Alliar

I checked myself over in the mirror one last time. I was wearing red. I never thought this was my colour but Henrietta insisted this would do the trick. I believed her only because of one reason. Henrietta used to work in a brothel before she was brought to the castle and began to serve. She knew men. Far better than I that's for sure.

The dress was red lace. There was a split at the side running up my leg with the bodice clinging so tightly to my waist that it pushed my breasts higher than they have ever sat naturally. I let my hair fall down in waves and pushed it over one shoulder.

"You look beautiful. The king could not refuse. I dare say no man could." Henrietta beamed at me as she painted some red colouring on my lips to make them more obvious - not that they needed any help.

I didn't have a heart to tell her. I wasn't trying to seduce a king, I was seducing a devil.

I gave her a small tight smile. "Thank you for this."

"No worries Miss, this is what I am here for." She gave my shoulders a tight reassuring squeeze. "Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be." I pulled on a shawl to cover the more exposed areas of skin and started for the king's chamber.

I tried not to focus on who was watching me through the glass in the shadows. I couldn't face that much judgment at the moment. My pride was already drowning deep in self-pity. How could you let yourself stoop so low? Honestly I didn't know what to tell myself. I'm doing it for my family, I reminded myself. I needed to get a look at those papers, I needed to figure out what was happening and what Jonathan planned to do. And warn my brothers if I can, how I didn't know yet. I was taking this one step at a time and the first step in my very flawed plan was to fall back into favour and gain the information. Then I would worry about the delivery system.

I opened the door and stepped into his room. Jonathan sat at the table, his eyes looking at the pieces of parchment in his hands while the fire in the room burned bright. I took a deep breath finding my courage and shut the door quickly behind me. He looked up slightly to see who had the audacity to walk into his room without knocking and I answered his look with my best attempts at seduction. I let my shawl drop to the floor, pushed out my chest and looked up at him from beneath my lashed.

"Get out." His eyes hardened at seeing me and I could see how much he still despised me. The man holds a grudge like a baby does a finger.

I walked over towards him as seductively as possible, swinging my hips from side to side but he only turned his attention back onto the writing in his hands. Getting to the back of his chair, I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around his chest, slowly letting my fingers explore his chest.

He tensed tightly under my touch.

Jonathan grabbed my wrist, his grip so hard I could feel the blood struggle its way through to fill my hand. He stood from his seat and turned to face me with hot rage. My brow frowned and my mouth opened as I tried to deal with the pain he was causing in my wrist.

"Get. Out." He said through clenched teeth and threw my wrist towards the ground making my body tumble after it.

I felt tears prick in the back of my eyes, stinging but I refused to cry. Not yet. Not here. Pulling myself back up to my feet I quickly rushed out the door.

"Miss?" Horick stepped out and gripped my shoulders to steady me as I fell out the door. His eyes looked me over, looking for an injury of some sort. The only injury I had was emotional. Horick paused at my wrist that was red and probably going to bruise.

"I'm fine." I assured him, but a stray tear found its way down my cheek.

He nodded accepting the answer. "Come. Let me take you to your room."

I nodded and clung to his side, comforted by the way his arm stretched over my shoulder to embrace me.

I refused to leave my room and join the royal family and their guests for breakfast the next morning.

"You mustn't hide a way in your room all day. You need to do something." Henrietta spoke softly as she continued to clean, though I'm almost certain she had cleaned the same spot for the third time this morning. I knew she was only lingering for my benefit.

"I'm not hiding." And I wasn't. I was simply... taking my time waking up.

In truth I was just trying to reevaluate my situation. I was even more out of favour than I was to begin with, no closer to figuring out what was happening, and the ball was only a few days away now meaning I had to at least find a way to be civil around the other girls.

"Sure you are. But you can't afford to hide Miss. These women out there will take advantage of that and get close to the king."

I paused my thinking momentarily to examine that new thought. I suppose it was true. They would be fools not to take advantage of the situation. But what did that mean for me? Death I suppose. I remember my mother explaining to me the power of a mistress and how many were killed when a man took a wife. No new wife wants a mistress stealing the attention of their new husband and mothering children who would rival their own. My own mother had sent Arthur's mother away to another household when she married my father despite her only being a maid in castle. But against better judgments she had let Arthur stay.

"What am I supposed to do?" I breathed feeling a pressure build in my head.

"Just go on. Pretend nothing happened."

"But they know I'm out of favour." I wasn't sure how exactly but everyone seemed to know that we weren't getting along.

"No they think you're out of favour. The only one's who truly know what happened are the shadow knights who are forbidden of speaking of this, the king, his family, and you. Don't give them reason to believe it."

"When did you get so smart?" I turned to face her with critical eyes.

She shook her head giggling and poured a cup of water, setting it down in front of me. "Remember what the physician said. You need to keep drinking."

I nodded and took a sip. "That reminds me." I reached out to a vile on my table beside my bed and added three drops of the liquid into my water. It had a strong floral smell and made my taste buds dance with sweetness.

Henrietta frowned and took the vial from me, raising it to her nose she sniffed it. "Why are you taking Sage and Rosemary?"

I took another sip. "Kodak the physician told me to take it every day in my water. It will help me feel better. I think it's to stop these headaches since I hit my head."

"You're still getting headaches?" She sat down beside me concerned.

I nodded. "Only when I think too much."

She gave me a slightly amused smile. "Of course." She reached out and took the cup from me before throwing the water out the window.

"What are you doing?"

"Sage and Rosemary is not for headaches Miss."

"And what is it for?" I frowned a little confused. I hadn't asked Kodak for anything in particular.

"Nothing important, I just wouldn't take it. The Sage could be causing the headaches."

"Oh. Well thank you for telling me."

She bowed her head. "It's my job Miss. You needn't thank me for doing my job."

I took Henrietta's advice and headed towards the library with my head held high. As I entered the large room I was met with a hushed silence and pointed stares. I could almost feel their thoughts rushing at me. Their questions itching to fall free from their lips. Stepping further into the room I took my seat on the bench amongst the girls and gave them all a bright smile.

"I apologies for my tardiness." I spoke with a lightened tone. "I was feeling unwell."

"Not to worry." Ira smiled at me. "We were about to go to the main hall and start preparing the decorations for the ball." A few stood and started looking somewhat relaxed.

I thanked Ira quickly for turning the attention away from me. As we walked into the hall I saw the girls had been busy this morning. White lilies and roses were being bought in and scattered around the room. The banners of the blue griffin were hanging from the walls between every window and tables lined the room, covered with white table clothes. A stage was being set up for musicians to perform and a large space of floor cleared for dancing and entertainment.

"It looks amazing."

"Of course it does." Bethamy answered me with a confident smile. "I know how to throw a ball."

I nodded. "I believe you."

I saw her expression fall to one of shook but I didn't stop to give her my attention and moved over towards Ira who was busy speaking with a chef.

---

With everyone occupied, I quickly slipped out of the room. The girls were busy pulling decorations together with the help of the servants. Guards were helping as well, moving furniture and secretly letting their eyes wonder over the girls parading themselves in front of them. Jonathan had briefly appeared in the room, smirking and giving his attention to a few of the girls he thought most desirable to him. Strangely, it hurt to see him with the other girls.

I didn't want to think too much about that and immediately pushed the thought far, far away. Jonathan had caught my gaze over Bethamy's shoulder and gave me a devilish smirk. I swallowed and looked away quickly. He was doing this on purpose. It was then that I took advantage of everyone's distraction and slipped away. No one would notice me missing. Not anymore, and I was going to take full advantage of it.

Walking down the corridors I took a small staircase to the level below. I had never been this far into the castle and I assumed this was where the servants' quarters were located. I walked on my toes so that my heels wouldn't make a sound on the floor and echoing my location to others. Stopping for a moment, I placed my hand on the walls. They were cold to the touch, just like stone. There was no glass walls down here, no one watching my every move. I smiled briefly. Down here, no one could find me.

I passed by a partially open door and peeked inside. It was a small armoury. Pushing the door opened all the way, I entered the room and looked around. There were blades, battle axes, shields all with the griffin painted on them. I circled the room and eagerly picked up a small dagger, placing it in my boot. My life was not safe and I would be damned if I was going to be utterly defenceless during it.

Fixing my skirt over my boot to conceal the dagger, I continued around the room. I wasn't sure what I was looking for. I wasn't sure if there would even be anything in here, after all, this is the servants quarters, why would there be anything of importance down here?

But still, I continued to look.

There was an old map on the far side of the room. The edges were burnt a little on one side where it appeared someone's torch got a little too close to the parchment. Each holdfast, and castle were marked on the map showing the Northern Castle etched on the cliff side. I let my fingers dance over the map, slowing at Leece. Dense forest surrounds my kingdom with orchids famous for its sweet wine grown closer to the shorelines and farms out to the south.

Home.

My fingers moved to the East. The mountains too rigged to safely sneak through with any large horde. The castle was similar to this one, built within the earth. While this castle was built into the cliff with the natural caves as rooms, the castle in the east was built into the mountain. My thoughts moved to Kaya. This was her home now. Married so young because I wasn't there. Because I wasn't there for her. It pained me to know that she was struggling and I couldn't help her. The thought bought a tear to my eye. Did she know I was alive? Did my mother tell her?

I wiped the tear before it could fall down my cheek and moved on. My eyes darted to the kingdom far south. Jonathan's greatest allie. So far away and so small. It wasn't as small as the three main kingdoms in the West – Leece included – but I knew the power of the Kings Isle and their golden army.

There were markings leading a path from the North and South to met in the East. A circle drawn up at the base of a mountain with x's placed along the base of the circle drawn. I had a horrible feeling in my stomach that clenched my muscles and grated them against each other.

I knew now that my uncle was right, Jonathan was planning something, his armies would march soon. And not just his, but the golden army as well. And Kaya would be caught in the middle of it – I couldn't let that happen.

Turning around I quickly rushed out of the room and down the hall. I burst out of the staircase and immediately came to a halt at the sight of the Dillon sitting in his chair and staring at me. His eyes were as dark as Jonathan's and stared at me with the same critical gaze that I found ran in the family.

"Your Highness." I bowed respectfully.

"Little Miss, what a surprise to see you wondering up from the guards' quarters."

The guards' quarters. Not the servants. Oh I was in trouble.

"I am truly sorry, I wondered down the wrong set of stairs and am afraid I got a little lost."

He nodded though I knew he didn't believe me. "Would you mind," he gestured to his chair. "My nurses are hardly reliable these days."

"Of course." Reluctantly, I moved to stand behind his chair and began pushing it down the hallway.

We stayed silent for a brief moment before the Prince began.

"I saw Jonathan's display in the Hall."

"He appeared to be enjoying himself." I bit my lip feeling my stomach turn once again.

Dillon scoffed. "He was, until you left. You took away his favourite form of entertainment my dear."

"And what entertainment was that?"

"Punishing. You in particular."

I let my eyes shut briefly. Of course the monster of a man enjoyed his games that always ended in pain. "I'll be sure to apologies to him."

"That won't be necessary Little Miss. You would only be playing along with his games."

I nodded understanding.

"I heard about your seduction attempts." He spoke after a brief moment of pause.

I gulped and flushed, embarrassed.

"I'm sure you regret it now. Tell me my dear, how exactly did you think that would work?" He seemed almost shocked at my actions. Hearing the words said out loud made me feel ashamed of myself.

I looked down even though he couldn't see me. "It worked before." My voice was low giving way to the shame.

"Ah yes, I heard you manipulated your way to gain things. Clothes, your life. But surely you know the reason you're here now is not simply because of your imagined kills in seduction."

I listened to his words intently. I didn't know that. I didn't know there was another reason I was here other than simply to amuse the King. But, maybe I was here to amuse the King, just not in the way I thought.

"I didn't know that."

"Dear girl, do you really think pleasure is so scarcely available that he would keep you around solely for that reason?"

"I-I never." I stopped not knowing what to say.

Dillon sighed. "You never thought about it. Well now you know."

I swallowed and gently pushed his chair around the corner until the corridor looked a little more familiar.    

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I am so sorry for the no updates, my life dealt me some very unexpected hands and I've only just started to get everything back on track. I will start writing again soon so please hang in there and hopefully updates won't be too far away :)

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