Kitanna
Chapter 200: FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW

Chapter 200: FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: CHEOS NUN~ IU]

As Lady Hash was now ready to leave for Morado. She head her carriage already packed with the goods she dame to purchase, ready to leave she was escorted to the entrance by Axilla who held her letter close to her chest.

"Lady Hash, I wish you a safe journey." Axilla remarked politely, slipping her letter into the woman’s hand.

With a thoughtful look, Lady Hash turned around to say, "Even if I don’t arrive safely, I’ll make sure falcon delivers your letter." The woman teased waiting for Axilla’s response.

Axilla who was too stunned to reply, stood there looking at the woman who always wished herself bad luck. "T-that I mean" she stuttered.

Lady Hash tapped Axilla’s bottom jokingly. "Don’t stress Child, I was only joking." The woman threw her head back in laughter, then she paused for sometime and said, "Actually I’m of the belief that if I always think of the negative, I’ll meet with the positive." Lady Hash explained her voice fading with every word, it was rare to see her serious during a conversation.

Axilla’s mouth shaped in a big O, she was lost and didn’t know what to reply because this was her first time of hearing such ideology. She wondered what made the woman stick to such belief.

Lady Hash sighed, "All my life I always dreamed big, quite an optimist. It may surprise you to know that I cheered happy endings not until I met with a sad turn. When I lost my sight and the man I loved to the cold hands of bandits. Did I not pray for goodluck that day? I did! But look at how it is for me." The woman narrated her story.

Axilla was shocked, she had always wondered why Lady Hash was not married and how she became blind. The woman’s story saddened Axilla. "I-im sorry..I didn’t know." Axilla replied.

Lady Hash patted the girl’s hand playfully, "Why? I’m not wallowing in sadness no. I’m happy." The woman exhaled, raising her face towards the sky she said, "Seems like the first snow would arrive soon, it always comes with bloodshed, let’s hope is not mine." The woman teased stepping inside her carriage.

Axilla held her hands close to her chest, as she watched the carriage leave. She never knew there were persons who wished themselves bad luck, even the thought of it scared her. As she stood there watching the carriage leave, something cold touched her nose, then her hand. It was indeed the first snow.

Axilla felt her heart race when she remembered Lady Hash’s words. "It’s a lie, she’s just joking." The young girl muttered under her breathe as she watched the heavenly fluffy drops of ice fall gracefully from the sky.

"You don’t have to let Lady Hash get into your head, half of the things she say, don’t take it seriously." Axilla turned when she heard Cortez’s voice.

She bowed gracefully, "How long have you been here?" Axilla asked.

Cortez hummed, "Long enough to hear Lady Hash scare you with her words." The young man replied with a smile.

Axilla nodded her head, her eyes still on the snow flakes.

"You know if it really worries you, you can make a wish. Wishes made on the day of the first snow always come to pass." Cortez replied watching the surprised look on the girl’s face which amused him.

"Really?" Axilla whispered, she was really hearing a lot of new things. She brought her hands together and closed her eyes. When she was done, she opened her eyes to meet with the midnight eyes of Cortez that wouldn’t stop staring at her.

"You didn’t make a wish?" Axilla asked him, clenching her hands, the cold was beginning to bite into her skin.

The corner of Cortez’s lips twisted, "I already have my wish right here." He remarked bluntly, combusting Axilla with his words.

"I heard Crown Prince Adric would be getting married soon, would you like to escort me on that day Milady?" Cortez asked, stretching his hands out for Axilla to hold.

Axilla who had never received such attention from any man or asked to be an escort before didn’t know how to react. She brought her hand forward, placing it on Cortez’s open ones and she replied, "Yes."

"Great, we should find a dress that would compliment your radiating beauty." Cortez praised, dragging Axilla to his chest using his hands to wrap her, he whispered. "So cold, tell me what did you wish for Axilla?."

Axilla who was trying to get her messy thoughts in check due to Cortez’s words and actions, found her lips trembling and it was not because of the cold. "I-i wish that there won’t be anymore bloodshed." She replied, looking at Cortez straight in the eye before she looked away shyly.

Cortez tugged Axilla’s hand as they walked inside the house, "Guess who found himself an angel." Cortez muttered.

.....

Along the road that led to the mountains, Hieron opened his carriage window, the snow had already covered the mountain ground making everywhere look white. It was easy to notice the footprints on it, even easier to know which belonged to humans and animals.

Hieron twitched his lips, the footprints were that of humans and it was many. "Stop the carriage," the man ordered, he already suspected an ambush.

Before he could take his sword out, the door to his carriage opened and he was dragged out by two men.

Hieron raised his eyes, getting balanced on his feet. He noticed a chubby woman step down from a carriage.

"We finally meet Deonisia" Hieron said with a smile on his face.

Deonisia raised her gown as she walked on the snow filled ground, with a smug look on her proud face. "Hieron, the great white Lord of our time. What age has done to you."

Hieron stood with dignity, his face raised high like he was not afraid of anything. "Deep down I’ve been planning for us to meet, nice it is an open space. What happened to you Deonisia?" The man asked worriedly.

Deonisia scoffed, "Leave that question for your bestfriend when you meet him in hell, I want to enjoy the pleasure of taking your life by myself." The woman remarked.

"Why don’t you go to hell with me, leave these young ones alone already. Let our mistakes not ruin our children." Hieron said in a calm voice trying to reason with the woman whose eyes was covered with vengance.

Deonisia scowled, "For you and Eusebius who had the lesiure to create descendants while I suffered for the heartbreak your bestfriend punished me with, I won’t rest until I wipe out every last one of you." The woman sneered, raising her sword up.

Hieron furrowed his brow looking confused, "Heartbreak? Eusebius never did anything to hurt you. Deonisia calm down," the older man said, looking at the sword that had drops of snow on it.

"I can imagine your grandson’s reaction when he hears of your demise." Deonisia chuckled, raising the sword up, she slashed it.

The pure white angelic snow ground gradually was stained with blood, which seeped in and spread quickly. The weather was chilly, almost freezing the bone as silence engulfed the mountains.