Chapter 3-Telling the truth

It is morning, the sun rise and the bird chirping can be heard. The wind blew gently, swaying the curtain to slightly open. The light passes through the slit, illuminating the figure on the bed.

'….not yet'. A mumble can be heard from the figure.

"How can morning came so fast. I haven't gotten enough sleep on this fluffy bed." The bed in Ghost Palace is so comfortable that even Lily will rate it 5 stars. After dining with Arden, Lily was led to her bedroom by Sofia, the maid who will be serving her while she's staying at the Ghost Palace.

When Sofia first led her into the bedroom, she was stunned to see such a luxurious decoration. It is even more luxurious than the bedroom she stayed in the empire's palace. 'Isn't Ghost Palace supposed to be an abandoned?'

It was said that Ghost Palace only has one resident which is Arden. But Lily never trusted the rumours. Since Arden is a prince, she thought of course there will be several maids and butler to serve him. But she was shocked to see, the population here are much more larger than what she expected. They even have a village built near the castle.

A knock was heard before a lady dressed in a maid outfit coming in and bowed to Lily.

"Excuse us, Miss Lily, but we'll need to start preparing you for the day. His highness Arden is already waiting downstairs." The maid who showed up is Sofia, she looks so young much younger than Lily but she already has this air of maturity. After she gains consent from Lily, she nods to the maids waiting outside.

Receiving the signal, the other maids came in and started the preparation for Lily. Some maids even start to clean room. Lily has no choice but to get up from her dream bed and walks towards the bathroom. A tub of warm water filled with rose petals floating came into view. Lily get into the tub and let the maids washed her body. She never let anyone help her with bathing, but since she doesn't want to create trouble on her first day, she just let them do their job.

"Sofia, did you just said what Arden is waiting downstairs? Does he really get up this early?" Lily is not a morning person. It is already a miracle that she wake up around this time (around 7 am). She will sleep like a log till noon and if she can gain money by sleeping, she can sleep forever.

"To be honest, His highness woke up a bit late today. Usually he will wake one hour before the sun rise. His highness must have enjoy talking to Miss Lily yesterday, thus why he can finally have a good sleep last night." Lily frowned hearing that.

"Does he often have nightmares, is that why he can't sleep well?" Not being able to sleep peacefully, Arden truly has missed the world greatest treasures. 'He must have been depressed or stressed. I've heard some people say that milk mixed with honey works best. I never try but I should recommend it to him.'

To absorbed in talking, Sofia finally realize that they are far behind in preparation.

"Oh no, look at the time. We must not let His highness Arden wait." Sofia pulls Lily from the tub and hurriedly wrap her in a towel before pushing her to the maids in charge for the dress. Lily can't help but flushed red with Sofia sudden action.

'She has seen me naked.' Lily cries in her heart. Lily lets the maid do their job in helping her putting on the dress and applying makeup. Since she didn't bring any spare clothes with her, she could only borrowed the palace ready made dress. Unexpectedly, the dress suited her well and the dress is also very beautiful and looks new. It just like the dress was made for her. 'Has there been a few woman coming to visit Arden before?

Not wanting to meddle into something not of her concern. She walks out from the bedroom, heading towards the dining room. Of course she was led there by Sofia, if not she will certainly lose her way in this huge castle.

Arriving at the dining hall, she saw Arden holding a book in his hand while sipping a tea with the other hand. The table near him are surrounded by several piles of book. He looks busy but this serious looks of him mesmerize Lily. So handsome!

Sensing that someone is look at him. He dropped down his book to face Lily. He faintly smile and tell the maid beside him to clean the table and serve the food. Instantly, the books were gone and the maid started to place dishes on table. Magic! He take a look at Lily again.

"Good morning Lily. Please sit down." Arden pointed to the seat beside him.

"Good morning Arden. You haven't ate your breakfast yet? Don't tell me you wait for me." Lily moves closer and sit near Arden.

"It's okay. I usually eat at this time." Arden didn't lie though. He likes to engross himself in books before eating. He usually eats later than this since he is too absorbed in books, but he don't want to make Lily eat alone. He is a host after all.

They talk while eating. Every conversation they have always filled with laughter. Even the maids has never seen Arden smile and laugh this often.

'Miss Lily must have been a blessing from the heaven for His highness Arden. They suit each other so much.' The maids thought.

Lily never expect to have so much fun in talking with people. Arden is different than the other people she met. He has the same interest as her, and it doesn't take long for them to get along.

Done with eating, Arden and Lily took a walk in the garden. They wanted to continue their conversation somewhere where there are the least people present.

"Taking me here, dismissing other people at that. This must be very important." Lily is not surprised. Her presence here would make anyone here shock. Not anyone can come here without permission.

"How did you came here Lily? Popping up from the sky, I thought it was an attack from the enemy. Luckily you aren't hurt."

"I was in the campus before a woman messed up with me and sent me here. I don't know how, but I noticed that when she's chanting, the ring on her finger shine and disappear with me. I think she use the material that have the code to here. That explain how she can teleport me by herself, the ring must have help her. She probably thought I will die and rot here"

It is exactly just like Arden thought. When the event happen, Arden was reading when suddenly he sense unknown object flying near the Ghost Palace. Just like the empire, the Ghost Palace is also covered in magic array to protect itself from enemy breaching in. Since the magic array didn't have a crack, that's mean Lily didn't come from outside but inside. He goes to the garden only to see Lily falling down from the sky.

"Hmm. As I thought. Well, it's not really a serious matter. The sun shines bright today. It's better for us to get inside now." Arden walks passed Lily, heading back inside. Lily grabbed Arden arms. She couldn't believe what she just heard 'Not important your ass!' Of course she couldn't said that out loud. She can lose her head. Even if Arden treats her well, she is still not comfortable to show her true self yet.

"What do you mean by that? This is serious matter we've got here! This also involve you. And the ring, that's mean the code was leaked!" Aryan stop when he felt his arm was grabbed. He looks at Lily hand which is holding him. He switched his sight to face Lily.

"Tell me." Lily stunned to see Arden gaze on her. 'Why did he stare at me like that? He makes me self conscious.'

"It is Arya Farkol who sent me here"

"Falkor? Hmm…" A faint smile appeared on Arden face. Since Lily is too absorbed in her thinking, she didn't notice Arden special gaze on her.

"Yup, Falkor. She is the daughter of the current prime minister and also the future crown princess. When she is picking on me, the crown prince was also there. If the emperor asked for my disappearance, she will surely lie saying that the teleportation array was meddled with and put the blame on someone else."

"And?" Throughout Lily explanation, Arden never taken his gaze from Lily. But he also doesn't look that interest too.

"She will need a scapegoat and that person is you Arden. Since only you and His Majesty knew the code here."' Lily face Arden expecting to see a shock expression. 'This guy, did he just yawned? Didn't he hear what she just said?'

"Oh is that so. My father isn't that stupid. Worry not. I already knew this beforehand. I'll deal with this."

"What do you mean by you know this beforehand."

"Well, I was the one who sell the ring to Miss Falkor." Arden looks amused seeing the reaction of Lily.

"Say whaaaaaaaaaaat?!!!!!!!"