CHAPTER 351: THE GOLDEN MINE

A shiver ran down her spine at Alice’s words. As if hypnotized for a moment at the corner of her eyes she could see the sight of woman in red, smiling wide from one ear to another, a cold gaze over it, one that was deeply cold and icy.

When Alice spoke again, Ariel finally snap out from the daze, "Do you understand why Morpheus was so upset at her?"

Ariel frowned, "Are you sure that was what had happened?"

Alice tilted her head briefly, wondering why the girl had asked her questions instead of trusting her. Pretending not to know, she smiled, "Do you want to ask Morpheus himself what had actually happened there? He was there to see it happen."

Ariel shook her head and confirmed that it seems to be right that somehow Circe had gathered the witches to be killed just for the King’s sake.

"That’s why, Princess Ariel," reaching out her hand, Alice held hers with a soft smile, "That is why Morpheus cannot bring himself to trust on someone. But deep down he is a man who wish to know others, someone wounded, someone who could be healed and fix if someone else was there to help him."

Ariel gazed at Alice’s cold hands that were now over hers and though she didn’t show it, a crawl of uneasiness slipped into her heart, as if this woman’s hands were meant to bring ruin and disaster, the type of hold that she should escape from.

But she managed to remain a cool surface, smiling as she let Alice finished her words.

"You do like Morpheus and I can see that," Alice pointed and Ariel almost rose her eyebrow.

She was known to be someone extremely kind back in the village and at times that made other men to think that she has done kindness for them due to her feelings. Truth is, Ariel was never interested in romance, she was only desperate to live a life where she and her sister was free from their father’s gambling habit.

"You can see... that?" Ariel repeated carefully, not to show her confirmation or rejection to the idea.

"Yes, I can see that," confirmed Ariel with a smile, "When you had looked to Morpheus’s eyes, your eyes seems to be more alive, they almost sparkle. Yesterday night, weren’t you also upset because of another woman who had suddenly appeared without your knowledge?"

But she was upset because she couldn’t tolerate how dismissive Morpheus was to the death of the two guards under his nose.

Because this woman seems to be the real murderer behind those two guards and yet Morpheus had turned a blind eye over it.

Seems that to them her gestures last night had only shown jealousy.

"I didn’t know that it shows," Ariel touched her cheeks, saying nothing else because lying wasn’t her best suit and just pretending to tiptoe around the lie was better.

Ariel let out a laugh, her hands raised to smoothen Ariel’s blonde hair, giggling as she spoke, "I’m a woman too, so of course I know. I plan to help you and so I want to make sure that your relationship with Morpheus becomes closer."

Help?

Her naturally suspicious eyes turned at Ariel, "But what benefit would you have by helping me? Morpheus was your close friend but to spend your time just helping me..."

"Because I like people in love of course, silly," sang Alice as she patted her head, "I saw with my own two eyes how much Morpheus had suffered and I want him to get over that old wound. You see, a lot of people once says that a new love would finally heal the old one."

"It can’t hide the scar though," muttered Ariel and Alice smiled.

"You can’t, but you can show him a life without wounds and scars," Alice’s words was almost too good to be true and perhaps if she had truly liked Morpheus the way they wished it to happen, she would be very delighted to find out someone who was so willing to help.

But that’s not how it is to Ariel.

Though why should she refuse the offer that Alice made?

After all, though the intent was different, she does need to get closer to Morpheus, to slip into his heart, make him believe that she was truly on his side so she could discover a way for her to help the innocent souls here and Arabella, her younger sister.

Fooling a witch... who could ever do such a thing?

Ariel wasn’t confident.

But to protect her sister, she had to be.

"I... do not know what to say," Ariel replied to Alice, "Morpheus isn’t a trusting man. It would take time for him to completely accept who I am into his heart or even allow me to be someone close to him."

"You don’t have to worry about that," Alice answered rather confidently, "I know him best and I know that for one you have already set an important place in his heart, one that others would never be able to achieve. All you have to do is push him a little until he tilts and falls."

"How do I push him?" Ariel leaned in interest and Alice smiled.

Their interaction was seen by many of the servants in the castle and upon looking at them together, they shared glances of worries to each other, shuffling their hands to their arms, uneasy as they knew of how precious Ariel was while Alice was none other than a devil dressed in gowns.

One of the servant in the white dress, looked at Ariel from afar and held her hands tight. By the time of evening when Ariel was alone, that same servant had rushed toward her side, bowing as they passed by her.

"Your Highness," the maid bowed, kneeling one knee on the floor and Ariel rushed to stop her.

"No, no, I have told everyone that no one here needs to serve me the way a Princess would be served. I’m just another guest here," she reminded and though the servant didn’t seem so convinced, she slowly straightened her knees. "Aren’t you the maid from this morning?"

It was the same maid who had spilled drink to Alice’s gown and fearfully beg for forgiveness. The same exact person.

"Indeed," then the maid turned around, "I’m happy that you remember me, Princess," and fearfully glanced back at her, "I... I just wish to warn you to be careful..."

Ariel blinked, staring at her without a word.

"The lady witch, Lady Alice," whispered the maid in a hurry, "She isn’t a very gentle hearted person. She is someone who could be easily offended and I wish that you..."

"She isn’t such a person," Ariel gently stopped the woman from speaking more. She leaned forward, her tone and expression gentle that unarmed the maid, "I know that a new witch must have scared you and although she has her strict moments to the servants, I am sure she isn’t someone who could lead to harm."

"But.."

"I know best about this and someone who is dangerous would never stay long in the castle, I make sure of it," Ariel gently pated the servant’s back who kept a worry glance at her despite her words.

Alice who was standing behind the pillars smiled as she walked away and until she was far enough did Ariel finally turned her eyes at the spot she had seen Alice standing with invisibility magic.

Her breath that she had held for far too long slipped from her lungs, causing her to cough while her heart thump rapidly against her chest, warning her that she had almost been in such grave danger.

It was crazy to think that Ariel was still distrustful towards her despite how she had seemed so trusting earlier.

It seems that she didn’t only have to convince Morpheus to trust her but also Alice, the two targets who weren’t so easily fooled by the smallest thing and lies.

Her hands had turned sweaty but Ariel managed to strengthen her palms, turning away from the place while she found ways to ease her rapid heartbeat.

The future four days were spent with Ariel following Alice’s words. According to Alice, Morpheus dislike having his works touched by someone else. But seeing how he had allowed Ariel to touch his works meant that he had trust in her, in a deeper level than others.

So that same morning, Ariel brought up the conversation while they ate at the lavish dining room.

"Are you certain about your words?" Morpheus inquired, his eyes falling over her.

"I want to help you with work," Ariel confirmed and her green eyes swept over Alice, wondering if this would work. She had asked Morpheus to allow him to help his workload only to be rejected in a way that was gentle yet still cold to the bones.

She didn’t think that Morpheus would agree and was about to simply take the defeat when suddenly Morpheus nodded, "I understand."

Taken aback by the change, Ariel questioned if Morpheus’s willingness had came fro Alice. Perhaps the lady had spoken something, change his mind into trusting her?

What kind of a monster could move Morpheus’s heart and why was it that Morpheus listened so well to this danger of a person?

"Are you sure?" Ariel asked, staring at his eyes and Morpheus showed her a smile that glimmered brighter than his silver hair.

"I thought you would be happier than that."

"Happy, I am, but usually you don’t..."

"I didn’t know you as well as now, is that not enough reason?"

Ariel pursed her lips, "No, I guess I was just surprised but I’m glad that you agree to it."

"Of course," Morpheus smiled, "I want to trust you. All the things I have done was for you, Princess. Thus I want to trust that you aren’t someone who would break my trust."

Odd.

It’s going too well according to her plan that Ariel felt shiver down her spine as she wondered if something terrible was going to occur soon.

"Well, you can help me by the afternoon," Morpheus stood up from his chair and turned to Alice, glancing for a while before disappearing towards the door.

Ariel was still staring at his shadow that had disappeared until Alice spoke up, "See? I told you that it would work."

It did. It did.

"I was just surprised, did you talked him into this?" Ariel softly asked and she smiled.

"I just told him that I found you to be genuine, someone who would always be by his side and if he had ever done something wrong, you would be there to help him learn from his mistake, not hurt him like the ones who had done so."

Done wrong?

Does it mean that Alice wants her to look away from any wrongings that Morpheus had ever done?

And that man also wishes the same thing?

Alice didn’t push the questions further. After a while they both left the dining room and during the afternoon, Ariel arrived at the door of Morpheus’s study room.

After some knocks, she didn’t hear anyone inside. Perhaps he was asleep, she thought and turned away when a servant quickly passed her a paper.

Taking it, she unscrolled the paper to see the letters wrote by Morpheus, "I would be a little busy. Take your time to familiarize yourself with everything inside."

Ariel then lifted her eyes to look at the servant, her words said nothing but she simply stared to see if the servants understood what was occurring. In exchange, the servant had only looked back at her which made her to slowly fold the papers and smiled, "Thank you."

Then as the servant left, she turned to the door, more skeptical than ever.

Her hands opened the door that creaked from its age. The door was marred with scarring to show how old it has been since this door was first made and inside, the inside of the room didn’t fail to impress her.

It was a large room filled with book from the floor to the ceiling. Carpet that felt homey laid down on her feet while there were bubbles coming from the pot on the left with magic circles laid all around it.

Coming closer, Ariel noted down that this was truly Morpheus’s workshop... a place that hides all his secret.

In short, a golden mine for her.