I was engrossed in the TV show when I felt someone approaching to clear the plates. My attention remained fixed on the screen, oblivious to the happenings around me. But then I glanced around, and to my surprise, the evening had already turned dark outside, with the guards starting to close the massive doors.
I couldn't help but wonder about Liam – was he on his way, or had he already arrived? Shrugging off the thought, I refocused on the TV, only to be startled by the sound of the door creaking open. I turned swiftly, hoping to see Liam entering, and indeed, it was him. However, he appeared unsteady on his feet, supported by his guards.
As they made their way inside, I found myself rising to my feet, unable to tear my eyes away from Liam in his fragile state. "You," one of the guards called out to me.
"What?" I replied, My attention shifting between the guard and Liam, who seemed to be staring at the ground. Was he intoxicated? The guard probed further, "You're still up. Why?"
"Um, nothing. I'll go to sleep now." Brushing past them, a pair of arms suddenly enveloped me from behind.
"Your Highness!" called out another guard.
Liam intervened, "Don't worry, i'll be fine. You can leave now," his voice laced with the scent of alcohol.
The guards hesitantly departed, leaving me in Liam's inebriated embrace. His clinginess was unmistakable as he hovered behind me.
"Go to your room now," I instructed.
He moved in front of me, his eyes pleading as he murmured, "Take me to my room."
I could see that he was struggling to stand on his own. It was clear that he needed assistance, even if his intentions weren't entirely pure. With a deep breath, I reached out and gently wrapped his arm around my neck, but he resisted. Liam only had one thing on his mind, and it wasn't reaching his room.
Despite his advances, I guided him towards the elevator, his grip tightening around me. Navigating through the corridors, we finally arrived at the first floor, standing in front of his room.
"We're here," I announced softly, releasing his arm from my neck.
I helped him open the door, assuming he would enter on his own. But to my surprise, he pulled me inside, the door locking behind us.
Before I could react, Liam pulled me and pressed me against the bed, his lips finding mine in a heated kiss.
I tried to push Liam away, but he wouldn't budge. I kept pushing him, my hands against his chest, until he finally relented and moved to the side of the bed.
His eyes lingered on me, a longing gaze that made my heart race. His cheeks and nose were flushed, making him look more attractive than ever. I quickly scrambled off the bed and rushed to the door, but to my surprise, it was locked.
"Liam, open this door!" I demanded.
"Come to me," he whispered, his voice low and husky.
"Open the door now!" I insisted, reaching for the knob. Oh Lord, what have I gotten myself into? This man is so infuriating!
I paced back and forth across the room, my mind racing. Liam lay flat on the bed, probably already asleep. I tried the door again, but it remained locked. I finally collapsed onto the soft, fluffy sofa and sat there, feeling trapped. As I sat there, sleep began to creep up on me, and I lay down, clutching the pillow tightly, and fell asleep.
I slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. A soft, cozy blanket enveloped me, and I stretched, yawning. Liam's gaze met mine, his long white hair pulled back, and a warm smile adorned his face.
"Good morning," he said, his elbow resting on the sofa, his cheeks propped up by his knuckles.
I quickly scanned the room, realizing I was still in his chamber. I pulled off the blanket, sat up, and rested my head on the sofa, staring at the ceiling.
"What's so good about the morning?" I muttered.
"Everything," Liam replied, "including watching you sleep." I huffed, looking away.
"Ah, whatever" i said, standing up and heading towards the door.
"Don't go yet," Liam called out, his voice gentle. I turned around, and he approached me, tucking my hair behind my ear.
"You forgot something," he whispered.
"No, I didn't," I replied.
"Of course, you did," he said, his eyes sparkling.
He leaned in close, and I backed away slightly, but he didn't stop. His lips brushed against mine, and he pulled away, smiling.
"It should be a routine," he said.
"I'll need you to come with me tonight," he added, his eyes gleaming.
"Why?" I asked.
"I'm attending a royal event, and you'll be joining me,' he said.
"I don't want to. Maybe Diana could," I suggested, gauging his reaction.
"No, I want you," he said firmly, his hand brushing against my cheek.
I rolled my eyes, thinking, What's up with him? Is he serious? But a part of me wondered, If I go with him, I might uncover more about him and this place.
"Fine, I'll come," I relented.
"Good," he said, his sharp canines flashing as he smiled.
"I'll have the maids prepare new clothes for you."
I shrugged, "Yeah, whatever."
"So, can I go now?" I asked, reaching for the door knob. It opened, and I swiftly headed out, eager to escape.
I went to my room, got ready for the day, and headed down for breakfast. Afterward, I strolled to the garden, sitting by the stream, and basked in the natural breeze, trying to clear my head.
I can't help but feel like a failure. I've let everyone down - Jackson, Mariam, Noona... I've allowed myself to be tainted by the devil, and now I'm trapped.
We came here with a mission, but I haven't made any progress. In fact, I'm starting to think we shouldn't have come here at all. Running away won't solve anything, it'll only prevent us from fulfilling our purpose. Please, forgive me, all of you.
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I sat there, feeling the weight of my mistakes. Time passed, and before I knew it, evening had arrived.
I realized I hadn't eaten lunch, and my stomach was growling with hunger. I decided to head into the mansion, where I found the ladies pacing about the living room, their faces etched with worry.
"What's going on?" I asked, furrowing my brows.
"Layla, where have you been? We've been searching everywhere for you!" one of the ladies exclaimed, relief written across her face. "Thank goodness you're safe."
"I'm fine, what's all the fuss about?" I asked, confused.
"We need you to try on your dress. Sir Liam will be home soon, and we need to get you ready."
My heart sank at the mention of Liam's name. I had almost forgotten that I was supposed to leave with him tonight.
"Ah, yes," I said.
The ladies led me to my room.
"Go freshen up, then we'll get you ready" one of them said.
I nodded and simply got into the bathroom. Minutes later, I came out, where a stunning red gown caught my attention.
I couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation as they helped me into the dress, applied makeup and oils, and adorned me with golden jewelry. I barely recognized myself in the mirror.
"Is this really me?" I wondered aloud.
The ladies smiled and nodded, their faces kind and reassuring.
"Wait" I pulled out the bottle Liam gave me "apply this too" she collected it and applied it on my scalp. It felt really cold and refreshing.
After that, they left me alone for a while, returning with a tray of food. I ate in silence, feeling a growing sense of nervousness.
Why did this have to happen? I thought, my mind racing with doubts and fears.
The ladies eventually left me alone, and I sat on the bed, feeling like a prisoner in this grand, golden cage.
I sat in the room, lost in thought, when a knock at the door interrupted me. "Who's there?" I asked, my mind still elsewhere.
"It's me, Diana," the voice on the other side replied.
"Oh, the door's open," I said, not bothering to get up.
Diana entered the room, her eyes scanning my face. "What's wrong? You don't look too good," she said, concern etched on her features.
"It's nothing," I replied.
"You know, you should be really happy you're going with His Highness," she said, sitting down beside me on the bed. "I wish I could go with him."
"You can," I said, my voice laced with frustration. "I don't want to go with him."
Diana's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, talking like this, it seems like you're going to end up with him instead of me."
I shook my head. "It won't happen."
Diana sighed, her gaze drifting off. "Sometimes I wonder if there's any hope of me being with him. I notice the way he looks at you, takes care of you... one could easily tell he has deep feelings for you."
I scoffed, my heart racing at the mere suggestion. "That's not true. He doesn't have feelings for me. Deep down, I know he hates me as much as I do to him."
Diana's expression turned sympathetic. "Well, I don't know what to say about that, but I don't mind if you get to have him instead, even if it's going to hurt."
I stood up, my mind made up. "You can have him, Diana. I'll leave this place if things don't turn out the way I want them to, so it's best you spend as much time as you want with him."
Diana's eyes narrowed, confusion written across her face. "What do you mean?"
I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Nothing," I said finally, reaching for the purse the ladies had left on the bed.
Diana smiled, a hint of understanding in her eyes. "If that's the case, come down now."
I nodded, and we both headed out of the room, Diana following closely behind me.
As I finally made my way downstairs with Diana, I met Liam sitting on a couch in the living room, his fingers dancing across a large square device. He looked up, his gaze locking onto mine, and a strand of hair fell across his eyes, which sparkled with a warm smile. He set the device aside and rose to his feet, his red attire gleaming in the light, matching the color of my dress. "Let's go now," he said, extending his hand.
I hesitated for a moment before placing my hand on his, feeling a jolt of electricity as he led me out of the room. Guards and ladies followed us, some leading the way, as we made our way to the cars lined up in front of the mansion.
The guards opened the door to the middle car, and I slid in. Liam entered from the other side, his white hair perfectly styled, with a few strands framing his face. I couldn't help but notice how attractive he looked, almost ethereal.
As the car began to move, Liam pulled out a long black device, his fingers tapping away at the screen. It was like a small television, but more portable. I wondered why he wasn't speaking to me, his attention focused on the device instead. I turned my gaze to the window, feeling the cool night breeze on my face.
After a long drive, the car finally stopped in front of a massive, beautiful building. Liam stepped out, and I followed, my eyes widening in awe. "Come on," he said, his voice low and husky.
I walked around the car, feeling a sense of trepidation as he intertwined his fingers with mine. He led me into the building, his intense gaze burning into my skin. I couldn't help but wonder what this place was, how long it had been here, why it felt so imposing. And why did Liam's touch send shivers down my spine?
We walked into the grand building, I was immediately struck by the sheer scale of the high ceilings and the opulence that surrounded me. Lots of people were already inside, and yet, there was still plenty of space to move around.
All of them turned in my direction, their eyes fixed on me, and I felt a sense of discomfort wash over me. Some of them eyed me with curiosity, others with suspicion, and a few with outright hostility.
"Greetings, Your Royal Majesty," they said to Liam, bowing low in unison.
Liam nodded in response, his fingers still intertwined with mine. We walked along a path, leading further into the hall, where a round table sat, laden with people and things. The table was beautifully set, with golden plates, sparkling glasses, and a dazzling array of jewels on display.
A lady stood up, her beauty undeniable, and rushed to hug Liam. Her long, curly golden hair cascaded down her back like a river of sunshine, and her blue eyes sparkled with warmth.
"I missed you," she said, her voice intimate.
Liam's hand left mine as he wrapped his arms around her, and I felt a pang of jealousy, which I quickly suppressed.
I rolled my eyes and looked away, scanning the table. Faces met my gaze, including one exceptionally familiar - The queen, sitting elegantly at the head of the table. Her beauty was striking, her silver hair styled perfectly, and her green eyes gleaming with intelligence.
"Have a seat, son," she said softly.
But Liam didn't sit. Instead, he pulled me in front of him, his hand holding my shoulders.
"I want you to meet someone. My special someone," he introduced me.
The queen chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down my spine.
"Oh, this one, I recognize her," she said, her eyes glinting with amusement.
"Hey, I'm Bethel, Liam's younger sister" the girl who hugged liam said, stretching out her hand for a handshake.
I ignored her hand, feeling a sense of discomfort.
The table erupted in a chorus of greetings and compliments, but I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. They were all so happy, so content, while my people suffered. I excused myself, unable to bear their joy any longer.
"I'll be around," I said, walking away.
As I turned into a corner, I bumped into someone. "Oh," I said, looking up to see Jackson's familiar face. Tears welled up in my eyes as I embraced him tightly.
"We miss you so much," he said, his voice muffled in my hair.
I sobbed, feeling a sense of failure wash over me. "I'm so sorry. I failed all of you."
"You didn't fail anyone. You've been the bravest so far, and I'm proud of you," Jackson reassured me.
"I'm really sorry"
"You shouldn't be" he pulled me away, holding me by my shoulders.
"Looks like we have a visitor" a familiar voice said from behind.
We slowly turned around to see Liam, his expression deadly and dangerous.
"Stay back," I warned Jackson, shielding him behind me. But Liam's gaze was fixed on Jackson, his eyes glinting with malice.
"If you ever think of hurting her, I'll kill you," Jackson said, standing his ground.
"It's not her, but you," Liam's response sent chills down my spine.
A lady then intervened, bowing low.
"Good evening Your highness" she said
"Can I at least have a word in private with you?" she asked Liam. But his eyes never left Jackson's face.
I pulled Jackson away, seeking a quieter environment. "Let's go somewhere else," I said, my heart racing with fear.
We navigated through the crowds, seeking for a quiet place to have a peaceful conversation.