Chapter 5 Vesper
I raced down the hallway of the Heirs’ Wing, finding the abandoned corridor I had taken to come here. My heart pounds painfully in my chest and my lungs burn but I don’t stop until I get into my room. Alicia and Maureen are still fast asleep thankfully.
I collapse on my bed and go over everything in my head. ‘Fuck I almost got myself killed,’ I think. Thank God I stole Emrys’ paintbrush when I did. I just had a feeling I'd need it to redeem myself sometime.
‘Roan is so hot,’ my dragon purrs in my head.
‘Shut up,’ I shunned. Mena whined but retreated into the corner of my head where she always was when she wasn’t invading my thoughts.
One thing was clear. I wouldn’t succeed in getting any information by trying to sneak in. All thanks to Roan, the sworn blade. I guess I had severely underestimated his dedication to protecting the crown.
Because why else would he be watching over the Crown Prince’ room so late at night?
Now that I had entered Roan’s radar, I had to be more careful. More normal. No more moving around after curfew. I have to be the perfect model of a responsible student.
I sighed. If I couldn’t sneak in, I had to become someone they’d invite willingly. And my gateway in… would be Emrys.
He already liked me. I knew because his gaze lingered whenever we were together. Maybe it was because I pretended as though I was interested in his paintings. Or because I was the only one who took interest in him.
Whatever it was, I needed to keep being around him.
“Professor Nade is so boring. Every fucking class becomes a battle against sleep,” Alicia complains beside me as we walk down to the cafeteria. She’s really full of energy, practically bouncing on her feet and she walks.
“Well. Just think of other things and you won’t fall asleep,” I reply simply.
“I try. It doesn’t work for me.”
“Ohh well. What else can you do?”
She sighs. “By the way. Did Maureen speak to you this morning?”
I shake my head. Muareen. Something about her made me feel uneasy. She was quiet. And quiet people were always trouble.
“She’s such a snob. Maybe she’s still getting used to the academy anyways.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
“Ohh look, it's the Princes.”
I turn towards the direction Alicia points. Truly, the three princes marched down the hallway in the opposite direction, Roan flanked at their side. Emrys catches my gaze and offers a smile. I smile back.
My dragon practically swoons in my head. Mena would be the death of me.
Emrys walks up to me. “Hey. I heard you found my paint brush.” The Crown Prince raises a questioning brow and looks at Roan. Roan nods. As expected, Roan had told on me.
“Yes. Sorry I didn’t return it to you immediately. I wanted to try painting something with it.” The lie flowed out of me easily.
“It’s fine. So? Did you succeed in painting anything?”
I sighed dramatically. “Yes. I painted trash.” He laughed. The sound was smooth like butter. And it made me feel… weird inside. That was not good. At all.
“How ‘bout I teach you a few techniques? Something to get you started on your painting journey. What do you think?”
“I’d appreciate that. Thank you.”
“It’s nothing. I’ll meet you at the art room. You can come when you are done with your lunch.”
“Okay, Emrys.”
I watched as the Princes walked away, turning back to see that a crowd had gathered.
One girl looked very pissed, her face screamed venom. She approached me.
“You. How dare you call the third prince by his name?” I smirked. How I loved mean girls, crushing their overinflated ego brought me so much satisfaction.
“None of your business.” Her eyes widened. Before she could conjure up a reply, I walked past her and into the cafeteria.
Alicia grabbed my arm as we passed through the selection of food to eat.
“Why do you keep pissing the wrong people off? Do you know who that is?”
“I don’t care,” I said, spooning some plain rice onto my plate.
“Well, you should. That’s the Army General’s daughter. Her family has been loyal to the crown for ages. Her father is literally the Emperor’s best friend.”
“So?” I asked.
“What do you mean ‘so’? She can destroy your life. She has power. She literally betrothed to the Crown Prince for gods’ sake.” That stopped me in my tracks. My aunt never told me anything like that.
“Betrothed?”
“Yeah. It’s just a rumor. But I’m positive it’s true.” We walk to a random table and take a seat.
“And how would you know that?”
I’m not supposed to say this but…” Alicia looks around us as though checking if someone was listening to us. Confirming that we were out of earshot from everyone, she turned back to me. “... I saw them fucking.”
I choke on rice, breaking into a fit of coughs. Alicia pats my back gently.
“What?” I manage to ask when I finally get hold of myself.
“Yeah, that was my reaction too.”
Lunch passed in a blur as I thought about what Alicia had said.
Kaelen was fucking the general’s daughter. Not just that, he was betrothed to her. This was new information I had to look into. If they were truly betrothed, then there was some sort of benefit both sides were gaining.
If I broke the engagement, both sides would lose out on those gains. And it could estrange their relationship. What was the crown without its defender? Vulnerable. Without its defender, the crown would be vulnerable.
I smiled. ‘Aunt, I’m getting closer.’
“Vesper!!” I turned to look at Alicia, shaken from my thoughts. “I’ve called your name a gazillion times. Where is your head?”
I sighed. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s fine. Don’t you have to meet Emrys?”
I looked at my watch. Right, Emrys.
“Yeah. Let me get going.”
“Okayyy. Give me all the juicy details when you are back.” Alicia chirped.
I rolled my eyes at her. “I’m going to learn to paint. What juicy details?”
“I’ll take whatever I can get.”
I sigh and walk away, not bothering to reply. The path to the art room was quiet, leaving me to my thoughts.
I continue walking until the art room door appears in front of me. I notice it’s slightly ajar. Emrys must be inside already.
Then I hear it. Groans. Breathy and heavy with pleasure. I pause. Was someone having sex?
“Fuck. Vesper.”
Every muscle in my body locked.
