oh lord i know its been long but its finally here.
Today song is Fatal Atraction by Reed Wonder and Aurora Oliva.
ENJOY
Alex's POV
The preparations were complete. Every soldier was accounted for, their armor polished, and their weapons gleaming in the dim pre-dawn light.
It should've felt like a triumph—a step closer to my goal—but instead, my chest felt heavy. Another sleepless night, another departure, and yet, I couldn't shake the nagging weight of everything I was leaving behind.
"Sir, everyone is ready to go," East Captain reported, his voice cutting through my thoughts.
"We leave in five," I replied curtly, dismissing him with a nod.
He bowed and left without question. I stood there for a moment longer, staring into the faint outlines of the horizon. The air was crisp but held a tension I couldn't ignore. If the fragment had truly been used to absorb a soul, this task might finally bring me closer to fixing everything. And yet, the risks felt larger this time, the consequences heavier.
Before I could dwell on it further, a familiar voice broke the silence.
"I see you weren't planning to give your nanny a proper goodbye."
I turned to find Adele standing a few steps away, arms crossed, her expression a mix of disapproval and something I couldn't quite place.
"I was going to…" I started, though even I wasn't sure what excuse I was about to offer.
"Don't lie to me, Alex," she said, cutting me off. "You were about to march out of here without a word, weren't you?"
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I didn't want to disturb you. Besides, you looked… preoccupied earlier. Something about a servant?"
Her expression softened slightly, though her frustration lingered. "Don't remind me. The fool couldn't even set the table properly. A salad plate where a main plate should go—it's like they've never seen a dining setup before." She rolled her eyes before focusing back on me. "But we're not talking about the servant. Did you at least say goodbye to the princess?"
"No," I admitted, shaking my head. "I didn't have time. I left Obrovsky in charge of her while I'm gone. He'll make sure she doesn't try anything… reckless."
"And you think that's enough?" Adele raised an eyebrow, her arms still crossed. "You expect her to trust you—hell, even tolerate you—when you can't give her five minutes of your time?"
"This isn't about trust," I snapped, my voice harsher than I intended. "This is about something bigger than her or me. If I can find what I'm looking for, it'll fix everything."
Adele tilted her head, unconvinced. "You've been chasing this for years, Alex. What makes you think this time will be different?"
"It is different," I insisted, my tone resolute. "I can feel it. We're closer than ever."
She didn't reply immediately, her sharp gaze searching my face for something I wasn't sure I could give her. Approval? Understanding? It didn't matter.
A soldier approached, interrupting the tension. "Your Majesty, everything is ready."
I glanced at Adele, silently asking for her blessing, though I hated that I needed it.
"Go on," she said after a moment, her voice softer. "I'll talk to her."
I hesitated for a beat, wanting to say something more—something that would ease the knot tightening in my chest—but the words wouldn't come. Instead, I gave her a curt nod and turned to the waiting soldiers.
"Time to go," I murmured, mostly to myself.
As I mounted my horse and rode toward the gates, I couldn't help but steal a glance back at the castle. It loomed in the distance, its walls imposing and unyielding, much like the life I'd built within them.
Whatever awaited me out there had to be worth it. It just had to be.
Lilith's POV
My head throbbed as if the frustration I felt was trying to claw its way out. It had been over a week since I'd been brought here, and the walls of this castle were suffocating me.
Nothing. There was nothing here. No clues, no way out, no shred of control over my situation. I let out a long, weary sigh and pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to calm the rising storm in my chest. My pulse echoed in my ears as I snapped the book shut with more force than intended. Useless.
"You don't seem to be enjoying that book, Princess."
Ms. Adele's voice pulled me out of my thoughts, making me flinch. I hadn't even heard her enter the room. I forced a small smile, trying to mask the irritation boiling beneath the surface.
"Good morning, Ms. Adele," I said, my tone polite but flat.
"Good morning, Princess. How has your day been so far?" she asked, her warm smile a stark contrast to the cold heaviness I felt inside.
"Well, I'd like to say great," I replied, my smile fading. "But as you might imagine, being kept captive doesn't exactly rank high on my list of enjoyable experiences."
She didn't respond, and the silence stretched uncomfortably between us. I leaned back in my chair, feeling the weight of her gaze.
"How about you, Ms. Adele? Is there anything you need help with?" I asked, more out of a desire to shift the focus off myself than genuine interest.
"Oh, no, dear. I was just checking on you," she said, her smile softening. It was meant to be comforting, but it only made me feel more trapped.
"I'm not going to run away, if that's what you're worried about," I said softly, though the bitterness in my voice betrayed my attempt at civility.
"That's not what concerns me," she replied gently. "I noticed you haven't been to the kitchen. You've hardly eaten."
"I'm not very hungry," I muttered, staring up at the ceiling as if it might somehow offer an escape from this conversation.
"Your last meal was yesterday afternoon, Princess. It's now nine in the morning. Not eating will only make you ill."
I didn't answer. What was there to say? My appetite had long been replaced by the gnawing ache of restlessness and the growing weight of despair.
"Do you know where Alex is?" I finally asked, desperate to change the subject.
Adele hesitated before answering, her expression unreadable. "The Prince is… busy."
"Busy?" I repeated, frowning.
"He's traveling and won't be back for a couple of weeks."
Weeks? What could possibly require him to be gone for weeks? The thought of him leaving without a word, without even bothering to tell me himself, sent a sharp pang of something I couldn't quite name through my chest. Anger? Betrayal? I wasn't sure.
"Oh," I said, trying to mask the storm of questions brewing inside me with an air of indifference. "I see."
"That should give me plenty of time to sort out the castle," Adele continued, oblivious to my spiraling thoughts. "Speaking of which, I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me to town. I'll need some help preparing for the upcoming ceremony."
Her words took a moment to sink in. I blinked, convinced I'd misheard her. "Wait—are you saying I can leave? Like… actually go outside?"
"I don't see why not," she said with a small shrug, as if it were the most casual thing in the world.
A grin spread across my face before I could stop it, and I leaped out of my chair, rushing to her side. "Oh, thank you, Ms. Adele! You have no idea how much this means to me!"
"Language, young lady," she scolded gently, but the smile tugging at her lips softened the reprimand.
"Right, sorry." I stepped back, still buzzing with excitement. For the first time since I'd arrived here, I felt like I could breathe again. Going outside—it was a step. A small one, but a step nonetheless.
"Let's get you cleaned up first," Adele said, motioning for me to follow her.
She helped me into a simple blue dress, tying a small bow into my hair. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe this was it—the beginning of my way out.
"You look lovely, Princess," Adele said, adjusting a stray strand of hair. "Now, let's get going."
We made our way to the castle entrance, where a tall, broad-shouldered man stood waiting. His presence was imposing, and there was something in his rigid stance that put me on edge.
"Oh, I almost forgot," Adele said suddenly. "Abrovosky!"
The man stepped forward, his boots echoing against the stone floor as he approached us. Adele gestured toward him. "This is your bodyguard."
I froze, my smile faltering. "My… what?"
"My apologies, Princess. It seems no one mentioned this to you. With the Prince gone, he left Abrovosky to… keep an eye on you."
Keep an eye on me. The words sent a shiver down my spine, extinguishing the small spark of freedom I'd felt just moments ago.
"Right," I said through gritted teeth. "Of course, he did."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," I began, trying to sound cordial, but the man cut me off before I could finish.
"Princess Lilith of the Celestial Kingdom. I know who you are," he said curtly, his tone as cold as his expression.
My hands curled into fists at my sides. Great. As if being trapped in this castle wasn't enough, now I had a watchdog following my every move.
I forced a deep breath, swallowing the anger rising in my throat. I couldn't afford to lose my composure now. If I wanted to escape, I'd have to be careful. This wasn't just a prison anymore; it was a chessboard, and every move had to be calculated.
"Shall we?" Adele asked, oblivious to the tension crackling between me and Abrovosky.
"Yes," I said, my voice calm despite the storm raging inside me. "Let's."
As we stepped outside, the cool air brushed against my skin, and for the first time in days, I felt something close to relief. But it was fleeting, drowned out by the weight of Abrovosky's presence behind me.
This wasn't freedom—not yet. But it was a start. And I'd make damn sure it wouldn't be the end.