Tales Of Darkness And Light
Chapter 41's

Rue peeked out from backstage. His eyes widened as he looked at the sea of spectators that filled the surrounding stage.

"A-are you sure you're gonna dance and sing on that stage, Rue?" asked Mirthy quietly with a pale face.

"T-of course, Mirthy." Reply Rue stammered. This was the first time he had seen this many people, lying if he was not nervous

"Well, I'll watch from my seat." Reply Mirthy slowly. He was so amazed by Rue's courage that he could not possibly stand on that stage alone with thousands of pairs of eyes staring at him.

"Thank you, Mirthy." Rue's smile while hugging Mirthy tightly. He really needs encouragement to stand on stage, and Mirthy is the only one who can give him that now.

Mirthy's face flushed. "I-iya, same Rue."

"Next is a dance and song offering from Her Highness Princess Mirthy's close friend, Miss Rue." The voice of the host was heard simultaneously with and the sound of a loud applause.

"It's your turn, Rue." Mirthy's smile while releasing Rue's embrace.

Rue returned Mirthy's smile. Taking a few breaths to calm down, he then turned his back and shook to the front of the stage.

Rue wore white clothes specially designed by the court dressmakers at Mirthy's request. The clothes are very beautiful and elegant too. Rue did not use any jewelry, Mirthy did intend to lend her jewelry to Rue. But he refused it. He replaced the jewelry he should have used with flowers and the flower he chose was the Rue—favorite flower Apple has the same name as him.

No one objected when Rue changed the jewelry with Rue flowers. Mirthy and also the palace tailors who saw Rue while trying on the clothes could not say anything at all. They were sure that whoever saw him would think he was an angel. She looked incredibly beautiful and innocent as if she was not from this world.

The applause there stopped instantly as soon as Rue entered the stage. Everyone who saw her could not hide their enchanted expressions when they saw the beautiful girl on the stage.

A nervous feeling approached Rue as soon as he saw the reaction of the spectators. However, he quickly brushed off that feeling. He must not fail, he must succeed. She sings and dances here for Mirthy. Taking a breath, Rue raised the tip of her lips and put on her best sweet smile to the audience.

The faces of the spectators reddened as soon as they saw Rue's sweet smile, no matter it was a boy or a girl, be it a child, an adult or a parent.

Rue turned his head to look at the musical instrument players beside the stage and nodded his head. The players of the musical instrument understood what Rue meant, it was a cue from him to play their musical instruments. Without wasting any more time, they all immediately designed their musical instruments.

Hearing the sound of music flowing in the air, Rue raised her hand and started dancing. With her light steps, she began to dance gracefully and beautifully.

All the spectators who were there sighed looking at Rue's dance. Her beautiful dance easily caught the attention of everyone. She began to sing with her clear, beautiful and soft voice.

Your face is the only thing I want to see.

Apples kept running through the crowd of human seas in front of him, he paid no heed to the protests of the people he passed by. With his sharp sense of hearing, he could clearly hear a familiar voice from a distance. Clear, beautiful and soft sound—voice Rue.

The voice was the only thing I wanted to hear.

You're the only one I want to breathe.

Your touch is the only thing I want to feel.

Rue who was singing and dancing smiled. This song is a song he made and sang for Mirthy. However, every time he sang that song, Apple's face must have been clearly reflected in his mind. The face of the young man who looked at him gently, a voice that was always calm, a distinctive smell and also a warm touch.

The closer Apple was to the stage, the clearer Rue's voice sounded. He could not hide the relief and joy that now filled his heart again upon hearing the voice. If Rue could sing and dance on that stage, he would be fine.

Miss you.

Really miss you.

Rue's tears flowed down from her cheeks even though no one noticed. He missed Apples so much, ever since they were apart, there was not a single day that he went through without not thinking about it. Without the Apples beside her, she always felt something was lacking and made her feel incomplete.

Constantly running, Apple opened the white cloth that closed his eyes, he paid no attention to the gaze of the people around who were looking at his red eyes strangely. He kept running towards that stage.

I believe our promise.

I've believed in you forever.

Rue knew and was convinced once, Apple would never break its promise. The young man had promised not to go anywhere to him, therefore, Apple would definitely find him.

Everyone who saw Rue's dancing and singing could not turn their eyes away from her at all. The dance and the sound are so charming. However, even more startling, all of a sudden, all the birds that were around the airfield approached him.

Flying low, the birds surrounded Rue as if accompanying her dancing. Smiling, the unsurprised Rue continued her singing and dancing.

I want to see your face.

I want to hear your voice.

I want to breathe your smell.

I want to feel your warmth.

The apple that continued to break through the sea of humans raised its face staring at the stage as it almost reached it. He knew, he was sure, Rue must have been there.

I will wait for our promise to be fulfilled.

I believe in our promise.

Rue smiled and closed his eyes. Apples will keep their promise. Therefore, he would wait and wait, waiting until they met again.

The footsteps of the apple stopped. Seeing the figure singing and dancing on stage, the world seemed to stop for him. Unrestrained happiness and joy filled his heart. He wanted to call and ran to hug the little girl.

However, looking on at Rue who was so beautiful and shining in her eyes, Apple instantly realized, how different the two of them were. Rue is the inhabitant of the world of light—the most dazzling light in this world itself, whereas dia—he is the most taboo existence in the world.

I sang on this most beautiful day.

Pray that the Goddess will listen to him.

Letting us meet again.

The song he was singing now, Rue knew was not a prayer for Mirthy alone. This song is also a prayer for himself—pray from all his heart in order to meet again with Apple.

Reversing his body and opening his eyes, Rue faced the penotons.

Because you're ya—

However, Rue's singing and dancing came to a halt as soon as he saw the figure of a young man standing within the crowd not far in front of him. The black-haired and blood-red-eyed youth he had always thought of. Raising his two trembling hands, Rue covered her open mouth in shock as well as disbelief.

"Apple..." Call Rue slowly.

All the audience and the musical instrument players felt a strangeness as soon as they saw Rue who suddenly stopped singing and dancing. Confused, they did not understand what was happening. The music that was flowing through the air stopped.

Rue did not move in the slightest, his two eyes continued to stare at the figure of Apple who was also staring at him. Following the direction of Rue's gaze, the eyes of all there were then fixed on the Apples.

A second later, Rue suddenly ran down from the stage. Breaking through the crowd, he dashed with all his might towards Apple. Tears flowed down her cheeks, was this real?—or was she dreaming?

The apple remained motionless in the slightest, he just stood where he saw running near him. He wanted to move his legs and run to embrace her. However, he cannot. Looking at him, he once again asked himself; could this blood-soaked and damned self touch him so innocent and holy? Is he worthy?

The crowd immediately paved the way for Rue while he was in front of them. Rue himself did not care about anything anymore, in his eyes now there was only an Apple. That was why, he was unaware of the small stone that was in front. Stumbling against the rock, he fell down.

Looking at the fallen Rue, Apple was so shocked and unwittingly, she had dashed towards him while breaking through the crowd which also immediately paved the way for him.

Just as the fallen Rue was trying to get up, however, a pair of familiar hands suddenly touched both of his shoulders. "You all right, Rue?" ask Apple worried.

Rue immediately raised his head staring at the source of the voice. Her green eyes met the blood red eyes of Apple kneeling in front and looking at her full of worry. He could see his face, he could hear his voice, he could smell it and he could feel its touch.

Raising both of his trembling hands to touch the face of Apple, tears did not stop flowing down from Rue's eyes. The one in front of him is now really Apple—he has found it.

Looping both of her hands around the neck of Apple, Rue immediately hugged her tightly. Happiness filled his heart, "Apples, Apples, Apples, Apples..." There was a lot Rue wanted to ask. However, all of those questions were left unsaid by him. The only thing he could pronounce right now was the name Apple. That was why, he kept mentioning that name as if it was the only word he knew in this world. "Apple..."

The apple that Rue suddenly hugged was extremely shocked. Just like nine years ago, Rue still embraced this self despite knowing and seeing its real form that is disgusting and cursed. In those green eyes, he was neither disgusted nor dirty. For Rue, he was just—Apel.

A happy feeling filled Apples heart, though he did not know if he was allowed to feel it. But, in Rue's arms, she could hear his voice, smell his distinctive smell and feel the only warmth of his life. Slowly, the hesitation to touch, the anxiety and fear that was in the heart disappeared without a trace.

Pushing Rue gently to put over her tight embrace, Apple raised both her hands holding onto Rue's face. Staring at his face, he wiped his tears gently.

Rue smiled happily feeling the warmth of the Apple hand that wiped away her tears. Smiling, he gave the best smile he had.

Seeing Rue's smile, Apple laughed. Pasting her forehead on Rue's forehead, she closed her eyes enjoying their togetherness. "Choose one of the—you cry or smile, stupid."

Seeing the laughter and hearing the words of Apple, Rue could not stem the feeling of happiness and joy in her heart anymore. Laughing, once again, he hugged the young man tightly.

Apple raised her hand back to Rue's embrace and smiled. Smiling from the bottom of his heart. If time could stop, then he would very much hope that these moments would stop for good. "Don't criticize anymore. Don't worry anymore, Rue. Smile, laugh my— is here and it won't be anywhere else..."

Rue nodded his head in the embrace that was there. The warmth that filled him made him feel very safe, calm and peaceful. The peaceful and safest place for him in this world was in the arms of an Apple.

The Apple and Rue who were rejoicing at their meeting had absolutely no concern for the people around who were staring at them. For the two of them, nothing is more important than this togetherness of theirs.

Fedrick, Lara, Calix, Regis, Mire and Vin who had caught up with Apple with great difficulty after breaking through the human crowd were shocked to see the scene before them, that is, the one, Apple and Rue were hugging tightly while kneeling.

Fedrick, Lara and Calix smiled at the scene, although Fedrick also felt his heart ache when he saw the scene. Regis who first saw Rue, looked at the girl's face curiously. As for Mire and Vin who saw Apple smiling while hugging Rue could only be stunned—they did not expect it turned out that Apple could have such a face.

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