One #2
“Good morning, Miss Aerilyn,” The Royal Guard greeted me as the gates creaked open.
“Good morning, Joel. Try to stay warm today.” I exhaled, it was so cold I could see my breath.
“I shall try my best, Miss.” He nodded, and I did the same as I entered the Royal grounds, and the golden gate closed behind me.
The moment I stepped foot inside, I pulled off my hood.
Remnants of snow fell from my shoulders and onto the sage green rug beneath my boots.
Exposing my long brown curls, I undid the clasp to my cloak, the fabric now damp and cold from the snow.
Tossing it aside onto the coat rack, I made my way down the halls.
I wandered, walking past one of the many meeting rooms. When I looked to my left, I saw Samael standing there, alone in a room with a man with short black hair, who wore the colors of red and black.
Neighboring colors I did not recognize, maybe.
He handed Samael something wrapped in a cream-colored cloth, but what was within said cloth, I did not know.
My eyes narrowed, unsure of what to think due to the peculiarity of the situation.
I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings, far too focused on who Samael was speaking to.
What is he doing and who is he talking to? I rounded the corner—
“Oof—” I hit something hard. I stepped back, rubbing my face.
“Watch where you are going,” a deep voice growled.
Oh, for the love of—
“Good morning, Prince Adrian.” I flashed the sweetest of smiles, my words laced with honey.
Sugary sweet to the point it was almost sickening.
Today would be a good day, and to ensure that, I needed to be on the Prince’s good side.
I curtseyed, minding my manners, despite how badly I wanted to make him peel potatoes the way he made me.
Deep down, part of me wanted him to hurt the way he hurt me.
“Deepest apologies, my Prince. You are right, I should. Please forgive me.”
Our eyes met, and his jaw clenched, practically grinding his teeth.
There was a moment where he did nothing but stare down at me.
I didn’t look away, refusing him the satisfaction of submission.
I waited for him to break eye contact first, and he did.
Nearly shoulder-checking me, his hands slid to his back.
“Don’t do it again,” he said, continuing down the hall without looking back even once. I watched him leave.
I loved days like today. Days that I got to tend to the Princess without having to worry about peeling potatoes. Gods, I hated peeling potatoes.
I smiled, making my way down the candle-lit hallways, skillfully weaving between Lords and Ladies in their frilly and foofy winter attire.
It was midday, but the overcast weather covered the sun with clouds.
Snow fell from the sky far faster and thicker this morning.
If I had to guess, there were several inches of fresh snow on the ground by now, if not more.
It didn’t take long to prepare the tray.
Tea, cakes, sugar cubes, and an array of sweets to accompany the kettle.
I made my way to the Princess’s bed chambers for afternoon tea.
It was my favorite part of the day, but not just because the cakes were sweet and the tea was soothing to the soul.
It was because Princess Gelia and I could take time to rest and simply live in the moment while it lasted.
“Princess—” I cooed, pushing the door open and taking a step inside, then abruptly stopping in the middle of the pine doorway.
The tray slipped from my hands when I saw inside the Princess’s private bed chambers.
Porcelain China teacups shattered. Tea and cakes spilled across the marble flooring.
Blood splattered across the room. The sight alone was more than enough to make me throw up this afternoon’s lunch, let alone the stench.
I tried my best to hold it in, to not gag.
The Princess. Gelia, my best friend, my Lady, my—
I looked toward the Princess’s bed. Pink sheets were stained a deep red, and goose feathers from her pillows were scattered across her quilts and the floor beneath.
The sun began to set, and shadows crept up the walls ominously; the room quieter than it ever had been before.
Her petite figure was slumped over the bed.
Her bloodied arm came into view, dangling off her bed.
Her tiara rolled onto the marble floor mere moments after.
“Princess,” I repeated, as if doing so would coax her to answer. Tears welled in the corners of my eyes. I took one slow step toward her bed, and then another, and another, my boots squeaking with each movement.
Hastily, I reached her bedside. “Gelia, Gelia, please—” I begged, cradling her into my arms. “What happened to you?” Her blood stained my mint dress and my blistered hands.
I attempted to stop the bleeding by pressing my fingertips against her gaping stab wound, but it only continued to ooze.
“Please,” I repeated with desperation. “Please stay.”
Gods above, please do not take her from me.
Gelia, beautiful as ever, slowly opened her eyes. She smiled weakly at me. “It’s not y-your fault,” she whispered to me, blood pooling at the corners of her cotton candy lips.
“What?” Breathlessly, still cradling her in my arms, Gelia lifted her hand, shakily pointing a finger behind me.
I stared at her for a moment longer. My head turned in the direction she was pointing.
There wasn’t anyone there, causing me to look around the room and back to her just in time to see the light leave her eyes.
“Gelia, please,” I begged. Silent tears poured down my face.
I thought I could save her, but I couldn’t.
I don’t regret staying with her in her last moments. I—
“You are not supposed to be here,” someone growled from behind me, his voice heavy and hoarse.
I swallowed hard. I recognized that voice.
It was at that moment that I understood what she had meant.
It was my fault. This was entirely my fault.
My best friend, the only person to ever notice me, let alone care, was dead in my arms, because of me.
“Neither are you,” I replied shakily, turning to face him.
He smiled back at me, a smile that was off-putting.
Unnatural. Forced, even. This wasn’t him.
This couldn’t have possibly been his doing, but I asked anyway.
“What did you do?” My voice cracked, knots formed within my stomach, and the stench of death filled my nose.
He didn’t answer; he didn’t need to answer. He killed her.
He told me weeks ago that he had a plan, one that would save all three of us from the Prince.
One that would ensure our safety and happiness, and above all, our freedom.
Gelia told me of a long-lost lover from a faraway place that she longed to be with.
She never went into much detail, but the sense of longing in her eyes and the way she often gazed out the window toward the clouds and the stars in the sky told me she was in love.
I thought that she would be free to be with her faraway lover and now—
I swallowed hard.
Samael. He promised me he had everything under control, and that there wasn’t a single thing for me to worry about. I was foolish to believe him, to believe that escape from this place was even an option to begin with.
Samael betrayed me. Betrayed us. Betrayed the Kingdom.
Lelarin was now without its most beloved Princess.
I couldn’t fathom why he had done it. Gelia was the sweetest, kindest spirit I had ever known.
She would never, ever harm a soul. He promised me he would ensure her safety.
He promised me her salvation. He promised that she would finally be happy.
I hoped wherever she was, she would forgive me for breaking the promise we made together.
I promised her that I would protect her, always and forever.
I never thought that forever would end like this.
So unexpectedly soon, within days of making that very promise to begin with.
I couldn’t understand why Samael would do such a thing. He was her guard. He was our friend. I didn’t know that when he said he would save her, he meant by taking her life. That wasn’t what I meant when I asked for salvation.
How did I let this happen?
For a moment, silence lingered. Gelia no longer felt warm within my embrace, but colder than the snow that covered the ground just outside these very stone walls.
How could I let this happen?
I was so focused on her, that I forgot about my surroundings. I didn’t hear the door creak open. All I could do was stare at Gelia’s cold, lifeless body. I cradled her in my arms as if it would bring her back.
Gods above, why couldn’t it have been me instead?
I had nothing and no one to live for. No grand adventure or bright future awaited me. Gelia, however, had a whole life ahead of her that Samael had forcefully taken. She would never be married, bear children, or become Queen as she had dreamed.
I turned my head the moment I heard a sound, that gut-wrenching sound of grief.
The look of shock and sorrow on the Cruel Prince’s face wasn’t one I would ever forget.
I had never seen such devastation on someone’s face in the way I did at this moment.
And the worst part of it all wasn’t just that I lost my best friend, or that I was alone in the world, but that it was my fault.
It was my fault that she was gone, it was my fault for believing in a false savior, and it was my fault that I destroyed what little light was left within the Prince.
“I’m sorry I—” Silent tears quickly turned into hushed sobs.