Two weeks had passed and Lady Kestra was still not back. During this time though, a lot of things had changed in the Castle... for Belladonna and the King.Ever since the night in his room, that he had told her about his certain death intent for the Bride Thief and what had happened to him and his family in the past, they had grown closer and closer by the day.Now, they were even more closer than they had been after he had gifted her books for apology and taken her to see his Dragon.Talking of seeing his dragon, she had asked him sometimes if she could see Pamela again but the King had refused, saying that she was being very violent these days and it would forever haunt him if any harm were to come upon her by the claws or flames of the beast. Also he had backed up his reply with the words that Belladonna was starting to believe was his best way of expressing his affection and care for her, while tucking a strand of her curls behind her ear, an act she believed meant the same thing

It was his hand. She could have never imagined it to be something like this within the gloves. From the tip of his fingers down to his wrist, underneath his skin were black zigzag lines like ink, spilling everywhere, tiny and connected like cobwebs. On a closer look, it seem like as if the ink was slowly spreading."Don't touch!" His voice startled her and that was when she realized that she had been reaching her hand foolishly to his, in order to take his hand in hers and access it. "I'm so s-sorry, your M-majesty. I didn't mean to--" the words tumbled right out of her mouth as she quickly folded her hands behind her immediately. "It is alright. It has the ability to lure.""Like magic?" She looked up quickly at him, her eyes begging for answers, explanatory answers but he only nodded."Precisely," he paused, before he added, looking back at his hand, "just like magic. Although, I am not sure what type of magic it is.""How-- what is this?""There are many things, my Bride," he s

She swallowed.Despite the rain pouring outside, it suddenly felt hot.Really hot.When he spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper and although he didn't move an inch closer, she could still hear him."Be at ease. This is the wrong room." He smiled lightly then he straightened up, walking away from the bed to sleep on the sofa even though as Belladonna had said, the bed was large enough for both of them to share without colliding. That was as long as either of them stayed at their respective sides.It took a while before Belladonna's heart slowed down it's wild racing, so that she could finally be able to sleep. It was almost like as if it would never stop, but it eventually did and her eyelids slid closed effortlessly.Once again tonight, she was sleeping.Only that this time, she felt safe. ***Belladonna could have never suspected that her going up to the King's room would eventually turn into an habit, but it did turn into that.After that night, it had rained the foll

"With your condition, everytime I'm with you, I'm putting my life at stake. If you really want me to help, you mustn't put me in the dark."Raquel's gaze fell to her hands that she had placed on her kneels, her tears streaming down her face, dropping to her uniform, and dissolving right into it, leaving wet patches behind."Ahhh, alright then." Belladonna sighed, holding down the doorknob.Raquel said something at that moment but her voice was too inaudible for Belladonna to hear and understand what her jumbled words meant. She dropped the doorknob and took a step towards her. "What did you say?""They have her," she repeated herself, a little audible this time, her voice a bare whisper. "They have our daughter and till my husband and I pays, they won't let her go."Belladonna's eyebrow arched up, questioning.Raquel had a daughter? That was an interesting thing to do out. Never had the thought of Raquel having a family crossed her mind. Belladonna had been too occupied with the th

"Is everything alright with you?""Yes, your Majesty. I just---" her voice trailed off at the sound of a running boots from a guard rushing down the hallway towards them. "Yo..ur M-majesty, yo...ur Majesty..." He called out breathlessly, then fell on a kneel. Before he could state his purpose, the King was already asking. "Is it ready?""Yes, your Majesty.""Leave." Then he turned his attention away from the guard that was already scurrying away, and back to Belladonna. "Important matters of the Kingdom." He started walking down the hallway, making her follow. "Oh."She wondered what could be so urgent that made him immediately forget about what she wanted to speak to him about."I must attend to them."He took the stairs and she followed. The lower they got, the more she worried about what a task it would be for her to get back up to her room. That would probably be where she would have dinner.When he didn't say anything else, she stopped and called out to him. He stopped, turni