"How dare you?" The girl fumes, abandoning her harmonica somewhere.

"Oh, I didn't mean to interrupt whatever you were playing. It just sounded nice."

She scoffs, venom in her eyes. "Just leave. And you, Finn. Mom has been looking for you."

Certainly word would get out that he had been in my company.

Us together was a disaster. No way would I be a fuel to his mischievous tendencies.

While the two enter a small conversation, I sneak out, barely catching the Prince curse out loud.

By the time he thinks to follow, I'm safely headed far away in the Royal hospital.

Judith had a fever that had persisted for three days beyond the doctor's predictions. I was horrified to note her dismal countenance as she slept with laboured breathing.

Looking over at Symphony, I observe the tiny vibrations of her hands.

The girl is scared.

I reach over and squeeze her left arm affectionately, then we head back to my room.

Madam Alicia piercing gaze follows our arrival.

"Where have you been, you silly child?"

"Around." I respond vaguely, just to annoy her. Symphony helps unzip my dress and the woman walks out.

"Why is she always in a bad mood?" I mumble, falling on my bed with a satisfied moan.

"She lost her daughter last year."

Oh.

The death of a loved one can be devastating.

Yet.

It doesn't give anyone the right to take out their frustration on the world.

That's not okay.

Symphony put out the lights and instantly, sleep flooded my system.

Until an hour later.

You know this creepy feeling you get when you think someone is watching you?

Well, that's exactly how I felt when my eyes snapped open. The room was completely dark, no light from the moon to assist my vision.

But I saw the shadow prowling in the corner. I scrambled off the bed too late as a pair of strong hands pressed around my neck.

Then I realised the intention was to strangulate me.

I've been in a chokehold much too many times to know that trying to rip your attacker's hand would be in vain.

I simply search for the pressure points on the person's neck and push hard.

They had not expected me to do that. A strangled moan escapes the person's lips and they fall in a heap to the floor.

Instantly, I tie their hands with the hair tie pulled from my hair before racing out to call Isaiah.

Chaos broke out when I discovered much to my dismay that a knife had been plunged into the chest of the Head, Madam Alicia and she wasn't breathing.

I stood there, frozen, until a hand pulls me out of the room.

The first tear drop falls and then the next.

I was no fool to know that I just escaped an assassination attempt.

But what had I ever done except for harmless pranks? Why would someone want to kill me?

"Hey, breathe." Isaiah mutters, draping a blanket over me inside my former room.

I obey and even if my breaths come out rough, it's much better than choking.

"Will she be okay?"

The door opens with a loud bang. Frightened, I stare in that direction.

Frightened. A word that has been a stranger to me for the past six years of my life.

Well, before that.

"Are you alright?" Prince Finnegan asks, crouching before me.

His messy hair and clothes tells he had rushed over here. Despite the fact that only hours ago,I ran away from, my heart is warmed by his presence.

Isaiah steps aside to give us some privacy.

"Of course I am. After witnessing a knife stuck in someone's chest, I feel awesome." My voice comes out low and sarcastic.

The Prince shakes his head and turns to Isaiah. "Is she sleeping here?"

The man shrugs. "Yes. But we'll tighten protection around the rooms."

Prince Finnegan doesn't seem satisfied with his response. He grabs my wrist and starts walking out of the room.

"Where are you going?" I ask, glancing helplessly back at Isaiah until he fades with the distance.

"Somewhere safe."

"How about the other girls? They might be in danger too."

Irrespective of the hate some of them showed me, I never would wish harm upon any one. Theresa too. A part of my brain pinned her responsible for the attack tonight.

It made sense seeing our animosity towards each other, but how much power did she have to hire an assassin to get rid of me?

Could she?

Shoving those thoughts aside, I focus on where the Prince is heading. With widened eyes, I dig my heels in the floor but the friction is minimal.

"We can't go into the Royal Corridor, Your Highness." I protest, noting how much different the walls and floors are in the corridor.

"Yes, I can and you're coming with me."

We bypass a couple of doors before he throws open a door, pushes me in and enters, locking us in.

The realisation falls on me.

We're in his bedroom.

Oh my-

The beauty of his room pushes away my insecurities. Almost everything is mostly in green and blue colours, furniture, curtains, wallpaper, paint. Well, the rug has a mix of purple and sand brown.

It's the most beautiful room I've ever beheld.

I focus a little longer on the gigantic bed before my eyes.

"Where are we?" I ask foolishly.

Prince Finnegan leaves my side to sit on the bed. "My room.

"But why?"

Tongues will be wagging tomorrow, that's for sure.

"You can sleep here. I need to be sure that you're safe."

His logic baffled me. "How about the other girls?"

Prince Finnegan rolls his eyes and makes no attempt to answer me.

Honestly, if the other girls find out I slept in the Prince's room unsupervised, they would surely have my neck, Theresa especially.

"There's the bed, spacious enough for you." He waves at the furniture.

Well, it looks comfortable. That and the fact that I might never have the opportunity to sleep on a bed belonging to Royalty again.

Too tired and traumatised to argue, I climb on the bed, automatically soaking up the delightful scents all over it.

It smells like Prince Finnegan and his scent will be all over me by tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

Tongues will surely run.

Prince Finnegan laid on the far end of the bed, a safe distance away, but not to o far for me to sense his gaze on me.

"Do you want to hear a story?"He asks, quite tenderly.

Snorting, I tug on the scarf protecting my hair from getting matted in the morning.

"What am I, five?"

"You act like it, sometimes." He replies, wearing a giant grin.

"I'm not in a hurry to grow up, Your Highness."

His smile fades. "Why do you manage to look smug each time you address me like that?"

Pretending not to know what he's taking about, I roll onto my back, now facing the ceiling, high above us.

Each girl in Crystadale could sell her soul to the devil to literally be in my position right now, but here am I, talking with the prince, on his bed!

"I don't understand what you're talking about, Your Highness."

Not so long after this, he's right next to me, frowning. "I think you can call me Finnegan, or Finn. Just don't address me as-"

"-Your Highness?" I complete, smirking pleasantly.

The boy sighs. I don't blame him though.

"Sorry, I can be a little extra sometimes." I apologise immediately, hoping he isn't offended by my attitude.

Wait, since when did I start caring about-

Hold on a second.

"You aren't being extra, Alanna. You're being yourself and it's one of the countless things I love about you." Finnegan admits shamelessly.

Breathless, I press my hands on my forehead.

What did I just hear?

He likes a lot of things about me?

"There's nothing to good about me, Your-" He sends me a sharp look. "Finn."

His expression softens. "Let me be the judge of that."

"I-"

Outside, the bell announces midnight. Yet the arrival of a new day can't wash away the horrors from yesterday.

"Alanna."

"Hmm?" I hum, turning to study the Prince's face.

"Why did you run away that night?"

"I'd rather not talk about the reasons why, but I'm sorry for hitting you."

He nods. "It's okay, Alan. My brother also doesn't like getting touched without prior warning."

Alek, the Crown Prince.

After my small talk with him in the garden, I wasn't so much angry with him, yet I didn't like the deception hanging over us.

I feel like there's a lot more mystery behind this whether entire affair.

"Tell me that story you spoke about."

Finnegan's face brightens as he sits up. "Definitely. Can I put out the lights please? I'm more comfortable in the dark.

.
.
.
That seems like an innocent request, or isn't it? 😏

How are you guys doing? Lol.

Well, I fell ill at some point but I'm getting better. Lost a lot of weight and appetite for food as well.

*sighs*

I feel like I haven't been going out often, So, I plan to hang out with an acquaintance tomorrow.

I don't even have friends, FML 😕

Any ways, stay out of trouble, stay positive and have a great week ahead.

P. S: if you know any good book around here, you may tag me in it, I don't mind 😊