Note: Hey! Sorry guys! I was having trouble with this particular chapter and didn't feel well the other day so it got posted late. Next chapter should be posted tomorrow as usual.
If there was one word to explain the look on Lady Laila's face; it would be animosity. However, she was extremely quick to put a bright smile on her face as I watched her closely.
"I was wondering if you needed to take a break, Your Majesty." She lightly bows towards Alaric, ignoring me all together.
"I am currently on my break." He responds, still not opening his eyes. I carefully kept my face passive as I picked up a scone and placed it against his lips, feeding him.
Alaric was listening to my selfish request of not being close to Lady Laila. I had told him last night how uncomfortable it made me seeing her around him but I understood that he couldn't completely ignore her since she happens to be the only daughter of King Helyes of Crialor who sent her here as a form of his support.
During the year that Alaric had his memories taken, she had been trying to get closer to him and it became more apparent once he became Emperor. But with King Helyes's backing, it made the other countries have no choice but to accept their new Emperor.
Of course he made it quite clear that he had no interest in her at all, even during the time of his memory of me gone. But now since we have declared our feelings for each other, I had no intention of allowing anyone else try to get closer to him.
"Maybe taking a walk around that garden might clear your mind." Lady Laila pressed still smiling. "I can have tea set up so that you can enjoy the outdoors."
"I appreciate the offer Lady Laila." Alaric sat up and looked at her as her cheeks turned pink as she stared at his handsome face.
I frowned a little as a sharp pain pricked at my heart at her expression and found myself leaning into him. The feeling disappeared as he kissed my head at my action and I noticed Lady Laila clenching her hand behind the folds of her dress.
"But I will have to decline." Alaric barely glances at her before heading back to his desk.
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"Are you trying to be hated?" I ask Alaric as the sun started to set. Lady Laila had left after his dismissal and did not appear at supper, claiming to be feeling unwell.
Afterwards, Alaric still had to complete a few left over documents so I had followed him back to his office and was currently standing next to the window which was cracked open to let in a breeze.
"It's not like I want to be hated." Alaric sighs. "But I want to make sure to shut her down from getting any ideas."
"Hmm." I return my attention back to the outdoors, closing my eyes briefly while I enjoyed the breeze. "It might be better to tell her out right."
"Why?"
"Sometimes people won't understand another person's feelings unless they tell them. Of course there are people who don't care if it inconveniences the person but most would back off." I say as something black catches my attention from the corner of my eye, but when I looked closer- I didn't see anything.
"So it's better to tell them point-blank and if they continue, then you can just ignore them." I finished talking turning to smile at him as Alaric watches me.
"I see." He pulls me into his embrace. "I did notice however that you seemed to be a bit jealous again."
He chuckles as I looked away as my cheeks heated up.
"It looks like my little Witch can be jealous of others."
"Like you have room to talk." I swatted at him as he laughed. "Your way worse then I am."
"Then you better remember to never speak to any man unless your in my presence." He playfully growls with a smirk and I couldn't help but laugh.
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"Celestia." A voice calls out to me as I ran, trying to get as far away as possible. "Where are you?"
The amusement in the voice caused shivers to run down my spine as I tried running as quietly as possible. Doors lined my path but each one was locked and unmoving no matter how hard I slammed my body against them.
The voice kept getting closer and closer, teasing me as it led me straight to a dead end.
I try to curse but realize that I am unable to speak. I reach for my throat and felt a metal collar around it then noticed that I had similar cuffs on my wrists and ankles.
I tried to pull off the collar but it only tightens around my neck causing me to fall to my knees before it released- allowing me to gasp in air.
Shhhhhh
The sound of fabric tickled my ears as I pushed myself into the shadows as much as possible, holding my breath as my heartbeat threatened to give myself away by pounding too hard.
I am trapped.
I struggled hard to keep the fear from overwhelming me as the person leisurely chasing me came closer.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a window. I darted for it, slaming it wide open and looked down to see sharp rocks waiting down below.
I had two choices: wait for that person to capture me once again or jump.
I climbed up on to the ledge of the window, my feet dangling into the terrifying height before looking back to see my kidnapper grinning at me.
His smile faded once he saw me siting there as he realized what I was about to do.
"NO!!" He lunges for me, but it was too late.
I fell, the window rapidly miniaturizing. I closed my eyes as the sharp rocks below came to greet me.
:::::::::::
"Ah!" I gasp out loud, bolting up from the bed in a panic. I quickly feel around my neck, arms and legs to reassure myself that nothing had happened.
It took a few minutes, but I finally managed to calm down and shakily sat down on the bed.
I looked over and saw Alaric still sleeping and sighed with relief but was surprised that he hadn't woken up.
I lightly brushed the side of his face, enjoying looking at his relaxed expression as he quietly mumbled something and nuzzle my hand like a cat.
I withdrew my hand, not wanting to wake him since he was sleeping so deeply and turned to walk out onto the terrace.
I breathed in deeply at the crisp air as the last of the tension from that dream faded away.
But I knew that wasn't a dream.
'I need to make sure it doesn't happen.' I told myself, resolving to tell Alaric about the dream in the morning.
I turn away from the ledge of the terrace, heading for the door when I felt something catch around my ankle.
Looking down, I see the same cuff wrapped around my ankle as in the dream while the bottom of my stomach drops.
I rush for the door as I started to cry out for Alaric when a wave of dizziness came over me and I fell.
I shook my head to try to clear it and notice the cuff glowing black.
'It's sucking up my magic!' I realized. I started to crawl to the door, reaching for the handle until I was yanked backwards and was dragged away from it on the floor.
I quickly turn to lash out with my free leg to whoever was pulling me but it was caught in a vice-like grip.
Radna looked down at me with an evil grin, holding one finger up to his lips. Another cuff appeared on my ankle that he held in his hand to which he kisses before grabbing my waist and pulling me up.
He easily captured my hands as I attempted to strike him, allowing cuffs to attach themselves onto my wrists and further draining my magic.
He turns me to face the door, his hand around my neck as I struggled to stay conscious when someone who looked exactly like me appeared: grinning wickedly.
"He won't even know that you are gone." Radna whispers in my ear before licking it.
He grabs my left hand, pinching his fingers around my ring finger causing sparks to start flying.
I watched amazed and horrified as a ring appears with a stone which was similar to Alaric's hair color and knew that was the same ring that Alaric had given the female lead in the original novel as proof of his love and devotion.
I started to cry out from the pain as Radna slowly pulled it off my finger, the ring fighting to stay on with every inch. He quickly covers my mouth with his other hand as my knees buckled.
"MMMMM!!!!!!" Was all that could be heard as the ring finally left my finger and I started to fall.
Radna catches me as darkness tainted my vision and the last thing I saw was him giving the fake me the ring who happily admired it.