𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅

chapter forty-five

Emriana

I slowly turned to face the three men, ignoring all the gasps and mutters throughout the room. I hated that Cassemir had just told everyone like that. I would've liked to inform people when I felt ready, to tell them, and to explain. The way he had just said it made it seem like I had hidden my real identity from everyone, which wasn't true.

My eyes fell on Prince Zeke first as he stumbled back a little. I watched his blue eyes widen in shock as he looked between Cassemir and me in disbelief. Prince Drakkar's expression was laced with betrayal as he stared at me with such loathing that it made my insides twist as I took a shaky step back. Prince Zander only stared at me stoically, which seemed to aggravate me the most. What was he thinking?

I knew I didn't have to explain anything to them nor care about what they thought, but seeing them look at me like that made me nauseous.

Nobody seemed preoccupied with how our eyes had been locked on each other for the past five minutes as the room was in utter chaos. Prince Lorino was talking in hush voices with the King, probably as confused as I was. Another guy had stormed inside the room, looking similar to Prince Lorino. My best guess was that it was his brother. He joined the two and yelled at the King, but the loud commotion drowned his voice.

Guards were now all gathered together as they discussed, glancing every few seconds at me, and I looked away, very uncomfortable. Generals and high-rank nobles eyed me, and I started backing away from everyone, targeting the nearest door.

I almost stumbled over Akira behind me as I continued to make my way out of the room. A few tears kept rolling down my cheeks as my eyes found theirs again. They hadn't talked, hadn't moved, or hadn't done anything since then, they only stared back at me, and a curious part of me was dying to know what was going on in their head.

I slipped behind the door and closed it softly behind me. My back fell against the door as I released a shaky exhale. What now?

Akira groaned next to me, drawing my attention away from everything for a few seconds.

"Come on, Aki, let's go," I said as I walked toward the little corridor with the flowers where I had left my book.

Feeling his presence next to me and the occasional rubbing of his fur along my legs as we walked was a feeling I had missed more than I could imagine. I examined his back as we walked, trying to look for possible injuries, but there were none.

Did the Princes really take care of him in my absence? How can they be as bad as they were described if they did something like that?

"Did they take care of you?" I asked him in wonder as we turned into the corridor, and thankfully the little book was still there.

"I can't believe you're here, Aki. I thought you were gone for good," I smiled at him. I turned around at the sound of a door closing behind me.

"It's you!" I exclaimed at the older lady, who seemed almost as shocked as I was. It was the lady who called me Tamina a few weeks ago.

"Y-Yes... what are you doing here, dear?" Her wariness made me frown a little bit. Her eyes moved to the little book I was holding, and she looked suddenly angry.

"How did you get this book? It's not yours,"

"The King gave it to me earlier," I replied, and she looked definitely a little taken back.

"He did?"

"Yes, he said it belonged to my mother," I said, not seeing the point in hiding something she would learn anyway. She froze at my words for a few seconds.