CHAPTER 132: UNEXPECTED ATTENTION

All eyes now rested on Pandora. This was one thing she had been dodging—she was trying to avoid it by all means, as she did not like this attention. She had not even thought she would draw attention here, given she was in very low clothes.

But it seemed that fate had other plans. She had half-expected her name to be there on the list, which was also why she did not mind too much staying at the back. But then this guard, after she hit him—did he notice something off? At this point, she had no idea what to do, as she was now in a tight spot, and she knew lots of news would spread tonight alone in the Royal Village.

She sucked in a sharp breath. The guard looked at her and then at Raven, whose eyes were on her as well. Pandora noticed the stares piercing through her, and she wanted the ground to just swallow her whole, if that was even possible.

The guard then turned back to Raven. He wanted to say something, but he knew it would waste time—he had a group of people waiting in lime, and he would not want just one person taking all his attention. He finally spoke,

"Raven, handle this matter," he said, as the crowd seemed itching to hear the man, whose voice was now low.

Raven gave a curt nod and turned to Pandora.

"Come with me."

He began walking, and Pandora followed, her heart thumping loudly. She did not know what to do at this point—was he going to take her to the dungeon?

"No, no, no... not again," her body shivered as she tried her best to maintain her composure. She did not want to think of something untrue; assuming things would only fuel her fear.

She walked with him as they moved back toward to the end of the crowd all eyes still remained on her as whispers were already flying, then they walked toward a grassy area—more like the back of the walls, or maybe the side. The crowd was no longer visible, and she noticed a door there.

Was this the dungeon? Her breath hitched, and she abruptly stopped. Raven, walking ahead, stopped as well and turned toward her.

Just as he opened his mouth, Pandora spoke, raising her head in surprise as their eyes met.

"I... I am sorry. P...pIease don’t want to go to the dungeon," she said, her voice cracking. Raven’s eyes widened; he had not expected her to say that—was that what she had thought?

"And who said you are going to the dungeon?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. As their eyes locked, he noticed hers were a little teary.

’Has she been to the dungeon before?’ He wondered to himself.

Pandora had no idea why she could not look away from the stranger. She knew she had not focused on someone like this in a long time, and the fact that her gaze remained locked on him surprised her.

"I... I don’t know," she shrugged. Raven had no words. He had actually thought the silence meant she would tell him the reason, as he did not expect she would just keep him waiting.

"You are not from around here, are you?" he asked. Just as the words left his lips, her head fell, shifting her gaze. How did he know? She wondered. She knew her type were few, but she had seen some—how was he aware that she was not from around here?

"Yes, Sir," she spoke calmly, shifting her gaze again. Raven waited patiently, sensing she had more to say.

She opened her mouth and continued:

"You are correct. I am not from around here." Raven’s eyebrow raised. Was that how she spoke? He had thought she would say where she was from, only for her to rephrase his question.

Pandora wondered if she was already boring him, as some people thought she bored many others.

Raven then silently asked,

"So, where are you from?" He waited for her to answer, having no idea why he was being so patient with her...it was very unlike him.

"Pizzea," she replied. Raven waited, and then she added,

"Pizzea is where I am from."

Raven could not believe this woman. He began to chuckle—it was funny now.

Pandora’s lips twitched to the side as she wondered why he was laughing. Had a bird pooped on her head again?

She moved her hands to touch her head. She felt nothing. Raven fell silent when he noticed her doing this.

"How old are you?" Raven asked, his eyebrows creasing lightly in surprise at his own question. He had no idea why he was asking, or why he acted as if he had known her for years.

This was the lady who might be a threat to the palace—her name was not even on the list. Intruders were punishable by the rules of the palace, sometimes even by death. Yet here he was, asking how old she was.

"Twenty-one," she paused, then added,

"I am twenty-one years old."

Raven fell silent. He knew she was not from around here—her accent the way she spoke, her voice, and those blue eyes gave her away.

"Why are you here?" he finally asked, noticing the lady bite her lips gently before speaking.

"Because I don’t want to die," she said. Raven’s eyes widened at her words.

"I don’t want to die. I saw everybody running, and I joined them. I do not want to be killed. Even if I... die, I would not be buried, and when a person is buried, there is a high chance of reincarnation. I want to be reincarnated to a better life. So that is why I am here—not to die."

She immediately clamped her mouth shut. She had said more than she should have, biting her inside cheeks as if scolding her self for getting too loose. How could I have gotten so carried away? she thought.

Raven did not even know what to say. He was speechless, and again—unlike him—he asked another question, very unlike him,

"Are you saying that if you die and are buried, you would reincarnate?"

She nodded, a smile falling on her lips. Raven’s eyes widened. The only person he had ever seen smile at the mention of death was the king—and now this lady was smiling over reincarnation. What?

He just stared at her as she continued.

"I would reincarnate to a better life, where pain would not be my daily routine, and maybe—just maybe—I might live a happy life. That is why I want to die and be buried, and not just be dead..."

She trailed off. She had never told anyone this. She had no idea why she was so free with this stranger, almost revealing her life story. She pressed her lips together, turning even more nervous. What is wrong with me? Why did I say such unusual things?

Raven’s hands moved to his hair. He had no idea why he was acting this way. Was this a trap or a spell?

He knew that silk-long red hair, blue eyes, and freckles perfectly placed on both cheeks—like she had stepped out of a painting—meant one thing.

"You know that a mermaid in a werewolf land is taboo."

Pandora’s body stiffened.