Wriothesely's POV
I could do nothing but watch as he walked away from me, his figure fading into the distance.
I was frozen in place.
Unable to move.
Unable to speak.
"This. Us."
"This is a mistake."
"I'm sorry."
"Thank you..."
"Goodbye."
What just happened?
My mind couldn't process the words continuously repeating inside my head.
Did he just-
Did I just-
"Did His Grace just get.... dumped."
Slap!
"Argh! What's wrong with you?!"
"Read the room, you idiot!"
The rest of the inmates's conversation went into one ear and out the other.
What-
What just-
Without thinking I rushed after him.
To my office...
He wasn't here.
Not just him.
His things weren't here either.
It was so clean that it could make anyone doubt he was ever here.
But there was one other place.
My residence.
He still had some of his clothes there.
Maybe-
Just maybe-
But no.
Here to was empty.
Void of anything Neuvillette.
This damn bastard!
What's the meaning of this?!
What the hell does he mean by this?!
Enough is enough!
What the hell is this?!
Suddenly, I heard a knock at the door.
Neuvillette?
Could it be?
I rushed to the door and pulled it open but-
It wasn't him.
Of course, it wasn't him.
"Sigewinne?"
She didn't look well. She was incredibly pale.
"I don't feel well, Your Grace." She said weakly.
Instantly I dropped everything and picked her up, bringing her inside.
I set her down on the couch and turned around to get her some water.
"Could you call Dad for me? Usually he just instantly shows up whenever I call, but it seems he can't hear it or something."
"Neuv-Neuvillette?"
"Yes, who else? Where is he anyway? For the past few days, it was pretty much impossible to see him anywhere but stuck to your side." She groaned.
Right...
He has been...
Always...
So incredibly close...
But now...
Just like that...
"Here, have some water. Neuvillette went back to the Court for a bit. I'll go pick him up in a moment." I smiled at her.
I did my best to seem as relaxed, as normal as possible.
There was no need for her to worry.
Not when she's feeling unwell.
I'll go and speak with Neuvillette.
I can do this.
I'll figure out what's wrong.
I'll fix this.
I can fix this.
Surely...
My hand shook and faltered, causing a bit of water to spill in Sigewinne's hands.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I apologize, I-"
But she didn't seem to hear me.
She just stared blankly, looking at the water on her hands.
Slowly, horror filled her face.
"Sigewinne-"
"No."
"What no?"
You can't start speaking like that as well!
"You cannot go to the Court."
"What?"
"You cannot leave Meropide."
"Sigewinne, what's wrong-"
"If you leave Meropide now you'll die!" She screamed.
I'll-
I'll what...
"Sigewinne, explain to me-"
"Please, Your Grace! I'm begging you! Don't go anywhere!"
Her breathing became erratic and tears started streaming down her face.
"Hey, hey... I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here, okay?"
I drew her into my embrace, hugging her tightly.
Just what the hell is going on?!
Shaking within my arms she suddenly started shouting.
Clearly, it wasn't directed at me, but it hurt me to hear it all the same.
"Why... Why?! Why is this- It hurts... It hurts so much!"
I wanted to help her, but I couldn't.
I didn't know what I could do.
How could I help her?
She just continued crying, her whole body shaking as she sobbed in my embrace.
And then-
Suddenly, she just stopped.
It only took a split second and everything ceased.
The crying, the shaking...
Clearly, Sigewinne herself was confused as well.
"Wha- Why..."
Her hand shot for the cup of water still on the table and before I knew it she had poured the contents on her hand.
"Sigewinne!"
Have you gone insane?!
But.
Nothing happened.
"Where is Dad?"
That was sudden-
"Duke Wriothesely, where is my father?" She repeated, this time more forcefully.
"I don't-"
"Did he get hurt somehow? Is he injured?"
Hurt? Injured?
"Neuvillette is injured?"
What was she talking about?!
But she didn't answer.
She just climbed out of my arms, jumping off the couch as she walked towards the door.
"Wait! Sigewinne, where are you going?"
"To the Court."
"Didn't you just say-"
"I said you would die if you went. That's why you're gonna stay here. Stay put inside the fortress. Not a foot out the door."
With a loud bang, the door slammed shut behind her and I was left alone.
Alone once more.
What is happening?
Why did Neuvillette leave?
Is he okay?
Was he injured just like Sigewinne suspected?
What just happened to Sigewinne?
Does it have something to do with Neuvillette?
No.
He wouldn't do anything to hurt the girls.
But why?
Just why?!
Why did he leave like that?!
Everything was fine for days!
We were happy!
He seemed happy!
Had he not been?
Why?
Please someone tell me why this was happening?!
It hurt so much.
I felt like breaking down right here and now and crying till I couldn't even open my eyes anymore.
Why give me hope if you're just going to break my heart anyway?!
Why, Neuvillette?!
Why?!
"We dragons are cruel and selfish, Wriothesely. Don't forget that."
His words rang inside my head like a warning.
Ha...
Hahaha...
Pfft!
"Hahahahaha!"
Haha...
Hah...
Cruel indeed.
"You're too cruel, Neuvillette."
You took all that I have.
My heart, my soul.
And you...
"You crushed them both."
How could you leave just like that?
Without a word.
Without an explanation.
Like I never even mattered.
Did I?
Did I ever matter to him at all?
What did he think of me?
Maybe he just considered it indulging the whims of a mortal for a little while.
After all, why would someone like him ever love someone like me?
Love...
Love, huh?
Why...
Why did I ever allow myself to fall in love with him in the first place? Even though I knew it couldn't end well.
Why?
When?
It hurts so much I could die!
How is this worth it?!
How could he-
"Neuvillette, you bastard!"
How could you do this to me?!