Chapter 014

My eyes widened more as George crouched down, dousing the fire with his bare hands.

I reached down to stop him but he tore the train away and scooped me up.

Gasped rippled through the garden as the king of Keyes turned, leaving the grand festival halfway with me in his hands.

I had read so many books about these traditions, they had to be followed to the book, else. It could wreak calamity and wars.

Whatever was he doing?

"Unhand me! We have to return!"

"Are you alright?" He said as we entered his chamber, "Does it hurt anywhere? Are you bruised?" He asked as he sat me down.

"I am of perfect health, George. We need to return there and —"

"There's a fire back there, Ana. I cannot lose you twice!"

Our eyes locked and for a moment, I stopped breathing. My breath caught in my throat and struggled to find its way out.

What did he mean by twice? I had only been caught in a fire once.

"Whatever do you mean?" I asked and he ran his hands through his hair pacing to and fro.

Now that we were facing each other, I could see the lines of worry on his forehead and how his hands trembled slightly.

I stood, but he caught me when I winced, our lips brushed against each other once more.

"The festive—" I tried to speak but he pressed his finger against my lips.

"How many times shall I infirm that you transcend all of that?"

My heart ached at his heavy breaths and I found myself hugging him. I didn't know why, but It felt like the right now.

Perhaps, I would twist and turn at night in regret but in this moment, I wanted him to stop or breathe lest he breathed his last.

My gaze drifted to his hand and I bit hard on my bottom lip when I realised it was bruised with burns. I reached for it and took it into mine.

"Sit, I shall tend to your burns."

"Your feet are also burnt. Shall we tend to each other's burns?"

"There is a festival outside. It is held in honor of you—"

"In honor of us, until tomorrow, you are still Queen."

I raised my feet and placed it on the bed. George's lip twitched at the gesture. "I reckon the only that matters is what happens after. This shall be the past tomorrow."

"You sound more delighted than I am." George rolled his eyes.

Our gaze met. A soft laugh escaped my lips and I tended to his wounds, his hands massaged my feet as if it was the most delicate thing in the world.

I feared to continue tending to his wounds, terrified I would never be able to watch the amount of attention and dedication he was showering on mine

Did George love me? Or was I a stupid girl stuck in a fairytale?

Well, I was no beauty and he was not a beast.

"Be careful. Speak your mind and say it out loud. Even if you shall leave tomorrow. Even better. Leave your mark. Do not let anyone harm you on your way out."

I frowned at his cryptic words before realization hit me. "This was not an accident, was it?" I asked, standing up.

He tried to stop me but I held my hand up. "Someone tried to kill me."

"Yes," George admitted.

"Was a Royal? Was it your mother?"

"Yes. No."

"Another Royal? That aunty with a birdnest for hair or…" I trailed off as realization washed over me. "Your sister?"

I strolled past the dark-haired man to the door of the chamber. "Whatever have I done to her?" I raised an eyebrow. "We have not even had a proper greeting."

"I shall not involve myself in these matters and as per that greeting. I suggest you do so after some rest."

"Rest?" I repeated, my words sounded like he had said the stupidest thing. "One festival has been halted and another one will be ruined if I rest."

George furrowed his eyebrow. His build towering over me as he spoke. "That is an order, rest."

"I do not follow orders. You should know that by now." I retorted, closing the distance between us. "Besides, Do not care about your honor?"

"If I do not care about my honor, what is that to you? It has nothing to do with you. These are my losses and my wins. You are leaving, Ana. Leave me in one piece."

He turned to leave and I spoke as his hand lingered on the doorknob.

"Unfortunately, you are mine to break however I wish, until the festival is over."

"Anasta—"

"Your Highness!" A maid burst in.

"How dare you?!" George boomed and I almost flinched at the sound of his voice. "Get out."

"But, Your Highness —"

"Unless you wish to lose your head, excuse us."

"Whatever is it, Aidel? You look worried." I stepped forward.

"Are you going against me, Ana?"

"You said it yourself. Your bidding is none of mine and as such, mine is none of yours. The maid is here to see me." I informed him and we had a silent conversation with our eyes before he strolled over to the bed and sat.

"The saffron, your highness. It is missing, all of it missing!"

My eyes widened and George stood.

"What?!" He growled. "All of you had one job and you ruined it? Are you so utterly useless? Shall I relieve you of your lives?"

"Is unliving people a hobby of yours?"I quipped, glaring daggers into his skin.

"It is one I cherish the most. Do you want to give it a try?" He pulled out a dagger and I bit back a smile. "Here, this is yours."

"All this time, It was in there. Were you planning to kill me? Or rather, how sure are you that it shall not unalive you here and now?"

"Shall we find saffron first?"

"You have a point." I said, "Where can we find more saffron?"

"In the store room, but her Majesty might not—"

"Follow me," George said, strolling past me.

I rolled my eyes and carried my train, following him down the hall into the dreaded storeroom where I almost lost my life.

"I can almost feel the snake moving," I commented with a sigh as we stepped in.

George walked over to a drawer and started looking. I gestured at the maid. "Does he frequent the kitchen?"

"His Highness has only entered this kitchen four times in his lifetime, and it has either been while he was trailing after you or while you were already inside."

What shall do with that information?

"Thank you."

"I found it" George boasted, turning round with a large jug in his hands.

On the other hand, my gaze caught a photo. My breath hitched in my throat as I registered it. This wasn't just any photo.

This was a photo of the girl I had seen in my dreams for years. Could she be the same…

"You know, another one of my hobbies is finding important —"

"How did you get this photo, George?"