Page 67 of Royal Lies

I smiled. Everetta had always been the first person to show me kindness, the firstgirlever to extend kindness to me in this life and my past life. That wasn't why I chose to stay with her through these years and in this life. To not go with my pride but remain by her side. It wasn't because they wouldn't have let me follow them. No, it was because this girl, with bright golden hair and a beaming pair of smiling eyes, was just as sad and lonely as I was. I could read it in both of my lives, the empty emotionless gaze that matched my own. But I would also be lying if I said I didn't sometimes regret my decision especially now that I have all my memories. This brilliant girl with golden curls and ragtag clothes, carrying more power than anyone in all my lives, would always lead us straight to hell.

However, the girl before me didn't know anything—not even the basics of enchantments, ruins, spells, or potions. I mean, seriously, nothing. I thought perhaps, since I only erased a fewof her memories, she might still know some spells, or at least some basic commonsense but, when I asked her, she seemed only aware of having another life but oblivious to what life she actually had lived. I would have doubted her claims if it hadn't been for her obvious ignorance towards the world. I mean, seriously, what kind of girl eats a poisonous mushroom when the boy next to her clearly warned her not to?

I mean I told her fifty times, how many more times must I tell her. Hell, I think if I wasn't with her she'd have ended herself by now. Then there was that damn time when I specifically told her, and I mean absolutely under no circumstances, that she should sleep over a bed of markweed. I mean, everyone knew they caused hives to pop out like a virus on the skin. Yet, the next morning what did I find, she was sleeping right there above those very same weeds I had told her not to lay on. No, I would like to revise that statement. It was definitely the biggest mistake in my life to follow this girl. Befriending her in my first life was one thing, but tagging along the second time, after all my memories, must’ve meant I also had a few screws loose.

Chapter 20

Fletcher

We were finally back, I was finally back. Reaching a hand out the window I smiled, watching as the small drop of snowtouched the surface of my palm. Closing my eyes I could already taste her sweet orange scent. She was so close now, just a few more days, just a few more hours. I'm coming for you Everetta, my love, my life, my soul.

"Fletcher, we should get going now." My companion, the princess of the Spirit Realm, turned toward me with a smile plastered to her porcelain skin. But don’t let her doll-like features fool you. She was the leader of the secret coup that helped overthrow her father and place her brother on the throne.

It went off without a hitch. In turn, to commemorate his rise to the throne, her brother had been asked to meet with all the realms to announce his rise to the throne. After months and months of house cleaning back in their realm, we were finally able to come back, back to my home, back to the realm of the fae. I smiled. Bowing slightly I nodded.

I was her servant, in this life, her butler, and she was my master. Even if she still refuses to acknowledge the facts. But then again, how could she when she too remembers who we used to be and who we are? Akasuki Shinobi Arizumi Nine-Tails, as her name implies, was a very cunning, stealthy but pure-hearted spirit. But just because she was pure didn’t mean she wasn't willing to do what was needed of her. She showed just how capable a girl was to her father, and the rest of her family, when she slayed a third of her own family to help her brother, who was far less of a tyrant and more open-minded than her father.

"Of course your Highness," I bowed looking up to see the white-haired goddess of the Nine-Tailed Realm, otherwise known as the Spirit Realm.

Akasuki rolled her eyes annoyed by my formal manners. "You know you don't have to call me that." She turned, throwing on a black peasant coat.

I smiled as if to placate her.

We both remembered our former lives, though that should have been impossible, as only those of the Phoenix line can ever recall their past lives. Then again, my love was always making the impossible possible. She must have cast the spell of reincarnation along with an additional spell to help us maintain our memories. However, something must have gone wrong because I wasn't in my original body, despite Akasuki being in her own past body.

How do I know this? Firstly, Everetta would have already been looking for me by now if she had her memories unless she felt guilty, which, in my opinion, she shouldn't be. Secondly, I'd visited her in her dreams once I was able to. I still don't know why I couldn't as soon as I reincarnated, but hey, I was able to now. In her conscious state, my soulmate couldn't remember me. Why else would she be looking for remembrance spells in her dreams? The question was why couldn't she remember, and could my brother remember? I posed this question to Akasuki who seemed all too hesitant to answer, saying something along the lines of not being too sure. However, I suspect that my brother might have had something to do with Evie’s memories, my nickname for the love of my life.

Something fishy was going on, all the more reason to get back to our mates as quickly as possible. But alas, there are just a few more loose ends I must clear before finally meeting my love.

"Your royal highness, you are my master, I am but a mere servant, until my title changes, I can not simply call you by your name, your grace," I replied bowing my head slightly.

Akasuki rolled her eyes, shaking her head as if amused by my words.

I wasn't by any means joking. It was after all only proper for a servant to address his master as such. Since my master was a descendant of royalty and I am a commoner now, I must address her as such.

"Well, whatever, let's just finish up with our scopes of the capital. I'm interested to see how the king had been running his city without the aid of histrueson." Akasuki said, throwing in a little dig at the bastard who stole my body.

I smiled as I opened the door for my lady. The only reason we were getting the scope of the land was for one reason and one reason only, to help overthrow another monarch. After all my brother, though no longer by blood was still a brother, will be ascending the throne no matter what happens. I'll make sure of that. Everyone knows a king without the support of his people is no king.

The capital was packed as always, vendors, merchants, kids clinging to the backs of their mothers, children crying over a broken toy, thieves pickpocketing, and husbands beating their wives or the reverse. Walking through the masses I could practically smell the corruption and decay left unhinged around the streets. I have no idea what was going through my present father's head. This was truly unspeakable. Grabbing the hand of a merchant I smiled bitterly.

"I think it would be best if you let go of that poor girl's wrist don't you?" I stared daggers at the man with the unkempt beard.

His rotting teeth sneered back at me. "I'd mind your own business little boy." The man sneered his oil-soaked skin leering down on the girl.

As if that was that the man turned, dragging the poor girl away, yanking his meaty arms from my grip.

Suddenly the man halted. His grip loosened on the girl.

"No-No. I-I did as you asked. I sold them- the girls. No-No I-I didn't." The man stuttered walking backwards, his body trembling in fear.

I turned cocking a brow. Akatsuki shrugged her eyes glowing bright red. It was a good sign that she was using her magic, "He was asking for it."

Rolling my eyes albeit indulgently. We both had no tolerance for these kinds of urchins. The ones who feasted on the bodies of young girls as they cried in pain from the intrusion.

"Hey, we weren't even supposed to be here. If you weren't such a Wolf we would be at the castle by now." She teased, cocking an elegantly groomed brow.

She was right, but who could withstand watching someone being forced against their will? Who could watch someone turn into a slave?

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