bChapter /bb89 /b

    Valencia

    I had no idea what the issue with Killian was, but he stalked off without a backward nce

    towards me.

    He had managed to scare off those random men who I assumed were the servants in the castle. He would always be calm andposed except during the training part, but there was no reason for him to behave as he did today.

    I should have been the one yelling and shouting at him for calling my need to cool down a striptease, but he was the one who threw a tantrum and then left as if I were the sole reason for his anger.

    I looked back at the dummy and threw in a few more kicks and punches because I did not want to go to the temple in such an irritated mood.

    “You fucking loser, Just…” punch “… let me…” kick “… tear you down to pieces” punch.

    I spent a solid ten minutes venting out my frustration on that bup sack dummy without worrying about leaving a mark or anything.

    By the time I was done it was disfigured beyond measure and just looked like someone’s sorry attempt at creating a stick figure scarecrow.

    Barely a few strands of hay were sticking to the wood now. I had demolished the remaining dummy beyond recognition, and the hay had all scattered around on the ground.

    It did feel nice to let out some steam, and even though my body felt tired, I also felt ted. I looked around but didn’t see Killian watching me from a distance.

    Part of me had wanted him to see that and appreciate my efforts.

    But he was being an asshole for no reason.

    Maybe someone had pissed him off at the court. How long could you y nice and sweet when you are surrounded by grumpy and selfish vultures after

    all?

    My mind kept churning all these useless thoughts jumping from one scenario to another as I headed towards the room assigned to me.

    Sarah waved at me, and I only managed to give her a small ‘hi‘ before walking in and shutting the door behind me.

    I had cooled down and hoped to shower in warm water to soothe my aching nerves a little. Sarah had been doing all the heavy work for a while, and though she didn’tin, Las not selfish enough to make her keep doing work on behalf of both of us.

    So I went into the bathroom and shimmied out of the clothes. Even that simple act reminded me of Kilian’s words, and I yanked my bra and underwear off ito /istand under the shower.

    But when I turned the shower knob on, cold water trickled out of it.

    I tried turning it a few more times again, but it still only sprinkled cold water, that too as if the water supply had been cut short.

    I had notthered too much of soap yet, so I could just clean myself a bit with the little amount of water trickling down the shower and then walked out of the bathroom irritatedly.

    Putting on the white gowns required by the temple, I hastily wiped my hair and had barely stepped out of the door when I found Senior Priestess Nina standing outside the door.

    I gave her an awkward smile as she folded her hands on her chest and glowered at me.

    “You arete”

    “Uh, sorry, I was trying to get the shower to work, but it wasn’t so…” I began, but she raised her brows along with her voice.

    b12:05 /bbMon/bb, /bb25 /bbAug /bDO

    “You have been consistentlyte for the past few days.”

    I closed the door behind me and tried to exin.

    “I am receiving physical training from Prince Killian, and sometimes I get tired, but I try to reach the temple as soon as possible.”

    She took a step forward and narrowed her eyes at me.

    “Girl, if you want to work and be in the sacred temple, then you have to behave just like the rest of the Novices. Being the prince’s favorite or receiving an exception from the Crone does not mean you can take this ce lightly.”

    “But I wasn’t…” I tried to exin yet again however, she didn’t want to listen to me. She raised her hand to the side to point at the temple entrance and

    scowled.

    “Go and start your work immediately.”

    “Yes,” I said and took a step forward, but she blocked my way.

    “Senior Priestess Nina,” She corrected mei, /iand I tried not to take out my anger on her. The day just did not seem to be going well, and I didn’t want to invite her permanent wrath on me.

    She was miserable as it is.

    So I took a deep breath, closed my eyes for a split second, and then repeated after her.

    “Yes, Senior Priestess Nina,” I said, but she saw my reaction to her words, and that deepened her scowl.

    “Is that how you behave in front of your senior and a respected temple caretaker? When corrected, ept it gracefully rather than making faces

    This time I coiled my fingers into fists because I felt I was too close to recing her for the dummy I had demolished on the grounds.

    ‘Breathe, Valencia,” I reminded myself and apologized again for good measure.

    “I am sorryi, /iSenior Priestess Nina,” I said, and that did little to take off her smug expression. But I didn’t waste my time getting scolded by her, so I simply walked away to find Sarah.

    When I reached our usual desk, I didn’t even notice Sarah at first. All saw was arge pile of scrolls that was almost three feet high.

    “Sarah, where are you?” I asked, and I heard her helpless voice from behind the pile.

    “In here,” she said weakly, and I rushed towards her to see a very pale and tired looking girl, not the bubbly and cheery friend I made here.

    “Hey, you look like you haven’t slept in days” I helped her straighten back on the chair and grabbed a ss of water to give it to her.

    But she shook her head and said weakly.

    “No, I can’t afford to waste time. We have iso /imuch work to do.”

    “Work can wait. Drink some water first!” I said and forced her to take a sip.

    Her eyes had dark circles, and she looked like she would copse any minute.

    “Girl, you are going to fall sick at this rate.” I said and ced a hand on her forehead, but it was already hot.

    “You are burning with fever! Lets get you to your room,” I said, pushing the scrolls away and trying to get her on her feet, but she shook her head.

    “No…” she said between shaky breaths. “Finish work….i” /iShe said, but her eyelids were already fluttering shut.

    “Work can go to hell. Come with me!” I demanded, but another voice called me from the other end of the room.

    b12:05 /bbMon/b, 25 bAug /b? @

    b“/bThe only person going to hell here is you!” I heard a voice from behind ine and turned around to see a pair of eyes ring at ine

    AD