Letting those words out, made me relax.

I felt glad that someone would actually listen to my past without judging me.

When I remembered Caspian however, it broke my heart into shreds.

He definitely thought bad of me, after what happened earlier.

I didn’t even mean to cause these amounts of damage, if only he would listen.

I hoped this misunderstanding stopped soon. My wolf missed him a lot. I missed him too.

“Look who we have wandering…” someone trailed out.

That brought me out of my thoughts, totally bringing myself on guard with a hand stylishly on my belly.

“Are you lost, Ava?”

Cicilia said in a sly tone, as she walked past me. Her chin high up in the air, dressed in her dancing costume.

“Lost? I can’t be Cicilia. From what I see, you’re the one that should be lost.” I breathed out at her. “

Just on my way to see Elder Zu, I bumped into her.

Just my luck.

I would end her if she tried anything funny.

Cause I was with a pup— my own child.

“I mean, you’ll be losing everything soon to pay for your sins.”

“Careful, I might be a step ahead of you.” She answered, with no remorse.

Any sane person would be guilty, for the damage they caused so far.

But… from what I’ve seen so far, lots of people were evil in this castle.

“Should I consider that as a threat?” I remarked, baring out my fangs at her.

“I see.”

She remarked, stepping back. “The rumors were true after all. This was why you survived the attack from those girls I sent.”

My heart thudded.

Next my eyes widened, from her words.

She was the one who sent, Tania’s team to end me?!

“You played your cards well, Ava. But do not forget this is a game of chess, and my piece is more powerful than yours.” she deviously added, walking towards me.

“If I had known you’d be daring as this back then, I would have easily planned your death, with one of my soldier pieces.”

I narrowed my eyes, clenching my gown with infinite anger, growing in me.

I wanted to fight her, believe me I wanted to.

But, something was growing in me. Someone.

A pup I couldn’t put in danger.

Thus, I kept my lips sealed without replying her words.

“Whatever.” she waved off, still with her head up high in the air.

“I’m the King’s favorite anyway. You can’t harm me, or cross my path like you did with Francesca.”

You’ve got to be kidding me.

The King’s favorite?

We’ll see about that, you Bimbo Bishop…

“You know what? You’re right.” I said, with a hint of mockery laced in my tone.

“As the most powerful, I won’t dare cross paths with you.”

“Am I excused now?” I added slyly.

“I’ll go first.” she stated with a smirk, making her way upstairs to her chambers.

I shook my head at her approach at things.

She was the dumb one.

However, wise in words.

While Rook Francesca, was more of wise in head and words.

“Whatever though, both of them are witches!”

I exclaimed, walking away too.

As I did though, something else brought me out of my thoughts as I walked out more.

It was a little girl, just at a corner. Her head was buried in between her legs. And it looked like she was sobbing.

“Hey there.”

“Are you okay?” I added, asking her.

She raised her head up.

“Piper?”

No, no, not Piper.

What did they do to her?

Her blue eyes were laced with tears, when she looked up. While her hair was scattered with blade cuts. She looked disheveled, almost like a rag doll. Clothed shabbily.

And no reply came from her.

“W-what did they…”

I reached out to her shoulders, but she moved away from me. “What’s wrong?”

She immediately began beating me with her feeble hands.

Real hard for her grasp though.

“You said you’ll protect me, didn’t you? You promised you would, once you got the chance.”

She choked out, hitting me hard continuously.

“But you abandoned us. You are just the same, like my parents!” she exclaimed angrily.

“Stop it.”

I muttered immediately, knowing none of that were true.

I always thought of her safety every day. Overtime, I had come to love her as my sister. Then why was she saying these words?

“Why should I listen to you? Because you’re the Knight?”

I ignored her angry words, hugging her so tight immediately.

“That’s enough, Piper! Those words are hurtful. You don’t say words like that to your big sis!”

She struggled in my grasp but I held her just in place, rubbing her head.

“Get.Away.From.Me.Ava.”

She muttered.

“I-I’m sorry.” I hastily replied her.

“I should have been there to protect you, like I promised. But I didn’t. I got caught up in my Knight duties.”

“Please forgive me.”

I added.

She still kept struggling to get away. Soon after though, I felt her soften under my touch.

She began crying intensely, that I felt so bad. For not being there to help her.

“I-I felt so alone, Ava. I c-crossed paths with the girls from the other teams. They were so scary.”

“They bullied me and they went too far this time. T-they cut my hair… My cloth, they…”

“Shh.” I patted her hair, saying. She sniffled into my dress, with some of her nasal liquids coming out but I didn’t care.

“Come with me. I know what to make you feel better.” I said.

“B-but, t-the maid section would look for me. The brown woman who took our names on arrival… she’s the head. She would kill me!”

“Don’t worry. I will explain it all to them.” I told her. “I’m the Knight now, remember?”

She nodded, as I wiped off her tears with my thumbs.

“Good.” I replied.

I will adopt you as my own, Piper.

And make Emily my assistant as soon as I get the chance too.

“Thanks, Ava.” she said, walking with me. “You’re an angel. You’ve been good to me all these while and I shouldn’t have reacted that way.” she added.

“Just know I’m glad you’re here too, Piper.”

I smiled at her.

You so much remind me of my little sister, that all I want to do is protect you.

...

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