Aurora.
I sighed as I turned for the one-millionth time in my bed. I could not sleep.
My mind had refused to shut down since I accepted the crown prince's offer of courtship. I could not explain the dreadful feeling that had settled in the bottom of my belly. I kept questioning myself if I had made the right choice.
Furthermore, I hissed, perhaps it was that dream I had that was messing with my mind once more. Ever since I had it, I could not help being extra careful around everyone near me. One could even say I had become paranoid, especially around the prince.
Something about him made me feel uneasy, terrified even. Perhaps it was the feeling of familiarity I felt when I was near him, even though I was sure I had never met him in my life, I still felt like I knew him from somewhere.
It was impossible, after my parents passing I spent more time with myself than anyone else, practicing and getting myself ready for a war we still lost at the end of the day.
I needed to sleep, the longer I stayed awake, the longer these unwanted memories found their way into my mind.
I stood up from my bed as I headed towards the door and exited my chamber. Not only that, but I need to take a little walk and get some milk from the kitchen if possible, which always helped knock me out cold.
Likewise, I walked down the quiet large corridors, the cold breeze touched my skin as I took deep breaths, calming myself down. Likewise, I had been locked up in my room for too long fighting the demons in my mind to come out and appreciate the beauty of this place.
The pillars looked like they were made of gold, so did the rest of the place and I would not be shocked if it was. This kingdom had already proved just how wealthy they were, it would be such a gigantic benefit to us. Having them as an alliance would lead us to make even better sales because we were such a small kingdom and not well known for that matter, we could hardly make sales because no one paid attention to us or even thought us worthy of partnering with them. But with the help of Astoria? In a kingdom so great and influential to all, our sales would go up, and our influence would too.
I sighed, the more I thought about how this could benefit us the more I buried the feeling of dread towards the arrangement deep inside my heart. It would benefit us too well to let my heart ruin it, so who cared if I felt a feeling of danger? It wasn't as if any of that would happen. Prince Damien seemed genuine enough, and I did not know him, even if he had plans to hurt us he would gain absolutely nothing from such an arrangement so I had not much to fear in the first place.
"Did you hear? The prince is getting engaged to her!" I heard a loud whisper that had me stop in my tracks as I scanned the environment for the source of the voice, my eyes coming to pause at a dark spot that I could guess was the kitchen.
I walked slowly over there, making sure to avoid making any noise as I attempted to ease the drop. Likewise, I had never done this previously, but I figured I needed as much information as I could get concerning this kingdom and the people here, most especially the prince.
Whoops, seems I can't hide my dread towards him after all. I stood in a dark spot as I began to listen to the maids gossip.
"He must be trying to seal the deal as soon as possible." One of them said, her voice a bit, bitter. Why would she be bitter if the prince wanted to court me? Except she was his mistress? That would be such a huge scandal for someone of his position to be with one of the kitchen maids, but you could never guess with men.
"I also think so! Poor Lucian." Another voice said, confusing me more. Who was Lucian, and what did he have to do with any of this?
"The crown prince will sure get what's coming for him."
"Shhh!! Someone might hear you all! Enough of that, get back to work!" Another voice ordered and there were sighs and hisses before the whole place became silent except for the sound of plates, and I took that as my cue to leave.
I was so confused after listening to them, that even the little I knew, which was nothing whatsoever, became doubting. Who was Lucian? Why did the maids seem to hate their Prince who seemed so nice to me? Could my worries be true, and the prince not be who he seemed to be? And what was this talk about a deal that needed to be sealed?
I resisted the urge to groan, I was so confused and questions swirled up and down my head enough for me to almost lose my mind. I should have just stayed in my room and tossed and turned until sleep befell me because, after this, I was not sure if I would be able to sleep peacefully anymore.
Not only that, but I carefully left my hiding spot, careful not to alert anyone's attention as I made my way back to my room. Whatever it was that was happening in this kingdom, I wanted no part in it, but It seemed I was going to be at the center of it all.
Lucian, that name kept ringing in my head until my head hurt. Who was he? I raked my brain, but it came back to zero, who was I kidding? I knew just about nothing about this kingdom and the crowned prince, so of course I would never know who Lucian was, except I asked Damien, and I was so sure that would not end well at all.
Furthermore, I closed my eyes as I lay in bed, hoping sleep would come and release me from my mind.