1.8 Nighttime Investigations

Her arms trembled as she stared at the dripping, bloody knife that stared back at her from the drawer. What should she do? She shouldn't touch it, right? Running to the bathroom and grabbed a towel, she ran back to the closet. She picked up the blade gingerly with the towel and wrapped it up. She brought it into the primary area of the suite and dropped it on the coffee table next to Eli.

"That was in my closet." She gasped. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she ran her hand through her hair. Someone had been in here, someone had planted it. She shivered. She didn't feel secure in her own room.

There was a rattling from her terrace door, and she gasped. She stared at the closed door and heard the soft tapping against it. Walking slowly to the door, she turned to Eli, who shrugged and sat casually on the bed. Setia moved to the door and slowly opened it. Only to sigh in relief.

The prince leaned casually against the door frame, a sheepish smile on his lips. Setia stared at him with a straight face, remembering the grave look of doubt he had given her in the ballroom. But his love meter hadn't gone down. He held his hands up.

"Can I come in?" He asked softly. She nodded and moved to the side, gesturing for him to come in. Setia shivered when a breeze hit her shoulders, and she was aware of how thin the fabric of the nightgown was against her curves. She was wearing nothing underneath.

"Do you suspect me too?" Setia asked softly. The prince sighed and sat down on the edge of her bed. Setia stood across from him and crossed her arms.

"At first your people seemed like the obvious culprits, yet with thought I know you were with me much of the evening. I saw you with the General, after that. I remember because I hated him talking to you." His face was earnest. He stood, reached to touch her cheek. "I don't think you want to hurt us." He said. Setia shook her head. She was supposed to be reporting back to her father, but she couldn't think of anything negative she would report. She didn't want to hurt them.

"I want what's best for both of our kingdoms." She said honestly. He nodded and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"I should have believed you right away. I was just scared, scared I was being tricked." He bit his lower lip. He was so much taller than her. Staring down, his body suddenly very close to hers. His fingertips brushed the side of her face.

"Do you still believe I'm a trick?" She said, her voice breathless. She could smell the cinnamon and cloves smell coming from him. His breath was on her face. He shook his head almost imperceptibly.

"I think I don't want to be woken up." His lips gently found hers. She gasped into the kiss and felt his lips firmly against hers. She returned the kiss and placed her hands on his arms, his arms wrapped around her, and pulled her close. His tongue asked for entrance and she granted it. Her head swam with the heady scent of him. She broke the kiss. She felt her chest pressed against his, her nipples erect through the thin lace of her gown. He was also breathing heavily, his cheeks were flushed.

(Ding! Love meter has raised to 30%)

"I have to tell you something." She said honestly and pushed herself away from him. He looked confused, and his arms reached out to her for a moment, then fell to their sides. She moved to the coffee table and picked up the towel-bundle. She brought it around to where the prince leaned against her bed. Slowly, she unravelled the towel.

"Someone planted this in my room tonight." She opened the towel, revealing the weapon. The prince gasped. His eyes shooting to her, wide. The murder weapon was in her hands. She knew what it looked like. Would he trust her? He sighed and took a deep breath.

"We should get General Elarion." The Prince commanded. Setia nodded.

"Okay." She said. Sitting down on the bed, staring at her hands.

General Elarion swept into the room a short time later. Setia had her arms wrapped around herself and she sat on the bed. The Prince leaned against the wall on the opposite side of the room.

"Tell me what's happened." Elarion said quickly, taking in the room with a professional sweep of his gaze. If Setia saw correctly, his gaze lingered over her scantily clad form, and she saw a flash of hunger in his eyes. Then he looked at the bundle on the table.

"I came back from the ball and went into my closet to change. Someone had tucked that into the drawer in the desk. I noticed the drawer ajar and found it. I had a feeling that someone had been in my room when I came in…" she trailed off. Elarion nodded. He had been with her when she had come back to the room.

"I saw the state of your dress when you returned. I don't think you would have been able to hide a blood-soaked weapon." He mumbled. Setia's cheeks flushed as she recalled hiking her skirts up around her waist to climb the vines. He had certainly seen she wasn't hiding anything! She saw the Prince's gaze narrow, and he looked back and forth between them. No one said a word.

"If I had done this, I certainly wouldn't have been dumb enough to bring the blood-soaked weapon back to my suites." Setia said indignantly. Both the prince and Elarion nodded.

"Someone is trying very hard to make it look like you did this." Elarion said. "You must lie low for the time being, while we investigate."

Setia sighed and nodded, not liking that she had to sit idly by and wait. She bit her lower lip and gazed at the two men, who were examining each other.

"Could I speak with you outside on the way back to the scene, your highness?" Elarion asked tentatively. The look in his eyes gave Setia the impression he didn't want the prince alone with her. She tried to stifle a giggle. The Prince looked to her.

"Will you be alright?" He asked. Looking around her room. Setia nodded. She was a little worried about being in the room alone, given someone had made it inside her room and planted the weapon, but she was also eager to be alone.

"I will be ready for anything. For now, I wish to simply get some rest. It's been a trying night." Setia said. The men nodded and made to leave her room. She shut the door softly behind them.

As they left, she leaned against the wall. She knew who had likely done this, thinking back to the sinister sneer on Lina's face. She had something to do with this, but Setia had no proof. For now, she could only stay silent, or she would come across the jealous woman.

(Ding! Court Approval meter has increased to 10%). She sighed in relief and leaned against the door. Opening her eyes, she saw her large claymore leaning against the wall. She went to grip it. Holding the weapon with her, she climbed into the soft bed and closed her eyes to go to sleep.