The Royalty's Game

5| Secrets

Reya 

I slowly opened my eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun shining through the grand windows of my unfamiliar surroundings. I rubbed my eyes, trying to make sense of where I was. My gaze traveled across the room, taking in the beauty of the rich tapestries hanging from the walls, the intricate design of the furniture, and the shining candelabras that illuminated the room. I had never seen anything quite like it. The bed I was lying on was fit for royalty, with plush pillows and soft linens. I sat up, taking a deep breath, still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I was in a foreign room, far from home.

I couldn't believe that I had missed the details of it all last night, obscured by the darkness. As I gazed around the room, I couldn't help but wonder if my father had designed this room specifically for my mother. The thought was intriguing, especially considering the fact that Zei's chambers were across from mine. It must have been the king's quarters.

As the bedroom doors flew open, I instinctively reached for the soft blanket and covered myself, hoping to preserve some semblance of privacy. But it was too late, as Zoe had already entered the room. I gazed at her in disbelief, taken aback by her boldness. She was normally so quiet when entering a room, but this time she barged in without a second thought. "Sorry, I should have knocked," she whispered, noticing my surprise. I gave her a small smile, trying to ease the tension in the room.

I gestured for her to take a seat next to me on the bed, and she obliged. "What brings you here so early in the morning?" I inquired with a friendly tone.

As she sat down next to me, I gestured for her to speak. She hesitated for a moment before finally sharing her news. "The maids stopped me in the hallway and asked me to provide them with a list of your favorite dishes and the type of dresses you prefer. They also inquired about your preferred pet," she whispered, almost as if she was afraid of the response. "I answered their questions as best as I could, but I froze when they asked about your favorite pet. I couldn't help but blurt out that it's a dragon," she added, a hint of anxiety in her voice.

I sat up abruptly, my voice ringing out in disbelief. My cheeks reddened, not with anger but with fear. "Dragons?" I repeated in alarm. There wasn't a dragon in sight in this kingdom, or so I thought. I had always been afraid of the fire-breathing beasts, and the thought of them being brought into the kingdom made me feel uneasy. But if the maids did manage to get their hands on one, perhaps Zei, with his love for the creatures, would be able to handle it.

I took a deep breath and gathered my composure. "Don't worry, I'm sure Zei will be able to handle it," I reassured her with confidence.

"Do you trust him?" she asks innocently.

"What do you mean by that?" I questioned, with a hint of confusion in my voice.

She spoke with a hint of concern in her voice, "Do you trust him so much, to have given him such power over your decisions? To have allowed him to guide you in finding a suitable spouse, to have given up your guards and returned to your palace, and now, with the threat of danger looming around your virtue, to be sleeping in chambers so close to his? It seems like you have placed a lot of trust in him."

"I'm not sure what to make of it all," I admitted, "but he's been honest with me so far. He even informed me that he was the king of Sinnest without me having to learn it from someone else. The only thing he's keeping from me is the identity of the man I'm supposed to marry, but I can't really fault him for that. To be honest, I'm not sure I even want to know anymore."

"Hold on, what did you say? He's the king of Sinnest? And after all you said about him, aren't you going to try and take his head off? I think he's still sleeping, now might be the perfect time," she jested with a playful grin.