𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 ✦ 𝘳𝘦𝘻𝘦𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭

-04

"You snuck out, didn't you?"

In that moment, Julia proved that she knew you just as well as you knew
her. "I don't know why you'd think that."

"Because you don't have a history of doing that?" She laughed when you
glanced up at her. "Come on, tell me what you did. I'm sure it's more
exciting than what I was doing, which was listening to the duchess and Lady Claudeya prattle on about how inappropriate this Lady or Lord in Wait is. I pled a viciously upset stomach just to be able to excuse myself." You giggled, knowing that Julia would've done just that.

"I did sneak out," you admitted.

"Where did you go without me?"

"I think you might be upset when you hear where."

"Most likely."

You peeked up at her. "The Red paradise"

Her eyes widened "Are you serious?" You nodded.

"I can't..." She appeared to take a deep breath. "How?"

"I borrowed your cloak, and I used that mask I found."

"You...you devious little thief."

"I returned the cloak this morning, so I don't think you can call me a
thief."

"Who cares if you returned it." She tipped forward. "What was it
like?"

"Interesting," I said, and when she begged for more details, you told her
what you'd seen. She was enthralled, hanging on every word you said.

"I can't believe you didn't take me with you." She fell back in her chair with a pout, but then sprang forward once more. "Did you see anyone there you recognized?"

"Mag was there"

"Mag...as in Magnus Heinrich ?" She exclaimed "Magnus in the flech" you said

"Reminds me the little duke was here before, that's weird considering he always pays you a visit before leaving, do you think he saw you there? "
"No, i disappeared before he did and he's as much guilty as i am for being there.But..." you trailed off as you remembered the events of yesterday including meeting Regef.
When you left you were relieved to find that Magnus was also nowhere to be seen. Neither was the strange woman who knew more than she should. You've done everything in your power not to think about what had happened in that room with him, yet you failed the moment you returned to your bed.
You'd laid there until exhaustion claimed you, replaying everything he'd said...everything he'd done. You've woken with the strangest frustration, an ache in your chest and lower belly.
"But what?" she asked pouring more jasmine tea into your cup.

You wanted to tell her. However,
Sharing yourself in any form with another was a totally different matter. That knowledge could be a weapon.
You trusted Julia, but only to a certain degree. And even though the mere thought of Regef made your stomach tighten into dozens of little coils, it wasn't something that would ever happen again.
What you'd done...it belonged to just you. It had to stay that way.

You exhaled slowly, ignoring the sudden scratchy lump in your throat. "But
many were wearing masks.I wouldn't have known who else was there. Anyone could've been."
"If you ever go to the Red Paradise without me again, I will cut holes in
the bottoms of your shoes," she warned, toying with the white beads dotting
the neckline of her rose-colored gown.
A shocked laugh left you. "Wow."
She giggled.

As you were skimming through the pages of a book you've found, you've heard a knock. Julia reached the door, throwing it open. It was one of the maids. You payed no attention to them knowing that the book you just found was far more entertaining than their conversation