"I-it really hurts--" she clutched her chest where her heart was.

"--it hurts too much--"

"--J-just let me d-die."

Just as these words finished, the door of the terrace was opened.

Alexander's eyes widened finding the least expecting person, none other than Xavier Lambordi standing there.

****************

Leila was warm. It was that kind of warmth she had never experienced before. She could not understand where this warmth was coming from but suddenly she started to feel a heavy hand on top of her head. It was caressing her hair gently. The move was so soothing that Leila felt at utmost calm.

She tried to open her eyes slowly. A little afraid that if she opened them abruptly, this soothing warmth will vanish. But it did not happen. She blinked a little, trying to adjust her sleepy vision.

She looked at her left and her eyes met Xavier's eyes. She stared at him for a moment longer and then blinked in bewilderment.

She instantly tried to sit up but he stopped her.

"Just keep resting, Leila." He said and slowly removed his hand from her head. The lack of touch made her feel disappointed but she did not express it.

She slowly looked around and found that she was in some unfamiliar room. The whole room held black and silver theme. From bedding to furniture.

Was it Xavier's room?

She thought with a gulp.

"I want to tell you something."

Leila looked up at him surprised.

"Umm y-yeah."

She looked down to notice his other hand was holding her hand.

"Mom and Dad didn't die in accident."

Leila froze at the mention of their parents' deaths.

She was only told a lie back then by her nannies.

"Someone had kidnapped you and mom when you were few months old. Dad was gone to save you both but ended up only saving you. They both died for you, so you could live."

Leila's bottom lip quivered as she listened to his words.

"When dad was leaving, he entrusted me with the responsibility to take care of our family and the whole Empire."

If Leila counted correctly, Xavier must have been 15 year old at that time. The same age as her now. Still, it was too hard for Leila to relate herself at his place.

"I tried hard to balance out everything but I wasn't successful. I failed to fulfill my responsibility completely. I apologize. I should have been there for you all. If I was more present in your and our brothers' life, then they would have understood the reasoning behind father's action much earlier. When they were young, they blamed you for our parents death. My only excuse is that I didn't get to bring out the time to spend with my family."

"It isn't your fault, Xavier." Leila spoke softly.

Xavier chuckled a little at her words. But it sounded bitter.

"You don't have to say this to make me feel better, Leila."

Leila shook her head immediately. She wanted to argue but got cut off when Xavier's phone started ringing.

He hung up without responding and again, looked in Leila's eyes that were glistening with tears.

"And Leila, if you ever find yourself in a burning building, we all would jump in without hesitation, to save you." Leila froze at his words.

'Half of them probably won't even care if I was burnt alive.' Her own words rang in her mind.

A cold breeze came into the room from the window and hit them. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

Xavier's phone rang again and he excused himself out of the room.

Leila sat there for a minute, frozen.

Only thing that was running across her mind was that he heard her that day.