Chapter 21: Azef (3)

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-Rama

Chapter 21

"What is it?" I questioned as I sipped away at the coffee, the aroma calming me.

I couldn't remember the last time I had actually been able to see coffee. I remember serving it but never really having it. The aroma familiar but the taste foreign. Even after I had married Anthony, as luxurious as I thought I would live, I never experienced it because not long after we marry, I get accused.

"Winter?" Zachary called out bringing me out of my thoughts. "Is something wrong? Is the coffee not to your liking?" he questioned concerned.

"No, your highness, I had just gotten lost in thought," I said as I flustered slightly. He simply hummed as he continued what he was saying.

"Well, since the wedding will be held soon, I think we shouldn't have anything too grand." He said as he started his breakfast.

"So, an informal wedding?" I questioned.

"Not really informal, you are still becoming the Crown Princess and will be named my empress, but it's just to keep a few eyes off us. We won be parading through the town to receives the kingdoms people's praise," he said. "I hope I am not stripping you away from something you really want to do,"

"No, no, its perfectly fine, your highness, I don't mind anything small really-," I started as he cut me off.

"Zach,"

"Pardon?"

"Call me Zach," he said.

"How do I dare to your highness,"

"You are not daring to do anything, I refuse to live with a wife who calls to me with my title, you are the only person who is my equal," he spoke as he placed his hand on mine, making my heart flutter slightly.

I pulled my hand back trying to calm my thumping heart as I felt heat rush across my face. Looking down at my meal, I tried to get the staring eyes to look away. The servants' full attention was on me, and I couldn't help but squirm in my chair slightly.

"The remaining things will be handled, all you need to do is prepare beautifully and show up," he said as he smiled excusing himself.

Why was it that this man's words were like honey coating my ears? Was it because there were too many gazes or was it because he really meant them sincerely? I didn't know. With a husband like Zachary, it felt as though there were a lot of things I didn't know. Sighing, I continued my breakfast and excused myself.

The rest of the day after breakfast had gone quite excruciatingly slow. Having to follow Allen continuously through the palace, trying to get myself familiar with every nook and cranny. Even though I did not need to know it, I still felt being able to navigate myself within the palace walls was going to give me a better advantage. We had passed the wing Zachary had said to avoid, but I could not help but let curiosity perk.

"Allen?" I questioned.

"Yes, My lady?"

"Is there something dangerous in there?"

"Dangerous? No, nothing of that sort, well, to you that is,"

Nothing dangerous to me? So, did that mean it was dangerous to others?

"There is no need to trouble yourself, my lady, you will know when the time is right," he said. I nodded as I began turning only for gold to catch my eyes.

I turned around quickly only for nothing to be there, was I paranoid or overly curious to be seeing things?

"is something wrong my lady?" Allen questioned.

"No, it is nothing, I just thought I saw someone," I said as I shook my head, "Shall we continue?"

I followed Allen, a small, unsettling feeling of being watched making its way into my heart. Was I really imagining that?

*

Azef stood behind the wall until the clacking of her heels slowly faded. He had almost gotten caught. Luckily it was Allen that was escorting her if it had been his father, who knows what would have happened.

Though Azef agreed to listen to Zachary and wait, he couldn't help but let his curiosity get the best of him. She was really pretty. Her silver hair and blue eyes really sparkled under the sun and Azef felt awe as he watched the beautiful big sister walk away.

A woman like her was going to become his mother. she looked kind but Azef had learnt through the years, that you could not judge a book by a cover. She could be like all those other women and adults, who had put up a front before him only to hurt and exploit him afterwards.

He couldn't remain naïve, he needed to inspect this big sister. But he could only do it from behind the walls of the West wing. He wanted to confirm with his own eyes and solid evidence that perhaps if she had met him, she would like him.

'Like you? Love you? Kindness? Do you really believe that?' a small whisper echoed as his eyes shined red.

Did he really believe that? He wanted to. His father had told him that she may like him, so he wanted to hold on to those words. For some reason, he wanted to hope, to trust that maybe this big sister was really different.

Sighing Azef, looked again at the spot that she had previously occupied before walking off.

"Let us first head back, things won't look good if I am caught and father hadn't explained anything to her."

Azef was unknown to the world, and only the emperor knew of his existence. The empress had been sniffing around but had gotten nowhere near discovering him. He didn't know why his father kept him hidden, but he was aware that it was perhaps it was because he was different.

At least that's what he had been told all his life. A monster.

Azef turned cold in the thought of the memories, as he sighed making his way back deeper within the west wing of the palace.