The next day Valerie slept in, it was the way of her body telling her to stop this because nothing good would come from it, yet despite her body telling her what to do, she had to keep her word, otherwise, Oscar would know about the almost-night with Malphus and her world would shatter.
She crept to the observatory in the same fashion she did the night before in the same dark shawl. She got to the observatory yet this time she wasn't scared by the door closing behind her.
"You know the deal," He said after he pulled her close and she huffed in agreement. They heard someone clear their throat and they jumped away from each other.
"So, this is what you've been up to, hm?" Malphus came from the shadows, taking long strides as his finger touched, separated, and touched again.
"This is why you slept in today? You never sleep in, darling. You're up with the sun." Malphus placed his hands behind him as he walked circles around the two, upset and angry.
"So, I heard something about a deal? Fill me in would you dear? I'm intrigued," Malphus gave them a menacing chuckle and Valerie cleared her throat.
"Edwin knows about our night, he threatened to tell everyone if I didn't meet him here at this time every night," Although Valerie cleared her throat, her voice sounded tiny.
"Ah! Is that it, darling? Well, all you had to do was say so," Malphus stopped right in front of Valerie and snapped his fingers. Two guards came from the shadow and grabbed Edwin's hands behind his back and stuck a gag in his mouth.
"Now, if there's ever any more problems, just let me know," Malphus tilted Valerie's chin up and kissed her. While they kissed he waved the guards off and they left.
"You may go back to your room now. Oh, but before you go, your husband has been missing from his guest room ever since he arrived, I'd look into that if I were you," Malphus smiled and Valerie nodded, knowing that Malphus would be even more jealous if he knew that Oscar was sleeping with her.
She crept back into her room with shift motions. She already knew that Edwin would be starved and tortured until his death. She wondered how she was to explain it to everyone, or if she were to explain it at all.
After all, she would have been up and around the castle if she said she saw him sneak out in the middle of the night. It would be best for her to let everyone figure out Edwin was missing themselves and conclude what happened to him without Valerie's help.
She fell asleep somewhere between thinking about if anything was actually real and why grapes are so small.
When she woke up the next morning, Oscar was playing in her hair.
"Good morning beautiful," Oscar whispered and gave Valerie a kiss on her head.
"Good morning Oscar, what time is it?" He huffed.
"A little after 8 am," He said but Valerie could tell something was on his mind.
"What's wrong?" She sat up, Oscar wasn't one to worry much so when he did it was for a good reason.
"Edwin is," He blew, "Edwin's missing. Dorthy hasn't seen him since last night," Oscar said and Valerie had to put her very few acting skills to work and gasp.
"What- what do you mean 'he's missing'?" Valerie asked with a bit of shock in her voice.
"Maybe he just left early in the morning to do his own palace exploration, maybe he'll be back tonight," Oscar plastered a fake smile on his lips.
There was a chance of that being was this was, but no, Edwin was missing, and Valerie already knew this.
"I hope so," Valerie looked down at the covers.
"I need to check on Dorthy," Valerie jerked her head up with tears bubbling in her eyes.
"I'll come too," Oscar said but Valerie shook her head.
"I'm her best friend, I need to do this myself," Oscar nodded, he understood.
She walked to Dorthy's guest room and knocked on the door. She heard her blow her nose and sniffle a few times then she heard some fabrics moving around and then footsteps to the door.
"Hey, Val," She said her voice sounded sore, probably from all her crying.
"How are you doing?" She asked patting her friend on the shoulder.
"Better now," Dorthy's eyes started to water and Valerie could hear her keeping back a cry.
"It's okay Dorth, let it out," Dorthy started to cry and it turned into a full-on newborn infant cry, but coming from an adult, it sounded way worse.
Valerie walked her to her bed and sat her down, telling her it was fine to cry and that no one was going to judge her. When Dorthy stopped she started talking again.
"Who could have taken him? He was so sweet," Dorthy said, falling all over Valerie for support.
Valerie couldn't even look at Dorthy anymore, if she hadn't cheated, Edwin wouldn't have found out and everything would be normal. She couldn't help but think that all this was her fault.