Tempting Darkness

Chapter Four

Your eyes flutter open to the sight of your father next to you, holding your hand. You look around, seeing the grand, extravagantly decorated bedroom, but no Preminger. Was that really all just a dream? No. There is no way. It felt too real.

"Y/N! You're awake, thank the stars you're alright!" your father hugged you, careful of your fragile, petite body. You were surprised, but slowly wrapped your arms around his back.

"About time," a voice said. You looked around, and mentally sighed as your stepmom stood near the doorway. What an awful sight to wake up to. Your father sat back down next to the bed and summoned the doctor.

Turns out, you had been out for a whole day- you've never been good with blood, and the scene itself is nothing but traumatizing. After the doctor was dismissed and your father and stepmom left, you were dying for some fresh air. You quickly dressed yourself and snuck out of your bedroom.

You walked down the hallway, but strangely enough, you hardly saw any of the usual staff walking around. Maybe someone is here? Your thoughts were answered when you saw guards with a familiar flag. Great, your suitor is here. Or at least his bannermen are. You crept closer, trying to listen in on the conversation inside the room the guards were standing vigilantly beside.

"Well, if Lady Y/N and King Rothbart have five children instead of four, who gets dibs on the other grandchild?" a womanly voice said.

"I think that if it's a boy, it should be raised in Aristoka... you won't use them as well in Denia." a gruff, low voice said.

Ok, that's enough of that, you really didn't wanna hear the rest of that conversation. You marched down the hallway, wanting to find something, anything to clean your ears after that. The garden seemed like the perfect place- there were a lot of birds, especially in this time of year. Trotting down the steps and walking along the paths, you noticed more guards. Another person here?

Your thoughts were, again, answered when a voice entered your ears.

"My stars, Lady Y/N, you came to see me?"

"Excuse me?" You looked to the left, then the right, but there was still no one to be seen.

"Eh? Down here!" you looked down to see none other than Ed Sheeran. ...Did he get shorter? No, I think he was always that height, but he had different shoes on.

Your averted your eyes, "I was actually looking for your brother, he is my suitor afte-"

"It's wonderful to see you again. Oh, I heard what happened to your maid. Awful, really, I'm so sorry," he interrupted but his voice faded out, either he stopped talking or you mentally blocked him out. You walked around the beautiful garden with Ed following behind, blabbering about... something. Where was Rothbart? Why did you always have to put up with his younger brother? You weren't here to babysit, you were here to fulfil your princessly duties.

The sound of him clearing his throat finally snapped you out of your daze and you turned to look at him.

"Well um..." he took a breath trying to build up the confidence to finish the sentence "m'lady, it's just- your beauty inspired me."

"Huh?"

"To write a song I mean."

"Umm... I'm kind of like, engaged to your brother..."

"Please, allow me to sing it for you?"

"You really don't have-"

"I assure you, I want to."

'Yeah I know, that's the worst part' you thought to yourself. Just as Ed was about to start strumming his guitar a servant interrupted. Thank god.