TEMARI knew that she should move away from the crown prince but her body seemed to be frozen. She just stared at his eyes and marveled at how the color looked brighter and translucent in the light of day. His eyes are so beautiful.
The crown prince looked back at her without blinking. She didn't know what he was thinking because she couldn't read his expression. The only reaction she sensed from him was the tightening of his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to his body in the process. The swell of her breasts almost touched his chest and it brought shivers down her spine.
Temari frowned in confusion. She didn't know why she was feeling like this. She should be appalled at this closeness. She should panic and move away. But she doesn't feel any of those things.
Rhys stared at her face and she knew he could see her confusion in her expression. An arrogant smile curled up the corner of his lips. "Have you been this close to a man before, my lady?"
Temari blinked and flashes of memories flooded her mind. Scenes she hid at the farthest part of her brain are trying to invade her present.
Suddenly, it was not Rhys in front of her but another man; older and crueler. His hands were harsher and more forceful. His eyes were shining with malicious and evil intent. He was trying to get his hands under her skirt while telling her all the things he will do to her.
[Stop fighting me. You are trash and I am offering you a better life, little girl. I will buy you and your body. If you fight, I will make sure you will have no life even in the streets…]
Temari's breathing started to become uneven as that voice echoed inside her head. It has been so long since she allowed herself to remember her greatest nightmare. Goosebumps covered her skin and her stomach twisted in a way that made her want to throw up.
"Lady Temari? Where are you?"
Temari blinked rapidly when she heard Emma's voice. Then she heard her approaching footsteps. The images and the voice disappeared and she saw that the crown prince has been staring at her face with a strange expression.
Embarrassment brought the heat back to her cold cheeks. She didn't want to look weak but she wasn't able to resist lowering her gaze.
"I didn't see what you were asking me to look for, my lady. Did you find it?" the lady's maid asked, her voice nearer now.
That made Temari realize that she was still too close to the crown prince. She moved to put a distance between them. Rhys slowly let go of her waist. "I should go," she whispered so her lady's maid will not hear. It will be weird if she sees her with the crown prince.
Rhys continued to stare at her face. Then he suddenly grabbed her wrist. Temari gasped quietly. She looked up and her gaze met his. She could hear Emma's footsteps behind her. She knew her lady's maid will reach the end of the shelf and she will see them.
It was probably a second before that happened when Rhys pulled her and began to walk away from the shelves. Temari's mouth fell open as her feet began to move to follow his lead. They went past the line of bookshelves, turned a few times until they are in front of the floor to ceiling wall shelf.
"W-what are you doing?" Temari asked in a whisper.
The crown prince didn't let go of her wrist. Using his free hand, he took out one book in front of him then the shelf made a clicking sound. Temari froze and her eyes widened when one part of the shelf opened, just enough for two people to slip inside.
"A secret door?!" she uttered.
The crown prince didn't answer. He just glanced at her before stepping inside. Since he was still holding her wrist, Temari had no choice but to follow him. It was dark inside. The secret door already closed behind them before she could look around using the light outside.
A few seconds of silence before Rhys said next to her, "Stay here."
Temari tensed when he let go of her wrist. She pressed her back against the flat surface of the secret door behind her when she felt him move away from her. "Where are you going?"
The crown prince didn't answer but she heard his footsteps as he walks and stopped somewhere in the dark room. She heard a whooshing sound and then she was startled when a light suddenly poured inside the room. Her hand lifted to cover her narrowed eyes. Another whooshing sound and the room got even brighter.
Only when her eyes had adjusted to the light did Temari realize that Rhys drew back the thick black curtains that cover the large and wide window. She looked around her. The hidden room is also a library but instead of books, the shelves are filled with scrolls. There are also piles of papers sewed together to make it look like books. Everything is yellow, a sign of old age.
"What are these?" Temari asked in wonder as she began to walk to the shelves.
"Books. But older. Everything in this room was handwritten by historians and scribes," Rhys said. She glanced at him. He was still standing next to the huge window, watching her intently. It made Temari uncomfortable. She looked away from him and continued to stare at the scrolls.
Then Temari had an idea. Surely, if these are old scrolls, then the information she needed is here. She turned to face the crown prince again. "Can I take a look at the scrolls and papers in here? You see, we had a history examination this morning. There was a question that I know I didn't answer right."
The crown prince arched his brows. "What information are you looking for?"
Temari hesitated. Will he find her suspicious if she tells him? But she really needed to know. "Well, the question is about what Queen Selena left her children when King Aston died. The royal advisor said it was in the history books."
"Hmm." Rhys began to walk toward her. "You will not find it in history books."
Temari blinked. "What?"
He stopped in front of her and leaned down until their faces are only inches from each other. She stopped breathing. He whispered. "It's a royal secret."