn where she told the maids and the guards to evacuate one by one and stay somewhere safe and close.
They all left wearing usual clothes which made people not to recognize them. So, by the time the assassins arrived it was just the two of them. The assassins were so eager to kill them that they locked the doors without even checking the people inside. They burnt the whole in down.
He was scared and yet the Saintess was just seated there as if everything was normal. He wanted to leave but if he did so then those assassins waiting for them outside will surely finish them.
“I hope one day that you will only remember the good things and not the bad. Love yourself more and trust less. You never know who might be plotting against you,” she said looking at him.
“What are you talking about? I will never let you die,” he asked.
“I will never die, don’t worry. I was just twenty years old when I learnt the truth about myself. I was cursed from birth, curse to watch everyone that I love die and to live the rest of my long life alone.
I can’t do anything to that gold lotus; it is my life and my legend. I will protect you and never let you die. I will avenge for you and I hope you won’t have to kill anyone in the future,” she said and he didn’t understand anything at all.
The fire had entered the room they were both in; the smoke was too much and he couldn’t breathe anymore. She walked up to him and covered him with her gown.
“What are you doing?” he asked her as she pressed her lips against his.
She was kissing him in a situation so crazy like this. When she kissed him even when it was just light, he felt something. It was as if something had been put into his body and yet he couldn’t figure it out.
The roof caught fire and began to fall on them. He just stared up and closed his eyes and the next thing he knew; they were in a golden ball. He didn’t know what was happening for a moment, he was in a daze and everything was confusing.
The golden lotus was protecting the both of them; it was like a mother hen protecting her chicks from an eagle. He watched as the inn burned down to the ground. He could see everyone but no one was seeing them.
They were invisible to every other eye. The whole drama unfolded before his eyes. It was like he was in a dream and he was being shown exactly what was happening everywhere around the world.
He saw the people responsible for what had just happened and they weren’t showing any remorse at all. The disciples were looking for them and yet they couldn’t see them. He saw the true self of the woman he has always admired.
She was beautiful, lonely and lovely at the same time. He never really understood why she did all the things she did in the past but now he knew why. Every day she saw people pretending to like her and she went along with it.
She was really cursed and he wouldn’t want her to live her life like that. He wanted to be with her in good or bad times. He just wanted her to know that someone was there for her always and will never leave her.
When the dust settled, they appeared in front of the disciples and made their way to the palace where one of the guards had been captured. She was one of the Lotus palace’s best assassins and she was good at disguising. She went into the palace to fish out the criminals and she did very well.
The criminals were brought to justice and everything was fine except for him. Every day was so long, he felt sharp pains piercing his heart. He missed her and he wanted to see her. He couldn’t even tell anyone exactly what had happened during the night of the fire.
This was meant to be kept between him and the Saintess. She was very powerful and by telling the whole nation that she would become a target for so many people. He wanted her safe and this time he would be the one to protect her with his life.
He only stopped to change his horse on the way and continued his journey. He smiled brightly as he arrived at the mountain’s entrance.
“Young Lord!” the guards exclaimed as he appeared.
“Is the Saintess here?” he asked.
“Yes, she is in her hall,” they replied happily.
“Okay,” he said and rode inside. It felt so good to be back here.
He met one of his former guards who took his horse to the stable. He went straight to the Gold hall where the Saintess resides in. When he arrived, the maids showed their respect.
“Is she in?” he asked them and they nodded.
“Don’t disturb us,” he said and entered inside.
It was still the same, nothing had changed much. He looked at the pond filled with the lotus plants as he walked the narrow aisle towards where Valery was lying on her bed.
He walked as quietly as he could and sat on her bed. She turned around since she was sleeping and she just stared at him. He smiled at her and gathered all his courage and gave her a peck on her cheek.
“I’m back,” he said as he gazed in her eyes.
“I can see that,” she said as she woke up from the bed.
She really looked amazing even when she was just sleeping. He brushed his fingers through her hair, his gaze still on hers.
“Why are you here?” she asked him.
“Are you not happy to see me?” he answered her question with another.
“Answer me before I get angry,” she said.
“I came because I missed you. I couldn’t stand being away from you anymore. I might have taken it for granted back then but after being away from you for a month I have learnt how much you mean to me,” he confessed.
“And what exactly is that?” she asked as if she doesn’t know.
“Do I have to say it?” he asked her.
“If you can’t say it then you might as well go back to your family,” she said and he took her hands in his.
“I love you Valery, I always did ever since you found me back then. Back then I might have not known about it but as I grew up, I knew just how much you meant to me. I know that you must feel absurd with all this, I am very young and inexperienced but I promise you that I will be a better man to you. I will share your burdens with you and make you happy every day of your life,” he confessed to her.