Within the Greenhouse, Audrey and her maids sat on a bench while Vincy was standing few meters away from them. One of the places that has captured her heart in the Palace, infact the whole castle was beautiful, so extravagant compared to their castle back at Dillonia. But the Greenhouse was somewhat unique and peaceful, different kinds of flowers were just so breathtaking, and the smell is heavenly! such qn amazing and comforting place.
The way the gardener has designed it was very eye-catching, the several fountains, water streaming down according to their designs, such a marvelous work of ar! Too bad the genius gardener is already gone, to a better place or so she thought. If the man was alive then she would've personally rewarded him for such creation.
When she inquired about him, Vincy told her the man had a very tragic death, he was found dead within the Greenhouse, his body was all messed up that he had to get buried as soon as possible. Such a sad ending, they say your work would be the death of you someday and he was a real life definition of the say.
Sigh.... she sipped down her aromatic tea, breathing freely like any bird that was once caged but now was free to spread its wings and fly.
Suddenly the whispers came hitting at her back again with the cold breeze, "Come to me, Audrey!" she froze .... gasping loudly, the tea cup slipping from her hand, it shattered and scattered on the ground surprising all of her maids.
"My Queen!" "Your highness!" they all blurted taken aback with her pale and frightened face, Vincy strode to them quickly, she placed her hand on her chest, her was thudding, getting goosebumps all of a sudden, it felt like someone has placed her below the bell and ranged it freezing all of her nerves.
The worst part was that, she was the only one who could hear it, Unbelievable! Just who was it that was calling her? What do they want from her? Where was it coming from to start with? the questions kept ringing on her head.
"Your highness, is everything alright?" "Are you sick?" "Should we head back to your chamber?" they all expressed their worries through their questions.
For some reason, she can't open up to anyone about the matter even if she wanted to, its like her tongue was tied. She sighed .... "I-I'm fine, just ... goosebumps, its getting cold here" she gave them a fake smile to assure her lies.
They were all obviously not believing what she just said, What was she thinking? Goosebumps Audrey? but its not even a cold season yet ... they knew she was lying but they wouldn't dare to ask her because it looked like she wasn't ready to open up.
Seeing their unconvinced faces, she bitten the inside of her cheeks thinking of what to do to divert the awkward atmosphere.
She abruptly stood up with a hundred sum of energy "Vincent, I want to do archery with you" she uttered and added excitement on her face along with it.
Vincy creased his eyes at her "Now? Your highness?" he questioned because their if their Queen was an animal then she would probably be a chameleon, she switched her attitude in a blink of an eye.
It was at evening with not so many people around the castle except for the maids running their errands, he must say she knew a perfect timing. If it were some hours ago than their session would've been hindered by noisy ministers and officials around the castle.
Who would compliment her for her skills but deep down they were just looking for a chance to create connections with the Queen, Vincy would protect the Queen from such hideous leaders.
"Yes now! lead the way" she uttered fully enrgized. Vincy bowed to her "This way my Queen" he pointed his hand to the exit.
They all went ahead and except for Annie, she wasn't convinced at all by Audrey's reasoning behind her weird behaviour just a moment ago. "Goosebumps? But that frightened? No way!" she said within her rubbing her chin.
"Are you planning to sleep here?" she snapped back from Vincent's tease and, she gave him an awkward smile started to jog so she could meet up with the Queen.
Vincy was suspicious of the Queen's response as well, her words .... she said she was fine but her body back then showed otherwise. She looked extremely shocked, he didn't miss her trembling hands, he lifted his head and looked at Audrey 'What are you hiding my Queen?' he said within him frowning, he was walking behind them , his black sword gripped on his firm right hand matching with his black robe.
Acine was biting her nails out of nervousness, if this keep going on then she would probably leave her fingers without nails, his sudden call mad her nervous and worried, she wondered what made him call her to his study all of a sudden, he could've just gone to her room instead if he needed her ... like always.
"It's rude to keep the King waiting my lady" she heard a deep ad familiar voice that startled her a but she quickly composed herself and face him. "Of course! royal Knight Fene!" she smiles at him but the man just looked at her lazily with his emotionless eyes, so sharp as if he was detecting and inspecting her down with just his look.
Upon seeing no response from him, she turned around cussing silently 'This f****** insect! How dare he give me that look?' she breathed silently and made her way to the call, taking a deep breath she opened the door with her seductive smile already plastered ok her face.
She walked inside her eyes taking inside the view, but the table where she would always found him sitted was empty today. She scanned the room searching for him, suddenly a deep voice snapped startling her "You are here" his tone was as calm as stilled water.
Acine walked towards the library side, where the voice came from, there were book shelves decorated with many books .... neatly. He was standing behind one of the shelfs, that's why she couldn't sight him when she entered.
Walking gracefully to him she wrapped her hands around his waist and back hugged him, her head leaning on his back."Mmmm... I missed you" she said making sure her voice was as sweet as possible.
Levy, didn't respond to any of her advances which made her frown, he noticed a bit change in him today and it started to trouble her. Why wasn't he hugging her back? she pulled away and the man turned to face her, she looked up at him since she was way shorter to him. "Is there a problem my King?" she asked sadly, she wasn't used to this coldness of his.
Levyndrion looked down at her quietly for a while, his eyes seemed like they were scanning her soul. He walked past her and went to sit on his royal chair by the table, not facing her "Sit!" came an order.
Acine was surprised by his sudden behaviour. What happened to him? Was he ignoring her? she thought. Looking at him, he was oozing with cold gazes and intimidating aura, shocking her even more! Questioning herself if she did something wrong.
Her heart was beating harshly loud, she just hoped he wouldn't hear the sound of it. She gulped and went to sit on one amongst the two chairs before the King's table, she looked at him quietly clasping her hands together.
"Where were you last night? I came to you but you! .... were not there" he said writing down something on a new parchment, the 'you' was strongly emphasised.
Acine gripped her hands tightly, her eyes widening and heartbeats running faster, if the people thought she was very doted by the King then they should try to be on her shoes right now, she thought.
"La... last night?" she stuttered 'He came?' she was shocked by his words, 'Oh god! What am I gonna do now?' she screamed within her not knowing what to say or where to start. And if she doesn't do anything now! while she still can ... she was scared Levyndrion would rip her limbs apart, something that he was famous for.
"I- I was ... I just down town for fresh air my King" she spelled her lies with great difficulty, plastering her smile which didn't seem to be working on him today .... surprisingly. His seemed deadly, his Amber eyes were now like fire balls.
She clenched her dress with her sweaty hands, the man wasn't even reacting to any of her words yet and it was killing her, feeling her hours to live were numbered, she might be named as 'The late Acine'. She was horrified just by the thought of it.
"Fresh air outside the castle? that's too at night time?" he said slamming his hands on the table .... real hard. She almost jumped from her seat, frightened was an understatement.
She quickly went down to her knees, "My King! please calm down! I was ... I was lonely! you haven't come to me for two days straight!" she reasoned loudly, pleading for her dear throat.
Levyndrion was and still are madly in love with her but that doesn't mean he would let her off the hook if he found out she was cheating on her, that she was very aware of, if there is one thing that he hated then its lies.
She have witnessed couple of heads rolling down from their bodies to the ground, she gulped thinking hers is on their as well. 'No! he wouldn't .... kill her right?' she was puzzled.
"Is there something I should know Acine" she heard him say again not even sparing a glance at her, her blood dried all of a sudden. "No! I'm not hiding anything from you my King! trust me" she said in panic.
"I never said you were" came his nonchalant remark.
'Damn it!' she cursed her stupid mouth for blabbering, talking only to trap herself. Before she couldn't even open her mouth to retort, she was cut off coldly "Leave!" his words and voice were too harsh and distant.
The tears that she usually forces to come out everyday, today rolled down her cheeks on their own. For couple of years, all those years she had lived with him .... something like this has never happened, let alone not looking at her face.
He never told her to leave no matter how many times they quarrel. She lifted her head looking at him, his emotionless face, the anger inside his eyes said it all how much dissapointed he was in her.
"M ..mm... my King please forgive me" she was pleading as she teared even more, she had never called herself such names before.
"I said to leave! " he roared making her gasp, she quickly got
up and ran out of the room with sobs.
Levyndrion slammed his hand on the table so hard that one of the legs broke down, she was lying right at his face! How dare she ? he let out a deeps breath calming himself from rage.