Chapter 10
Aliya could barely focus as she paced her room,
replaying the brief, impulsive moment she had shared with Arthur in her mind.
The memory of her own boldness left her shaken, each flash of it sending fresh
waves of disbelief through her. She had kissed Arthur. The very thought seemed
surreal—a decision born of something she didn't fully understand, something she
couldn't reconcile with the fear and caution she always felt around him. What
had driven her to act so brashly? And why hadn't he punished her for it?
As evening fell, her thoughts only became more
tangled. She needed space, fresh air, a distraction—anything to still her
racing mind. With a deep breath, she slipped out of her room, hoping a quiet
walk through the halls might clear her head. She made her way toward the dining
area, passing silent rooms and flickering candlelight casting long shadows on
the stone walls.
Her throat dry, she stopped to get water from a
pitcher in a small alcove. A servant nearby noticed her pause and stepped
forward to assist, her hands deftly pouring water into a glass.
"Thank you," Aliya murmured, glancing at the
servant's face.
The servant offered a polite smile and turned to go,
but something stirred within Aliya. She couldn't shake the sense that this
woman might know more than she did about the necklace.
"Excuse me," Aliya said, catching the woman's
attention again. "Do you know anything about this necklace?" She gently lifted
the pendant from beneath her collar, letting the intricate silver bloom catch
the dim light.
The servant's eyes widened, and she looked around
nervously before leaning in close. "The Blossom," she whispered. "That necklace
belonged to royalty. It was once worn only by the women of the royal family.
They say it was passed from the queen to her daughter."
Aliya felt a chill run down her spine. Royalty. She
hadn't imagined it—she'd felt the weight of the necklace's importance the
moment Artemis had given it to her. But why would he gift her something so
precious?
"What happened to the princess?" Aliya asked, her
voice barely audible.
The servant glanced around once more, lowering her
voice further. "The princess disappeared suddenly. A tragedy, really. She was
beloved in the kingdom, a free spirit who brought joy to everyone around her.
But one night, she vanished, leaving the necklace with her brother, Prince
Artemis. No one knows why or where she went."
Aliya's grip on the pendant tightened as a strange
sense of connection washed over her. Why would Artemis give her something with
such a history, something so deeply intertwined with his sister? She felt the
urge to speak with him directly, to demand answers.
"Thank you," she whispered to the servant, who
nodded and hurried off, casting one last curious look at the pendant before
disappearing around a corner.
Aliya wandered the halls, her mind racing. She knew
she'd have to tell Arthur about the necklace at some point, but the thought of
his anger kept her silent. He had a possessive control over her, as if she were
a piece of his kingdom, a part of his rule—and telling him about Artemis's gift
would be like admitting she'd taken something that wasn't hers to accept.
Lost in thought, she absentmindedly pushed open a
door at the end of the corridor. The room was dimly lit, the heavy scent of
aged wood and dust filling the air. Her gaze drifted to the wall, where a large
portrait hung. In it was a young woman with bright eyes, a warm, free-spirited
expression that seemed to radiate from the canvas. Something about her felt
familiar, as if Aliya had known her in another life. She couldn't tear her gaze
away.
"So, you've found her," a voice said softly from
behind.
Aliya spun around, her heart leaping as she
recognized Artemis standing in the doorway. He walked in slowly, his gaze on
the portrait. "Her name was Princess Nalla," he murmured, a trace of sadness in
his eyes. "She was my sister. She had a heart as wild as the open fields and a
spirit no one could tame. She brought light wherever she went."
Aliya's voice trembled as she spoke. "Why did you
give this to me?" She looked at the pendant in her hand, the weight of it now
feeling heavier than ever. "This necklace—it belonged to your sister. It's…
it's royalty. Why would you give me something like this?"
Artemis met her gaze, a quiet intensity in his eyes.
"I see something in you, Aliya. Something that reminds me of Nalla. A spark,
even if hidden. I believe The Blossom should be with you."
His words unsettled her, stirring questions she
didn't dare ask aloud. She couldn't understand why she felt such a strange
connection to Nalla, why the story of a long-lost princess resonated so deeply.
"But I… I'm just a—" She stopped herself, unsure of how to finish.
"You're more than you think," Artemis replied, his
expression unreadable. "I wouldn't have given it to you if I thought
otherwise."
Aliya opened her mouth to protest, but before she
could speak, Artemis took a step closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Take
care of yourself, Aliya. Be cautious around Arthur. He won't understand. And he
can be… difficult."
A surge of frustration welled up in her. She wanted
answers, explanations. Why did he care so much? Why did he think this necklace
belonged with her? But before she could say anything, Artemis bowed his head
slightly and turned, leaving her alone with her thoughts and the portrait of
the sister who had vanished without a trace.
Aliya stood there for a long moment, staring up at
Princess Nalla's face. The resemblance was uncanny, as if she were staring at a
reflection from another life. She felt the pull of the necklace, as if it were
binding her to a story she didn't yet understand, a history that remained just
out of reach.
Eventually, she made her way back to her room, her
mind swirling with questions. She was beginning to feel like a stranger in her
own life, as though her identity were slipping between her fingers. Who was
she, really? Why did she feel such a strong connection to this kingdom, to
these people?
Just as she closed her door, a knock echoed through
the silence. She opened it to find Arthur standing in the hallway, his
expression impassive but his gaze sharp as it settled on her.
"We'll be leaving tomorrow at noon," he announced
without preamble. His voice was as cold and formal as ever, but Aliya thought
she saw something flicker in his eyes—a hint of the gentleness he had shown
earlier in the day, though it vanished just as quickly as it had appeared.
"Yes, my lord," she replied, bowing her head
obediently. She felt his gaze linger on her for a moment longer before he
turned and disappeared down the corridor, leaving her alone once more.
As she closed the door and leaned against it, she
felt the weight of everything pressing down on her—the mystery of the necklace,
the haunting resemblance to Princess Nalla, the confusing interactions with
Arthur and Artemis. She felt as though she were caught in a web of secrets she
couldn't unravel, her own identity tangled within the threads.