Chapter 14: Rainy Days.

"Is that the princess?!" Lydia asked confused "what is she doing there?" Her voice in panic, she hurriedly took several flights of stairs, getting an umbrella and a blanket which she plans to wrap the princess with, she ran as fast as she could, but it was farther away than when they were standing by the balcony.

"My lady?!" She called out. Reaching where Reina stood, panting, she struggled to hold the umbrella whilst still trying to wrap her with the blanker, but she successfully did "What are you doing here?" She inquired, scanning her surroundings to check for anyone, but found no one in sight.

Lydia nudged Reina for her to walk with her.

Reina followed quietly, they arrived at her room wetting the floors of the castle, which Lydia would have to go back to clean. Making the princess undress out of her wet clothes, Lydia went to prepare a hot bath for her, still in deep thought as to why Reina was standing in the middle of the vast garden at this hour by herself, like she has lost her mind, when the bath was ready, she made Reina get in so she could assist her, pouring water on her hair constantly to prevent her from catching a cold.

Lydia has numerous questions she wants to ask, but kept them to herself as Reina did not look like she'll tell her anything about it anytime soon.

They both stepped out of the bath, and Lydia got warm clothes for Reina to put on, standing behind her she undid her braids, she had done yesterday, and as much as she wanted Reina's hair to curl up, she had to use a towel to straighten them out while drying.

"Would you like some hot coco?" Lydia asked breaking the silence in the air.

"No, thank you" Reina replied "Lydia?, When did mother and father realized that i was missing?"

Lydia paused to think it through, then continued "well, early hours of the morning, your mother came to check on you. Remember how upset you were because of the dungeon matter?, I presume she came to speak with you about it"

"But she couldn't find me?"

"Well not immediately, she thought you were deliberately ignoring her and being stubborn, so she called me, thinking i could get to you. But "You" of course refused to open the door, eventually we went to get the spare keys to open the door" She explained keeping the damp towel beside her, to use the brush.

"Then you found an empty bed , and an open terrace door." Reina added, already getting the whole story.

"Yes, the Queen panicked, I panicked and immediately called for a search, days turned into weeks, weeks into months but you were still nowhere to be found"

"And then my death was confirmed? even without a body."

Lydia sighed heavily "Yes, everyone was devastated" she continued, setting the brush aside. "Would you like me to braid it again?" Lydia asked.

"No, just brush it back" She said. "Braid the ends" She added changing her mind.

"Alright, just a moment," she responded, moving to pick up the lamp to enhance the room's brightness. The rain drummed against the windows, and thunderclaps, accompanied by lightning, momentarily painted the sky

Reina sat on the floor next to her bed, with her back leaning on the wood, she threw her head back to rest it on the matrass, she stared blankly at the ceiling, as the warm lights of the candles illuminated the room. The dim lights from the flames creates a cozy atmosphere throughout the room, along with the sound of the rain hitting the castle walls. She took in numerous breaths.

Lydia returned to sit behind Reina on the bed. Holding Reina's hair in her hands, parting the ends into three to join them into a single braid.

Soon enough, Reina fell asleep on Lydia's thighs, She let her sleep caressing her hair. Lydia also fell asleep with her head lulling back and forth until she finally resulted into laying her head on the pillow to avoid disturbing Reina's sleep.

Their shadows cast an illumination on the wall and ceiling, while the flames gradually diminished over time. The rain continued to pour down heavily.

Waking up, Reina lifted her head from Lydia's thigh, feeling the strain in her neck from being stretched on one side for an extended period. She rubbed her neck groaning in discomfort. She looked behind her to see Lydia sleeping soundly, she got up stretching her legs, she lifted Lydia's legs to place them lightly in the bed, using the duvet to cover her up.

Grabbing a lamp from the stands, she headed out closing the door behind her. Reina strode the halls of the now quiet castle, where the only sound would be coming from the rain or loose window sills.

She took numbers of stairs up and found herself by a balcony, where she could see the garden from there and also where she stood before Lydia came to get her. She stood, stretching her arm to feel the rain on her palms.

"You highness?" The familiar voice called out to her. Reina slowly turned to see Ares standing there in his casual clothing, she has only ever seen him in uniform ever since she returned.

"Ares." She said, with a small smile on her face, she still doesn't know why she is attracted to this man, but she is, only that now, she doesn't feel the extreme excitement and nervousness whenever he was around her.

"Aren't you cold?" He asked looking at her bare arms "Your arm is wet" He added.

"I reached for the rain" Reina said, not looking at him. Then there was silence, that she was comfortable with. Ares wasn't

He had noticed movements from from her wing, and thought it was Lydia, but the person didn't head to the servants quarters, so he followed stealthily to find the princess walking aimlessly, well until she walked out into the balcony. He thought she'd come back out immediately, but she didn't, so he waited and eventually walked up to her. Exhaustion and a sense of hopelessness were in her eyes. The light he had once seen in her eyes, the first few times he met her, the first few times he had the chance to gaze into those beautiful eyes, that light was gone. She wasn't that vibrant and daring princess he knew anymore. . Ever since they found her outside the castle gates, he noticed the exhaustion and would wonder what is was she must have gone through for her to lose her shine. It seems like she hasn't rested enough, even though all she has been doing is sleep and eat. Resting.

Ares fixed his eyes on the distance, recalling how she stood unfazed in the rain, as if unaffected by the cold. "If I may?" He started, and Reina raised her brow looking at him "Why were you standing under the rain earlier?" He asked, scanning her face for a reaction. There was none.

Reina looked away from him, with no intention to answer his question, she shrugged, did he really expect her to tell him that she had an argument with their so-called King, who told her she has no place here, and her birth right has been giving to Gael who is nowhere close to having Royal blood? She doubts.

"Are you still holding you place as my bodyguard?" Reina asked instead. "I heard you've been promoted to a general".

Ares chuckled, he had forgotten about his position as her bodyguard. He failed to guard her that night. Aside her mentioning it now, he had completely forgotten. But as it seems, he was never removed from that position, which was given to him by King Zeus. His promotion happened during the battle, and he got assigned to be general by the council, so basically he was still her guard. "I guess i am."

A subtle whistling sound could be heard. By Ares alone as the sound was faint. Ares perked up, his eyes widening, and swiftly he pulled Reina down.