Ugh...! My head is pounding... it hurts...

But wait, where am I now?

Is this a dream?

Oh...

I can see it now. I think I'm in my room. Had I been sleeping?

I lifted my eyelids slowly to catch view of the ceiling. I was right. I'm in my room. But why is it so dark?

Trying with all my might, I lifted myself off my bed so I could see the world clearly. It's nighttime.

But my throat is so dry. I need water... Should I call for Daniella? No, no, she's most likely asleep. Why would I want to disturb her just because of my thirst?

I'll do it myself. I opened my door and saw the regular hallways, except this time it was dark. Barely any candles lit up. I've never come out on my own this late. And it's so quiet too.

But my head still hurts so much...

Something feels off... like i'm forgetting something important.

Shaking off the feeling, I continued down the dark hallway in search of....wait, what am I looking for? Where is the kitchen in this place anyway? I'm such a fool.

Now, I was in the center of the castle, standing alone with no idea of where to go next.

Perhaps it's over there. Usually, I'm not confident in my sense of direction, but it felt safe when I turned into this hallway.

This must be the way, right...? At the end of the hallway, two huge doors stood with the sign "Kitchen" written on it.

Ha! Finally, I did something right! I rushed to the door desperate to have my throat quenched.

I placed my hands on the huge handles and pulled as hard as I possibly could.

What? Is it locked? Ok. One more time. Of course, nothing. Just great. It really is locked.

I turned around in defeat, ready to go back to my chambers.

Enduring the thirst until tomorrow is fine but...

I walked back with my head down now, wondering how I would survive the night without water.

But then I bumped into what seemed like a wall. A wall, didn't I just pass through the hallway?

No, this was no wall. The man turned around to face me.

I looked up to see the most beautiful pair of blue eyes. Andres!

"You're awake!" he grabbed my shoulders and held me in a tight grip. The look on his face was an expression I recalled from a distant memory.

But why is he surprised to see me awake? Doesn't everyone wake up from sleep?

"Um...Yes, I am. Uh..."

I tried to loosen myself out of his cold grip, but he resisted my effort.

In this dark, his face looked frightened and distraught, as if he was looking at a broken porcelain doll.

"Are you alright?" he asked with tremor.

Is he really asking for my well being? Since when was he so concerned about me?

"Yes, of course I am. Why would I not be alright?" 

His hands fell and his eyes squinted with worry.

"Do you not remember what happened...? At the ball?"

The ball? What...? The...ball?

And then it hit me. Everything that had happened. The party, the hooded man, the arrow, the screams, the room!

Oh my goodness!!

"I remember. I-!"

How could I forget something like that?!

Once again my body trembled with the fear of my near death. I had almost died... in a mere second I could have been killed if it wasn't for...

Arms wrapped around me now. He was cold but my body somehow warmed in his embrace.

So I stopped shaking. His cold scent filled my nostrils.

I separated myself from him now. I'm scared, but I shouldn't lean on someone I barely know.

"Jesus. You're still cold. Come in." he said.

"W-what? Where?"

Andres took my hand and turned to open a door I just realised was there.

His room! Once we both entered, he let go of me and started to lock the door.

What is he doing?? 

"I-I shouldn't be here. I can go back to my own chambers." I said nervously.

Looking back, he gave me an apprehensive gaze.

"Please just sit. Aren't you thirsty? You just woke up from a 3 day sleep." 

"3 days? Asleep?!"

"Yes. The doctor said 10, but I'm relieved you surpassed his expectations."

He started to pour water from a pitcher into a glass cup. 

I need to know more about this. How could I have been asleep for 3 days??

I obeyed and sat down on his bed as he followed suit while handing me the glass.

"Are you warmer now?" Andres asked.

I nodded and finally let my throat thrive again as I practically inhaled the water. 

His face still had that same frightened look of despair. It seemed so foreign on him. I was the one who almost died. Not him, so why does he look so upset? 

He took a deep breath and spoke. "You can't be wondering at night like this Kaprina. We still have no idea who the man is and he escaped  before we had a chance to capture him. Nobody saw his face fully and if he still has access to the castle he could be walking among us here-"

"Wait!" I interrupted. No way. 

"You know my name...?" 

The soft and worried look on his face now had now turned into that of annoyance and anger. 

Something fierce lit up in his eyes now. 

"Is it now you're asking that?"

"O-oh. I'm sorry... I just." Shameful.

 "I was afraid of confrontation. I didn't want you to call off the engagement."  This would be the only true words I said to him since we've met.

I looked at his face now. It was completely plain. Like before, I couldn't tell what he was thinking. The same cold and distant expression were in his eyes now, seeming to be shield a different emotion.

Is he angry with me? Maybe he really will call it off now....

"We may call it even. For your dishonesty, my mistake. The reason you slept for so long was because of my impulsiveness. When I pushed you out of the way your head must have suffered."

"Oh...alright, then. Even." I echoed. Hm...why is he being so kind to me? I thought he would be more hostile than this, yet here I am having a conversation with him.

Andres took a deep breath and laid down fully while I still sat on the edge of his bed. Now that I look closely, he looks a bit tired. Shallow dark circles rimmed his eyes.

"Your Guard was the one screaming  your name like a crazy man when I showed him your body. He thought you were dead. He seems too comfortable with you... He calls you...Rina?" 

Ok, this is getting embarrassing

"Well, we have always been close. Guards in Dewsdale are considered to be like  family or friend, rather than commodities."

He yawned. Only now did I notice he was in his nightwear. A white shirt left halfway unbuttoned, exposing his bare chest. 

He looks cold, but I still want to be near him like this. We weren't close, but this is enough for now... Wait! What am I thinking??

Why am I seeing him in such a state? So defenseless and...calm.

"I am already investigating everything. Please be careful... and please..." his breaths were getting deeper and longer. 

Is he going to sleep? 

"Please be safe." Fatigue overtook him and he blinked once before his eyes shut.

"He really slept..." I said aloud. No one was listening, but I felt more at ease now knowing that he was not awake to see me staring at his him.

Sleeping like this he appeared so helpless, unlike the fierce coldness he normally had on. I wish it was always like this.

He actually looked....handsome... Wait no! 

I need to leave this place.

Last time I was here, I was being chased out by an angry beast. Now he's the one who welcomed me here and even trusted me enough to fall asleep while i'm next to him...

What changed? Is it because he knows my status now?

I got up from his bed and inhaled the fragrance of his room. It had the same cold scent I perceived on him earlier. 

But something seemed different here. I looked around the wall and noticed that the painting of the red haired woman was gone. Instead, it was now a regular landscape piece that hung sullenly in its place. 

How odd! Why did he remove it? It can't be because of me right? I should leave...

Putting the empty glass cup on his bedside drawer, I left the room, taking one last look at his resting face before I shut the door. 

 An uneasy feeling brewed in me when I realized that I was no longer in the snug comfort of his chambers.

I need to protect myself somehow... I'm not sure how but one thing's for sure. 

Nobody is going to kill me while I still have people left to live for.