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Chapter Twenty-Four

Zorya

I walked along the dark corridor accompanied by Jui and Shae, who remained hidden. The darkness was only alleviated once we reached the area the guard must have used as a break area.

The torch flames flickered, casting our shadows on the brick walls. A chilly wind filled the halls with the stench of damp water, old blood, and iron. Looking at the table, I spotted the keys and grabbed them. "Let's see what atrocities are hidden in Bailes Theatre."

With a whistle, I walked along and saw the first cell. The figure was chained up to the wall, their bodies hanging slumped. The dark spots on the wall were still wet and glistened in the firelight, denoting them as fresh blood.

I assumed they were unconscious as they didn't move an inch when I approached the bars of their cell. Turning away, I continued after passing three empty cells I stopped at the sight of small figures huddled in the corner of the cell.

When they heard me, they all trembled and hurriedly huddled together. The tallest of the five figures turned to face me. A young boy with a large bruise on his cheek bared his teeth at me, his eyes filled with fear, defiance, and hatred. Once he could fully see me, confusion entered his eyes.

"Little one," I crooned. Lowering myself, I held out my hand. "Can you come to me?"

He shivered and stepped back, pushing those who hid behind him closer to the door. "Bad person. Hurt me and my friends."

I shook my head and took out my blade, which was still covered in blood. "I killed the bad people, and they won't hurt you or your friends."

The little boy flinched back at the sight of my knife, and with a quick glance from the blade to my face, he frowned. "Not here to hurt us?"

"I swear, I'm not here to hurt anyone. Instead, I'm here to help. Can you tell me, little one, if there is a wolf beast boy here?"

"Wolf?" He glanced behind me before quickly looking down, "I-I don't know. Not bad person but not good person," he glanced at my blade. "Wolf does not listen to bad man, so...punished." He whispered.

Seeing he wasn't willing to leave the children behind him, I stood and turned my head right. I spotted an iron door, and then, half-turning, I looked at what he'd looked at behind me and saw another iron door.

"Little one, do these punishments involve whatever is behind those doors?"

He didn't say anything, and I finally looked at him. Face pale, he gave a short nod before giving me his back and huddling down. "Dark rooms, bad."

"Okay, then I know where to find him."

Turning around, I walked across the hall and stopped.

"Jui, open the door for me."

The shadows rippled, and their tendrils shot up, whirled, and morphed until they shaped like a key and entered the keyhole. With a twist, I heard the door unlock. The string of shadows evaporated, and Jui and Shea appeared, looking at the opened door that led into the dark with suspicion.

A chill of ominous forbidden caused me to hesitate. I have many plans, and one of them requires destroying the Bailes family. Only, it's supposed to be slow and methodical. Something tells me whatever I find there will derail my wish for peace.

"Princess?"

I glanced at Jui, who now held a torch in his hands. I could see his worry, his brows creased, and lips pursed.

"I'm okay. Let's go in."

All three of us entered the room.

LK

Sena

The minute the duke entered, the atmosphere changed, and those uppity nobles no longer circled Heir Bailes. Instead, they circled Duke Amauri, their eyes filled with greed for his attention.

I walked along the wall and kept my eye on him and his friend Count Qupar, who seemed more focused on looking for someone. His gaze wandered through the crowd till they landed on the fifth princess, Emelia, who was slowly approaching the crowd with Zilo.

I sneered and hid it behind my glass of champagne; as Princess Zorya pointed out, they barely acknowledged anyone outside their comfortable circle. Until the day Zorya hung those bullying me over the edge of the Knights' dorm. Plenty of people had witnessed me being treated in such a cruel way, but not one stepped forward to help me.

I could only see their supposed kindness as nothing more than a form of hypocrisy.

As Duke Amauri finally escaped the circle of sycophants, I drifted to move near him and his confidant. Since their arrival had triggered the security around the periphery to tighten, I was still cursing Amoux for going off on his own.

Honestly, I still wasn't clear on the princess's plan aside from stirring up chaos by looking for something.

"Duke Amauri, it is a pleasure to meet you," this returned my attention to the people who'd just met.

The fifth princess, with her all-white gown, shining blonde locs, and deep blue eyes, appeared pure compared to the more flamboyant noble women around her. She lightly curtsied. "My father has told me impressive things about you. I heard you're greatly depended upon in defending the north."

Duke Amauri's red eyes darkened," I'm flattered to hear the emperor thinks of me so positively. I will continue to perform my duty."

With a soft laugh, she took another step, closing the space between them. "Don't be so humble; you do not need to pretend to be so with me. I'm not as uptight as my siblings when it comes to formality. Though, I did hear a strange rumor," she hesitated before she continued. "I wasn't sure if it was just my sister's usual mischief, and I hope it wouldn't tarnish the duke's reputation, so I hesitate to ask."

"Oh, and what mischief do you think your sister is up to," Duke Amauri asked softly.

I frowned as I hadn't heard anything about Princess Zorya and Duka Amauri. Moving closer, I tried to listen to what was said next.

The fifth princess, Emelia, raised her hands to cover her lips, seeming worried. "W-well, I wouldn't want to cast her in a bad light, but she implied she would marry you. That you put forward an offer of marriage for her." She clicked her tongue, "Tsk, and of course, this couldn't be true; my sister is a difficult person who tends to obsess over rank and—" "Yes, I did ask for Princess Zorya's hand in marriage."

His words cut the fifth princess's words short.

Shocked, I turned fully around, my lips parting in shock.

"Are you serious?"

I forgot that I'd been listening and not part of the conversation. This became more obvious when the four looked at me in surprise and confusion.

Zilo, recognizing me, glared, "What does talk amongst your betters matter to you, commoner?"

Snorting, I gave up pretending I wasn't listening to their conversation. "Oh, Prince Zilo, you've given up pretending to be a humble noble. Good, your hypocritical act was starting to make me sick."

"You—" "And who are you, might I ask," Duke Amauri said, cutting off whatever Zilo was going to say. I thoroughly enjoyed his upset expression.

"I am Sena, and I attend the academy with Princess Zora," I said with a short bow.

He smiled, his red eyes curving up in amusement. "And where is my princess?"

I didn't like how he called the princess his somewhere inside of me. My knee-jerk reaction was to deny his claim.

A loud, shrill bell sounded before I could think of an answer.

All those in the ballroom tensed and turned to the exits while some were already moving. Crawford, who'd been entertaining his guest, had already rushed out with a group of guards behind him.

Knowing that whatever it was had to be related to the princess, I didn't notice I was being followed until Duke Amauri grabbed my arm, stopping me. "Does this have anything to do with the Princess?"

I pressed my lips together, unsure if I could trust him. Just because he claimed to be close with Zorya didn't mean he was.

Instead of demanding an answer from his glinted with knowing and he released my arm. "I'll take that as an answer enough."

And I, the Duke and Qupar continued chasing after Heir Bailes. 

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