[SILVER RAYNE WILLIAMS]

Luckily for me, the edges weren't too narrow, and I was able to move across. I quickly but carefully sidestepped, moving as if attached to the wall.

The wind against me did nothing to ease my panic of slipping and plummeting to my death. I couldn't breathe all too well. I scooted around the corner, praying there was a balcony I could drop off nearby.

I looked to the side, cursing when I realized that the balcony I was wishing for was a good way further out.

I peeked down at the ground, cursing again when a bird flew by me and almost made me lose my footing.

I cursed at it, balancing upon wobbly legs, glaring at the black dot that soon disappeared further away.

Fuck, I was going to die. It didn't help that my bag was fat, poking me slightly forward.

No-

Happy thoughts silver.

All rainbows and unicorns and all that nonsense.

I moved further, scooting, one foot sliding after the other, hands gripping bare stone drawing closer to the balcony.

Careful not to look down again, I slowly moved toward it, quite aware of how fast my heart was pounding within me.

My hand reaches out for the side, finally pushing myself onto the balcony. I quickly slid over, sliding my bag, forward, being careful not to make a noise.

I noticed the windows had heavy curtains that blocked the view from anyone inside, unlike mine, much more luxurious, and the balcony doors were slightly open.

To be honest this balcony was significantly bigger than mine.

I noted all this, realizing I had to be careful. What if this was the King and Queens balcony or god forbid, the Prince? I shuddered but rid myself of these thoughts, realizing the royal chambers were on the other side of Fang Court, secluded from anyone else.

I just had to be careful.

Taking a short breath in and being as quiet as I could, I moved forward, freezing when I heard a familiar voice.

"Tighter," came the singular word followed by a strangled huff, "I said tighter!"

I heard a couple of grunts, and I slowly, stepped forward, peaking through the little gap in the door.

Lady Elise.

The last time I saw her she had been with the Prince.

She was biting her lip, a hand leaning forward against the wall where a long mirror stood, and I noted someone was pulling her corset tighter.

2 women by the looks of it.

"There!" she cut off, breathlessly, a pained gasp across her lips, her hand to her belly, as she shut her eyes, pursing her lips.

I watched as a timid Oran circled forward, adjusting the front carefully.

She worked in silence as timid as she was with Mother and Vella. I watched all this curiously.

Lady Elise's gaze sat on the red-haired girl, "So...Is it pretty?"

Oran's gaze snapped to her, then nodded slowly, with a short polite smile.

"Do you have no words, Rachel?" she rolled her eyes, staring into the mirror, probably looking at the other girl in the reflection.

"The dress is divine, Malady. But it is only enhanced by your beauty."

This seemed to make Lady Elise happy, starting at herself carefully through the mirror,

"Malady.." Lady Elise echoed, pursing her lips, "In a few months I'll be queen. Warm your lips, and practice with my title."

"As you wish, Your Majesty," Came the reply.

Lady Elise sighed her eyes, "I need words.." she dragged, eyes stretching to Oran.

"What's pretty about it?" her gaze faded to the mirror, hands trailing the dress, "The color, the fit? Does my hair match perfectly? Does the blue compliment his eyes when he stands beside me? Words for Pete's sake..." she trailed off, her jaw tightening as she stared at her reflection.

In truth, she looked stunning.

As Rachel had said, She had a body that made any dress look expensive.

Her gaze flashed to Oran as the girl adjusted the bottom,

"What does he like? His favorite color, his favorite song.." she frowned, starting at the girl, "You're the only human allowed in his quarters— Tell me, what is it like?"

I pursed my lips at her line of questioning. She looked nervous if anything, perhaps even anxious. I was still unsure if she knew she was not his true Sworn, but if she had been fooled I know she's probably confused. These questions should have been answered by him, but knowing the Tribrid, he was just as cold to her as he was indifferent to me.

I wondered how on earth he was to pull this off. Fooling the Kingdom. I mean, by all means, I was in full support, but part of me worried what would become of me, if something went wrong.

I noticed Oran's eyes never made it back to her, focusing on her work instead.

"Oh no, My lady— your majesty," she gulped, "No human is allowed in the prince's quarters," her gaze countered upwards, pausing for a moment, "He forbids it."

Lady Elise watched the redhead, "then how does he get his clothing done? Hasn't the Queen appointed you in charge? Or Is there a Fang who specifically does this per his request?"

"I only found favor in the eyes of Her Majesty, the Queen. It was..luck.." she trailed off pursing her lips, before seemingly brushing off the topic.

"I-I am appointed to design all gowns for the royals as my mother did.  I help tailor the men's on important occasions. I know all the tailors of the castle but none have ventured into the Prince Chambers. He likes to be left alone." she spoke quietly. "A-and a future King must have his solitude."

"So many words and yet my question remains unanswered," Lady Elise gritted, gaze still on the girl.

Oran's gaze rose slightly but never too high, "A paper, Your Highness. There is always a paper with his exact measurements and colors."

Lady Elise paused at this, her gaze shifting to her reflection thoughtfully, her voice softer, "And what colors does he like?"

"They're always dull, Your Highness. Bland grays, flat blues, olive green, and fall browns."

"Then why on earth do I look I look like a rainbow?" she snapped, eyes narrowing on the girl.

Oran's gaze met hers, blinking softly, "M-malady?"

"Why am I in fairy pinks, sky blues, and sunny yellows? Are you trying to make him hate me?" she screeched, eyes narrowing with a certain distaste for the girl.

"I-I.."

"Get me out of this dress! Now!" she screeched. Oran nodded, scrambling to remove the dress, going out of sight for a moment.

"This is why he can't even look at me. I'm a rainbow and he's a storm cloud," she muttered, a hand squeezing her temples as she tried to calm herself. She shut her eyes, seemingly trying to calm herself.

I could see some sparks of electric current against her fingertips, causing Oran to yell out when it traveled down to her fingers that were twisting through the metallic strings.

She rubbed her fingers as Lady Elise turned to look back at her, staring at her for a moment, with an eye roll.

"For goodness sake, It's not even a burn." she turned around, her gaze back to her reflection.

I think I could understand Oran's distaste for the Lady now. She seemed unpleasant. But watching her closely, I could see her hands shake, and her lips move as she counted down wordlessly before her shoulders fell.

I could understand her too. Being put in her position, Sworn to the prince perhaps even I could carry a sort of unpleasantness around me.

And if she truly did think of herself as sworn to the prince, perhaps she was confused and scared. She was supposed to be held as if a trophy in his eyes, his whole world, at least that's what they used to teach us.

All she got was his cold eyes and indifferent self. Perhaps she felt she was doing something wrong. I pitied her in this light. To be sworn to such a being for all eternity.

Not that I could offer her any comfort. I was supposedly his sworn and he only threatened to kill me a night ago.

"I want only his colors on me from now on. No more stupid whimsical colors. Do you understand?"

Oran rubbed her fingers against her skirt but nodded with a short hum, "As you wish, Your Majesty."

"Now hurry and get this off me," Lady Elise huffed, sucking in a breath, "a-as fast as you can."

Oran quickly got to undoing, accompanied by the girl, Racheal.

Lady Elise breathed out, her eyes shut.

"I must, I must.." she mumbled beneath her breath, along with a string of incomprehensible words.

The dress was undone, and it fell off her, leaving her with her undergarments, to which, Racheal handed her a white robe Helping her cover her shoulders.

Oran bowed lowly, about to exit the room as Racheal helped Lady Elise with her gown.

"I am to meet the prince later this evening. See to it I have something suitable to wear. Something that will make his eyes, linger.."

Oran paused at this, blinking for a moment, before bowing and exiting the room.

Lady Elise rolled her eyes, moving out of sight, for a moment.

I adjusted my position, peaking further.

She had walked toward the other end, seemingly searching through a drawer as the handmaid stood still, by the mirror.

"I am his sworn, he will have to surrender eventually. I must get him alone. It is only duty keeping his hands off me, " she mumbled, turning to the maid with some earrings in her hand, "Am I not pretty? Or is the prince Blind—"

The girl's mouth dropped, unable to say anything for a moment, "Your majesty, you're beauty is unmatched-"

"Then the prince is Blind," she reasoned.

"I-I can not—"

She did not wait for a response, "I am his sworn, is it not true that he worships the ground I walk on?"

Rachael seemed to be searching for the right words, "The Prince adores his sworn, Your Majesty."

She stared at her handmaid for a moment, before a smile blossomed, "He does, doesn't he?"

She sat on her bed, pulling her brunette hair over her shoulder.

"The Queen is right. He is different from others.  I must only be patient."

Rachael nodded, moving forward, helping her with her hair, "The Tribrid is soon to be King of the New World. He is the heir to the Empire to be founded your Majesty. He is a breed carefully designed. Your rule by his side will be glorious," she smiled.

My eyebrows arched for a moment, as Racheal hummed softly, "He will warm up to you my lady. I am sure the bond is strange to him. But you are his sworn. He can not breathe without you-"

I saw a small smile form on her features.

"He may not show it often. A King must always be in his element. But I am certain his heart skips when you are near,"

I could see a blush form over her cheeks as she listened to her handmade, "He will worship the ground you walk on."

Lady Elise took a short breath out, closing her eyes. Rachael moved to massage her shoulders.

"Just give it time, your majesty."

She hummed in satisfaction at this, rolling her head to the side.

"He loves me. I am his sworn. He will show it eventually. When the doors close tonight. When eyes are no longer on him he can be who he truly is. Perhaps he will breathe with me."

"Perhaps," Rachael sang softly.

A moment passed before a knock came on the door.

"Who is that?" Lady Elise grumbled.

Rachael chuckled, "I think it is lunch, your majesty."

Lunch... The thought echoed.

Oh, shoot.

My gaze darted to the side, looking at the ledge I had come off. Lunch was soon to be served. If I didn't open the door when the guard— he would know I had escaped.

"Why is it so cold?" Lady Elise muttered, her wrist flicking my way.

The balcony doors suddenly swung shut as a strong cold gust of wind blew past me and through my hair.

I had to hold the railings as I was pushed back, the wind harsh against my skin.

I took a gasp of air in at the shock. Blinking through the face of the wind. It stopped a moment later and I managed to catch a breath.

That was enough to let me know I had overstayed my intrusion.

Slipping back onto the ledge, I knew I had to get back into my room.

I had to find another way to escape.

I scooted back on the ledge, this time more careful than the first.

Jumping onto my balcony, I could hear the knock at the door. I quickly darted in as the knocks got more intense, hiding my bag in the wardrobe, ruffling my hair, and throwing on a robe.

I took off my boots, hoping on one foot, eyes darting to the sensitive knocking, grabbing a towel I used to pile my hair up before walking to the door and opening it slightly and a little bit breathless.

The guard stared at me, suspicion in his eyes, watching me carefully.

"What? I can't take a bath?" I huffed, stepping to the side as a maid brought in my lunch. I raised an eyebrow matching the guard's stiff gaze.

He did not say a word, as the maid set up, before leaving.

"Thank you," I called out to her as she passed. She nodded and left.

I was about to close the door when it jammed on the guard's foot.

I stared at it, my gaze snapping up to the red guard.

His gaze narrowed on me. "You're not wet."

I blinked at this, searching for the quickest comeback
I could master— "I was just about to head into the shower before you knocked."

His jaw hardened defiantly and so did my gaze.

"Do you want to inspect my body? Should I prove that I'm naked? Are you attracted to humans? Shall I let Lord Graydon know?"

His jaw ticked at this, but removed his foot from the door, "I'll be knocking in intervals. Answer each time. Faster," he grunted.

My jaw clenched but I faked a smile, nodding and slamming the door in his face.

I folded my arms leaning against the door.

Stupid Fang.

I sighed removing the towel from my hair and letting the dry locks drop to my shoulders, running a hand through the curls.

Plan B it is.

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Plan b.. Mm 🤔
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