EPISODE TWENTY TWO
TITLE: THE MEMORIAL.
THREE DAYS AFTER~
Onida served Azazel continuously for the past three days which surprised her to an extent.
Adriel always gives her two days to treat her wounds before sleeping with her but it’s not like that anymore.
He was now more brutal and hard on her. She had slipped out of consciousness and found herself on the cold floor the next morning.
Everyone’s mood has changed in the Castle, They were being edgy and peevish.
Onida couldn’t complain to Rita due to how she talked rudely to her the last time.
After washing herself up, Onida ate her food and picked her basket, ready for the farm.
Eleanor knocked on the door softly and she rushed to open her.
“Good morning”She greeted casually and made to take her basket but Eleanor stopped her quickly. She dallied for a while before talking.
“Rita is traveling”She announced and Onida turned to her sharply.
“Why?, To where?”She asked curiously and walked closer to her.
“It’s none of your concern, I just want you to pay your respect before she leaves”She snapped.
“Is everything alright?” Onida asked curiously and Eleanor’s reactions shocked her.
“I don’t know! Just pay your respect to her if you want to!”She yelled with tears dripping down her face.
“If you don’t want to do it, then leave!”She completed her sentence and Onida nodded before leaving the room hurriedly to catch up on her before she left.
•
Rita entered Azazel’s room in a sober manner and bowed slightly with her small sac around her shoulders.
Azazel squinted his eyes trying to push his emotions away as she stared at the old feeble woman at the side of the door.
“I will be on my way now” She stuttered and made to leave.
Azazel teleported to the door and hugged her immediately.
This shocked Rita to the bones because she has never used his powers in her presence for the past years.
“Can you stay here? With me and Adriel?” He pleaded and Rita shook her head.
“I wouldn’t be able to bear it, This place meant a lot to me, Adriel will be too broken, I will come back when the coast is clear” She assured and rest her head on Azazel hands which he wrapped around her neck and Azazel sighed before letting her go.
He moved her hand to her aged chubby cheeks and stared at her, His face filled with emotions.
For some reason, Rita is always happy for this day to come yearly because that’s the only moment she will be able to see Azazel in this state.
Slowly, Azazel knelt in front of her and held her aged feet just like he does every year because he couldn’t push the blame off his chest.
He felt so sorry for putting them in a regrettable state.
“I’m sorry, Rita, Heaven bears me witness that I will always regret the day I told you what my people did to me, It still hurts me so much that you were like this because of me “He whispered, His voice shaked as if he was about to cry and Rita pulled him out with a smile.
“I will never regret it, I’m the first person you did that to, And I’m honored, Don’t blame yourself for what happened to me, At least, I had the opportunity to see you everyday and make your meals”She smiled sadly and hugged him again.
“I will tell Adriel to see you to the border”He offered immediately but she turned his offer down.
“He’s too broken at the moment, He needs some time to pull himself together”She mumbled and Azazel nodded.
He kissed her hand before letting her go, finally.
He hopes to see her soon.
•
Onida panted heavily as she ran to her chambers but couldn’t see her.
Even though she didn’t know the reasons why Rita is travelling, it must be very important and urgent.
Luckily, She met her coming back from Azazel chambers and Onida ran up to her.
“Where are you going?”She asked without paying her greetings and Rita smiled.
“Somewhere far, I will be back soon”She patted her back and made to leave.
Onida stopped her and grabbed her hands. She stuffed the small self made bead into her hands and closed it back with a small smile lingering on her face.
“Give this to whoever you’re going to visit”She said softly and bowed before leaving.
Rita was speechless as she watched her leave, She couldn’t call her back.
As she was out of sight, she gathered her emotions together and opened her palm.
It is a beaded bracelet. Although the beads aren’t new and expensive, they look unique and beautiful too.
“How could she think of giving me such a beautiful bracelet after all that I’ve done to her?”She muttered in a cracked voice, deeply touched.
She sobbed softly and muttered a prayer before leaving the courtyard finally so as to start her journey now that the sun hasn’t risen yet.
•
Adriel came to Azazel chamber to deliver the daily scrolls, He met him in a dejected manner and sighed before walking up to him.
He knew the reason why Azazel is like this, and it broke him that he couldn’t do anything to help their broken life.
As something like this will always happen every year.
“Is there something you want me to do for you?”He asked, trying to see if he could open up to him but it was futile.
He touched his arm and knelt down beside him on the chair.
“Master…”
“Rita left again” He mumbled softly under his voice and Adriel nodded.
“I know”
“When will you leave?, Take whatever you want to take with you and leave the Castle before dusk”He ordered in a hard tone and Adriel stood up on his feet.
“I’m not leaving the Castle” He said bluntly and Azazel stood up to him immediately, almost locking heads with him.
“I told you to leave, Adriel!”He yelled before pushing him out of his way and he sighed before walking up to him.
Adriel knew why he was doing this but he didn’t want to do this anymore.
He will be left alone in the palace, drinking alcohol for days without opening up to anyone.
“You always grant me a wish yearly in a time like this!”Adriel yelled back at him in desperation and he turned to him immediately.
“Yes, And what do you want? Yuna? You know….”
“I want to stay with you till the time we will get over this, This is the time we need each other the most, And you’re pushing everyone away… Just like you always do”He cut him off and knelt down in front of him immediately.
“I don’t want to go out of the castle again, I only want to stay around you, It’s killing me outside here”He cried in front of Azazel and the latter dropped his sword unconsciously and sat back on the bed.
He didn’t expect Adriel to raise his voice at him, He felt guilty for pushing them away when he’s supposed to be the one to embrace and comfort them at a time like this.
Silence slipped in the room and for moments, No one talked.
•
Onida returned very late to the Castle, Eleanor was waiting for her in front of her room.
Immediately she saw her coming, She ran up to her and collected the basket.
“I’ve been waiting for you”
“I’m sorry for keeping you waiting” Onida apologized curtly and Eleanor sighed.
“Drop the honorifics, Onida”She warned and looked around.
“Rita told me to take care of you, especially since no one knows when she will come back” She whispered in a lighter mood.
“Where did she go?” Onida asked and Eleanor drooped.
“You can’t know” She muttered simply and made to leave but Onida stopped her.
“Please, tell me, I promise not to overreact, Just let me know”She pleaded and Eleanor hesitated for a while.
It’s a secret no one must know in the palace and here’s Onida pestering her to tell her.
“No one must hear about this”She repeated in a more strict tone and Onida nodded.
She took a deep breath before talking again.
“Azazel’s parents, including Adriel’s family and Rita’s only child, died on the same day.”
*
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