Guild of Thieves (Book 1) ✓

𝓒𝓱.21 ~ 𝓑𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓒𝓻𝓸𝔀𝓷

Six years have passed today since Arianna last seen her baby girl and although she tried to turn off her emotions and forget her life outside the castle, she could not forget about the past. No matter how hard she tried, every night she found herself crying herself to sleep in the Healer's Chambers. Each morning she woke and would feel the numbness of the night before. She knew the saying "time heals everything" but time had not healed her pain nor was each passing day any easier for Arianna.

When she wasn't missing her daughter or her old life, she worked long hours in the Infirmary. There was never a long break for a Royal Healer, so Arianna found her peace of mind while she worked. It was the only distraction she had to keep herself from trying to escape and break her promise to the Royals.

"Ari, you have been summoned by the King." Venus May said, taking over caring for the patient Arianna was working with. "I'll take it from here."

"Thank you..." She replied, cleaning her hands before leaving the Infirmary.

Arianna felt her nerves and anxieties grow the closer she got to the Throne Room where the King and Queen sat like intimidating statues on their thrones. It all reminded her of that very day six years ago...

The sight of Prince Alexander sitting on a smaller throne beside the Queen playing with a wooden toy horse brought up emotions she tried so hard to ignore every day. Jezamine would be around the same height and it tore at Arianna's heart strings wondering what her daughter looked like now.

"Ari! It's good to see you as always!" King Vincent beamed when she bowed before them.

Queen Margery remained silent, eyeing her like a snake would a mouse. Arianna knew the Queen disliked her, but she was bound to the crown and couldn't do anything about it. Knowing if Margery had her way, her head would be hanging on a wall mount for the Queen's amusement.

"You summoned for me, your Majesty?" Arianna asked, curious to why she had been called.

"Since you have been loyal to the crown for six years now, the Queen and I have decided to allow you to leave the castle once a week." The King announced with a smile.

King Vincent was a kind, generous man whereas his wife was a cold, selfless woman. Arianna did not understand the Royal couple being complete opposites.

The news brought her the most amount of joy she had felt in a long while until the Queen rained on her parade.

"You can leave once a week for medical runs with the other Royal healers but nothing more than that."

Arianna's hopes shattered, hoping to finally see her daughter again and apologise to Jezamine for leaving her. All she wanted was to see Jez and hug her tight and never let her go.

Caine was an insane fool for giving her no choice and taking away a mother from her child. She prayed to the Heavens that Caine has learnt the jewels were unattainable and out of his reach. The man would never own the Jewels of Arondale nor be King of all thieves like he dreamed to become. His ambitions were too high, and he was willing to sacrifice too much for the cause. Too many lives have paid the price already for Caine's idiotic dream.

Since Arianna's attempt to steal the gemstones, the King ordered a dozen Guards to stand watch outside the Tower of Light and at least a dozen more inside the Tower itself. No thief stood a chance of stealing the jewels now unless they were as crazy as Caine...

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Jezamine sat on the roof of the mill factory with a piece of paper she stole from her father's stash in the Meeting Room. Focused on her drawing, the girl didn't notice the Leader of Thieves standing over her, watching her like a hawk.