Just like how people see the world on the earth that is filled with many beautiful geographical landscapes, diversity of seasons, and even unique cultures spread out around the world- there are the same things that exist in Althera.

Quite far from where the famous rocky mountain exists, where the Empire of Malum resides on it- across the nearest sea, stands a sole kingdom named Varaz on the empty land of Avara. It is covered by only red-purplish sand where people casually build their house on it and like to walk on without wearing any shoes. It is because the sands are so soft, it touches like cotton. Yet, despite how lacking natural resources in this land is, many people desire to come and reside in Varaz. Many people eagerly and willingly travel the long sea to just come to this beautiful Varaz Kingdom. It is not because of how pretty the sands color is or because the rarity of the aurora that will come in the nighttime, or the beautiful beaches and sea where the international trading operates, nor even about of how savory their cuisine is.

The reason of why many people come is simply because this land is where the spirits reside.

- Spirits, in this world are something not only sacred but also powerful. They are creatures that are born from the world where the gods of this world live. The astral world where only devine creatures that could live inside it. They are so many types of them with so much power, like fire, plants, water, and many more. While most of the countries like the Malum Empire use magic stones as their daily commodity to help their daily routine, here, they use sprites that they had the contract with to help them with their daily life. It is so magical, as it is also the reason why people of this land worship the spirits.

Then, in the middle of this empty sand land, stands the great castle of Varaz Kingdom where the leading family resides.

" ... Seems, like it is already decided." said the dark-skinned man while looking enthusiastically from the castle balcony toward the beautiful blue sea where there are many large ships parked in their piers. The wind is strong as it blows his paled blonde hair then shows his purplish eyes. His sturdy body is something that will eventually make women fall harder while wearing an elegant tunic. He smirks. "It's been a long time since I try women from across. They are typically shy, but, somehow that is something that makes them attractive is not it?" then he sighs, after a while, and turns back to a woman who is standing behind him with many ladies-in-waiting with their veils covering their face. "... I asked you to accompany me in my afternoon break is not for you to be silent like this."

The woman who stands in front of him, with an elegant traditional dress is also covered by the light brown veil. Yet, even though like that, many people could tell of how beautiful she is behind the veil where her purplish eyes tell all of her. "... I am happy for you, brother."

He smiles, " Well you should, as our father also told me to seek you the best suitable partner when we arrive." and he comes closer while slowly opening her veil and showing him a beautiful appearance of his little sister, who has beautiful dark skin and wavy pale blonde long hair. Who looks at him with her engaging purplish eyes. " ...Well, with your beauty, many people want to devour you as soon as they see you," he said.

"... Just take care of your body before we go, take the most expensive treatment and make your body more valuable," he said while slowly passing her through where the ladies-in-waiting open the way while bowing. " I need you to secure my throne so be prepared, my dear sister." then, he slowly vanished leaving the woman who still stand there staring blankly toward the beautiful ocean.

after a while, she opens her lips. " Yes, brother." before her lady-in-waiting then put her veil on her head once again.

***

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" Do you hear that Ms.Irisha from independent' companies branch comes back to the palace again?" said the maid who is working in their cleaning shift somewhere in the palace.

" Yes, yes! I hear that!" answered her colleague.

"... After stop working suddenly without an exact reason, and made a big fuss for the Sir Higrid- she suddenly decided to come," she said. " ... I hear that it is because she is the 'special' friend of the crown prince so...she has it back."

and the woman frowned herself to her friend. " What do you mean by a special friend?"

" ... Come on, you are not a first-grader for not knowing this matter."

and she becomes more confused, " ... they are a couple is not it?"

" ... You are so naive." the other one said. " How come someone like a crown prince courting an ordinary deaf woman like Ms.Irisha?"

"... that's rude, but well... I do not hear that the crown prince courting her... though."

"... in fact, everything about Ms.Irisha is so shady. I wonder why Sir Higrid hires her as his assistant. My friend who works in her branch adores her so much but never he tells me anything about who is Ms.Irisha." and she looks around in wary while then puts her head closer to her friend and whisper. "... and many people in the imperial palace witnessed of how Ms.Irisha frequently comes in and out the crown prince's room."

and her friend gasped, " The 'special' friend?" then frowned her brows," Wow, don't you think she is so shameless?"

" Right?! I thought so too!"

" ... even though I am quite empathetic toward her condition- don't you think she looks like a whor-"

" HEY, YOU THERE STOP SPEAKING AND DO YOUR WORKS!" and they both frantically stoned while putting their head straight and doing their things while the woman who was shouting greets Tara who walks down on the hall near their station.

She greets the maid back but, Tara could see the guilty behind her professional expression. The maid knows that Tara heard the conversation of the two maids there, and Tara speculated that the maid she greeted just now also knows who is she as the maid decided not to look at Tara anymore as soon after she greeted Tara. The maid acts as nothing happened there...

-and sadly, after the return of Ms.Irisha to the Independent' companies branch, these kinds of bad rumors' of her spread like mushrooms in the palace.

'... Well, because the palace is so large and not many people works in our area- people then misunderstand.' especially when Ms.Irisha's job is also related to high confidential projects, ordinary workers will not know about her deeds to the palace.

To make it worse, just after she suddenly resigned, a big problem occurred and Ms.Irisha who was the one who initiated it was not there, made several people who did not know anything defined her as an irresponsible person.

'... but, if you are in her shoes, you may be not capable of even standing and breath!' and Tara is mad, especially after she knew what happened to Ms.Irisha a couple of months ago...

... about Ms.Irisha's struggling and her pain.

...and It makes Tara mad at everyone who does not understand her, and judges her without knowing Ms.Irisha's story. Yet, the thing that makes Tara furious is- that she was not capable enough to realize it sooner and help her.

"... It happens quite a while, and... it becomes worse day by day," she said, to Ms.Irisha who is now working in her office. As usual, she looks at her genuinely, putting down anything she works on and listening to her. "... so, maybe you have to somehow clear the rumors..." and ... as for Tara this woman in front of her is someone who she appreciates and respects with all of her heart- she wants to be able to help her now.

Yet, Irisha just takes a quite long silence before she then signs, [ No, it is not a problem.]

and Tara was shocked, " But, it is related to your reputation! They are talking bad things about you."

she nods, [ Well yes, of course, several things seem to exaggerate.] she said, [ But, they are also right.]

Tara then frowned, " What do you mean?" as she was confused with what Irisha just said.

and Irisha looks at her with her usual smile, [... you might be misunderstood too, but, nothing is happening between me and the crown prince.]

" What-"

[... we are just a close friend I guess? and somehow he ends up helping me in many ways.]

' But... he loves you, is not it?' yet, Tara could not even speak her mind out as the woman in front of her looks confident with what she said while she is the one the main character of this topic.

"... do not you have any feeling for him?" asked Tara.

and she looks at Tara with a genuine stare. [ I do.] she said.

" Then-"

[ But, it is not as simple as you think it is.] and she smiles gently, [ So, let's stop talking about this matter and head on to our next meeting.] then acts like usual as they never talk about such matters at all. It is to the point that Tara then doubts her sensitivity toward Irisha's feelings, and might just misunderstand.

... because in the end, there are so many feelings you can describe.

Like, love, adoration, appreciation, and many more.

But, what is Irisha's feeling then?

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'... I want to be with him.'

' I like it when he touches me like that.'

' When he softly rubs his big hands and smiles while staring at me with his golden eyes.'

' I don't know what will happen if I can not see him.'

' ... and what does this feeling mean?'

and Irisha smiles faintly, as she understands that she is not that young for not understanding that feeling of her. Her heart stopped when she thought he might die, her world shook when she thought she might not be able to see him anymore, so... she could clearly define who he is for her and what is the feeling that engraved in her heart right now for him...

'... and, I somehow could safely say that he has a similar feeling toward me?' because, every time he hugs her tight, Irisha could tell every power he tries to give. It is like, he wants her so much but afraid of her being hurt because of him, and the warmth that he gives to her every time feels so sincere that she could not deny his feeling anymore.

- but, because of that too she eventually realizes the most rational and logical thing toward this matter. It is not as simple as two adults eloping. It could not be like that, because even right now she is being shown the fact of why she should stop to move this further.

" Greeting to The Dragon's Blessing, The crowned prince Castra Isaac Malum." as the announcer announce his name where Tara interprets it for her, yet, even the sound of it could not she heard - she could feel the charismatic and indescribable power he has within himself especially when he is now dressing and appearing like a prince in the fantasy world.

'... you are truly handsome, your grace.' and she could not deny it, or ignore the fact that memories of him are being reminded every time she looks at him. Of how she could see him close, touched him, and embraced him... yet- in the same time, he, who is now sitting in the high throne above her... feels far away.

She could see with her own eyes, how people ... many people bow to him as they realize that he is the one and only leader for them.

Surely, it feels so far away.

" Then, let's start."

and she just casually brushes her mind, as she then does her work as nothing happens in her mind. Well, in this term, Irisha is already an expert at it so she could act normally despite her busy mind.

So what will she do then?

' I don't know.' even though Irisha herself realize it is not a solution that she needed.

' But, he is not telling me anything.' and even though she is also not the type of person that minding the gender to do the initiative, yet, again- their relationship is not a that simple matter.

'He is a tyrant, he could do anything.'

Some part of her thinks so, yet-

' Am I brave enough with the burden?' as she, who lives in the middle of society where hierarchy and patriarchy live... ' am I brave enough?'

as it is scary.

As ... she truly aware that she is not perfect.

She then smiles, as she looks at him who comes to her as soon as the meeting ended. ' I will never be the one who asked you first.'

' I can not allow myself to do so.' because he is important for her. So, she might be selfish, as she is feeling so comfortable whenever his hands rub her cheeks just like now. Or the fact that her heart thumped as soon as his golden eyes look at her. Yet, she is not daring enough to speak up the heart inside her...

so, please, for now...

[... I will move back to my home tomorrow.]

***