The Moon's Elite

Chapter 5

When I wake up I bury my anxiety and make myself face the truth that: I need to know where his room is. Meaning I need to have him bring me there, and there's only one way that'll happen. I put on a silver high-slit loose neckline dress and ring for Anne.

"Yes my lady?" she sounds surprised I called her since I leave her be as much as possible.

"I'm thinking about doing something different for my makeup today could you help me?" she nods and rushes over excitedly.

"What did you have in mind, my lady?"

"I'm hoping for something a little bolder but not too much."

"Of course, my lady."

"One more thing I want you to call me Mira." At that, the girl looked absolutely stunned but managed to nod. After several minutes of her wiping different makeup across my face, she lets me look in the mirror. My eyelids shine enough to make my navy blur eyes stand out -but not enough to make me look like a clown- she drew a black pencil along my lids, and added color to my cheeks while making me seem mysterious.

"Perfect thank you."

"Whatever you need, my l-Mira." I smiled at her and thanked her again before dismissing her and making my way to breakfast. I don't make eye contact with anyone as I enter the room and find my seat. The royal family hasn't entered yet so the plates are empty leaving people nothing to do but talk and from the murmuring that reaches my ears, their favorite topic this morning is me.

When the royals enter everyone stands and bows as they pass, I hear rather than see the prince stop for a heartbeat when he passes me. I smirk. I look up at the prince many times throughout the meal but I never catch him looking, interesting. By the end of the meal I start to think I'd done something wrong but the next time I look over at him he's staring at me with such intensity it gives me goosebumps. As he leaves the dining room his hand brushes my arm so fast I would have thought I'd imagined it if it weren't for the sparks still shooting up my arm.

"Interesting outfit for breakfast don't you think?" I nearly jump out of my skin when I find the prince leaning against the far wall of my sitting room, waiting for me. That was quicker than I thought I swallow my sudden nerves.

"Come on in why don't you." Sarcasm drips from my voice. He pushes off the wall stalking towards me until there is only a foot separating us. My breath quickens and I know he can tell because he smirks. "You know I have the gardens memorized but I barely know anything about the castle?"

"Hmm, we should remedy that then." He steps away giving me space to breathe and offers his arm. If I can fight murderers and live through nearly daily wipings then I can handle this I remind myself before I lope my arm into his and instead of stopping I grab his hand and intertwine our fingers. I don't look at him because I know if I do I'll see the perplexed and delighted look in his eyes. And after a second's hesitation, he leads us out the door.

...

He's been giving me a tour of the castle, showing me paintings of deceased rulers, pointing out empty rooms, and telling me history stories for over 2 hours. At the beginning, it was actually really interesting but even he seems bored with the archive of facts that have undoubtedly been drilled into his mind from a young age.

"I've bored you haven't I?" I was staring off into space and quickly snapped back.

"This isn't really what I'd meant when I said I wanted to see the castle." I know I'm playing him but it's still embarrassing to imply this.