Chapter 19

BALCROFT (THE ROYALCASTLE).

Zelda's POV

I sit before a desk in Aidan's chamber randomly going through the piles of paper littered on his desk when a drawing catches my attention.

It's one of a lady, a beautiful one whose eyes looks hollow and lifeless. She's blazing with fire which seems to be wrapped around her like a lover. Staring at the drawing more, I become attracted to it despite it's horrifying depiction.

I drift my gaze away from it and flip to the next paper which is attached to it by a thread. Boldly written as a heading is 'The Gilmorsh Creatures'. Curious to know it's content, I read through each line as it describes the people of Gilmorsh as magical creatures who were exiled decades ago to a distant place known as the Isle of Gilmorsh. It also entails how they are known to wield unparalleled supernatural powers, their magical abilities and so on.

Flipping to the next page which contains their religion which I find complicated to understand, I go ahead to flip again when a knock is heard. Scurrying, I close the book placing other random papers on it before I stand, smooth out my skirt and say an 'enter'.

A young lady pulls a cart into the chamber and I squint staring at her curiously as I haven't met her before. Aidan only authorises Aine and one other maid to serve me so it's a surprise to see a new maid.

Trying to acquaint myself with her, I smile and decide to ask about her name.

She pulls her scarf lower before bending on a knee with her head bent low while greeting. I find it odd owing to the fact that the other maids I've come across greeted with a slight bow or ignored me completely owing to the fact that I'm not lawfully married to Aidan but just a mistress as they think, but I don't bother since I care less about it.

"Mistress." She says.

"Should I cut the fruits now?" She asks still in the same position.

I drift out of my thoughts and clear my throat, "What's your name?" I ask.

"Lucia, mistress." She answers.

"Okay Lucia, you should stand."

Slowly, she stands with uncertainty. As she does, the scarf pulls back to reveal her face which looks angelic.

"Thank you for bringing these up to me. When next you wish to address me, call me Zelda, it's perfectly okay by me, no need for the mistress tittle. And a little bow or gesticulation can suffice for greeting, okay?" I ask her.

She lifts her eyes to meet mine, still with uncertainty lingering in her eyes, she nods slowly. I huff as I realise that I might not get acquainted enough with her to the level of my expectation.

She serves the fruits, cuts them up and bows again exactly like I asked her not to and leaves.

I watch as she closes the door before going back to the desk and slump on the seat. Going through the papers on the desk again to find the file I was reading earlier, I come across a folded thick paper. Opening it, I see a map which above it is boldly inscribed 'The Isle of Gilmorsh', with marked places named the venine temple, Arga, etc.

With furrowed brows and also marred with confusion, I wonder what Aidan intends to do with these information regarding Gilmorsh. I stand, arrange the papers on the desk swiftly, clip my hair to the side and leave the room.

It takes some minute before I arrive at the servant's quarters to Aines' room and knock swiftly. She doesn't respond and I turn the door knob to find the room empty.

I walk to the kitchen where I might find her and on the way there get pulled to a corner swiftly. I squirm under the person's grip before I'm released.

"What do you think you're...?" I ask before being cut off by the sight Kayden standing before me.

"Kayden!" I scream and engulf him in a hug while crying.

He hugs me back while patting my back to slowly disengage and hold my face.

"What happened that day, Kayden?" I ask.

He sighs and bringing his hands down, holds mine while staring at me.

"A lot." He answers vaguely lifting his hand to slowly push back the hairs that escaped from the pin and frames my face.

I dab my sleeves on my eyes to wipe the tears.

"You are not safe here, Kayden. The people of Gilmorsh are not accepted here, you have to leave before you're found." I say to him.

He furrows his brows in confusion as though questioning my source of knowledge regarding his identity.

"Aidan told me about it. How you disappeared into the thin air that night after the incident, he's aware of your identity." I say to him.

He shoots his brow up in realisation and says, "I didn't mean to leave you that night. The situation was tough that I had to abort my plan of saving you that night to devise another which brings me here."

"Saving me from what, Kayden? If it's Aidan you're worried about and risked your life to come here then you should go as you shouldn't be worried about him. The Balcroft kingdom strictly forbids the Gilmorsh's here Kayden, and I don't want you killed because of me. You should leave." I say in exasperation and finality.

He scoffs, "The people of Gilmorsh are forbidden here? That means you'll have to leave too, mistress."

I frown at his words as he continues. "Please don't tell me that Prince Aidan hasn't entertained that thought already. He saw first hand what happened that night, Zelda, how could he not know then, hmmm?"

"I don't wish to talk about this, Kayden. If you need any assistance leaving, let me know." I say and turn to leave when he pulls me back, his grip tight.

"You wish to stay here? Do you know the fate that awaits you here should your powers be discovered and your identity as a Gilmorsh be confirmed and made known to King Edward and the elders? Do you know what'll happen, Griselda? You'll be burnt." He says whispering the last part in my ear.

"They're that cruel, Griselda. They care for non but themselves, unfortunately Prince Aidan is not excluded from this." He says in a bitter tone while staring at me.

"I have to go before my absence is noticed when Aidan comes back." I say writhing my hands away from his.

He chuckles and bringing out a ring from his index fingers slips it onto mine.

"This belongs to you, keep it with you always."

I frown as I twist the ring on my finger, noticing the faint carvings and writings that seems to swirl.

"We'll meet tomorrow at the Royal archive located on the floor above the servant's quarters." He says.

"And how am I supposed to do that? Aidan rarely lets me out of his sight." I ask in irritation.

"But here you are, Griselda." He says smirking.

Rubbing my brows, I nod avoiding eye contact with him. He pecks my forehead and with a slight breeze he disappears.

Turning the ring he placed on my finger, I bring it out and hide it within my dress before scurrying off to Aidan's chamber.