Trapped In Hisstory

[Special chapter of Sherin Aranea, using her POV!]

I stood outside the chamber of the Antares Crown Prince to guard in case someone appeared. It would be bad if someone saw our prince together with the future king of Antares.

I sighed, now I am all alone here and Niro still has not arrived. That hawk's speed is truly best in fights, but then I guess it is only when in battle. He is always late at everything.

I wanted to check on him and why he was late, but I cannot just leave the two princes in their chamber without anyone guarding outside. It would be dangerous and risky. One mistake can make the King find out about the two of them.

Heh, I wonder how that old man will react once he finds out that his son, the future king, is in a relationship with a man even though it is one of his laws to not have a male lover?

That would be amusing.

But I can never let it happen.

I felt a presence getting near, and it is one of the presences that I am very much familiar with. I turned my head to the side and saw the Antares Knight's Commander heading towards my direction.

Although I trust the Crown Prince and I do not dislike him, my feelings of hate towards this man, the Crown Prince's personal knight, will not easily vanish. 

I felt like I was being a bit childish as I become competitive whenever this man is near. I never once thought of why I hate him. But now that I realize, it seemed as if I am only being hostile towards him just because I felt like he was as strong as I am. Childish reason, indeed.

And to be honest, even though we are on the same level, I do not know why I kept feeling that I am inferior.

Tch, how bothersome.

"I can guard my master's chamber, you do not have to stand there." The Crown Prince's knight said.

I did not react. I said that I cannot leave the two princes without anyone guarding them. But now Alec Valorian is here, then I can go now right?

But somehow my feet would not let me go. Aish, annoying feet.

"Your master is not the only one inside. You are guarding for your master's safety, I am also guarding for mine." I said in return.

Alec did not say anything further and just let me stay. We both stood still outside the Crown Prince's chamber. There was a big silence between us but that is not that surprising since both of us are similar in terms of the expression we wear. Only natural that no one would speak. 

But from the corner of my eyes I saw his lips parted, wanting to say something to me. "I wonder how someone like you became the prince's aide," he asked.

How I became Prince Caliber's aide huh. Not much story to tell. But I do not want to answer him.

Rather than my story, I am much more intrigued about his background and how he met the Crown Prince. "What are the odds, I was wondering the same about you."

"Why did you leave Summa Octo?"

I froze. 

Summa Octo. Two words that I would never want to hear again. I should have had left to go to Niro the moment this knight apppeared here.

Araneans might be something that people know but only few people knew the existence of Summa Octo in the Aranea Clan. Other than that, only Master Caliber, His Majesty and Niro knew about me being part of Summa Octo. How could he know something about that?

"How do you know about Summa Octo, and how did you know that I am one of them?" I tried to ask calmly, but I feel like I would not be able to be calm for a long time. 

"Do not ask a question when you have not yet answered the question I gave you." The annoying knight said.

"I do not have to answer your question, I am not required to do so." I said, refusing to answer.

"That is a pity, Summa Octo will not be Summa Octo if there are only seven."

As if I care.

I did not say anything and clenched my fists, mad at the thought that someone, beside my masters and partner, knew who I am.

It was exactly the same at that time where the two of us dueled. Alec Valorian stopped at the moment he found out that I am a spider. 

~~~~~~~~~~

"Why are you even on Canopus? Did the Old Spider kick you out?" 

"Did you get that temper from your father? Well, it looked like all Araneans have it."

"Judging from Aranea's leader, it is most likely that you escaped your place because of suffocation." 

"What..?"

"I have no proof, these are all assumptions. Seeing that you are the only woman that became that prince's aide, then you must have a big argument with your father," 

"You must have wanted to prove your worth to your father, but after everything you have done,"

"It was futile."

~~~~~~~~~~

I have been wondering this since the time I fought with you. Since the time you told me those words.

Who the hell are you?

How could he say that as if he knew me for a long time? Is he from Aranea?

No.

Even if I left that Clan, I can still remember all the people's faces in there. I never once saw him.

And yet he said all of that like he knew my father so well. Is he one of my father's men? That would be impossible since Alec Valorian works for the royal family.

He might be an acquaintance of father and the Summa Octo, but I never met him during the time I was still there. I could say that he might be a new acquaintance, but why is it that he knows who I am?

Of all times where I held back and tried to be calm, but now I am about to go insane thinking of whoever this man is and his association with our Clan. 

I could tell that at the first time we met, he did not know who I am. What is it that happened that made him figure out my identity and call me out?

How does he know Bahiensis and Summa Octo?

Not only these questions were what made me anxious. It was also because his words were all correct.

He was right.

I did have an argument with my father, and also my mother, the reason why I left Summa Octo. Alec Valorian was correct, I wanted to prove something to my father.

But hell, no matter what I do, it was all for nothing. He never once praised me for any of my achievements. I tried hsrd to prove myself to him, but why is it he never seemed to notice my existence?

It was annoying. I cannot help but feel mad and irritated. And of course, 

I felt hurt.

He only paid attention to my brothers and never once cared for me. Was it because I am a woman?

~~~~~

"Good sir," I uttered and tilted my head slightly to the left, "Surely you would not decline a fight out of consideration for my gender." 

In spite of the emotionless face I have, my eyes were blazing red, trying to engulf Alec in the flames of my gaze. I want him to know how serious I am, and that I should not be looked down upon just because of my gender.

Alec looked at the sharp blade that was in front of him then looked back at me, returning my stare.

"Nothing of the sort," he responded and slid the weapon away from his face using his hand. "I was just going to ask if you were sure of this challenge you were requesting." he stated.

Tch, underestimating me?

I slid my fingers on the blade of my sword to its tip and looked at Alec from the corner of my eyes, "I would not ask you to fight me if I was not sure of it." I said with confidence.

"If you say so," Alec Valorian grabbed his sword by the scabbard that was on his side, pushing his thumb upwards onto the guard, he did not draw it out and just gripped it as he did when he and Niro fought. 

"This duel I accept."

~~~~~

At that time, I was glad that he accepted the duel. Fighting me without considering my gender, that may be the only thing I liked about Alec at that time. I was about to flare up at the thought that he would mock me because I am a woman. That may be one of the reasons why I hated him at first.

Because it reminded me of how unimportant I was in front of my father just because I was not his 'son' but his 'daughter'.

Ever since the war ended, only the Clan of Aranea survived. Phoneutria Bahiensis who betrayed his own brothers, his own tribe, in return to satisfy his greed, are the only Clan leader who remained.

And yes, that same man was the one I hated in Summa Octo.

Phoneutria Bahiensis....is my father.