To Love You Again

"Thank you. First, tell her to use this hand warmer for five minutes." Linfeng handed out a small hand warmer. His young miss had kneeled on the cold stage many times. She might get a stomach ache if her cold hands and cold feet left unattended.

"These towels, please handed it to her." A pack of disposable towels was in Linfeng's hands. He already handed a pack to Xiong Zhi earlier. But Linfeng was sure that the towels had already been used. His young miss's skin was very delicate. The towel should not be used all over again.

"And this one too, make sure she drinks this quickly." Linfeng handed a thermos that contained a warm lemonade made by him.

"And this one, made sure she only eats it." Linfeng still remembered how Xiong Zhi got a bit upset when Song Xuantin ate her chocolate moose cake.

"I will wait here until she finishes the food. Please bring back to me the container." Linfeng finally finished explaining the things he had on his hands.

"A-alright." One of the guards took it and went inside.

After five minutes, a figure ran towards Linfeng.

"Linfeng!" Xiong Zhi still had that pale makeup on her face. She looked really sickly. Linfeng furrowed his brow at this. Even though it was fake it was disturbing to see a pale Xiong Zhi up close.

"Young Miss, where's the hand warmer?" Linfeng asked this first. 

'Why she was wearing so little? It was cold in the theatre.'

"It's here." Xiong Zhi was hugging it in her arms.

"Good. Have you been well young miss?" Linfeng asked. He took off his jacket and dr.a.p.ed over to Xiong Zhi.

"I am fine. May I eat here with you?" Xiong Zhi asked Linfeng.

"Of course." Linfeng found it strange that Xiong Zhi still gonna asked things like this.

He brought two chairs.

Xiong Zhi ate the moose cake with relish.

"You've done a great job. I am really impressed at your play. It was only part one and I am really looking forward to Part two." Linfeng sincerely praised their production.

Xiong Zhi drank the warm lemonade and looked at Linfeng with a satisfied face.

"Really? I am glad we received positive feedback from you. We really work hard on it."

"I can see that." Linfeng smiled. Xiong Zhi looked proud of their production.

But he was curious. The Princess Ariana on the stage was here with him.

"Zhi'er, do you think Princess Ariana would agree on the marriage?"

Xiong Zhi looked blankly at him. That came out of nowhere.

Linfeng suddenly got embarrassed.

"Uhmm. I am not asking for some spoilers. Just tell me what you think."

Xiong Zhi was about to wipe her mouth but Linfeng beat her to it. Xiong Zhi started to speak.

"Hmm..based on Princess Ariana's character, she would not agree even she loves Ethan. But she doesn't have a choice. This marriage is about to happen ever since the king announced it."

Lifeng nodded. That's what he thought too.

"But if ever this marriage happens, it would be founded by betrayal and hate. Their love story is still a tragedy." He commented.

Xiong Zhi nodded.

"They loved each other but the timing and situation did not go along with them. It's hard...for both of them." These words came at the bottom of Xiong Zhi's heart.

Linfeng stayed quiet. He had an inkling this play would be a tragedy.

"Do you think Ethan is a fool?" After a long silence, Linfeng asked Xiong Zhi.

Xiong Zhi looked at him.

"I can't say. Yes, he is and yes, he is not."

Linfeng just looked at her to let her continue speaking.

"He is not because he did not let his desire such as love hindrance his goal. Sometimes, love could be futile. Especially, if that love you know is bound to be non-existing and could not work out in the end. But he is a fool..so much a fool..."

Linfeng waited.

"Because he had actually love Princess Ariana more than his own life. He is a fool to not understand it early." Xiong Zhi felt these words that she said were for her. She was a fool. She had not understood her love towards Linfeng in the past life. And she let their life turned into tragedy.

Linfeng suddenly turned sad. He knows what to happen in the play.

He could not help but sigh.

"So Linfeng-" An announcement cut off Xiong Zhi.

"Only ten minutes left before the Part two of 'Conquer' starts. Please remain in your seat."

Song Xuantin came out.

"Xiong Zhi! Let's have a quick dry run!"

Xiong Zhi turned to Linfeng.

"Linfeng, in this play I realized something important. Wait for me later, okay?" Xiong Zhi then ran after Song Xuantin. Leaving Linfeng wondering what was Xiong Zhi had realized. He turned around. He too was realizing something.

*******

The lights turned off signaling that the part two was about to start.

Two music played on the theatre.

A cheerful one and a tragic one. The audience smelled the fragrance of cherry blossoms coming from everywhere. Something from above was falling to the audience.

The lights turned on. 

The audience was amazed.

They were amazed by the real cherry blossom petals scattered with the wind. But after a while, black petals were mixed in them. Until more and more black petals were swaying with the wind. The sorrowful music was also getting louder than the cheerful one.

The audience looked at the stage. 

As the light was slowly getting clearer and lighter, the narrator spoke.

[The marriage between Princess Ariana and Prince Ethan was all over the two kingdoms. Their marriage was quickly decided at the end of the month. The Gniox Kingdom had not even given time to grieved on their former king and the ten thousand soldiers. As they need to quickly adjust to the new rules and to the advanced system that the UL kingdom had given them. It may not be a bad thing. As the Gniox Kingdom quickly restore its peace. But to Princess Ariana...]

Princess Ariana was in her wedding dress walking in the aisle. Her eye was empty and her beautiful face was pale. There's no bold and full of life Princess Ariana. She was walking like a puppet.

Prince Ethan was expressionless. As he received Princess Ariana's hand he glanced at her. But Princess Ariana did not even give him one look.

"I announce you to be husband and wife." 

Once again the petals scattered towards the audience. But they were all black.

The scene changed and princess Ariana was looking at the moon. It was the night of their marriage.

[ Prince Ethan did not show on the night of marriage. Leaving Princess Ariana to felt relieved and be consumed by hate more..]

Princess Ariana was sitting on a window sill. The lights in the stage reflected her weak appearance. She began her monologue.

"I am a fool. Everything is planned out from the very beginning. I am just a tool for him to conquer my home. And yet...it was me who brought destruction in my kingdom. I am a fool..."Xiong Zhi was not good at acting. But her empty voice that was slightly shaking and her dazed eyes brought heartache to the audience.

[Princess Ariana was consumed by guilt, shame, and loathsome not just towards Prince Ethan but mostly to herself. ]

The scene changed.

Ser Francis was knocking on the other side of the door.

"My queen?"

Princess Ariana who was just staring blankly did not answer. Ser Francis opened the door and come in.

"My queen...."

But Princess Ariana did not move. Her heart was beating. But it beats for nothing.

Ser Francis kneeled in front of Princess Ariana.

"My queen, there is still hope for us to avenge our king and the ten thousand soldiers. "

Princess Ariana's empty eyes looked at him.

"And there's still time to avenge to the person who brought poison to your body. My queen, I investigated more. The reason why you are still weak was because of the drug that the betrayer had put to your drink. It's not a paralyzing poison but a slow-acting poison that eats the vitality of the person who intakes it. "

Princess Ariana opened her mouth. But she could not say anything.

"My queen, Prince Ethan had wanted to murder you since the very beginning. The King of UL was lying. He planned to not give freedom to the Gnioxians at all. They wanted to kill you and reform the Gniox kingdom to UL. Please do not believe their lies."

[Princess Ariana had lost hope and the will to live ever since her father's death and her beloved's betrayal. Now with these shocking news, it all broke her heart and her rationality. She was consumed by hate that only the death of the other could suffice it.]

It was dark. Another scene appeared.

Prince Ethan, no the King of Gniox, appeared in the stage. 

[It's been weeks and Princess Ariana fell sick. She had been staying in her bed since the day of their marriage. Prince Ethan silently sent doctors but the doctors said that it was incurable by any medicine. It was the stress that builds up in the Princess' hearts. Prince Ethan understands it. His beloved has just lost her father and the kingdom, and the man she loved betrayed her. But it was not all lies. For Prince Ethan, he chose to govern the Gniox kingdom instead of the Kingdom of UL. He chose to pay the sins he committed to Princess Ariana and ask for forgiveness for the rest of his life. ]

Prince Ethan sat beside the sleeping Ariana.

He combed her hair with his hands gently. His eyes were gentle. 

"I am sorry...I hope you can forgive me.." Prince Ethan gently kissed Ariana's forehead.

"Ethan..?" Princess Ariana opened her eyes.