LARA’S POV It was the morning of the departure and I woke up early to help get things ready even though I was not required to. The luna has enough servants to take care of this, but I still felt obliged to. It has always been me and her from the very start. I have always been the one to attend to her and so I felt no one would be able to do the job better. Even though my husband and I will go to Wild Cloak later in the day I took my time to arrange everything while the servants watched me as I do it. I was already feeling very empty inside of me, it was as if a greater part of me is leaving. I know that the reason why I should feel this way is largely because of the memory Diamond Cut Pack holds. I know it is completely different now but the sadness can never be erased. Our years of sorrowful agony. I still remember it like yesterday. I recall every bit of it and they kept coming back as nightmares, terrible ones. The life Scarlet and I was made to undergo, my mother was the only trace of sanity that we had all those years. They don’t fear her, so they were never obligated to listen to her or do her will. It was just the respect that they’ve got for her, one she earned through decades of loyalty and truthfulness. This is not the first time that I will be apart from Scarlet, I was away from her when she visited the land of the rogues. But this time is different and not like the first. This time around, she is returning to our dreadful nightmare. But no more as that frightened naïve girl, this time, she is returning as a great queen and a conqueror. No one would dare to give her any trouble. Her word would be law and she says who lives and who goes. Thinking back on how far we have come, I was filled with gratitude. Knowing that she will never be bullied makes my spirit elated. I might not be there to defend her, but this time the table has turned. They are the ones that need some protection from her. Scarlet came out of the bathroom and when she saw that I was still engaged in my activity, she shook her head and said. “You should leave that to them, Lara, you have to go and start making the preparations for your departure. Rich already informed me that you both are leaving for Wild Cloak today” “Please I want to do this myself, my queen. Moreover, I already completed my arraignment in the night” I replied. I know she was going to complain if she still met me doing this. When I began, she frowned at it and requested that I let the maids handle it before she went to the bathroom to freshen up. I on my part was adamant and wouldn’t let any other person handle it. “You just wouldn’t listen, Lara. You are not my servant and you have never been. I don’t feel comfortable...” I did not let her finish. “And even friends look out for each other. Doing this for you is one thing that gives me joy and you know it. Please don’t take this joy away from me” She chuckled and went to sit on her vanity. “And do you care to know exactly what gives me joy?” she asked. “You are happy, my queen. You have your family with you and everything is moving on well” I replied. Her life had changed for the better and I know this would give her great fulfillment. Things are no more as they used to be. Now she has men that love her unconditionally, and a great number of people that would die for her over and over again. She has more than what anyone could ever dream of. So of course, she is already happy. Hearing my response, she smiled and said. “That is far from it, Lara. What makes me very happy is seeing you take very good care of Rich and him doing the same too. knowing that my two great friends are okay gives me indescribable peace. Now you go and take care of your husband” Her response elated me one moment and then caused me to be depressed the next. Was she asking me away for her? She should know that not everyone is like her with the ability to easily let things go. A great part of me wants things between us to remain as they were ab initio. “Rich is busy with getting things ready for your journey. The chariots, horses, soldiers, guards, and also to send some secret soldiers ahead of your journey” I replied. “Oh, I see. I forgot he is in charge of that” she murmured. “So you that I have nowhere else to go but to you,” I said. “Okay. Mia come start with the makeup” she instructed. Mia went and they began the makeup. Soon I was done with the arranging and I went to sit on the bed. “Get everything outside,” I said to the servants. “Thanks, Lara” Scarlet said. “There is no need to thank me. It is my duty as a friend to take care of you” I replied. “I know you are going to miss me, Lara, but don’t worry, I will be fine. And never forget that I will miss you too” she confessed. Hearing her confession, I was instantly overtaken by my emotion and I could not curtail myself. I allowed the already gathered tears to flow without any form of hindrance. I know that she will miss me, but I thought she will never admit it. What if it was never her intention to return to Diamond Cut Pack without me? I want to be there with her. I don’t know why and I don’t need a reason to, I just want to be there with her. “Don’t get too emotional, dear, I don’t want you to make me cry. But you should know that there is no better person to hand over the administration of Wild Cloak but Rich. He has been with me through it all, and I trust that he would be the best to look after it for my son, Lalic. I also know you will be a good queen for Wild Cloak. Over the years I have watched your selflessness and if there is someone that I truly admire, you are that person. Take care of Wild Cloak for me and my son, Lalic, take care of it the same way you take care of me” she said with a hidden tone of sadness. “I will do my best for Wild Cloak Pack. I will make it look as if you are there yourself. Its people will be my people” I replied. “I know you will do it, Lara. And one piece of advice for ruling” she said. “What, my queen?” I inquired. “Always make sure to separate your emotions from the throne. You have to be strong and self-will” she replied.