"Teenagers just being teenagers,"

15/04/2023

HELLEN paces a bit on the sidewalk as she glances at the time on her phone. Mr. Timber is running late. Too late. She puffs her cheeks and dials his number for the fifth time but the line goes on and on until she cuts it off.

Where are you?! I'm standing right outside the station.

Hellen presses 'send' as her eyes find the previous messages she had sent thirty minutes ago. She sighs feeling irritated and barges in the building thinking that she had stood enough. Inside, is a bit chaotic and Hellen thinks to herself that there's a huge possibility that they won't help her out but she has to try.

"Mister, please," the woman before her pleads, almost jumping in her spot. "I don't know who else to turn to,"

"I'm sorry, miss but rules are rules. You'll have to come with a lawyer,"

Hellen looks over to the plump short man behind the desk whose face is set into a frown. The lady starts wailing, begging for aid but the police officer sticks to his answer, watching her get dragged away by other police officers.

Hellen looks behind to see whether Mr. Timber will come rushing through but there's no familiar figure so she sighs in defeat and walks over to the officer.

"How may I be of assistance, ma'am?" he asks.

Hellen swallows. "My name

Is Hellen and I'm here to report a missing person,"

The officer looks down at his computer and starts typing in. "Who is the missing person?"

"My daughter,"

"What's your daughter's name, ma'am?"

"Elodie Jane Lynn,"

"And how old is your daughter and when did you last see her?"

"She's seventeen and I saw her two days ago,"

The officer nods still typing and then it comes to a halt when he looks up at her. "Have you asked around—maybe, someone saw her and you have no idea?"

Hellen shakes her head. "Her classroom teacher noticed it as well and called me out of concern and at first I thought she was going to school early to study because it's her final year but I didn't see her when I came back home,"

"Maybe you just miss each other?"

Hellen shakes her head again. "No,"

"Have you tried calling her?"

"Yes, but it keeps going off to voicemail,"

Hellen stares expectedly at the police officer who nods and goes back to the computer to resume his work.

"Brian," a male voice says and Hellen looks over to another officer who comes over and slaps a hand on Brian's shoulder—a huge grin on his face. "You missed out last night,"

Brian shrugs it away. "Missed my chance of seeing you get wasted while on duty?"

The officer laughs and points a finger at him. "Watch it, fat ass,"

Brian sighs and looks up at Hellen. "May I ask which school your daughter attends?"

Hellen clears her throat even though there's nothing stuck. "Gillmay. Gillmay High School,"

Brian types what Hellen might think it is and as he does, the other officer leans over the counter towards her. Hellen greets him politely and patiently waits for Brian to finish up.

"What's going on?" he asks.

"It's a missing report," Brian answered him.

"Ah," the officer responds and then smiles. "Let me guess, your child is the one who's missing?"

Hellen nods her head, her eyes narrowed a bit from his tone and expression.

"Girl or boy?" he asks, and Hellen is about to answer but the officer cuts her mid-way, raising his hand in the air. "Never mind. Don't worry. Regardless of the gender, they'll come back,"

Hellen shakes her head not understanding. "What do you mean?"

The officer laughs and Brian sides eyes him. "Dylan, stop,"

Dylan doesn't listen to him and leans his head closer to Hellen's. "What I'm saying is that teenagers are just being teenagers. They run off then come back home! Nothing too serious,"

Hellen glares at Dylan who raises his eyebrows and draws back. He scoffs and places his hand over his chest as if he is wounded.

"Geez. Don't look at me like that,"

"Like what?" Hellen snaps.

"Like I've said something insensitive," Dylan finishes, and Brian shakes his head in disappointment.

"You did say something insensitive," Brian objects and Dylan laughs—not because he's nervous but feels offended as if he was the one who had been told the same things he said.

"I don't get why the both of you are getting so worked up," he says, and Hellen almost lunges at him but Brian intercepts—shooing him away.

"I'm so sorry," he apologizes on his behalf and Hellen swallows painfully—her hands formed into fists beside her hips. "Please, ignore what he said,"

Hellen scoffs, brushing the front strands of her hair away from her face. "These are the types of officers we're letting to go out there to do some justice?"

Brian's eyes widen in shock as he repeatedly shakes his head. "Miss-I...um...

"Save it!" she snaps, showing him his palm, and walks out. She doesn't need them. She'll find her daughter on her own.

She then gets out her phone and dials a number before placing it by her ear. After a few rings, the line clicks and she clears her throat. "Hey. We need to meet,"

~

Serena woke up the next morning all alone. Xavier had already gotten up and was probably at the office. She groans when she drags herself out of bed to the window. The sun is out and she thought of going swimming—that's if this place has one.

"Empress,"

Serena turns to Judy who was already in the room without her copy. She grins and jumps to her to give a big warm hug. "Judy," she squeals, and her maid laughs at the reaction. "I missed you,"

"It's been two days, empress," she says, and Serena huffs as she backs away.

"I thought you were...

Judy raises an eyebrow in shock at how her empress dragged her thumb across her neck to symbolize death.

"The emperor isn't like that, empress,"

Serena shrugs. "Well, the important thing is that you okay,"

Judy then bows her head in respect. "Thank you for your concern, empress. Oh...here,"

Serena looks down at Judy's palm and sees the red envelope. Her eyes immediately widened and she quickly took it and unconsciously hugged it. "Oh my gosh! Thank you so much. Did anyone see you?"

Judy shakes her head. "I hid it well, empress and I didn't read it as well,"

Serena smiles. "Thank you, Judy,"

She looks down on it and gulps. Now that the letter was in her hands, how will she hide it? It will be difficult because she's in Xavier's room. If she doesn't hide it well, Xavier will find it and she has no idea what he'll do. What he'll do to her.

"I see that it is of importance," Judy comments, but Serena doesn't look up from the envelope held in her hands.

"It is," she replies. It's the only thing that can help her connect the dots and probably be able to clear her name and her father's.

"Judy," she calls.

"Hm?"

"Did you perhaps see the face of the mysterious man who gave me this?"

Judy takes a moment to think but shakes her head. "He covered himself pretty well, empress,"

Serena nods. "Yeah. He did,"

After some silence, Serena breaks it again. "Does this place have a library?"

Judy nods. "It's on the first floor of the home, empress. Would you like me to take you there?"

Serena nods enthusiastically with a wide smile on her face. "I would appreciate that,"

"Then, let's get you ready for the day, empress,"

Serena allows Judy to prepare her which is very weird since she has never been taken care of before but she couldn't help but admit that it felt nice. It felt nice to be washed, getting her makeup and hair done, and choosing an outfit to just sit around in the house.

If she was in the real world, she would have probably slept in and by the time she woke up, she would have brushed her teeth, taken a shower then clad herself in another pair of pajamas. Such outfits she is wearing at the moment are usually saved for dinner dates or formal events.

She slowly walked along the bookshelves, after arriving at the library and started looking at the stack of books arranged. She drags her index finger on one random book and turns it to see if there's dirt on it but hums in approval when she sees that it is squeaky clean.

It is impressive that the staff are diligent in keeping this huge library clean but it's also discouraging because that means that someone saw the diary and Serena isn't too sure if they took it or minded their own business and left it be. She hopes that it is the latter and seriously starts looking for it.

Brown. Brown.

There are so many brown books—some that resembled red in different lighting. She hopes that it is indeed a brown book and not a different color because men tend to be color-blind. Her father might have been sure that it was brown and yet it may be red. However, she tries to believe him and starts from the last bookshelf that her father supposedly said that she used to spend her time on. If she used to sit here then the diary must not be too far.

She takes a seat on the window seat and looks at the two broad high bookshelves.

'If I am sitting here, where would I hide the diary?'

Serena eyes each book and gives up when her sight starts blurring. She looks out the window and from here, she can see the gate that was heavily guarded. The sky is a beautiful perfect blue—no clouds but she knows that it will remain the same because summer is approaching.

The warmth from the sun hits her face and she closes her eyes. She read somewhere that if you stay out in the sun for long, you will have an amazing sleep afterward and Serena can feel her body becoming heavy.

Just a short nap.

~

In her sleep, she feels a poke on her cheek. She groans and slaps whatever it is that's poking her but after a few seconds, it comes back but this time, a giggle follows it.

Serena opens her eyes after rubbing them and turns to see who the offender is but is taken aback when she sees a little girl standing before her—not more than ten years old with her arms behind her back, two French braids on her head, in a light blue round dress that reaches her knees with white doll-shoes.

She doesn't know who this child is but one thing for sure is that she's very cute.

"Hi," she greets, waving her hand in the air.

Serena smiles. "Hi,"

"My name is Deborah. What's yours?"

"Serena,"

"Are you Xavi's empress?"

Serena smiles at the cute nickname this girl has for Xavier and nodded. "Yes. I am,"

Déborah blushes. "You're really pretty,"

Serena almost cooes at that but covers it with the same compliment and this makes Deborah blush more. She wants to pinch her cheeks but doesn't touch her.

"Are you lost?" she asked the girl but Deborah shakes her head.

"Mama is with Xavi,"

"And where are they?"

Deborah shrugs. "I don't know,"

Serena then stands up and outstretches her hand to Deborah to take. "Let's go find them, yeah?"

Deborah nods and places her small hand inside Serena's. If this is how Xavier feels when holding her hand then it feels weird and funny. They walk out of the library and Serena tries her best to remember where his office is from the previous tour she had from Adam.

They soon arrived and the guards that stood in front of the door moved aside and let Serena in by politely opening the door.

"Thank you," she said.

"Thank you," Deborah repeats and Serena smiles.

When they enter, Deborah runs to a middle-aged lady sitting on one of the armchairs in front of Xavier's desk.

"Mama! Mama! I found the empress," she says giddily.

The woman looks up at Serena and smiles. Serena quickly returns it and then looks at Xavier whose eyes are already on her. Her cheeks redden when she didn't expect that and she stands awkwardly in the middle of the room.

The woman then stands up and hugs her. "Serena. How have you been?" she asks.

"Uh...fine,"

The woman poured and held Serena's hands in hers. She was a beauty—striking blonde hair that was neatly pinned at the back with a brooch and the front strands of her hair framing her round face. Her cheeks are chubby and Serena wants to pinch them.

"You don't have to lie to me. I know what happened. What you're going through. I can't imagine myself to be in your shoes,"

Serena smiles feeling awkward. "It's fine,"

"Don't you remember anything at all?" The woman asks. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm April. Xavier's cousin,"

Serena can't help but not mask her shock. "Cousin?"

April nods. "Yes. Cousin and this is my daughter—you already met her,"

Serena nods as she looks down on Deborah who is glued to her mother's hip. "Yes. We met a few minutes ago...in the library,"

"What were you doing in the library?" Xavier asks, and Serena rolls her eyes before glaring at him.

"What else would I be doing?"

Xavier doesn't appreciate the sarcasm and April laughs. "The row of you are meant for each other,"

"No, we aren't," the couple replies together and April laughs harder—her daughter joining in.

"No, seriously. What were you doing there?"

Serena wants to scream and is about to give Xavier an earful but April comes to the rescue.

"What book were you reading? Lately, I've been obsessed with 'The Tinman'. Do you know it?"

Serena shook her head. "No, I don't know the book and no, I wasn't...reading,"

April's face falls but lifts again. "Then what were you doing?"

Serena bites her lips, thinking if she should lie to her but decides to play it safe. Maybe, it can lead to her knowing where the diary is.

"I was looking...for a book?" she says but it comes out like a question.

"Are you asking or repl-

"Which one?" April interrupts Xavier and her eyes bore intensely in Serena's and Serena wonders if the girl knows something. It looks like she knows what she's talking about without having to say it.

"I...

April stares expectedly but that is thrown away when Serena shakes her head.

"I can't remember..." She lies.

"Let's have a tea gathering tomorrow," April says out of the blue.

"But, Mama. I need to go to the doctor,"

April closed her eyes in irritation at the reminder from Deborah but smiled to mask it even though it was too late.

"Then, Friday. How is that?"

Serena nods. "Sure,"

April smiles and hugs her again but Serena shivers when April's lips brush her ear. "I need to give you something,"

Serena gulps and April lets go.

________

WHEN night came, Serena had been engrossed in a new book she picked up from the library. This is the only way she can pass her free time and unwind from the day's activities. (As if she did anything constructive)

She is alone, in the bedroom—her back against the headboard while under the covers with a hot chocolate on the bedside table. Xavier is still in the office but that's because it's still early—a quarter past nine. She had taken her dinner earlier—ahead of the rest and is now cuddled up, reading a boring romance.

One thing she had hoped for was to rain. It would have been perfect. But the night sky is clear apart from a few clouds and stars.

Serena noted how pollution has made it difficult for stars to be seen in her time unlike now. When she saw them, she was so happy and wished that she had a camera to capture the breathtaking view—especially the moon.

She then lets out a yawn and closes the book before placing it on top of her bedside table and shuffling underneath the covers. When she's about to switch off the lamp, the door creaks open and her heart jumps but she lets out a relieved sigh when she sees that it's Xavier.

"Why are you all startled?" He asks.

"Nothing. I thought you were someone else," Serena replies and waits for him to head over to the bathroom before she switches off her lamp but turns it on when she realizes that she hasn't drunk her coffee. She takes a sip—not sure if it is still hot but when her lips touch the liquid, she scrunches her face in disgust.

"Mmh...it's cold,"

Nonetheless, she dunks it down and finally switches off her lamp and the room goes dark except for the light emitting from the bathroom. "That was disgusting," she mumbled.

"Are you already sleeping?"

Serena debates whether to answer him but the good inner person in her does the opposite. "Yes,"

She doesn't bother asking what he wants if it is really important, he'll continue with his statement.

"I wanted to talk to you about something," he continues, and Serena hums.

"About what?"

"Let's have lunch tomorrow,"

Serena's eyes pop wide open and she turns over to him but is met with a space. He is still in the bathroom.

"I beg your pardon?" she asks, not believing a word Xavier said.

"I said," he says, and then comes to view, with a towel around his neck. Serena is grateful that he isn't half-naked. "Let's have lunch tomorrow,"

"Just you and I?" Serena asks, after gulping.

"Yes. Who else should be there?" Xavier asks back, his tone not sure but Serena shakes her head.

"Oh! Nothing! Just asking,"

Xavier nods and shuts the door without a word. Serena slowly lies on her back, brings the duvet closer to her chin and smiles.

~

When morning came, Xavier was already out of bed as always and Serena patiently waited for Judy to come and get her ready for the day which is unusual but Serena wants to feel extra pretty today.

"You look happy, empress," Judy comments, brushing her hair. Serena blushes and looks down at her fingers and then at Judy's eyes through the reflection from her vanity mirror.

"I think Xavier asked me out on a date," she whispers, and Judy stops brushing her hair. Serena laughs at her shocked expression.

"Did he say he was?" she asked, cutting off Serena's laugh.

Come to think of it, he never said that but having lunch together outside the home counts as a date, doesn't it?

Judy drops the brush and bows her head. "I'm sorry, empress. I'll watch what I say from now on,"

Serena smiles. "It's okay. No offense taken,"

Judy resumes and starts pinning her hair at the back of her head but Serena stops her. "I want it to be free, today,"

Judy nods her head and takes one of the hair clips and pins the left side of her hair. "You look extremely pretty with your hair down,"

"Then why were you trying to hold it?"

"You said it's your favorite hairstyle,"

Serena's eyes slightly widen as she points at herself. "I did?"

Judy nods. "Yes. Before the...amnesia,"

Serena doesn't have a reply to Judy's last statement, so she throws her another question. "Did I have any bad blood with anyone apart from the Alexandria family?"

"Yes,"

Serena sits upright and goggles her eyes at Judy still through the mirror. "Who? Who?"

"It's with Lady Jalon, empress. You've never been at a good place with her ever since you were teenagers," she explains.

Obviously.

"Why have we been fighting? What's the reason?"

But Judy shakes her head and moves back, so Serena turns to look at her. "I have no clue, empress,"

Serena's face drops and she turns to stare at herself in the mirror. She looks beautiful and dabs a bit more lip tint on her lower lip. If Judy doesn't know, then maybe her diary has an idea. She bets that she had written about the feud between her and Lillian but it won't be a surprise when it's about Xavier.

She stands up and grabs her purse and they get out of the room. Guards and the rest of the staff bowed in respect when they saw her walk past them and she couldn't help but blush when she heard the compliments coming out of their mouths. That meant that Judy had done a fantastic job.

When she gets out of the main doors, Xavier is standing there beside the carriage in a white buttoned-up shirt, a cream sweater on top with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He is in matching slacks and shoes. A small pocket watch is hanging from his sweater and he looks down on it to check the time.

They are matching.

Well, not exactly apart from the color. Serena is in a white straight dress with a short v-neck that exposes her collar bones with long lace sleeves and matching four-inch heels.

She feels embarrassed but her cheeks redden more when Xavier looks up at her with his eyes wide.

Damn you, Judy. Now, he'll think that I'm a stalker.

Serena confidently strides over to him without tripping and smiles. "I'm ready,"

Her voice breaks him from a trance and he clears his throat before opening the door for her to get in. "Let me," he says and helps me get comfortable. Once he was done, he followed suit and the carriage started moving.

It is sunny and hot and Serena can feel the sweat starting to form on her thighs and back and she wishes that she had not worn such a bright color.

"So, what is this lunch about?" she asks, curiosity getting the best of her.

"Work,"

Serena's heart shatters as if someone had died.

She can't believe this.

All this excitement for work? She wanted to slap herself repeatedly for having high hopes that it might be a date but her eyes become glassy, blurring her sight.

Xavier notices the silence and turns to her but Serena's back is almost towards him with her knees digging the carriage door. He smiles and moves closer—too close to the point his breath hits her neck and this startled Serena.

She whips her head back to him but shrinks when their faces are dangerously close to one another. She widens her eyes and focuses her sight on the other window opposite her.

"W-What are you doing?"

Xavier cocks his head with an innocent look on his face. "What am I doing?"

Serena nibs on her bottom lip and starts nudging him to get back but Xavier is like stone. "G-Get back,"

She's so embarrassed at how Xavier is staring at her because she has no idea what to do in such a situation. She closes her eyes thinking at the number of books she read—most female leads act flustered (which she is doing right now) and this gives the guy the upper hand to continue prodding. If she feigns confidence, there's a high percent chance that Xavier will be taken aback and leave her be. So, she does that.

"Oh, come on, Xavier...you know what you're doing,"

Xavier doesn't move from his position and smiles, impressed with her change of confidence. "And what am I doing?"

Serena hums and grabs his watch to take a look at the time but clears her throat when it's written in Roman numbers. I don't have the capacity for that.

Who said it was a good idea to use Roman numbers while telling time?

"I can see that we have some time left," she tells him even if her brain couldn't comprehend the time.

"Time left?"

Serena nods and starts playing with his collar and Xavier reflexively looks down at it. "Fifteen minutes, top?"

Xavier squints his eyes. "What do you mean?"

Serena lets out a short laugh before placing her hand over her mouth to stop the sound mid-way. She bats her eyelashes and motions him to come closer which he does and Serena places her mouth on his ear.

"Let's do it,"

* * *

Xavier flinches and draws back and Serena wants to burst into laughter. She didn't have to say it because Xavier is a man. A grown man who knows what 'it' means.

She blinks and pouts. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Xavier smirks in response. "Serena,"

Serena clenched her dress at the way her name rolled off his tongue as her heart started pacing quickly. Is it working?

"I didn't know that you were such a daredevil," he finishes.

"What do you mean?"

Xavier doesn't waste time and grabs her hand before lifting her off the seat and placing her on his lap. Serena's eyes almost pop out of their sockets at the abrupt gesture and on instinct, she starts moving away but Xavier holds her tight by the waist.

"X-Xavier, what-

"What? Where did your confidence go?" he mocks, and Serena remains silent.

Where did her confidence go? She thought that he would back off but it looks like he is enjoying this.

Xavier chuckles and Serena holds her breath when his hands travel down to her thighs. When she sees this, she takes the opportunity and tries to jump off but it's as if Xavier knew her intention and grabbed her by the waist again, pulling her closer to him. Serena gasps and puts both hands on his shoulders to stop the inevitable.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asks, his husky voice coming out in a low whisper.

He looks up at her eyes and then to her lips and smirks. His thumb traces the lower lip and Serena is frozen like a deer in headlights. She has no clue on what to do or say and Xavier seems experienced in this criteria. She then feels her dress being lifted and looking down, his left hand touches her thigh before grabbing it hard to the point she flinches.

"You're hurting me,"

"Oh, this is not hurting, Serena," he tells her, his voice deepening to an octave and Serena swallows.

The way he looks at the moment frightens her. His eyes are hooded—clouded with lust and his lips have been stretched in an evil grin for a while now.

His stoic face is gone.

He loosens his grip and rubs the skin that had already turned red before tightening his hold again. Serena clutches his shoulder and bites her lips from releasing a sound.

"Don't do that," he says, freeing the flesh from her teeth and soothing it. "You're hurting yourself,"

I wouldn't be doing that if you weren't clutching my thigh as if you were falling off some railing.

Serena gulps and looks away but hastily turns to him when he shifts her body to straddle him. This position exposes her legs much more and Serena can feel her heart leaping out of her chest.

"Xavier, sto-ah!"

Serena gasped both in surprise and delight when he rubbed his bulge against her when he lifted and placed her right on top of him. Did he just-

"Xavier, this...this isn't righ-ah,"

Xavier doesn't let her finish and rubs harder. Serena tilts her head back, her mouth agape but the back of her neck is grabbed and her face is brought closer to his. Their noses and lips are touching and she thinks that he'll finally kiss her.

"Why? What's wrong with what we're doing, Serena?" he asks.

"I-

"You're my wife, Serena. I have the right to please you, don't I?" he stresses out, interrupting her and Serena is at a loss for words.

Please me?

What is this man spewing? She had no idea that Xavier could speak this way and as much as she wants to deny it, it made her feel wet.

They are indeed a married couple. What they are doing is completely normal but it is weird to Serena because—first, in her world, she has never dated—never had a boyfriend, and second, Xavier hates her. So, why is he acting like this all of a sudden?

He repeats the action and moves his hand to the front of her neck—squeezing it and Serena moans. "Answer the question,"

Serena closes her eyes and swallows, feeling her throat going dry, and nods but Xavier doesn't appreciate the form of response and squeezes harder. "Words, Serena," he demands, his voice going deeper each time.

"Yes," she whispers, and she can breathe again.

"Good girl," he says, and Serena feels her stomach churn and tighten weirdly but that feeling is long gone when he grabs the sides of her waist, lifts his hips and moves his groin against her with his muscular strength—agonizingly slow then switching to a rapid pace.

Each time their regions brush against each other, it feels so good that Serena's body shudders. Soft gasps leave her mouth as he brings her back and forth on him—the friction being too much for her.

"Feels good, doesn't it?" his voice is teasing as his lips brush her neck, pushing her closer to the brink.

"Yes..." she breathes, pulling the back of his hair strands, and this makes Xavier groan and lightly nip her soft flesh with his teeth.

The tension in her abdomen then builds to an unfathomable rate—in a quick order and glancing up at her, Xavier's length hardens more and he moves more roughly making Serena moan louder. His eyes then slide down to her breasts as they bounce up and down and he swallows painfully and without thinking, he dips his head on one of them—his breath hitting her covered nubs but someone knocks on the door, making the pair stop.

"Emperor, we have arrived,"