𝘾𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 (𝙔𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙚!𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙭𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧)

Chapter Thirty: Exertion

I snuck out of the dungeon without anyone knowing to my relief, and there was surely not much of a chase as I thought would've happened, but then again, my life was not in a book. I held the key tightly to my chest, feeling my heart pumping out of nervousness.

To think that such a small key could be my lead to freedom had me thinking of whatever lies beyond this key could be that it could possibly destroy Nikolas. Moreover, the queen. Aleksander seemed to not trust the queen, though I did not know why. She was one of the few that welcome me with open arms, the one that gave me such a good time in the palace. Surely she means no harm, does she?

I shook the thought away from my head while I darted my eyes to the ground, trying to give a benefit of a doubt with Aleksander's issues with the queen.

One may act like an angel to an individual, but another to a person, was what my mother had always reminded me with each fairytale books I read. She was a killer joy, always reminding me that I do not live in a fairytale where fairies and wizards coexist.

But it seems that her lectures were true after all. Nikolas was just a charmer for the blind eyes, but his nature was truly the opposite of what he shadows himself to be. A witty, cruel person.

My thoughts were knocked out of my head when I felt a hand stop me by surprise. I turned around and gasped, "You look pallor, my dearest (y/n). Have you seen a ghost? Surely I'm not one," Nikolas asked with concern, cupping my cheek with his hand.

He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me into a tight hug, almost suffocating me beneath his strong arms. Nikolas twirled his finger around my hair playfully, while burying kisses on my neck. "But it doesn't matter now, my dearest. I'm here." Nikolas said in assurance, pushing my hair to the side while he looked up at me with his icy blue eyes meeting my (e/c) one's.

"Oh, how I've missed you. It felt wrong without you by my side, (y/n)." he frowned, stroking his finger to my cheekbone with a gentle touch. "It has only been two days, Nikolas. It was for the best. You wouldn't want me getting ill, do you?" I forced out a small smile, touching his hand that stroke my cheek to stop while I hid my other arm behind, clenching on the golden key tightly.

"I already feel all better just looking at your lovely face, my dearest (y/n). I suppose it would be okay that we reside on our own chamber?" Nikolas chuckled to himself, taking my arm with his while he kissed the top of my knuckles.

I pulled my hand away and beamed, "You're still unwell, Nikolas. And as the future king of our kingdom, you must be in perfect health. Please rest once more." I said in a haste, brushing my fingers through his blonde locks. Nikolas snatched my arm away and clenched on my wrist tightly, making me gulp.

"Please stay in my room, my dearest (y/n). Even just for a while." he whispered in a hush, the frown on his face coming back plastered with his pleading eyes. I sighed to myself and gave in with a nod, "Then I shall prepare a hot beverage just for you, Nikolas. Please wait for me in the chamber, it's not good for you to be out of your room." I excused myself, turning around and taking each step in rapidity with the key I clenched close to my heart.

I opened the doors to the kitchen to see the sight of busy maidens. All eyes laid on me as I felt a breath of relief come out when I saw the familiar face of who will be a helping hand. "Your highness, is there something in need?" asked Sophie while they bowed their head in respect, "I'd like hot cocoa to be made, Sophie. Please leave it at the counter for I'll fetch it later." I respond with a soft tone, "Gladly, your highness." Sophie nod her head and began to do her work.

I turned to look at Andrea who presumed to come forward after my stare. "Is there something else you need, lady (y/n)?" inquired Andrea, lifting up a brow. "Do you perhaps know where prince Aleksander's chamber is?" I questioned while she nod her head, "Of course, I'll gladly take you over there your highness." Andrea cast a big beam towards me.

I refused the offer and asked for directions instead, coming up with a lie as to why I needed to go to Aleksander's bedroom. I listened to Andrea's brief explanation and went out of the kitchen in a bolt. The thought of losing much more time was making my sane mind go insane.

I huffed and puffed, making eye contact with the wooden door that faced me. Looking around the hall were as empty as before, with no sentinels lurking around nor servants. Aleksander's room was at the very top of the palace, far from my own chamber.

I twist the door open and to my surprise, it was unlocked. I stepped one foot inside and looked around, his bed was massive with its navy blue sheets and baroque style ceiling and golden chandelier that dangled above his bed and gleamed through my eyes.

His shelf were neatly organized and so was his desk. No sight of dust was to be seen and everything was neatly put in place. I went towards his desk that faced the windows as I quickly close the blue curtains shut, trying to avoid being seen by anyone.

My eyes wandered throughout the room, wasting no time to find whatever was needed to be found. I looked through the drawers of the desks but not one was needed of a key. I opened the left drawer of his desk and only found a single photograph of a woman. The photo seemed to had been old its crumpled edges.

She had almond, brown eyes and straight hair with a beautiful sweet smile that was plastered on her face, she looked lovely. I turned the piece of photograph around in hopes of finding a clue, but there was only a name written on it. Aliana.

Credits to: Art breeder

I placed the photograph back to its drawer and sighed to myself, stretching my arm with exhaustion and turning to the bed. I pushed the linen sheets of the bed out of the way as I peeked down to see a leather suitcase in sight. I quickly pulled it out and sat on the floor, dusting off the small particles as I coughed.

I squint my eyes and put the key inside the lock and turned, I heard a click! from the suitcase as it popped open. My eyes widen in ecstasy and smiled, chuckling to myself with pure excitement. I opened the suitcase to only find a leather book.

I raised a brow and took it out, realizing that it had been the same book that Aleksander had been keeping at hand whenever I saw him walking around. I thought of that book as nothing more but a schedule checker or something for his errands, but I suppose it was worth more than it looked.

I closed the suitcase shut and took the key, pulling back the sheets of the bed with the case back beneath the bed. I flipped through each page, finding significant information about Nikolas and the queen.

I felt myself going through a phase of a doubting Thomas, especially with the queen being a helping hand of Nikolas's crimes. I knew that what I had said was the truth, that I had married the devil. I was came to a halt by muffled footsteps coming from behind the door.

I covered my mouth and crawled beneath the bed as I saw the door swung open with the queen stepping inside. "Find that wretched book, now!"