Love and War

36: Anastasia

Anastasia's POV:
I shoved the envelope of money into a small bag and sat at my window drinking some tea they brought for me earlier.

I hate that I took the money. I can't wipe off the guilt, but I do need it. I can't stay here forever.

If only he'd ask me.

I sipped my hot tea. He won't. He can't. He has Robin, his royal duties and many things I can't even begin to comprehend.

I wonder if maybe this is all lust. Something was going to happen between us last night before their party. I would've let it because he has this control over me, my body reacts before my mind. But maybe that's all it is he likes it being some sort of affair or something.

I looked outside to look at the gardens outside of the palace. I saw a woman in the trees. I squinted and put down my teacup.

She wore a simple purple gown and her brown hair was in intricate braids. She hopped off the tree and emerged into the sunlight.

Robin.

Huh. So the princess likes to climb trees?

She carried a small cat in her arms and smiled at it. It was a small kitten and she let it go. It ran around the gardens happily. I'm guessing she reached it from the tree.

I smiled to myself. Maybe we aren't so different after all.

***
I opened the door and was greeted by a cold bedroom. The floors were carpeted and the ceiling was very high. The wall to my left was black with white designs on it. There were two wooden nightstands and a very big comfortable-looking bed in between them against the black wall.

Next to that wall was a floor-to-ceiling window that faced a different part of the palace. It faced the ocean and it was beautiful. The water was almost black and the stars above shone brightly through the window.

There were two small white sofa chairs against the window and a coffee table with books and vinyl records on it.

I walked further ignoring the fact that I was snooping. There were 2 doors and one of them was an extremely big walk-in closet. Too big I'd think for just one person.

Jonah owns a lot of clothes.

The walls were all white and the floor was no longer carpeted but tile. There was a chandelier and on both sides clothes, shoes, and everything you could ever think a man could own. In the center, there was a small island.

The drawers were locked but I know inside were probably his prized possessions. Next to that was the bathroom. It had 2 sinks which is weird since he lives alone.

I walked out and next to the bathroom was a strange wall. It had a photo of Jonah in a crown and suit looking cold and stoic. I ran my fingers over it and gasped. The wall started turning as if revealing a hidden corridor.

I looked behind me and decided to just go. What's the worst that can happen?

I went inside and the wall shut behind me immediately. The lights flickered on as if sensing motion and I continued down the narrow hall.

The hall was short and opened to a large empty room. The smell of salt filled me. The room opened to the ocean like a balcony. The floors were stone and the walls behind me were also stone.

I walked to the banister and peered down at the ocean.

Wow.

"Who's there?" A voice called out and I turned around to see Jonah standing with a dagger in front of him. He couldn't see me in the dim lighting.