The Lords were kind enough to help her find her brother. Lord Quintus was the one to talk to her, the other two were silent and just followed them.
"Where are we going, My Lord?" Angelica asked."I think your brother might be with His Majesty," Lord Quintus replied.Why would her brother be with the King?They took her to the parlour where the King had taken her the previous night. Just as Lord Quintus predicted, her brother was sitting with the King and they were chatting animatedly.Angelica was both surprised and confused.The King turned to them, and his eyes narrowed upon seeing her."Lady Davis came here looking for her brother," Lord Quintus explained.Her brother turned around and was surprised to see her.The King leaned back on his couch and tilted his head to one side as he looked at her.Angelica curtsied. "Your Majesty, I am sorry to disturb you this late.""Not at all. Please come and sit." He motioned toward the sofa next to him.Angelica didn't know why she looked over at Lord Quintus, as if he would be any less dangerous. He looked lethal, with those silver eyes glistening like the sharp tip of a sword. His raven hair and pale skin that looked like it had never seen the sun made him look both dead and handsome. Such an odd looking creature.He gave her a smile that was meant to be assuring but it only made him look predatory.Angelica turned back to the King and went to sit on the sofa, opposite her brother. "Why are you still here?" she asked him."Father said to wait for him, but he never came back," her brother replied.Where could her father be?Angelica looked at the King, "I am sorry for the disturbance, Your Majesty." She apologized again.Where was her father, and what was he doing?He smiled at her. "No need to apologize. Your brother is pleasant company and I got to see you again."The King was good with words, and his charming smile didn't make things easier for her. She smiled back awkwardly, then averted her gaze. As if magnetically drawn to Lord Rayven she looked into his eyes out of all the people in the room. He had been watching her, just like the other two Lords and the King. But while everyone looked at her with curiosity, he looked at her with distaste."Do you know where your father could be?" The King asked, getting her attention again."No, Your Majesty. This is the first time something like this has happened," she said concerned. "I am afraid something happened to him, especially with what has been happening in town."The King nodded thoughtfully. "Don't worry. The killer is after young women. Your father is probably busy with something else and could be here any time."He gave the Lords a nod to leave, and they left them alone. Angelica looked at her brother nervously. She wasn't only nervous about being here with the king, but also about her father being gone until this hour.A servant came in with drinks and put them on the table. "You look distressed. Have something to drink," the King said. Then he motioned for William to have a drink as well."Thank you, Your Majesty," her brother said, picking up the cup without taking a drink."Why is the killer targeting young women, Your Majesty?" He asked."We are trying to find the killer and then we might find out why," The King replied. "Until then, you should protect your sister."William nodded. "Of course, Your Majesty."The King chuckled."Do you know that your name means protector?"William shook his head."I think your father chose the perfect name for you both… or was it your mother?""It was my mother," Angelica said.Now the King turned to her with that curious look in his eyes that never disappeared. "William told me he wanted to become a knight."Angelica nodded. "Yes, but father thinks it is better for him to become a courtier.""I told him he could become both if he wanted to. Your brother is a very clever boy.""He is, Your Majesty," Angelica agreed, smiling at her brother.She was happy that the king recognized his talent and would let him do both things. Although she wished for her brother not to get involved in politics and the royal family at all.But if that was truly what he wanted to do, then she could only support him. And who knew, she might herself become a royal if the king decided to turn his curiosity into something else. That made her frightened for some reason."What do you say, William? It is not a bad thing to become a courtier." The King spoke to her brother."If that is your advice to me, then I'll take it to heart, Your Majesty," her brother replied.The King leaned forward and tapped him on the shoulder. They seemed to get along well."Your Majesty, I think it is better if we go home. I am sure you are busy and need some sleep," Angelica said.They couldn't spend the whole night in the castle waiting for her father."Yes. You should get some sleep too. I am sure your father will come back home safely."Angelica stood up and curtsied, then turned to her brother. "William."William stood up and bowed. "Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty."From the way the King smiled at her brother, she got a feeling that he liked him and she found it sweet somehow."I'll arrange for someone to take you home," the king said."Thank you, Your Majesty, but our butler is waiting outside," Angelica told him."I don't think your butler can protect you from whatever is killing the young women."Angelica got a feeling that the king knew more than he was letting on and he was right. Her butler wasn't a swordsman or a fighter."Lord Rayven will escort you home." The king nodded toward the door.Lord Rayven?!Angelica turned to the door and saw Lord Rayven standing at the entrance. She held her breath as she met his gaze again, hoping he would look at her differently. Maybe forget what happened last time, but he seemed to still hold a grudge. Not the right person to protect her, she thought.Why him of all the other Lords?Angelica walked behind Lord Rayven as he led them outside the castle. Even though she couldn't see his face, she knew he didn't want to escort them anywhere. She hated to bother someone who didn't want to help her at all.Her brother left her side before she could stop him and went to walk beside Lord Rayven. He looked tiny next to him. Lord Rayven was a bit taller than what she considered tall, with wide shoulders and muscular arms. She could imagine his strength just from the way he strolled, like he could walk over and destroy anything that blocked his way. His tall legs made one step as long as two of hers.Despite his big frame, he moved with the same elegance as the other Lords. It was as if he glided across the floor."My Lord. I want to become a fierce warrior like you." Her brother told him, almost jogging next to him to keep up.Angelica held her breath in fear, waiting to see what Lord Rayven would say. When he ignored her brother and kept walking, she felt even more nervou
Angelica sat in her bed and watched the fire on the hearth while her thoughts drifted away. She kept repeating Lord Rayven's voice in her head, wondering why it sounded familiar.Why did it feel like she had heard his voice before when she was sure she had never seen him speak?She wouldn't forget such a voice so easily. It was deep and husky and pleasant to the ears. But the underlying threat and danger in his tone made her shiver.She had watched him ride away on his horse into the darkness of the night. Something about him evoked many questions in her head. Who was he really? But most importantly, why did she care?Putting aside the book that she hadn't been reading, she lay down to sleep. She had already waited long enough for her father to come home, and now her eyes refused to stay open. Soon after, she fell into slumber.A loud voice woke her up early in the morning. Angelica felt relieved when she heard that it was her father who came home. He was loud, yelling and cursing, ma
"I hope your father came home unharmed," the King spoke."He is alright, Your Majesty. Thank you for your concern." Angelica replied."Do you like watching fights?" He asked, turning to the arena."It is too gruesome for my taste, Your Majesty."He chuckled. "I am sure William has a different opinion.""I love it your Majesty. Thank you for inviting us," her brother spoke.The King smiled his usual charming smile. There was something about when he smiled that seemed so genuine. It could be the reason her brother liked him, but Angelica would reserve her final thoughts about him.From the corner of her eye, she spotted Veronica and Hilde watching her intently from where they sat amongst other noble women. She could also feel the other women watching her, wishing to be in her place. If they only knew that it wasn't the ideal place to be in. If the king tossed her aside after satisfying his curiosity, no other man would take an interest in her.Angelica wanted to respectfully tell the Ki
Angelica held her breath as the fight began. The big man went on a full attack and she would flinch and close her eyes every time he swung his sword at Lord Rayven. But each time she opened her eyes again, Lord Rayven would be unharmed. Slowly, she began to relax. Maybe she didn't have to worry. Lord Rayven was doing well so far.Some of the crowd that had been cheering for the big man yelled in frustration. He wasn't doing as well as they expected, missing each time he swung his sword that looked more like a plaything in his enormous hands.Lord Rayven didn't seem to have any difficulty avoiding his attacks. It was as if he could predict the big man's next move before he even moved. While it looked like Lord Rayven had just got started, the big man was already puffing.The crowd wanted blood and the ones cheering for Lord Rayven shouted for him to attack.Listening to their demands, Lord Rayven began to attack, and the flock cheered louder. Angelica could tell that he was prolonging
Angelica's father started to act more and more strangely after he told her to never meet the King again. He also stopped her brother from going to his lectures at the castle and told them to never leave the home. Meanwhile, he came home late every night, intoxicated.He would yell a few words no one could understand, and then he would pass out. Angelica was worried for her father and asked him several times what had happened to him, but he always seemed too frightened to tell her. After that night when he first came home drunk, whatever he had seen had been haunting him. But why couldn't he tell them what he saw?Thomas, who went out unlike her and William, would tell her about what happened outside the walls of their home. More young women were found dead, and no one knew what or who was killing them. The people of the town believed it was Lord Rayven. Why she wasn't sure?"Do you think Lord Rayven is the killer?" Angelica asked her brother while they had lunch."No," he said. "Peopl
Angelica couldn't believe that her father threatened to throw her out of her home and not seeing her brother. She knew he could be ruthless sometimes, but this was a whole new level of being heartless. What would she do now?She turned in bed, unable to sleep."Is something wrong?" William asked who was sleeping next to her."No," she lied.Even though she was facing the other way, she could tell that her brother didn't believe her."Is father forcing you to marry Sir Shaw?""Yes," she replied.He was quiet for a long moment. "I told you, we are better without him."Angelica turned around, disturbed by his comment."William, he is only doing what he thinks is best for me. Truth is, I need to get married." She explained."Then he should find someone you are content with."That was the problem. She was never content."It is taking too long to find someone I am content with and father is getting concerned.""You don't have to make me like him. I am alright with liking you only," William
"What did Lord Rayven want?" Her brother asked once she came back."You will go to the castle tomorrow and start your training," she told him.His eyes widened. "Really? Did he agree to train me?"Angelica nodded.Her brother became excited, but it only lasted for a moment before his face turned sad."What is wrong?" she asked."Father won't let me," he said.Angelica smirked. "He has no choice. I am sure His Majesty asked Lord Rayven to train you so you have to go to the castle."And her father also had to go to the castle. What was he thinking by neglecting his royal duties? The punishment could be severe.What if he was busy trying to kill whoever he wanted to kill? If he killed someone, things would turn ugly.Angelica was becoming frustrated with his behavior. She had been trying hard to make her father and brother get along. She had tried to make his actions appear to be out of care so her brother wouldn't hate him, so her brother wouldn't feel like he only had her, but maybe al
Angelica decided to go to the castle with her brother. Thankfully, her father was still asleep when they left, so she would have to endure the scolding later. But this time, she would scold him as well. If he was thinking of killing the King, then he was putting them all in danger.But why the King? Her father must have seen something? He wouldn't just turn against the man who gave him a higher position for no reason. And what about the danger signals the King gave her? That couldn't be just because he was different. She had to follow her gut feeling, and it told her the king wasn't the killer, but he was definitively not harmless.Once they arrived at the castle, Angelica felt nervous as they walked in. "Where do you have your lectures?" She asked William."I have my theoretical lectures indoors, but I am sure the sword training will be in the soldiers' quarters. They have a large yard where Knights and other soldiers can train."Angelica nodded.William took them to the soldiers' qu