Chapter 929: Like A Blooming Flower
Rowena knew Raphael was right. When she was still living in Ashland, she didn"t know better and thought maybe all parents were harsh on their children.
And then, she thought maybe her father loved her in his own way. Or, maybe he was just too bitter after Rowena"s mother died during childbirth that he couldn"t love his daughter properly.
Maybe, seeing Rowena would always remind him of his dead wife? A few people who saw the late queen said that Rowena was a dead ringer for her mother.
Or worse.. maybe King Draco Roseland hated Rowena because he blamed her for his wife"s death.
Now, she knew better.
Draco Roseland did not love her and whatever the reason was... she should stop hoping that he would change.
Rowena cleared her throat. "Well, my tutors, Lady Liz and Lady Mary used to tell me that the reason why he was so hard on me and expected so much out of me was that I could do a lot more,"
She hadn"t told this to Julian because she was sure that he would call it a pile of horse dung, but sometimes she did think about it.
"I see. I suppose there might be some reason for it... but you cannot really know what is on your father"s mind. Your guess might be wrong," Raphael commented lightly.
"And if my guess was wrong—and if King Urther really had a good reason to hate my father, then it"s good that I"m far away from him," Rowena said. She tried not to say anything else, but the words left her mouth. "And especially because he keeps chasing after me.. but what if he really did think about it?"
Raphael and Rowena"s gaze met, and she shyly averted her eyes.
"Two years is a long time. People can still have a change of heart and yet I myself seem to have decided that my father is irredeemable. Do you not think that is an incredibly harsh a.s.sessment?"
"You truly have a heart that"s quite forgiving." Raphael shook his head. "Some people would have closed that chapter in their life and never opened it again."
"Well, those are some of my thoughts—I wouldn"t exactly know if he had actually changed unless I were to meet with him again, but I am happy with my life now." Rowena looked down at the panacea.
She thought about Julian.
"I"ll be happier—the happiest when I get this to my friend. But I think I must have bored you with too many details, haven"t I?"
"No, not at all." Raphael shook his head. "I am glad to lend an ear to you."
Rowena didn"t know why, but despite her initial hesitation to talk around Raphael... he had the kind of presence that soothed her to express what was on her mind.
Now, she didn"t know what to say. Rowena looked at Raphael and the man looked at her. His heart fluttered because she was truly so beautiful. She no longer wore a fancy dress, or decorated in jewelry. She looked so simple and her skin even looked tanned from the sun, but somehow everything about her became so much more charming.
Ahh...
Raphael finally realized what happened.
She looked charming and enchanting because she was smiling and had that expression of content. It was so different from the Rowena he knew years ago who was secretly depressed and afraid. Now, instead of fear, she was fearless. Instead of worried, she was pa.s.sionate, and instead of demure, she was a.s.sertive.
She was like a flower that bloomed in spring. He was truly enchanted.
"So...?" Rowena furrowed her brows.
"So?" Raphael had forgotten everything he was here for. What was it that he wanted to do with Rowena?
Going back to the surface? Ah... that"s it.
"You said you will help me find a nearest way to get back to the surface," Rowena reminded Raphael. The man grinned and nodded.
"Yeah, I do." He reached out his hand and motioned her to take it, so she did. Then they climbed up the seahorse carriage and sat nicely. "I know the way."
He motioned the coachman and soon the carriage moved, carrying the two pa.s.sengers who sat side by side.
***
The mermaid realm from its beautiful calm waters to its numerous sights would have probably made Rowena fall in love with the place.
Even the seahorse carriage ride that Raphael fetched for her would fill her with awe and amazement.
If she arrived here with Julian instead, Rowena was absolutely sure that the two of them would get into a lot of adventures together.
However, because of everything that happened in the royal sea palace with King Urther to the fact that Julian was not in a state of good health—Rowena failed to appreciate her surroundings.
She was glad for Raphael"s company and shared some things that came from her heart—but at the sight of numerous water portals where a great number of merfolks were all lined up, Rowena"s priorities came first.
"Ah, we"re here at last." Raphael looked over at the portals with a sense of regret.
Merfolks were magical creatures, but the levels of magic within them varied from individual to individual which was why huge portal stations were available for those who wished to travel far away.
Raphael watched Rowena get off the carriage eagerly and it m
ade him wish that they could spend more time together.
However, he knew that it was necessary to return quickly to the human realm in order to save Rowena"s friend.
"We have to leave as quickly as possible... there"s no difference between the time in this realm than the other right?" Rowena suddenly asked as she looked over at Raphael worriedly.
Some stories mentioned about how a man stumbled into a portal but returned to the human realm with all his loved ones and the people he knew about as dead.
"No, you don"t have to worry about that." Raphael insisted.
Rowena sighed in relief. "Thank you."