Chapter: 22: Venturing in the Night

“Faye,” I called from the comfortable den of my new bed.

Her rosy face peeked from my closet, where she modified the dresses I’d picked for tomorrow.

“How come my room is so…empty?” I asked, my eyes searching the barren corners, blank walls, and cleared shelves.

The room was gorgeous, but it was like staying in a ballroom. It felt cold and generic. The few pictures and personal belongings I’d brought with me from home weren’t able to change much.

“Well,” Faye began. “The time given between the final examination and your arrival is too short for us to personalize the room.

“But you’re allowed to personalize the room however you want as long as it doesn’t break any of Heliac’s general rules.

“You simply have to ask, and we will bring you almost anything you desire. Only technical devices are prohibited as anything with access to information outside these walls is only to be viewed in the parlor.”

Wings fluttered in the depths of my stomach. “Anything,” I asked, leaning closer to the edge of the bed.

Faye nodded reluctantly and put the dress down to join me in the main room. “Haven’t I mentioned this?”

I shook my head with a smile.

For the first time in my life, I had a room to decorate as I pleased.

“I’m terribly sorry, miss. This was one of the first things we were to inform you of!”

Faye was panicking, clenching her skirt in her hands and forcing her eyes to watch the floor.

“Calm down, Faye,” I said, jumping from the bed to approach her shaking body.

“The Crown Trials has left everyone with many new impressions. So I don’t blame you for forgetting a few minor details. Besides, you’re telling me now, right?”

She nodded wildly, her eyes glossy as if she was about to cry.

Silently, I guided her to the edge of my bed and sat her down beside me. “What do you think will make this room feel more like home?” I asked, refusing to release her hand.

“Um,” Faye said, drying her misty eyes. “A few pictures can often breathe new life into an empty space. But… What do you like to do?”

I hummed as I thought her question over.

It would probably sound too strange if I asked for some kind of broken machinery I could play with, and I wasn’t sure if it was even allowed. So, I decided to settle on another answer.

“I like to obtain new knowledge. So, reading probably.”

“The castle has many books in the grand library and the parlor,” she chirped, seemingly to have already forgotten the reason for her teary eyes.

“It’s not prohibited for you to bring some of them to your room. New ones will simply replace those that disappear.”

Her advice sparked an idea—a reckless and possibly stupid idea—but an idea nonetheless.

“How about we take a walk?” I asked, skipping across the floor to retrieve the silk robe Faye had given me after the most relaxing bath I’d ever had.

Fear painted shadows on Faye’s pale face. “You aren’t supposed to leave your room at this hour, miss,” Faye explained as she stopped herself from reaching out for me.

I chuckled and turned around to grab her hands.

“Oh, come on, Faye. We’ll be careful, I promise. It’s only to the parlor, and the royals aren’t allowed to roam these halls before the end of next week.

“The number of guards will be limited, and the cameras haven’t been set up yet.”

It was a reckless and stupid idea, and I understood why Faye was so reluctant.

If I were caught leaving my room at this hour, I would’ve broken one of the rules. That would probably lead to either a warning or the termination of my contract.

The first option was probably the most plausible, given that today was our first day.

“Think of it as a small adventure!” I whispered, testing to see if she had an adventurous side.

An adventure to retrieve a few books was what I needed, at least. Hopefully, a story of words on a page would help me fall asleep when that time came.

The safest course of action would probably have been for me to send Faye to pick up a few books on her own.

Unfortunately, I just had no idea what kinds of literature the royals kept or which of those I would enjoy, so that possibility was out of the question.

Faye hesitated; I’d almost given up hope when she sighed. “Fine! But only to the parlor and then right back.”

Forgetting the lady I was supposed to portray, I swung Faye about like my Dad used to do with us whenever there was a reason to celebrate.

“Thank you,” I said, hugging her tightly until she hugged me back. “And please, call me Willow or Will.”

Astonishment reflected in Faye’s eyes. Perhaps she was finally warming up to me.

Then she nodded and moved toward the door. She opened it by placing her tattooed hand against the surface and peeked outside to check if the coast was clear.

I followed her barefooted and waited by every corner until she permitted me to proceed.

We finally reached the darkened parlor, the journey less painful than anticipated. We hadn’t met a single soul on our way here.

There was something strangely thrilling about walking around so late, trying not to get caught.

I searched the numerous shelves, pointing out books I found interesting.

Some of them were books of data and numbers on mechanical constructions, while others presented information about etiquette and drawings of the castle.

I even found Evie’s book hidden in there.

I’d read the story of the Golden Realm and the Pavo bloodline a thousand times over, but it never hurt anyone to refresh those memories.

So, I grabbed a new book with updated data compared to the one I’d brought with me.

It was difficult to confine myself, and before I’d been through a quarter of the shelves, I’d already grabbed more books than I could carry.

“Are you done?” Faye said, chuckling as she pointed at the stack of books in my shaking arms.

“No,” I said, only partly joking, “but it seems that I have reached my physical limit of what I’m able to carry.”

Faye chuckled without leaving the door. “I wish I could help you carry more.”

“That’s okay,” I said, shrugging and almost dropping the books on top. “I think these will be enough to keep me occupied for this one night.”

I winked at her, and she smiled wider.

Faye could probably have carried a few books without looking suspicious in case we ran into some people on our way back. I just didn’t want to tempt fate more than we already did.

“Ready?” Faye whispered, peeking outside the door.

I nodded, and we resumed the thrilling adventures in the dark.

“Wait,” Faye said, pushing me behind a pillar.

Faint voices and footsteps growing louder suddenly sounded from our right.

My heart was pounding cruelly in my chest, each pulse sending a tremor through my shaking body.

The books had become heavy for my thin arms to carry. It wouldn’t be long before they’d give up.

Faye gestured for me to stay back, and then she approached the watch.

I peeked from behind the corner until Faye’s eyes signaled that it was safe for me to cautiously proceed while she distracted the guards.

Without taking my eyes off the guards’ backs, I warily skipped across the floor without breathing until I could no longer hear their voices.

Relief struck me too soon.

I rounded a corner, eager to reach my room faster than my legs could follow, and forgot to pay attention to the distance ahead.

Suddenly, a fabricated wall obstructed my path. I stepped back, desperately clinging to the books, so they didn’t fall to the floor.

“I am terribly sorry, miss—”

My breath hitched when I looked up, caught in his ocean eyes.

He wasn’t supposed to be here. I wasn’t supposed to be here, but Prince Atlas was a royal. Wasn’t it given that he followed the rules?

“Prince Atlas,” I whispered, tensely exhaling his formal title as I bent forward to greet him like I’d been taught.

The books in my embrace tumbled toward the floor before I could catch them. Embarrassed beyond reason, I fell to my knees to pick up my mess, not daring to look up.

“I didn’t expect to meet anyone tonight,” Prince Atlas remarked, picking up one of my books from the floor and handing it to me.

“I understand roaming the halls at this hour is supposed to be prohibited. Or does this rule not apply to the Crown Trials’ enigmatic wildcard?”

I bit my bottom lip and gulped as I accepted the book from his hand.

His voice carried a playful undertone. I couldn’t figure out whether he was teasing me or if he was planning to turn me in for reckless behavior.

“I apologize, Your Highness,” I said, my mind searching through numerous excuses to explain why I was in these halls barefooted and only covered by a long silk robe.

“My valet informed me that we could bring books from the parlor to our rooms. Reading calms me, so I thought— I…”

I kept my gaze glued to the floor, unsure how to proceed. No matter what I said, my answer would be wrong. I wasn’t supposed to be out here, and I couldn’t be bringing Faye into this mess.

She didn’t deserve that.

“It is quite the collection you’ve assembled,” Prince Atlas said.

I could hear the smile in his voice, but I didn’t know what kind of smile it was. Frankly, I didn’t care. I just wanted to find a reasonable way out of this troublesome situation.

“Mechanics, etiquette. An unusual combination.”

My cluttered head forgot everything Mom had taught me about proper behavior in front of a person of his status.

“I like to work with my hands,” I blurted as if the prince had been a completely average person. I clenched my hands tighter around the books when I realized my mistake.

I heard him inhale air to form an answer to my reckless claim, but he was interrupted by the sound of footsteps before his throat could form the words.

Naively, I hoped it would be Faye stepping around the corner, but then the sound grew loud enough for me to distinguish between several rhythmic feet.

It was the guards.

This was it. I was going to be thrown out of this competition long before I’d even met my master, all because I’d been too greedy to care about the consequences.

I braced myself for my inevitable fate, but Prince Atlas had a very different plan thought out for us.

Hands caught my waist, ruthlessly guiding me behind the nearest pillar.

“Prince Atlas!” I whispered in a suppressed exclamation, my face burning as he pressed my back against his torso.

“Hush,” he whispered, his hand moving to cover my mouth, preventing it from making any sounds.

It felt like my heart was about to break free from its prison behind my ribcage. His hands were softer against my skin than I remembered from the mansion.

I shut my eyes, silently praying to the ancient spirits that the guards wouldn’t find us. And my prayers were heard.

Prince Atlas didn’t let go until he was confident the guards wouldn’t turn around.

“My apologies, Miss Aldwyn,” he said, finally releasing his grip on me. “I must admit I’m not supposed to be here at this hour either.”

I was about to answer him when the whisper of a slightly more familiar voice slithered around the corner.

“I think it’s safe now, Will,” Faye whispered, quietly tiptoeing around the pillar we were hiding behind.

The words of warning didn’t leave my lips before Faye’s eyes caught sight of the prince. Fortunately, her body turned to stone, and she forgot to scream.

“So, this is who has been accompanying you on your adventure, Miss Aldwyn,” the prince said, turning around to face the frozen valet.

Fear instantly clawed at my mind as scenarios of sheer horror flashed before my eyes.

I could likely escape this encounter unscathed because of my title as a wildcard and Prince Atlas, knowing the true reasons for my participation.

Faye was an expendable First-blood whom I—in the short while we’d known each other—had already come to enjoy having by my side.

My eyes darted upward until I looked directly at him. “Please, Your Highness,” I said, begging with desperate eyes.

“This adventure was my idea. Faye was—I mean, my valet was merely following my orders. Please, don’t turn her in. Mention only me, I—”

“You need not worry, Miss Aldwyn,” Prince Atlas said, placing a hand on my shoulder.

“I have no intention of bringing this to the king’s or Miss Evelyn’s attention, but there are those roaming these halls who likely will.

“I thus advise you to proceed to your chamber and abide by the rules from now on. Then I pledge to do the same,” he said, smiling as he stepped back.

“Goodnight, Miss Aldwyn, Miss Faye. Enjoy your books.”

He passed us gracefully, leaving us standing in the darkened hall.

Faye and I looked at each other before we began running until our lungs burned.

I didn’t even make it to the bed before I collapsed onto the floor, Faye joining me seconds later.

“The prince,” Faye gasped, trying to catch her breath. “Of all people, we ran into the prince. Was he even allowed to be there?”

I chuckled between desperate breaths. “No,” I said, pushing the books away from me to allow the cool air to surround me.

“He’s not even supposed to be in this part of the castle before the end of next week.”

“Then why was he there?”

I turned to lie on my stomach, pressing my burning face against the chilly tiles. “Because he’s the crown prince,” I mumbled against the floor. “What rules actually apply to him?”

Faye forced a laugh through her aching lungs. “True. Although, he was much nicer than I’d expected.

“I’d always imagined the royals to be like most of the elite, if not worse.”

I lifted my head to look at her and cocked my brow. “Haven’t you met them before? I mean, you work here, don’t you?”

“I started last month, so I haven’t been here long enough to earn that kind of status.

“I only became a valet because I was the last available servant when they suddenly required someone to serve you. Lucky you.”

It still hurt laughing as my bones rattled against the floor. “I’m glad they assigned you to me.”

“Me too,” Faye said, smiling at my words.

It made sense why Faye had been a nervous wreck when I met her earlier today. She’d probably heard horror stories of the nasty Iridis elite and assumed I was like them.

“Do you know what will happen tomorrow?” I asked her once my body had calmed down.

Faye sat up and shrugged. “Not much, really. The stylists arrive in the morning, and then Miss Pride will give you additional information about the upcoming week during the first official dinner.”