❝Hreathoire❞

Chapter 9

Sweeping the floor of the library was easy, for having few tables and chairs. And then I was dusting off the shelves, even holding some books just to thoroughly clean each for one hour already and I'm still halfway through all of it. I paused, being conscious, when the prince came in.

This is my first time to see him in different clothes. More casual ones. His clothes are crinkled and his hair is messier now he looks like he had been straight out of bed. He was looking at the floor as he moves to a shelf not so far from me and picked books. I quickly looked away realizing I've been looking at him since he went in.

I cannot blame myself because he is handsome. Terrifyingly handsome. But he is a wicked man. A prince. I cannot admire such walking terror.

When he's sitting already, opening the first book he chose, I continued the cleaning. I can feel the uneasiness in this atmosphere, in this place where it's just the two of us. I wonder why Lady Sritham is not yet here today, maybe she's been doing other tasks. If only Prince Blaze is approachable, I could've asked him what he's reading and we'll have a proper conversation. But I know I have some abhorrence deep within about him too. He is the son of the King and Queen who chose to imprison my friends, who chose to capture us against our will. And it seems impossible that the prince is unlike them. I've read that they are wicked rulers. They have captured many Evilorians who chose to oppose them. They have substantial power to kill you with a blink if they thought so. It is hard to hinder them from what they want so here I am, persevering and in secret thinking of a way to get out of here.

As soon as I'm done cleaning, the prince was done reading and he just left the books on the table. He skimmed. I'm unsure why I'm not in the mood of reading now as he leaves. My heart thudded as if wanting to follow. My mind curious as to where he goes next, as to where his feet lead him or who else he meets in this vast castle. I am not a skulker, I just want to know what else awaits in this place.

So I tailed behind him, sneaking, and whenever he's stopping, I feel as if my heart is falling out of the cage. It will be awkward if he catches me following, when in reality it's not him I'm after. I just want to douse my curiosity. Just want to know where he goes and who he meets. What if there is a meeting? What if he has a lover? What if he'll talk to the King and Queen and asks if he can already execute us for--no reason at all? Many questions are to be answered only if I decide to walk.

He passed the great hall towards the east wing and I began to see how the shadows drown him. I waited for the opportunity, waited for two men servants cleaning the great hall to look away and soon as they did, I walked with long steps and finally found myself near the prince again. Just with a distance enough for me to not have a hard time following him, a distance also to prevent him from catching my presence.

I never stopped, just glanced at the arc on my right where I once passed through and found myself on a bridge. I continued to walk with light steps to follow the prince and still, with a determined mind, my feet stopped when I saw the door that once made me stop from my tracks too.

It is half open. A sliver of light so lurid it unnerved me.

When I realized that the prince already took another turn, I rushed and took off my eyes from that door that seems to pull me with its mere presence, attracting my mind to think on opening it. But for now I'm more curious to where the prince is going. Now that I'm on the edge of this hallway where the prince just took a turn, I used my eyes to explore where he's walking now. A hallway different from any other, and if I must think, this is the hallway that has the King & Queen's bedroom.

Golden pillars as foundation. Torches instead of chandeliers to lighten the place for a little. Patterns, so extraordinary inscribed on the mellow, pillow-like walls.