Obsessed to Hate Him-Chapter 70: Escalation

KIAN

Nature knows everything. Or so Aunt says. ​There has been a storm since this morning, delaying our departure. As if nature is purposefully trying to prolong our departure.

The environment in the palace mirrors the environment of the sky: dark, gloomy, rainy, and thunderous. As Queen Veronica has been wailing since the crack of dawn. She has even fainted a few times by now, opposing her now only son’s departure to the enemy Kingdom. She is clinging and holding onto Liam like he is her only lifeline.

Liam is too unusually gentle and calm toward her as he soothes her. His usual sarcastic and no-nonsense approach is gone as if they never even existed in the first place.

It makes me a little envious, to see how much a mother loves her child. And how gentle Liam is toward his mother but not me.

"Liam, don’t go. What if you turn out like your brothers?" Veronica tries to make Liam change his mind for the hundredth time now, clinging to his suit. "Can’t you tell your father to send someone else as the envoy? And why are you going with the commander in the first place...? It is not safe..." Her brown eyes flicker in my direction worriedly. Her face is as pale as a white sheet; her eyes are puffy and red from all the crying and wailing.

An irritating wave of jealousy bubbles through me and I sniffle, averting my eyes from them. I am not supposed to feel jealous over Liam.

"Don’t worry, Mother," Liam assures gently, a small warm smile playing at the corner of his lips, causing jealousy to sear through me. He never smiles like that around me, let alone to me. Huff.

"B-But—" Veronica tries to relent but is cut off by Vivana. For the first time in my life, I am grateful for her interpretation.

"Mother, stop it. This is becoming an eyesore." She saunters into the room, looking more serious than ever. Her words are harsh, making Liam narrow his eyes on her. She ignores it blatantly. "I have some business with the Supreme Commander and the third prince. If you let me borrow them for a bit."

Veronica squeals and opens her mouth to protest, not wanting to let her only son go just yet. But Liam interjects.

"Mother, do not worry." He smiles kindly. I never felt this out of place in my whole life. "I will come to seek you out before I leave." He leans down and kisses her hair before untangling himself from her and stuttering over to Vivana.

I straighten from leaning against the wall and follow them out of the room with a light dip of my head to the Queen.

"You saved me back there." I try to lighten up the mood in the dark corridor, the storm outside continuing its relentless assault against the palace’s window.

There is no reply, neither from Vivana nor Liam. Well, it seems like no one is up for the jokes right now.

"Please come inside." Vivana skids to a halt in front of the doors of her study. She pushes the doors open and beckons inside.

Liam steps into the room, followed by me. Vivana is the last one to enter. She shuts the door and slides the lock onto the place. She pivots to face us. Her expression is stern with an underlying twinge of worry and anxiety.

"What is it, Vivian?" Liam asks, raising a questioning eyebrow.

Vivana blows out a silent breath as she prepares herself to speak. I stroll to her desk and pick up a paperweight, rolling it between my fingers.

"I will spare you the assurance and cut straight to the information." She says, her voice wobbling slightly. I note it as a very bad omen.

Vivana Von Sylvyran is a force of nature. She is anxious...nope. This is not a good sign. Not at all.

I shift my attention to her, leaning against her desk. "You found out something about Nyxvarral, didn’t you, Your Highness?" I smirk, feeling the thrill of adrenaline pouring into my veins.

"You are very good at picking up things, Supreme Commander." Vivana offers me an amused look. "We have just received a previous envoy sent to Nyxvarral."

Liam clenches his fists, his lips thinning. "What does that mean? What did he say? How is he alive?"

"Well, Liam." Vivana rubs her temple, looking a few years older than she actually is, "He is in no condition to speak at all. His memory is messed up. And from what we have found out, his brain has been messed up with a powerful forbidden magic. No amount of magic can repeal it. The holy church of the God of the Sun is working around the clock to get him to speak. But I am afraid they can go so far with it."

My fingers pause, rolling the paperweight, and I raise an eyebrow. "What does it mean, Your Highness?"

I already know what it means. I just need her to confirm it.

"It means that it is worse than we thought," Vivana concludes, nodding to Liam. "I don’t want you to go."

Liam’s fingers dig deeper into the palm of his hand and he bites his lip, looking down at his feet. He is torn. The danger just escalated and I know he is infatuated. He never wanted to go there in the first place. It was forced upon him. He can back down now before it is too late. But for some unfathomable reason, I don’t want him to. It will only mean Liam is weak. And I know he is anything but. I want him to prove it. Because I want the world to know that I killed a formidable opponent, not a whimsical prince when I kill him at last.

I approach Liam and grab his hand, then slowly pry it open. "You will hurt yourself," I say, my eyes tracing the grooves he left on his palms from his nails.

Liam pauses, stares at me for a beat then locks his jaw. He turns to Vivana. "I will go."