CHAPTER 180

CHAPTER 180


Reika's POV

I couldn't stop the guttural growls that ripped from my throat even as I dropped weakly to my knees, hitting the floor with a loud thud.

“No… no, this can't be happening to me,” I cried out, touching my face with trembling hands as though it burned me. “This can't be.”

I stared at myself in the mirror, hoping for the hundredth time that I had seen wrongly but my chest ripped open when my appearance remained the same. The old me. Old Reika.

How could this be?

Why was everything working against me?

First, it was the missing dagger and now, I had regained my old appearance.

“Are you okay, my lady?” the guard called out again, banging on the door hard. “Is there something wrong? Should we get the Alpha?”

The Alpha?!

My pulse roared loudly as I screamed. “No!”

Ileus can never see me like this. If he does, then that is game over. My head would leave my neck faster than lightning.

“I'm okay,” I added. “Thank you so much for your concern. You may leave now.”

“Are you sure?” His voice was hesitant. “You don't sound fine to me. I think I will have to tell His Majesty. He strictly ordered me to keep a close watch on you and report any strange happenings to him.”

Of course, Ileus had said that because I kept having constant nightmares back then.

Realizing that he wouldn't be reassured until I showed myself, I pushed myself up, ran towards the closet, and retrieved a long silk scarf which I wrapped carefully over my head and face.

I moved towards the door and opened it ajar, keeping my face completely out of sight. I couldn't risk them catching a glimpse. “I'm fine,” I murmured, my voice barely audible. “I just saw a rat run across the room and that is why I'm scared. You don't have to tell His Majesty, okay?”

He was reluctant but he nodded eventually. “I understand.” He tried to push the door open. “I can come in and help you kill the—”

“No!” I snapped, pushing the door back. “It left… went out through the window. I'm fine, okay?”

His eyes narrowed in suspicion before he nodded again. “Alright, my lady. If you need anything or the rat returns again, just let me know.”

“Yes, I will.”

I turned back in but before I could close the door, a thought dropped into my mind. I needed someone to speak to before I really went crazy.

“Please call my private guard for me,” I said.

“Alright, my lady.” He nodded, bowed, and walked away.

I slammed the door shut, leaned against it, and let out a long, exasperated sigh. I stared at my hands and that was when I also realized that I had lost my powers too. I tried to summon them…. but nothing at all. Not even an ounce of strength coursed through me.

Oh… Goddess… what the hell was happening?

I walked back towards the mirror and sat right in front of it. I stared at my reflection again… hoping to see the silver eyes, silver hair, strong and confident Reika… but no. Just a brown-haired, brown-eyed, weak and fragile Reika stared back at me.

I sat there for a long while until a sharp knock came at the door. I stood to open it and Archer stepped in. I walked back to the mirror while he kicked the door shut and trailed behind me.

“You sent for me, Reika? I'm sorry that I haven't come back to check up on you all morning. The king had a meeting with the Commandant who, in turn, had a meeting with us to tell us that there will be a war with the Northern Province. Which is more reason why we have to speed up the mission somehow… because somehow I feel like Kael has a spy here that is keeping an eye on us and if he learns about the impending war, our family will be in danger.”

A war?

I couldn't respond to him.

“Are you listening to me, Reika?” he asked when he noticed that I wasn't speaking. “I know this is a lot and everything is happening a bit too fast but this is not the time to stay quiet. We should figure something—”

The words died in his mouth when I let the silk scarf slide off my head and stared up at him.

Archer stared at me for a long moment without saying a word, his jaw parting. Then he blinked hard like he was trying to confirm whether this was real or just a bad nightmare. When he realized that it was real, he screamed in horror.

“What the hell—” The words caught in his throat. He tilted his face down, just inches away from mine. “How the hell did this happen, Reika?”

I shook my head, tears burning in my eyes. “I don't know.” My voice was husky. “I just woke up and saw my face like this.”

He did not say anything; he just scoffed bitterly.

“I'm in trouble, Archer,” I cried out, tears sliding down my cheeks. “We've not sorted out the missing dagger and now this. There is really no getting out of this one.”

“Calm down, Reika,” he said softly.

I jumped to my feet, losing every bit of self-control and restraint I had prided myself on.

“You're really asking me to calm down, Archer? Really… but you know what is at stake, right? I have to go to Ileus' chambers tonight, obviously. I can't go like this. If I don't go, he will confirm his suspicions about the dagger and if I go… like this, you know…” I choked on my words, already imagining how the entire kingdom would turn upside down if people learned that the dead Queen had managed to come back to life.

“Calm down, Reika.” He stepped closer to me. “We will figure it out. We always do…”

“How? Our family is in danger because of me and like you said, if Kael finds out about the war, he will assume that I had already picked a side and he won't hesitate to behead them….” I cried out as wave after wave of guilt and regret crashed down on me.

I wished I had been courageous enough to murder Ileus last night… then I wouldn't be in this predicament now.

“I know… but calm down first.” He held me close. “We can only figure this out if you're calm.”

“I just need my face, my strength, and my confidence back,” I murmured into his chest. “I don't want this weak and fragile body.”

“This is still you, Reika. In fact, this is the real you. The one who overcame tougher challenges in the past…. and I'm sure you will overcome this too. Maybe the Goddess gave you back your real appearance because she knows you needed it to overcome your challenges.”

I did not say anything… maybe he was right, but then… I still wanted my other appearance back.