bChapter /bb56 /b

Valencia

Maelyn had raised her hand to p me, but before her hand could even touch

The hand was not mine but Killian’s.

His eyes were ice cold as he looked at Maelyn.

“The next time you try something like this, you won’t have a hand to lift again.”

Maelyn red at him and shouted.

me, another one blocked its path.

“You don’t know what she did. She hit Martin with a vase for no reason in the middle of the night. Look, there is blood.”

She pointed at Martin, who was still wiping his hair with a handkerchief that Sir Nichs provided him.

“Yes, she hurt me, the crown prince of Elorin. She deserves more than a p.”

Killian didn’t bother answering Martin but looked Maelyn dead in the

eye

and asked.

“Care to exin what are you doing here at this hour?”

Maelyn looked taken aback by that question.

“You have no right to question the crowned prince or his betrothed. You should rather ask the question to this intruder.”

Sir Nichs had his hands coiled into fists and shaking furiously.

Kilian’s gaze moved to the middle aged man who was wearing his sleeping robes and busy tidying his hair.

“Then perhaps you can tell me why you are here at this odd hour.”

Sir Nichs fumbled for a second.

“I was just passing by when I heard somebody screaming and found this new girl hitting our crowned prince.”

Killian raised a finger and said in a warning tone.

“She isn’t any new girl. She is Lady Valencia for you and everybody here.”

He dropped that thing like a bomb, and the fussing stopped abruptly as everybody took a moment bto /bgawk at Killian.

“What?”

Maelyn echoed, disbelief evident on her face.

“Just what you heard. You and everybody will address her

Maelyn shot me a look of pure loathing.

ias /i

very Lady Valencia from this

moment.”

“But that honor is reserved for the members of the royal court or family. She is neither.”

I realized nobody had addressed her as Lady Maelyn either. Maybe that was what was hurting her so much.

“A special deration from King Aecidus made long ago says that the Blessed One, whenever found, would be addressed bwith /bbproper /bbhonorifics/b.

Maelyn’s face turned pale, and she was instantly shaking her head.

“But that was a very old statement of the King. You can’t just implement it out of the blue.”

She looked very displeased, while Sir Nichs was now eyeing me with curiosity.

“Anything and everything King Aecidus says is final and irrevocable. Or would you like to challenge this at the royal court? I am sure we can all get a hearing arranged if you like.”

Killian said casually, but I noticed how Maelyn’s face ckened as if he had pped her without even raising a hand.

Killian added in the same offhanded voice.

“I am sure the King has not had an audience with the crown prince and his betrothed in a long time. Thest meeting was regarding you and my elder brothering up with provisions for the farmers of this kingdom, if my memory serves me well. I am sure you must havee up with a detailed n by now.”

The more Killian spoke, the more Maelyn seemed to cower in fear. He was not even threatening her but the way he stated things in a seemingly unbothered way was a treat to watch.

Even better was seeing the three self proimed high and mighty people of Elorin fumble and fluster against the words of their youngest prince.

The silence was so loud that I could hear the leaves of the trees rustling outside the castle. Killian kept looking at them expectantly, and all of them looked like they had been caught doing something red handed.

Sir Nichs was the first to recover.

“It is quitete, and I believe the royal family can resolve the misunderstanding within themselves. My services are no longer needed. Good night.”

A

He said to nobody in particr and turned around to walk away before he got dragged in any more mess.

Martin pretended to be in pain and leaned heavily on Maelyn, who began leading him away as well.

The two finally walked away, and Killian finally looked at me.

“iAnd /ican you tell me, Lady Valencia, why are you roaming around the castle at such an odd hour wearing the maid’s uniform?”

I should have said I was looking for him, but instead I slunk into his arms without even thinking. And Killian didn’t waste even a second to wrap his hands

around me.

I nuzzled my chest against him and ced my head upon his heart to hear the rhythmic beating that calmed my nerves.

“Now ie/i, let’s get iyou /iinside.i” /iKillian said as his fingers continued to stroke my head and sifted through my hair.

His touch was so soothing and calming.

“No, I am noting with you into your room.”

I said, and he stepped back ito /ilook me in the eye.

“I was going to take you to the library since I figured you weren’t able to sleep. But if that’s where you want to go, let’s go.”

A yful smile appeared on his lips, and I frowned.

“I just said I dont want to.”

He tilted his head to the side and observed me like ba /bcurious bird.

“Why not? Did iyou /inot sleep well?”

bat /b23 bAug /b

bI /bhad. In fact, it was the most rxing and blissful sleep I had gotten ever since I came to this wretched pce,

But bI /bwas not going to tell him that.

“I did.”

He lowered his voice to a whisper and asked.

“Or do you fear that you wouldn’t be able to resist these again?” He asked and raised his hand to show his fingers.

Anger mixed with embarrassment flushed my cheeks, and I pushed him away.

“Dork!”

He only smiled and said, “For real. If you are unable to sleep, I can take you somewhere iyou /imight like to spend time.”

I folded my hands on my chest.

“How can you be so cool?”

“I am hot. And cool. Depending on the situation.” He said with an amused smile, but when I cocked an eyebrow at him, he let out a sigh.

“Are you really going to stand in this passageway and talk all night?”

I looked around. We were standing in one of the many hallways with doors on either side. It was night, but our voices echoed around the stone walls.

And I didn’t want ito /iwalk into any more of his siblings or their loved ones.

“Come. Let’s go to the library, and we will talk furtheri./ii” /i

AD

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