Kelvin
Aurora and I arrived at Lady Fergus' castle right away. We were separated as the lady wanted to tend to Aurora and get her in some "appropriate clothing." Aurora wouldn't make eye contact with me as we arrived; I knew she wasn't pleased about me telling Richard that we were going back to Imperia tomorrow. I knew this mission was important to the princess, but I didn't know how legitimate it was. I still doubted the Snow Queen and Morgana's potential threat to our land.
What if the Snow Queen was really in the mountains? And what if she and Morgana teamed up? The thought of that made my stomach churn. I had heard the tales of the Snow Queen when I was a boy; my mother would tell me how she would freeze anyone who dared enter her palace without permission. I imagined hundreds of people frozen to death in terror by the evil Queen's ice blasts.
"Fitzgilbert!" Lord Nilsen said, knocking on my door. He had arrived with us at the palace; he and Richard seemed to be close allies. I opened the door, and he strode in, looking upset. "Rose told me some things that greatly concerned me. Then, when you went off searching for the Princess, some of my concerns were confirmed..." I inhaled slowly as he narrowed his eyes at me. I tried thinking of what to say, but no words came to mind.
"My men also told me you danced with her in the streets this afternoon... There was a familiarity to the dance that only a couple would have." I swallowed.
"M'lord, the Princess is my cousin and my friend. We were children together. There is nothing between us but friendship." He feigned a smile.
"That is good to hear; if you were to break off your engagement with my daughter, you'd be in great debt to me. We both know you wouldn't be able to pay that off." It was my turn to narrow my eyes to him. He had me cornered, and he knew it; he walked over to the end of my bed. "Especially with the rumors going on, it would be best to set sentiment aside and focus on my daughter."
"What rumors?"
"That you and the Princess are in love. Already, people are flapping their lips about how you saved her and her son from the clutches of Ignatius and Morgana. How you treat her with such care and concern, how your relationship with her echoes more than just mere friendship. The rumors spread so widely that they've drowned out the truth about your engagement to Rose." I couldn't meet his burning gaze and looked out the window; the sky was getting dark now.
"We should get to dinner, son." He was waiting for me while holding my door open. I looked to the floor, knowing I was as trapped in my circumstances as much as Aurora was.
Great, I've gotten myself into a pickle. Despite my reservations, I would have to play along for now... I could run away. After all, I would never be able to be with Aurora. She was on the path to becoming Queen; I was a former thief who had just returned to his homeland a few months ago. My title meant nothing to these lords; besides... she didn't want me anyway.
I was a phony, and I knew it; Aurora meant more to me than just a friend. The way I had gone searching for her had proved it. My heart pounded just thinking about how I had almost wanted to kiss her during our dance earlier today. Instead of forgetting myself, I played dumb and kissed her on the hand. I remembered how soft her skin felt in my calloused hands. How it was so easy to get lost in those baby blues...
Stop it, Fitzgilbert! She's right in front of you, innocently eating her food. If she knew what you were thinking, she'd have nothing to do with you.
I was at the dinner table in the parlor of Lord Fergus' castle. Our hostess, his wife, talked about how convenient it was for Aurora to visit. Yadda, yadda, yadda. It all went in one ear and out the other as I stared at my plate. I couldn't risk losing my wit and giving myself away by looking at her, especially with Rose sitting beside me. Yes, she had also joined the "Let's find crazy Aurora and bring her back home!" bandwagon.
"You've barely touched your food, dear," Rose said while petting my right bicep gently.
"My stomach is a bit upset, that's all." I looked into her eyes, trying to give her some sparkle while feeling like the biggest fake in the world. I deserved all this; I'd brought it upon myself. After all, I'd only agreed to marry her to pay off my debt to the Baron of Marada.
"So, tell me, your Highness, what motivated you to leave the palace?" Lord Nilsen probed, and I almost dropped my fork. I couldn't help but look at Aurora now as she looked down with her mouth open as if she was thinking carefully about what to say. All the while, Lord Nilsen was almost glaring at her through his silver gaze.
"I felt trapped in the walls of castle Imperia and longed to meet my subjects face to face. A monarch who does not know who he or she is ruling is an ignorant one." She sipped her lemonade without breaking her gaze away from Nilsen. Richard cleared his throat, and a devilish smirk was on his face. I couldn't hold back a shared smile with the princess; I had to admit she was very cunning. She and I made eye contact, and I looked away as I felt my neck heat up.
"Well, the Lady of the castle has seen to it that you are welcomed to Alpharion with open arms and fed like a Queen," Richard said with a twinge of coolness. Aurora nodded, not meeting his gaze. There was something about those two; they had a history, and I felt it. But Aurora didn't trust me with that information. I remembered how she had been running through the palace of Imperia and bumped into me. When Richard had accused her of trying to attempt suicide...
"Lady Fergus, what an interesting crest!" Rose piped up; it was probably to dispel the awkward silence and change the subject. The lady of the castle turned her head to look at the crest that was hung up on the wall behind her.
"Yes, we've had that in our family for generations. It's nothing new." I held back a snort.
"Shouldn't there be the lettering of the family name on it?" Aurora asked. Richard snorted while Nilsen had an annoyed look. The lady cocked a brow at Richard while I turned to the princess.
"It's an unspoken rule." She furrowed her brows as if confused, and I heaved a sigh, trying to hold back laughter.
"Richard is so rude," Rose whispered as we both witnessed his uncontrollable laughter.
"It's alright, you can say it; my husband isn't home, and what he doesn't know won't hurt him."
"M'lady, are you sure he won't hear us from miles away?" The lady nodded.
"Lambsbottom," Lord Nilsen said in a monotone without blinking. I finally let out a snort and saw that Aurora's hand went to her mouth. I could see she was trying to hold it in but doing a horrible job. Her face was almost as red as it had been this morning when her dress was stained from her milk.
"Now that that's out of the way." Lady Lambsbottom sipped her tea elegantly. "You told me you'd like to continue your tour of the peninsula, Aurora. How exciting!" Richard's fork clattered as it hit the ground, and a nearby servant came to pick it up.
"Your Highness Ignatius has attacked Petersburg. It wouldn't be wise for you to be out and about. You'd get caught up in the fray." Lord Nilsen's words came out calculatedly. Aurora narrowed her eyes at the older man.
"I'm on my way to becoming Queen; it's wise to become acquainted with my subjects. Besides, I'll be staying within the borders of the Peninsula." That was most likely a lie. The mountains were dense and went farther into the motherland than some thought. I knew she was using this "tour" story as a guise for her quest to find the Snow Queen and defeat Morgana.
"And who will guide you on this tour?" Richard asked.
"Kelvin, of course," She looked at me then, and we stared into each other's eyes for a moment; I didn't know how to react. I knew she would be safer in Imperia with her son. But I also promised her that we'd be in this together. Rose and her father looked at me as if they expected me to protest. I cleared my throat.
"I thought you only wanted to tour Alpharion. I'm not sure if I can—"
"We'll bring a few other guards along the way. It won't be a long trip." She was pleading with me through her eyes, and I looked back at my plate. Why did staring into her eyes make me so weak?
"If you're going on this trip, I want to join. It'll be most fun. I can show you all the shops where I buy my clothes from in the local towns." I looked at Rose then and swallowed. If she was coming along for this, that might pose problems if Aurora was trying to keep this Snow Queen business under wraps.
"I'm not sure it would be safe for you either, Rose..." I tried sounding as concerned as I could when Lord Nilsen piped up.
"This tour is the Princesses; it's her moment in the sun. You mustn't invite yourself. It's rude; remember your place." I was surprised at how harsh he had just been to Rose. She was a brat, but humiliation in front of the whole table wasn't fun for anyone.
"Forgive me, I forgot myself," Rose said awkwardly.
"Well, whatever you decide, I'm heading to bed; good night, your Highness." Lady Fergus bobbed a curtsy. We all got up when the Princess stood up and gave the lady a customary kiss.
"I'm afraid today has taxed me as well. I'm going to retire to my chambers now."
"May I escort you, Princess?" Richard asked.
"No, I'll be fine; I can find my way." With that, the princess walked away, and we all looked at each other for a moment in silence.
I was on the balcony of Lord Fergus' castle, staring at the night sky. The north star blinked at me from where it was above the mountains as I thought about the gravity of Aurora's mission. My mind wandered to how I'd try stealing glances at her during dinner. The dance we had in the city square this afternoon. How relieved I'd been when I found her in the pub saying limericks with the other misfits at the bar. I thought about Lily and the twins then; a feeling of guilt stabbed my heart and I closed my eyes trying to bury it all again. A small hand slid onto my arm, and I looked down to see Rose's eyes glittering up at me.
"You're far away; come back to me," she said while hugging my arm. I pulled away as gently as I could.
"I'm feeling lost myself." I swallowed; I heard her inhale. I remained silent about my thoughts. I knew if I messed up, I'd be in for it.
"Then just follow the sound of my voice." She pulled me inside the castle and leaned her back against the wall while playing with my hair. Heat rose to my neck and then my cheeks as she rubbed my chest with her hands. She kissed me, and for a few moments, I couldn't help but return it. Our tongues danced, and I tried searching for any connection I had while making out with her. I deepened the kiss as her hand trailed down dangerously close to my crotch... And there it was. I quickly pulled away before she could continue cupping my manhood. It didn't feel right; this whole thing with Rose felt disgusting.
"What's wrong?"
"Tonight is not a good night. There's war in the air, and I have maps to look at for tomorrow's trip," I said while walking away. She stopped in front of me, and I looked at the painting next to us on the wall.
"Are you shy?" Her teeth glinted in the candlelight as she smirked up at me.
"No, that has nothing to do with it." She chuckled and wrapped her arms around my neck.
"Are you a virgin?" My eyes widened uncontrollably then, and I felt the heat rise to my cheeks.
"That is private and shouldn't matter." I wasn't going to say no; besides, it was none of her business. She'd use that as more of a reason to get into my pants. She cocked a brow. "I'm not stupid; I know how it works. I've fooled around in other ways." I said, narrowing my eyes at her.
"The Princess?" I furrowed my brows and stood to the side.
"I'm sick and tired of hearing about Aurora. Do you really think I'd be with someone like her?" Rose's eyebrows raised at my outburst, and I saw a flash of yellow out of the corner of my eye. I turned my head to see Aurora standing at the end of the hall. Her eyes glittered; were those tears in her eyes? She looked down and walked away before I could say anything else.
"I'm sorry I doubted you; I won't again." I swallowed and pulled away as Rose tried hugging me again.
"I have to get to my chambers and sleep; I have a long day tomorrow." She grabbed my hand, and I sighed in exasperation.
"Kiss me first." She looked up at me with her doe eyes, and I took her other hand in mine. I pecked her on her lips and then walked away; I needed to think to clear my head. I knew my outburst was going to affect the rest of the trip; good or bad, I didn't know. I turned another corner and bumped into the princess herself... again. I swallowed.
"I'm sorry, Princess. I didn't know you were walking this way."
"It's okay; I went the wrong way." She wasn't making eye contact and tried pushing past me, but I grabbed her upper arms.
"Aurora, what I said earlier..." she looked at me then. "What I mean to say is, I was exasperated with Rose, and I didn't mean to, well. What I mean is." I silently cursed myself for fumbling my words.
"It's okay. Let's just forget about it." Getting lost in her gorgeous eyes, I forced myself to close my own, and take a deep breath.
"I really didn't mean those words." She cocked a brow.
"So, you would be with someone like me?"
"Well, I mean, if I liked you, but you, you see—"
"Kelvin,"
"What,"
"Shut up." I widened my eyes at her as she smirked at me. I wanted so badly to lean down and kiss her then, but I restrained myself, knowing I'd cross all boundaries and reason if I did. "I need to grab my satchel and head to bed so we can continue searching the city tomorrow. Good night, Kelvin." Then I realized I was still holding her upper arms and let go. I took her hand, kissed it, and bid her good night. I then speed-walked to my room and closed the door quickly. I sat down against the door, finally alone with my thoughts. I sat there for a moment, flexing my right leg, trying to get rid of the bulge in my pants. I rolled my neck, and when it went away, I stood up. I took off my clothes and hopped onto my bed, wishing I wasn't so smitten with the princess.
It was wrong in every way, and yet, it felt so right when I was with her. I didn't even comprehend it myself. I closed my eyes briefly and inhaled, trying to clear my mind. Obsessing over her wouldn't help; besides, I could never be with her. She was on the path to becoming the first regnant Queen of Juvelia. I was a common thief, a dirtbag, a street rat.
I heard a pattering noise and saw a hand on my room's open window. I stood up and grabbed the book at my bedside. A black silhouette fell to the floor, and I narrowed my eyes.
"Who goes there?" He didn't answer. Instead, he kept panting. Had he heard me? He stood up, and I lunged at that moment, not wanting to risk it. We wrestled on the ground for a minute, and then I somehow got him into a chokehold from behind.
"Kelvin... please!" a familiar accent whispered out.
Ramon! He had been one of my former partners while pulling heists in Nisirdnia. He was also one of the Baron's most trusted henchmen; I let go, and he fell to the ground, gasping dramatically.
"You almost killed me!" I helped him onto the bed, and when he finally caught his breath, he piped up again. "You sleep without your clothes on?" I rolled my eyes and lightly slapped him on his forehead.
"What are you doing breaking into the castle? No, I've got a better question how did you find me?"
"I saw you in the streets dancing with the Princessa after that I saw you and your friends enter the castle I just needed to find a window that was open." He knew me too well... He then told me how the Baron had ordered him to find me. He then described a brief rendezvous with a mysterious Andorian "Chica," I rolled my eyes as he bragged about how easy it was to romance her. He had also travelled through some of Ignatius' territory and told me some of the atrocities he'd witnessed while passing through there. He finally told me that one of our best friends, Lance, was imprisoned by the Baron. There was silence after that.
"I thought he was paid..." Ramon shook his head.
"No gold or coins ever arrived..." I cocked a brow; I didn't owe Nislen shit. I couldn't help but smile. "Lance is in the deepest parts of the dungeon and won't get out until you pay your debt off." The Baron was using my friend as more leverage; it made me dislike him even more.
"Ramon, I can't leave just yet; I have a friend I need to help."
"Who?"
"The Princess. She needs help finding Morgana; she thinks that the witch is up to something." Ramon cocked a brow, and we glared at each other for a moment. "She might pay us afterward."
"I like the sound of that," Ramon said with a smirk. I agreed to let Ramon join us in the morning, and we both went to bed.
One thing was for sure: I wasn't tied down to Rose anymore. I was really grateful to Ramon for coming and telling me the news. I felt there was something more to this whole thing than I even knew. Even though I knew the truth about the money and the debt, I would play it cool for now. I then thought about how I'd heard from Lord Fergus that Nilsen could be a bit of a snake.
The plot thickens, doesn't it, Nilsen?