I rise to my feet, step around Rhoden, and head toward the library doors. I made sure to wear flats today so as to better walk around the castle without being heard. Rhoden is quick on my heels, jumping in front of me dramatically before I throw the library doors fully open. I look at her, exasperated since I only have a small amount of time to pull this off.
“Let me make sure the coast is clear,” she whispers under her breath before more loudly stating, “Let me help you with your mid-day meal.”
She pokes her head into the hallway, looking one way and then the other, before giving me a nod and stepping out past the doorway’s threshold. We fall into step together down the hallway.
“You can check if the coast is clear, but you can’t come into the study with me. I can’t risk you getting in trouble in case I get caught,” I murmur, barely moving my lips in the process.
Rhoden pushes out her bottom lip. “How noble of you to sacrifice yourself like that.”
I roll my eyes. “Believe me, it’s for purely selfish reasons. I would be exponentially more bored if I lose your company in this skyforsaken castle.”
“You flatter me.”
I swallow my laugh and give her a look that says, ‘Be serious.’ Taking my cue, she scuttles down the hallway and looks around the next corner. I can’t help but laugh at the way she’s tiptoeing around to stay as quiet as possible, but all the while looking entirely suspicious. I don’t bother correcting her, though, since I can clearly see down the expanse of the hallway and know that there is no one else near us.
After a few more turns, we’re standing outside of Braxton’s study, and I have the key to open the lock at the ready in my hand.
“Wish me luck,” I whisper while slowly pushing the key into the lock and turning it. The sound of the lock twisting and clicking open feels like an alarm alerting the entire castle to what I’m doing, but I continue when no one comes bounding around the corner as if waiting to catch me in the act. Now, I’m considering that maybe I’m the paranoid one. Turning the nob gently, I gingerly push the door open and wince at the soft creak it makes.
“Good luck,” Rhoden says in a hushed tone before giving my arm a gentle squeeze and skittering down the hallway once again.
I quickly slip into the study and look around at the countless drawers and hiding places where a contract theoretically couldbe placed. Releasing a heavy sigh, I blow a few stray curls from my face and realize just how much luck I’m going to need.
My eyes dart up to the pendulum clock sitting on top of the shelf above the fireplace in Braxton’s study, checking the time once more. It’s been nearly three hours. I have to wrap things up and get out of here before Braxton comes back from his patrol.
Slumping down, I fall back against the armchair with my butt on the ground. I had to have checked every single drawer in every piece of furniture in this place twice, and I haven’t found anything. Not only did I find nothing on our curse, but I couldn’t find any even remotely questionable or secretive documents in here at all. Everything in this office was either discussing monetary situations of the kingdom or pertained to the maintenance of the land and castle. Oddly enough, though, every document I came across was horrendously outdated, which left me to wonder where Braxton was keeping the up-to-date paperwork about the kingdom and castle.
The only conclusion I’ve been able to come to, though I can’t fully accept it, is that this isn’t where Braxton keeps his more sensitive or secretive documents.
I slowly bring myself to my feet, my joints aching from being crouched on the floor for so long. It never ceases to amaze me that I’m both at the age where my body could easily carry and birth a child, while also not being able to kneel for more than 15 minutes at any given time without being convinced that it has just experienced the hardships of war.
I stretch my arms over my head and sway my upper body back and forth, trying to loosen up my stiff muscles and feeling a fewrelieving pops ricochet through my joints. Figuring it’s better to be safe than sorry and slip out of the study now, I look around the room one last time to make sure everything has been put back in its place before making my way to the door.
First, I press my ear to the door to see if I can hear any commotion on the other end of it. When I’m met with the sweet sound of silence, I open the door barely enough to peek into the hallway and look around to make sure no one is standing there. Seeing that the coast is clear, I quickly step out before turning back to the door. My fingers fumble with the key momentarily as a fresh wave of nerves erupts in my belly before quickly placing it in the lock and locking the door.
I breathe a sigh of relief before taking a step back from the door. My entire body goes rigid when I feel my back press into someone’s hard torso. Swallowing heavily, I turn slowly to find Gavin, one of the servants, standing behind me. His mousy brown hair is pushed up and out of his face, the thin strands looking straw-like as a few stand up in odd directions. He has a chubby face that doesn’t match his burly physique, and gives him an oddly boyish look. Currently, his features are pulled into a haunting smile.
Gavin is a huge kiss ass for Braxton and completely terrified of him at the same time. He followed him around like a lost puppy after the “wolf” incident, and the sad thing is, I don’t think Braxton even knows his name. I’m fairly confident I heard him calling him Tim or John the other day.
“Hi Gavin.” I try to plaster on my most innocent smile, but by the cruel smirk on his face, I know I’ve been caught.
“What were you doing in Braxton’s study? And dare I ask… is that his key you have?”
“Uh-y-yes.” I stammer and immediately want to kick myself for my lack of conviction in my words. “Braxton gave me his keybefore he went on his patrol.” I flip the iron evidence between my fingers as if showcasing it will make me appear less guilty.
“And why would he do something like that?”
I do my best not to scowl at his curiosity and instead lift my lips into a syrupy sweet smile as I round my eyes to look more innocent. “I lost my earring in there the other day,” I force a laugh. “We were… spending some time together.” I don’t have to feign my blush as I recall how it felt to have the hard planes of his body mold into my soft curves. “He gave me his key so I could go find my earring.” My fingers fly to my thankfully empty earlobe.
I can tell by the borderline glee gleaming in his eyes that he doesn’t believe me.
“Sure, okay.” He nods his head.
I give a small nod and quickly turn away from him, hoping to skitter away. If he goes and tells Braxton his theory on his own, I can lie and hope Braxton believes me over him.
Before I can even take a full step away from him, Gavin reaches out quick as lightning and wraps his meaty paw around my forearm, squeezing tightly.
“Well, if that’s the truth, then you won’t mind going to Prince Braxton to confirm that story, and of course return the key.”
