billion book
32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
As I stumbled back to my room, I felt the start of a headache I had been experiencing grow into a full-blown migraine. My vision started to blur, and suddenly I was transported to a strange and unfamiliar place.
I saw the image of two people, a king, and a queen, running for their lives, holding hands with a small child between them. The child had red hair, and it was clear she bore a striking resemblance to her parents. The king and queen looked frantic, their eyes darting back and forth as they ran.
As I tried to focus on the child, I felt a strange familiarity wash over me. It was like I knew her from somewhere, but I couldn’t quite place it. She looked up at her parents with a mix of fear and trust, and I felt my heart swell with compassion for her.
I wanted to hear what the king and queen were saying to each other, but their words were muffled and indistinct. I could only see their lips moving as if they were having a frantic conversation. I felt like I was watching a theater, where no words were spoken. I felt my vision clear as the migraine calmed down enough.
Despite my efforts to stay awake and find out more, my migraine was too strong and I suddenly found myself falling back onto the bed, my eyes closing as I fell into a deep sleep. The image of the red-haired girl stayed with me, haunting me as I dreamed.
I woke up feeling refreshed and eager to start another day in the castle. I was looking forward to helping out in the stables, as I was excited to see Angela, the 14-summer old girl who I found adorable and who played the flute so beautifully.
I made my way to the stables, taking in the sights and sounds of the castle as I walked. The stables were located in a large, open area at the back of the castle, surrounded by lush green fields and rolling hills. The smell of horses and hay filled the air, and the sounds of horses whinnying and the clanging of horseshoes echoed through the open space.
As I arrived, I saw Angela already inside, grooming one of the horses. I walked over to her, smiling as she looked up and saw me.
“Good morning, Angela!” I said, my voice filled with excitement.
“Good morning, Alice!” she replied, her face lighting up with a grin.
We spent a few minutes chatting and catching up, talking about the horses and her flute playing. Just as we were getting into a good conversation, a man walked in, an older man with a friendly face. Angela’s grandfather, who she had told me so much about.
“Good morning, young ladies,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “What brings you two here today?”
“We’re here to help out in the stables,” I replied.
“Ah, I see,” he said, nodding. “Well, I’m sure you’ll both be a great help. I’m here to check on the horses, and make sure they’re all doing well.”
As the three of us worked together, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth and comfort in the stables. The work was hard, but it was also rewarding, and being surrounded by beautiful horses and friendly people made it all the more enjoyable.
I walked back to the castle later feeling a bit tired. I was greeted by Roxane, one of the maids who worked in the castle and as I would like to call her ‘the information carrier’, she is way more efficient than letters. She had a conspiratorial look in her eye and motioned for me to come closer.
“Alice,” she whispered. “Have you heard the latest rumor about the lost kingdom?”
I shook my head, curious. “No, I haven’t. What is it?”
“People are saying that it was the King who killed the monarchs to steal their wealth,” she said, her voice low. “Some say he was unfaithful and couldn’t stand the idea of someone else having so much power and wealth.”
I was shocked by the rumors. It was hard to believe that the King, someone who was respected and revered by so many, could do something so cruel. But at the same time, I knew that people often spread false rumors and gossip, and it was best not to believe everything I heard.
“I wouldn’t pay too much attention to rumors, Roxane,” I said, trying to keep my voice light. “They’re often spread by people with their own agenda, and they’re not always true.”
“I know, I know,” she said, waving her hand dismissively. “But it’s still good to be careful and vigilant. You never know what might be true and what might not be.”
I nodded, grateful for her advice. I knew that I needed to be careful in this new world and always keep my eyes and ears open. With a promise to be careful, I bid Roxanne farewell and continued on my way back to the castle.
I walked with just one destination in mind and that was my room to freshen up, I realized that I was craving Edward’s company more and more these past few days and the feeling of loneliness I feel anytime I think of the lost kingdom was not helping.
I wore a clean dress and made my way to Edward’s room. As I walked into Edward’s room, I was suddenly hit with a rush of embarrassment as I realized that I had entered without knocking. Edward was just finishing his bath, and he was without a shirt. I felt my face turn bright red as I blushed, completely caught off guard by the sight before me.
But Edward just laughed and teased me, saying, “You own my heart, Alice, so you own all of that too.” He grinned as he reached for a shirt, slipping it on to put me at ease.
I let out a small laugh, still feeling a little embarrassed but grateful for his understanding. I then brought up the topic of the lost kingdom, which the King had been so reluctant to speak about.
“Edward, I heard that the King hasn’t said anything about the lost kingdom, and people are starting to think that there’s some truth to the rumors,” I said, worried.
Edward sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “It’s not that the King doesn’t want to speak about it, Alice. It’s just that this is a sensitive matter, and he wants to make sure he has all the information before he makes any official statement.”
Just then, Prince Andrew walked into the room, giving his own opinion on the matter. “Don’t believe the rumors, Alice,” he said kindly. “The King will speak when the time is right. In the meantime, just focus on enjoying your life here with us.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
I nodded, grateful for their advice. I knew that I needed to be patient and trust the King’s judgment. I was grateful to have Edward and Andrew on my side, and I felt comforted knowing that I had their support.
I left Edward’s room and headed back to my own, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Sure enough, as the evening wore on, I started to feel the familiar twinge of a headache coming on. This time, when the vision appeared, I found myself watching the king, queen, and their daughter galloping on horseback as if I was watching a play at the theater.
As I watched, I was once again drawn to the little girl. This time, however, she looked straight at me, and for a moment, I felt like we were making eye contact. It was a strange, surreal feeling, and I jolted back to reality, feeling drained from the experience.
I collapsed onto my bed and slept, feeling exhausted from the visions that seemed to be plaguing me. I couldn’t help but wonder what they meant and why I was having these vivid experiences. I hoped that they would make sense to me someday, but for now, I just needed to get some rest and let my mind and body recover.