Chapter 6
Astrid's POV
It was now midnight and I can't sleep thinking about the fact that one day I'll be a married woman. First, my father forces me to marry a man who's technically four years older than me, and now, that man sent his very mean-looking and cold bodyguard who turns out to be a creep who stole my apple on my birthday and has 24 versions of himself, and can sometimes be a total douchebag, a work-oriented man and a gentleman.
I clearly can't communicate with that man, and each time I tried, he would end the conversation immediately, when were in the castle of course. When I go outside my room to start a small chat with him, like what I would usually do with Joel, he would stand still, almost not moving. If that's the case then he should just stand there like a statue until he can't move at all, then we'll bring him into a museum and he'll be known as the man who did not talk to me and became a statue.
When we're outside however, he would talk to me at least 20 words a sentence. I mean, that's a big gap from the five word sentence he would usually say to me when we're inside the castle.
The good thing about everything that happened in a week is that he won't follow me anymore, unless it's outside the castle. And by the way, I just discovered his weakness. He's a sleepyhead. I would catch his eyes slowly closing when I opened the door and go somewhere here inside the castle every now and then. I honestly can't relate, I'm active at all times.
My eyes are wide awake, and each time I can't sleep, I would just look outside my window and wait until my eyes are slowly closing. But not today. As soon as I saw the bright full moon, my mouth gaped open in awe. The twinkling stars surrounding the moon against the clear skies, such a beautiful scene.
You know just like any other stories and princesses were like "oh the sky is full of twinkling, dangling, dazzling, stars I should sneak out and find my prince in the middle of the road and maybe the prince was actually one of the stars and was sent from heaven!"
A sudden bolt of energy came rushing through my body, not wanting to sleep anymore. I had a ridiculous idea. I wanted to sneak out. I know, it's very risky and it doesn't make any sense, but I don't think I would like to be stuck inside a very fancy castle that feels exactly like prison without trying to sneak out. And yes, it's probably because of the other stories that I was thinking so, good luck to me.
My decision was decided without myself thinking about it first, it was all of the sudden. Are you ready for this? I asked myself and I took a deep breath, smiling the whole time. "Yes." I answered my thought.
I looked down, and planned on how I'm going to get down. I didn't actually planned it, because the next second, I hopped off the window, landing in the roof of the maid's house which caused a loud bang. That was so loud, as in really loud. I crossed my fingers hoping that no one just heard that.
I measured the length of my position to the ground, and I was surprised that it was a bit high, higher than what I expected. I took a deep breath and letting it all out when I jumped off the roof.
I took a sigh of relief, proud of what I just did. I looked down at my hands and rubbed it together, removing the dirt from it. "That was easy."
Yeah, easy. For now.
I started walking backwards, looking at the whole castle as I did. Two words: no light. Every window you see in the castle is dark, not even a single light can be seen. The huge oak doors of the entrance was shut closed, even the back doors.
I started walking towards the town square, and I think everybody is asleep. Lights from houses isn't visible, not even a single house has lights peeking out of the window.
The loud silence accompanied me as I looked at the sky above. Stars glimmering as they surround the bright moonlight as the wind swooshes in my hair. I absorbed the fresh breeze passing by, rubbing my arms as I did since it was a bit cold.
Wow. I really feel like some of those princesses in fairy tales.
I was wandering around the town square, admiring the peaceful roads. And I was unbothered not until I saw two men approach me, but they're not just any ordinary men. They're drunk. I never expected that anyone could possibly be awake at this hour aside from myself. I haven't saw anyone since I snuck out.
I'm gonna be dead with them around.
I knew this was a bad idea, but I still insisted to do so. They started walking towards me, making we walk backwards leading to an alleyway. Fear started taking all over me as I look at their drunk selves.
"What do you want?" I asked them, voice full of fear.
"Young lady, what are you doing late at night? You know it's dangerous for a woman to be here at this hour." One of them told me, while the other was laughing behind him.
I stopped walking once my back reached the wall of the alleyway. My heartbeat was rapid, and nervousness started going through my veins as they walked closer to me.
My eyes widened and tears started forming in my eyes as the man started touching my head. Then my hair. Then my shoulder. Then my arm. Then the other drunk men started touching me all over. I was so scared, I don't even know what to do right now. I can't process anything in my head.
I tried to scream, but only small batches of noise would only come out of my mouth. I can't shout for help, as if I've been traumatized in terror. Even more fear started flowing around my body when I saw the man leaning up to my neck, and I could feel my breath being rapid. Until I heard something.
"Leave her alone."
I looked straight at the person who said that, giving me hope. I can't see his face because of the darkness of the small alleyway. Both of the drunk men turned away from me and onto the person who just saved my life. My legs are all wobbly because of what just happened a while ago, making me sit down on the ground. I was sobbing continuously but I tried not to so that I could try and look at the scene that was about to happen.
"What are you going to do about it?" The drunk men were ready to fight the man. Both the men were twice the size of the man who just saved my life, making me nervous. His face was unclear but all I know is I want to thank him so much. The next thing I saw was the drunk man threw him a punch in the face, making me gasp when he didn't bother to move. "See that?" He told the other drunk man beside him and he just laughed loudly.
I could feel the man clenching his jaw from afar, though I can't see it. The drunk man tried to punch him once again, but he grabbed it and punched him back in the stomach, making him fall in his knees. He also punched the drunk man's face, and I could see the droplets of blood falling on the ground coming from his nose.
The other drunk man choked him from behind, in attempt to choke him until he gives up. But the man whom I owe so much just by saving my life punched him in the stomach using his elbows, earning a groan from the man. He pushed him onto the wall and punched him multiple times in the face. Once the drunk man gave up, he pushed him onto the floor, making the drunk man fall onto his buttocks. Without reconsidering, the drunk men quickly left while they're limping and face swollen.
I was now sobbing non-stop not knowing why even though they left already. The next thing I saw was the man running up to me, but the glassy vision from my tears makes it hard for me to see who he is. He squatted down to see me clearly, but I moved a bit away from him, scared that he might also touch me all over, although that's not what crossed my mind the time he made the drunk men go away.
"Hey, are you ok?" He tried to touch my shoulder, but I flinched at his touch. He lifted my chin up to make me look at him, and I quickly realized who it was. "It's ok, Astrid. It's Ruel. You're safe now." The warm smile appeared in his face.
"R-Ruel?" I finally grabbed my voice back, but it still cracked in the end.
The next thing he did surprised me when he embraced me in his arms. This man who's partly the reason why I'm wide awake in the middle of the night is hugging me right now. The coldest person I've met in my life so far is holding my head and rubbing my back as I'm sobbing in his chest.
I'm pretty sure I told myself that I might not like him in any way, but here I am laying my head on his chest as he tried to comfort me so that I would stop crying. But that's not the case. I'm still traumatized by what happened. I kept sobbing and sobbing and he just stayed there with me, not planning to let go any second.
"Shh. Everything is gonna be ok. I'm here, I will always keep you safe." I was touched by his words. My impression of him is now starting to change. I looked at him with swollen eyes because of the fact that I've been sobbing so hard. He wiped the tears coming out of my eyes, and his touch sent tingles throughout my body.
I never expected I would do this ever in my life, but I hugged him so tight, remembering that I just want to thank him for everything. "Thank you for saving my life." I buried my head in my chest, letting streams of tears fall out of my eyes.
"Anything for you, my princess." I can hear the warmth in his voice, which made me a bit calm.
We stayed in that position for a while, with him continuing to rub my back, and muffled sobs came out of my mouth. As my sobs started to calm down, I just realized something. For the next three months, he will be the one who will stay with me in that very castle until I transfer to Prince Henry's kingdom. Ruel is not that cold as what I think he is. He actually has a warmer side.
"Princess, we should go away from here. We should find a proper place to sit." He told me, as I realized we're still here in this dark alleyway. He helped me stand up, and stayed with me until we found a bench near the fountain of the town square. The area gives me a better view of the sky.
I sat down on the bench as I look at the scenery above. Ruel sat down beside me, removing his coat and putting it on my back since he realized that I was slightly rubbing my arms because of the cold breeze. I looked at his face, who was also admiring the beauty of the bright moonlight.
"Thank you." I thanked him once again, grateful for what he just did.
"No problem, princess."
Seeing the view of his face from his side is very interesting to watch. Without thinking, I laid my head on his broad shoulders as we both watch the clouds move against the blackish sky. "Can I stay like this for a while?" I could feel his body tensing up from what I just did.
He turned to me and I looked back at him with a smile. He smiled back at me, and I loved seeing his face like that. It's like he's the one standing out. "Sure."
Everything became silent for a while, only the loud silence and the beautiful scenery accompanying us. The smell of the fresh breeze that we breathe in and out, and streets that are empty was all you can find.
"Why did you sneak out?" Ruel questioned and I looked at him.
"I didn't actually plan on sneaking out in the first place. I just can't sleep thinking about some random things. All I know is I want to sneak out because in three months, I will be a married woman. I can never experience this kind of things."
"Prince Henry is a sweet man, suitable to be your husband. I'm sure you'll love him, but you should love me first."
"Stop with your jokes. But I don't know if I could fall in love with Prince Henry. I only met him once. I'm not sure if he could be trusted." Everything was calm before Ruel mentioned Prince Henry. But when he did, everything I thought of before I snuck out of my room popped up in my head once again.
"Wait, you said you don't know if you could fall in love with Prince Henry, but you didn't mention me. Does that mean I still have tiny chance?"
"Shut up."
We stayed silent for a second, my thoughts filling my mind. I looked back at Ruel and his glowing face I saw a while ago, is now gone. The cold one is back. "How about you? Why are you outside at this hour?"
"I… I just want to get fresh air." I don't think that's his exact reason, but I don't want to push him. If he has secrets he doesn't want to tell me, then it's none of my concern. But I'm thankful at the same time that he's out here at this hour, because I think I'll be dead because of fear right now.
"Hey, did you know that the meaning of the name Astrid is 'divinely beautiful'?" I'm sure he's just saying that just to lighten up the atmosphere.
I looked at him only to find out that he's already looking at me. "I didn't know." I giggled a bit.
"Surprisingly, it was true. You always are beautiful princess. " He said and he has this soft smile on his face which made my heart melt.
I could feel myself blushing at what he just said which cause me to look away from him. He could sometimes be sweet. I stood up, deciding to end this night.
"Well, looks like we need to go back. It's getting pretty late." I still wanted to stay a bit longer just to look at the moon. I sometimes feel like I'm connected to it sometimes.
"Let's go."
We went back to the quietly with peacefulness on our side.
I really thought that we're going back for good, but there's a big problem.