Garden Of Poison-Chapter 240: Gathering: Forest of Red

Dear readers, there won’t be an update tomorrow (not sure about day after tomorrow but I will leave in a message in the comments). I will be travelling to attend a visa interview tomorrow, so that I can attend the WSA event held in Shanghai next month. Thank you for your patience. Love Ash.

—

The pirate ship continued to sail across the sea, rocking up and down as the night descended upon it. Most of the pirates had gone to sleep, leaving only two who were awake to sail the ship, sharing shifts with the other crew members to ensure the ship’s safe navigation.

Then there was Niyasa, clinging to one side of the railings, feeling her stomach churn with every swell of the sea, wondering when she would catch sight of land—having been reduced to the role of a servant girl, her hands and back aching from overworking.

"Ugh... I should have stayed on the island and not taken the boat," Niyasa mumbled to herself while feeling as though she was about to throw up. "Stupid pirates," she cursed, abruptly glancing behind her to ensure no one heard her.

While on the island, she wanted to get off it. And now that she was away from it, she wanted to get back there. She couldn’t believe how her own family had given up on her. Did she not belong to the royal family? She did. Was she not a Blackthorn princess? She was. She was also the youngest; how could they not find it in their hearts to forgive and forget her past mistakes?

"As if everyone else is perfect, and they choose to find faults only in me," Niyasa huffed angrily.

Niyasa stared at the endless dark sea merging with the night sky. She was about to walk back to the lower deck when she wondered whether she should perhaps try her luck and steal the compass and a boat. Surely, she wasn’t going to spend the rest of her life as a servant to these filthy beings.

"Now, where can I find the map?" Niyasa asked herself, her devious mind beginning to scheme.

Before long, Niyasa found herself standing before the pirate leader’s cabin after stealthily navigating her way through the ship’s corridors without drawing attention. She could hear faint snores emanating from within the cabin. Glancing left and right, she cautiously slipped inside. There, she caught sight of the pirate leader, who was fast asleep in his chair behind his desk.

Nearing the desk, she scanned its surface for the map before quietly moving to the side of the desk and gingerly pulling open the drawer as gently as she could. But to her dismay, all she found was a pouch filled with gold. Her heart skipped a beat when the pirate leader’s snores grew louder, causing her to startle, and she quickly hid the pouch within the folds of her dress.

Niyasa turned to the man and glared at him. She had been born a princess, and he had the audacity to make her perform menial chores? She wanted to chop his hands and tongue off, but for now, securing a boat and compass would do. And before she could resume her search, her eyes zeroed in on the man’s beefy hands, firmly grasping the precious compass.

"There it is!" she whispered, and her hand inched ever so carefully towards the pirate leader’s hand. She held her breath, readying herself to pull the compass from his grip, but just as her fingers made contact with the prized item, someone outside shouted,

"SHE HAS ESCAPED!"

Niyasa’s blue eyes widened, and she swiftly dove under the desk just as the pirate leader abruptly jolted awake from his slumber. What the fuck?! she cursed in her mind. She hadn’t even made it to the boat, and they already assumed she had managed to escape?

"THE WOMAN ISN’T HERE! FIND HER!"

Niyasa cursed her bad luck and ill timing. She observed the pirate leader rising from his chair and tried hard not to breathe too loudly. Upon hearing his crew’s frantic shouts, the man’s footsteps thumped against the floor as he exited the cabin.

"I only just devised the plan! Why did you have to find out so soon?" Niyasa questioned in frustration, her mind racing to find a way to slip back to a corner of the ship to make it look like she had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

Hurriedly climbing out from under the desk, she stumbled around thanks to the ship’s swaying motion before quietly leaving the cabin without anyone’s notice. She wondered whether she should show up before them just to let them know that they were a bunch of idiots.

"At least they will be convinced that I never tried to run away," Niyasa said to herself, though she would have to find a secure spot to hide the pouch of gold coins. Perhaps she should take it some other day? She nodded to herself. After placing the pouch back, she slowly made her way towards the front deck. She closed her eyes, and began, "I was—"

"You two have some nerve to run right under my nose," the pirate leader stated in a gruff tone.

Two? Niyasa opened her eyes and frowned in confusion. As far as she knew, she was the only one planning to run, so how had another person become involved in this? She looked ahead, and her eyes finally landed on a man who had been pushed to the ground, along with a young woman standing beside him.

So it wasn’t me after all, Niyasa thought to herself, wondering who these two idiots were to hamper the plan she had yet to execute.

"This woman is a treasure, don’t you know? And you tried to take her off the ship?" the pirate leader demanded of the man beside the woman.

"She and I aren’t commodities for sale!" the young man retorted with anger. "We are people with value, not your servants!"

That was right! Niyasa affirmed in her mind. She was a princess!

"Please, allow us to return to our homeland!" the woman begged with tears in her eyes. "My family must be waiting for me. Please, let us go!"

"I thought she was tied up and placed in the drum. How did they manage to get out of there?!" the pirate leader barked loudly, causing those on the ship to instinctively step back and away from him.

"We were sure they were securely bound, Boss. They must have used some tricks or a hidden knife to cut the ropes!" answered one of the men from the pirate crew. "Forgive us!"

The pirate leader came to stand before the woman, who appeared to be in far better condition than anyone else on the ship, including Niyasa. His hand shot out to grab her jaw tightly, his voice stern as he said,

"We must deliver you for a high price. Items like you are meant to be sold, and it will bolster our riches. I have been saving you, but it seems you won’t mind if I enjoy a little taste." With those ominous words, the grubby man’s head lowered towards the woman.

"Don’t you dare lay a hand on her!" the man vehemently protested, trying to get up, only to be forcefully shoved back down by his shoulders. "Let her go!"

The pirate leader’s irritation swelled, and he said, "It looks like he wants to get off the ship. Throw him overboard."

"No!" the woman cried out, and to the princess’s ears, it sounded rather dramatic. "Please don’t do it!"

In response, the pirate leader slapped the woman across the face to silence her.

Niyasa’s eyes widened in shock when she witnessed two men forcibly dragging the man and throwing him over the railing with a soft splash into the water. They actually threw him overboard?!

"Have her tied up in my room. I will deal with her soon," the pirate leader ordered, and as he turned away, his gaze landed on the newly recruited female pirate. He snapped, "What are you doing just standing there? Take her!"

Niyasa harboured a strong desire to twist the man’s thick neck, though she doubted she would be able to encircle it sufficiently to be successful in squeezing it. All she wanted was to escape from this damn pirate ship! She walked towards the weeping woman and pulled her by her arm away from there while being followed by another pirate to make sure she would be securely bound.

"All tied up. See?" Niyasa said to the gruff-looking man.

"Fetch some water for the woman. And also, bring the wine. The boss will want a drink," the pirate ordered.

Where is the poison, so I can add it as well? Niyasa asked without letting the words pass her lips. She couldn’t believe how heartless these pirates were, and she feared that sooner or later, they would also subject her to the perils of the sea. She had no idea how much longer she would have to wait before she would be able to get off this thing and return home.

As the days had passed, taking her further away from her home and sister, a growing sense of sadness had begun to take root in her mind at the thought that nobody cared about her. They must be happy that they don’t have to see me anymore, she thought to herself.

After a while, Niyasa returned carrying water and wine to the pirate’s cabin, where the young woman had been bound.

"I cannot believe how, being a woman, you can work for these people," the woman spat out in anger, and Niyasa could only guess that her fury was related to the man who had been thrown from the ship.

"You think I voluntarily signed up for this?" Niyasa shot a withering glare at the lowly woman for daring to speak to her in such a tone when she herself was in a disadvantageous position. "You should have stayed silent instead of talking. You and that man. At least he would still be alive," she added, rolling her eyes.

"Why should I stay silent?" the woman challenged as she locked eyes with the princess. "I am not the one in the wrong, and it’s them who abducted me from my family. Slave trading is wrong."

"This is how things have been operating for years," Niyasa remarked as she set the water and wine on the table.

"So you believe it is right?" the woman inquired.

Niyasa felt torn, for on one hand, she had grown up in a world surrounded by servants who had been separated from their families from different lands. Yet here she was, having become an enslaved person herself. A part of her had come to realise that her mother’s life had been far more challenging than it appeared, as she had never truly witnessed the hardship endured by the enslaved until now.

’How could you go and behead the maid?!’ her mother asked, her face contorting in horror.

’She made a mistake. She was bound to get punished anyway, Mother,’ Niyasa retorted haughtily, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.

’I cannot believe you are saying that, Niyasa. There are boundaries you cannot cross,’ her mother said, her frustration evident. ’I have told you several times before. You are a princess; take a lesson from Emily. Even if you can’t be kind, at least act like it!’

Niyasa’s anger flared even more than her mother’s, and she took offence. ’Why would I want to be like her? And Lady Sophia likes me more than her own daughter. That should tell you something!’

’Can you not hear yourself? Sophia loves only her children and no one else! I am tired of cleaning up your messes,’ her mother sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. ’You don’t understand what it’s like to be on the other end. You are disrespecting me.’

’Why are you getting mad at me? You disrespect people around you all the time, including Grandmother,’ Niyasa pointed out.

Her mother took a deep breath, as if she were teetering on the brink of losing patience. She fixed a stern glare on her before saying, ’I show disrespect to those who have disrespected me. People who are a threat. You, on the other hand, terrorise people simply because you think you can get away with it. It would be wiser if you were to fix your ways because you aren’t conducting yourself as a princess should.’

Niyasa pressed her lips, hurt by her mother’s critical words spoken behind closed doors. She retorted, ’You are always belittling me! What is wrong with me rectifying someone’s mistake?! They are maids, lower than us in status and class—’

Her mother’s eyes blazed, as if warning her not to speak another word. ’Have you forgotten that the mother who brought you to this world was once a slave before becoming a concubine? You are the daughter of a slave, Niyasa. Having the maid beheaded was a step too far. Your reckless actions and decisions can jeopardise our standing and have you, your brother, and me thrown from our current position!’

Right now, Niyasa wished to see her mother, hoping that she could offer guidance on how to get herself out of this situation. She didn’t want to spend the rest of her life here... nor did she find the prospect of becoming someone’s concubine appealing.

"My family believes it is wrong," Niyasa said, her voice trailing off as she cleared her throat.

"You took a bit too long to answer. You must already be part of the pirate crew," the woman remarked, and Niyasa glared in her direction.

"I was thinking about something. I have more important things to think about than just responding to people," Niyasa huffed softly, looking at the still-closed door.

"Like what?"

"My mother was captured too. That is what I was thinking about!" Niyasa exclaimed.

The woman stared at her and then asked, "Do you want to escape from this ship?"

"I don’t think you are in any position to be asking me that question," Niyasa said, looking down at the woman’s bound hands and feet.

"I will let you know when the time comes. We will leave this ship together," the woman asserted, though Niyasa harboured doubts. It was probably the grief talking now.

But who was she to refuse any opportunity that could help her escape from this wretched ship? And while Niyasa dreamed of setting her foot on land again, she remained oblivious to the fact that she would soon be jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

Two days passed in the Storm Kingdom, and the next highly anticipated gathering arrived. Men and women of high status travelled from their lavish houses in ornate carriages to the now serene and snow-covered Forest of Red.

Emily peered through the window of the carriage as they neared the designated location. She hadn’t removed the thick gloves from her hands, and neither had her mother, who had accompanied her.

"I thought the gathering was not supposed to begin for at least the next—" Lady Sophia glanced down at her pocket watch and said, "Half an hour. But it seems everyone is already here."

"Raylen mentioned the time," Emily murmured, wondering whether he had intentionally provided an incorrect time to ensure they arrived late.

"Well, I am glad that we made it. I was concerned when I heard he wouldn’t be coming with us, and with all this snow covering everything, all the roads look the same," Lady Sophia remarked, craning her neck as she observed the people. "As cold as it is, it is beautiful. It must have been even more stunning the day you visited."

Recalling the last time she was here, Emily’s cheeks turned pink. She made an effort to school her features so her mother wouldn’t suspect anything. Raylen hadn’t come along with them, as Lauren had explained that he had some work to attend to and would join them later.

The carriage finally came to a halt, and the coachman opened the door for them to get down. Emily removed the thick gloves she had been wearing and left them inside the carriage. Despite the coat she wore over her lilac and blue dress, she still felt the sharp bite of cold, unlike the others, who were dressed more lightly than them.

As Emily walked alongside her mother, they encountered Mr. and Mrs. Ruiz, who were quick to greet them warmly. Mrs. Ruiz offered a compliment, saying,

"Don’t you look like an angel in that dress today, Princess Emily!"

"Your words are always kind, Mrs. Ruiz. I hope we aren’t late," Emily responded, her eyes drifting across the crowd of women and men who were already engaged in conversations filled with smiles and laughter.

"A pretty lady like yourself is never late. I am certain there are many who have been eagerly anticipating your attendance today," Mrs. Ruiz replied with a warm smile. She then turned to Lady Sophia to converse.

"Is King Raylen not attending the gathering today?" Mr. Ruiz inquired as he led her towards the centre of the forest, where the majority of the attendees had gathered.

"He is, but he will arrive a little late," Emily answered, and the middle-aged man nodded in understanding.

"That’s good to hear," Mr. Ruiz replied.

Emily’s gaze drifted to one side, where a row of glasses had been set up, and she asked, "Is that... liquor?"

"It is, milady," Mr. Ruiz chuckled softly. "You must find it unconventional."

"Forgive my expression." Emily smiled. She then inquired, "Is it because of the weather?"

"It is. Since most of the attendees here are demons, the liquor helps to keep them warm and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere," he explained, but Emily couldn’t help but notice that it was only the men who approached the liquor table, while the women maintained a poised demeanour and refrained from partaking in anything.

Emily’s gaze continued to wander, and met Julius’s eyes. She saw him starting to make his way towards her.

"It looks like Mr. Ardolf will keep you company. Excuse me, Princess Emily," Mr. Ruiz stated, and Emily found herself alone. Having not seen Julius for the last two days, Emily had attempted to decipher their relationship, only to realise she hadn’t been able to arrive at any conclusions. She absentmindedly played with the pendant on her chain.

Julius offered her a deep bow and greeted, "Good morning, Princess Emily. You look lovely today. How have you been?"

"Good morning, Mr. Ardolf," Emily replied, offering him a slight bow as she bent her knee. "I am fine, thank you for asking. How about yourself?" she returned the question before her eyes briefly wandered away from him.

Julius, who was about to say something, was momentarily rendered speechless before he composed his expression. He then said, "I am as well. I wanted to apologise for what happened in town the other day."

"What for?" Emily inquired, as if she didn’t remember what he was referring to.

"For not being able to retrieve your shoe or your purse," Julius said with a regretful expression.

"You weren’t the one who stole it, and it was my shoe. There’s no need to apologise," Emily replied, her tone slightly curt and guarded, much like during their previous interactions.

"Are you sure?" Julius asked, as if wanting to confirm that things between them were unchanged. "You even addressed me as Mr. Ardolf instead of Julius."

That morning, when Emily hadn’t seen Julius arriving at the castle, she felt a sense of relief, and it became clear to her that this... even though she initially wanted it to work, it wouldn’t. She said,

"I came to realise that it is too forward to address you by your name when we barely know each other, Mr. Ardolf. One should refrain from doing so unless they are truly close, and thus far, we haven’t reached that level of intimacy, and I don’t think we ever will."

Emily noticed his face take on a crestfallen look, like that of a child whose toy had been taken away. She tried to maintain a composed expression, as curious onlookers were whispering to one another, speculating about their conversation.

"Princess Emily, I am sorry for what happened that day. I should have been more vigilant, and if I have hurt you, I hope you can forgive me," Julius attempted to apologise, not knowing what he had done wrong when he had only acted out of care and intention to protect her. "I know it was a setback, but we have made progress, and for so long—"

"Mr. Ardolf," Emily interrupted him before he could continue to rant his explanation. Her hazel brown eyes met his gaze directly, and she stated, "You are a good man."

"Don’t say that..." Julius murmured, knowing where she was headed with that sentence.

"You are a good man, Mr. Ardolf, that is a fact," Emily said with a gentle smile, trying to make things easy for them without hurting him. She continued, "You have shown kindness towards me, and we have spent quality time together. I won’t lie; I wanted this to work, but it appears my emotions and feelings aren’t bridging to you."

"You can give it another chance... things can be improved," Julius said, not wanting to end what they had.

"If I were to do that, I would only be wasting both of our time," Emily replied, adding, "And I don’t think it would be fair to either of us."

Julius didn’t respond; he simply continued to gaze at her, and Emily could sense the awkward silence filling the space around them. Uncertain if there was anything more to discuss given that she had made her intentions clear, she was prepared to leave and rejoin her mother when he spoke up.

"More than half the season has passed. I have courted you with the genuine intention of making you my wife, Princess Emily. I haven’t looked at any other woman, nor have I thought of courting anyone but you, remaining loyal the entire time."

"I do not deny any of that," Emily responded, and she added, "There’s still half the season left. But we are too different; do you not see it?"

"I don’t." Julius frowned. "You possess a gentle nature, kindness, and have always been understanding. If this is about Deathfall, maybe we can talk about it?"

Emily shook her head. "My decision isn’t solely based on that. I don’t believe we are on the same page, Mr. Ardolf."

Julius wasn’t the slightest bit happy with Emily’s words, and he expressed, "I want to win you over."

Please don’t, Emily whispered in her mind.

"You can tell me what it is, and I am willing to patiently make the necessary adjustments," Julius attempted to persuade her. He knew the princess was a great catch, and it wasn’t just because of her status or the family she came from.

When a couple walked by, they fell silent, trying to avoid drawing any more of the attention they were beginning to garner. Emily offered a smile to a lady standing at a distance, and then she said, "The thing is, you shouldn’t have to adjust to me."

"I want to, Princess Emily," Julius said solemnly. He knew that, due to the rejection from her former soulmate, the princess’ soul was becoming corrupted.

"Lily!"

Emily felt a sense of relief upon seeing Janelle, and as her friend approached them, she widened her eyes subtly as if to indicate that she needed to get away.

"Mr. Ardolf," Janelle greeted him politely. Then, turning to Emily, she said, "I have been waiting for you to arrive. I have something to show you."

"What is it?" Emily asked, feeling a little lightheaded.

"The lake has turned into a rink, and most of the guests have moved there," Janelle replied, and she said to Julius, "I hope you don’t mind me stealing Emily for a while."

Julius appeared as though he wasn’t done talking and wanted to continue their discussion, but Emily offered him a slight nod before leaving his side and making her way towards the lake.

"Is everything alright? You looked pale back there," Janelle whispered as she walked alongside Emily, glancing over her shoulder. "And why does Mr. Ardolf look like he’s upset?"

"Because I told him we shouldn’t spend any more time together," Emily replied, and her friend’s eyes widened.

"You did? We can discuss it later," Janelle said as they approached the crowd gathered on the surface of the frozen lake.

As minutes passed, people entertained themselves with conversations and listening to the violinists play music in the open. Emily observed some of the men wearing something called ’skates’ as they glided across the smooth surface of the lake. Although a few ladies did venture onto the ice, assisted by their suitors attempting to woo them, the princess remained on the sidelines.

"Emily," Lady Sophia called out, making her turn. "I will be going to the edge of the forest for a bit. Don’t you go on that; it looks risky," she warned her while casting a suspicious glance at the frozen lake before departing.

Emily watched her mother leave, and her hand instinctively reached for the pendant on her chain. She nervously played with it as she carefully scanned her surroundings with her hazel brown eyes, as if searching for someone.

"Lily, come here," Janelle encouraged her, knowing there was no need to worry about Lady Sophia’s disapproving glare. "It’s fun."

Emily smiled and replied, "I wouldn’t be able to balance." But then, from the corner of her eyes, she caught sight of Julius nearby and wondered if she should give it a try. She added, "Maybe without those skates."

"It should be fine if you just want to walk around," Janelle said, and Emily finally cautiously stepped onto the frozen lake, taking careful steps and moving away from the gossiping crowd.

As Emily continued to walk, she noticed how the open area with the vast sky in view looked tranquil. A sigh escaped her lips, and she observed everyone else enjoying their time as if they were sure of their chosen partners. But were they? She didn’t know, and it didn’t concern her.

Gently rubbing her neck, Emily decided to get off the frozen lake when she heard a woman shriek from the side. Startled, she looked up and saw a woman losing her footing as the surface of the ice broke under her.

"Get off the lake, everyone!" one of the men shouted.

However, the sudden panic and rush of everyone hurrying to get off the ice only added pressure to the surface, causing the cracks to quickly spread, reaching the area where Emily was standing.

"RUN! THE ICE IS BREAKI—ING!" One man’s foot dipped into the frigid water where the ice had cracked before he managed to regain his footing and flee.

Meanwhile, Emily was about to run when she noticed that a chain had fallen onto the surface of the ice. She quickly reached to touch her neck, realising that it was her necklace. But when she bent to pick it up, her foot accidentally tilted the ice, causing the chain to slip into the freezing water.

Emily gritted her teeth and carefully made her way to the edge of the lake, where the ice was still sturdy. She managed to get off the lake, like the rest who had successfully evacuated the dangerous area.

"Are you alright?" Julius came to her side, his face etched with concern. "You’re not hurt, are you?"

"My chain..." Emily whispered with a frown. Now, she would have to wait for the ice to melt and for the water to be at a tolerable temperature for her to retrieve it.

One of the guests remarked, "It was too early to get on it. We should wait for another week before we try to skate there again." Julius appeared like he wanted to say something but refrained from commenting for the time being. Emily sighed. It seemed like she was always losing things right now.

Tearing her eyes away from the broken ice slabs, Emily bit her lip when she heard a loud splash. She turned back to look at the lake, and everyone’s eyes followed suit, their expressions filled with curiosity and concern. For a few seconds, there was silence, and then finally, Raylen emerged from beneath the water’s surface, dripping wet.

Raylen ran his fingers through his wet and cold hair, pushing it back as he made his way out of the water and walked towards the edge of the lake.

"King Raylen!" Everyone bowed at him as he passed. Someone inquired, "Aren’t you cold, My King?"

"I had to make sure the ice wasn’t intentionally tampered with. Didn’t want my loyal subjects to come to any harm," Raylen explained with a kind smile that earned the approval and appreciation of the guests.

"We should arrange for some dry clothes!" someone suggested.

[Music Recommendation: I love you - Riopy]

Raylen raised his hand. "That won’t be necessary. Why don’t you all continue enjoying your time?" he hummed. He then turned to where Emily stood, who was already looking at him. He made his way over and came to stand before her.

Emily stared at Raylen, feeling cold just from seeing him getting out of the lake earlier. His blue eyes stood out against his pale skin, their gaze unwavering. She heard him say,

"This is yours."

Her gaze lowered to notice his hand stretched forward, and he opened his palm to reveal her chain in his hand. Her eyes widened in surprise. He had jumped into the freezing lake before anyone else could retrieve it, leaving her speechless.

"Take it," Raylen said, and when Emily’s fingers grazed his palm, she realised how cold the water was. Her hazel brown eyes met his blue ones, and her heart skipped a beat.

Julius, who had been standing beside Emily, widened his eyes at the king’s gesture. He grappled with the situation as he realised that it was possible the king was interested in the same woman he was.

"Mr. Ardolf," Raylen spoke, immediately capturing his attention. "Was there something you needed from the princess?" he asked, tilting his head.

Still trying to wrap his head around the matter, Julius shook his head. "No, King Raylen." Taking the question as a cue, he decided to walk away for now.

Emily was staring at her beloved chain, which felt cold in her hand. She looked up at Raylen and asked with a frown, "Couldn’t you have used your abilities to retrieve it?"

A crooked smile appeared on Raylen’s lips as he replied, "But it wouldn’t have had the same effect, would it, Princess?"