Vows and Bullets
Chapter 154 - 1st week of September (Part 8)

Chapter 154: 1st week of September (Part 8)

Please DON’T READ this Chapter yet. I will update this first week of September!

Good news! My hands have healed now and I’m catching up on writing my missed Chapters. My apologies for all the delays. I will replace this Chapter with the real one soon, don’t worry, and upload a new one for the next day. I really apologize once again.

In the meantime, please enjoy the continuation of the story below titled "The King’s Beloved". This is the revised version I am planning to submit for paperback publication. Hopefully, I get a chance someday.

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(Part 17 - Continuation...)

"Sniff... sniff..." the little Rania sobbed as she sat on her bed, hugging her knees.

"Rania?" Lailee, who heard her when she passed by, came peeking at the door. "Oh my goodness, dear child, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?" She hurried to her side and embraced her while patting her back.

"S-sister... hick... T-they said my parents don’t love me... sniff... so they left me. And they said they were bad, that’s why God punished them and took their lives. And b-because I’m a bad girl, I’m left alone... sniff."

"What?! They said that?" Lailee furrowed. "No! That’s not true! Don’t believe them. Those kids, they don’t know what they’re saying. Of course, your parents loved you! And it wasn’t their choice to be in the accident. They’re not being punished! And most of all, you are not a bad girl. You’re the sweetest girl I know. They’re just—haaah... seriously kids nowadays." She shook her head in disappointment.

Lifting little Rania in her arms, she made her sit on her lap.

"Okay, let me tell you something very important, Rania."

Sniffing, little Rania nodded her head and looked up to her.

"You see, in life, unfortunate things happen. There are many reasons why, and yes, mostly because bad people attract bad things to happen to them since all things have their own consequences. Maybe that’s why those kids think your parents were bad. But they didn’t know your parents. You’re the one who knows them. Do you remember those memories before the accident that you told me before?"

Trying to remember, little Rania nodded and answered her, "They... would sing a lullaby to me in bed and read stories. They would buy me toys and make me eat my favorite cookie. And, and they... would always kiss me and hug me and say they love me. And..."

On and on, her list of stories went. After listening for a few minutes, little Rania stopped.

"Tut-tut-tut! You forgot something," Lailee teased her.

"Huh? Ahm... During the car crash, I only survived because... they covered me with their bodies. T-that was the last time I hugged t-them. Sniff... waaaaaa-hu-hu-hu."

"Yes, that’s right, my dear. They love you so much that’s why you’re alive. They protected you. So it’s not true that they don’t love you, okay? Don’t trust what others say about them. You’re the one who knows them. They may not be with you right now, but I believe they’re watching over you. And do you know who else loves you?"

"Sniff... you?" little Rania hesitated out of shyness.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha! Yes, I love you so very much, as big and as wide as the whole world!" Lailee said animatedly and gave the little girl the warmest hug she could give. "But do you know who loves you the most?"

Little Rania lowered her eyes and sobbed. "... God."

"Yes, that’s right. Everything may look bad right now but, no matter what, His love for you will never change. And those tears you’re crying, He keeps records of it and collects it in a bottle because that’s how precious you are to Him."

"But... he let my parents die and let that criminal live."

"No, Rania. Don’t think like that. There’s a reason why things happened the way they did. But you know what I’m sure of?"

Little Rania shocked her head.

"He won’t leave you crying forever. He will avenge you. And He will repay. All you need to do is be still and put your hope and trust in Him."

Wiping her tears, little Rania nodded again and smiled. "Sniff... Yes, sister."

"I love you, Rania," Lailee said as she smiled and patted her tiny head. "Everything’s gonna be okay soon, so don’t cry anymore."

"I love you, too, sister."

When the memory faded, Rania’s hardened heart started to crumble. Little by little, the gentle pricks shook her heart as if wanting to uncover the real heart inside. She started to question her beliefs, her plans, and even her own self. Trying to wipe her tears, she saw her reflection on the glass window—a reflection of a girl so skinny in a black dress, with sunken red eyes from crying too much. And that look—the look of a madwoman just like Nefastus was when she killed everyone she loved.

At that moment, she realized that she was becoming the very person she hated—a crazy woman who only wanted to kill and destroy—even including the innocent. Azalea was right. She shouldn’t be grouping all the Magi as one. She’s not sure that all of them were bad. And to think she thought of killing every single one of them. Wasn’t she just like her? A monster?

Trembling at the thought, Rania asked herself.

What have I become? What have I been doing all this time?

Lastly, she turned her head to the last book on her right and picked it up. The book had a golden cover and light brown papers whose edge had a golden glow. Despite the small font, her eyes immediately fell on the wet part that said:

"For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ’plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Rania bit her lips. A stinging pain far greater than the first and second hurt her deep inside. Her head dropped low, and her gaze fell to the ground. With trembling hands, she clenched the golden book and embraced it tightly. Then, tears started to flow from her eyes like a continuous stream... with no signs of stopping.

"WAAAAAAAAA-HU-HU-HU!" she wailed like a little child.