Guild of Thieves (Book 1) ✓

𝓒𝓱.26 ~ 𝓐 𝓡𝓸𝔂𝓪𝓵 𝓗𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓮𝓻'𝓼 𝓓𝓾𝓽𝔂

Arianna woke early and went to bed late, barely sleeping in between. She tried her best to be Ari the healer but a single thought of Jezamine would send her mind into a spiral, distracting her from her work. The girl would be ten years old now like the young Prince. Arianna missed her daughter more than anything.

A Royal Healer's duty is to serve the crown and help the patients that came to the castle for medical attention. Mainly it was just wealthy clients, lords and ladies and those who could afford to pay the costly price. At least at the Apothecary Arianna didn't discriminate against the rich or the poor. A patient was a patient and gold wasn't everything, but it meant everything to the Royal Family.

Arianna thought being a true Royal Healer would be more fulfilling but it was not. It was more tiring than being the average healer in Arondale, missing her old job immensely. Distracted by her thoughts of the past once more, Venus May drew her back to reality.

"You are doing that face again." She said as she santised the benches.

"I know I am...I'm sorry, I just miss home." Arianna admitted.

"You just need to forget the past Ari...it's for the best. Your duty is now as a Royal Healer. The crown owns you. There's no escaping the crown..." Venus said sadly.

Arianna hated that her friend was right, but she couldn't bare the thought of not ever seeing her daughter again. Her weekly visit to the Market Square weren't enough, the castle was starting to feel stuffy. She needed to visit her getaway place to get some fresh air.

"Can you take over for now? I will be back in ten minutes, I promise." She excused herself and left the infirmary.

Weaving down hallways she stopped when she reached a set of stairs leading up into a turret where Arianna found the young Prince looking out over the kingdom. She was surprised to find the boy there so she tried to leave before he noticed her, but it was too late.

"You can stay if you want...but only if you don't tell my parents about this place. I'll won't have anywhere to hideaway if you do." Prince Alexander said quietly staring out over the realm he will one day inherit.

Arianna felt for the boy, it wouldn't be easy having so much responsibility on his shoulders from a very young age. She sat across from him looking out at all the buildings shimmering in the sun, looking like gold underneath its rays. Arondale was known as the golden kingdom after all. It was a shame this was the only way she got to see her home, in the distance was the abandoned mill factory.

"What are you doing up here anyway?" Alexander asked, looking towards her with curiosity.

"I just needed to get away...have a break from everything." Arianna said to the boy with a sigh.

"I come here to get away too." The Prince smiled. "I understand. You can use the turret as your hideaway as well."

"Thank you little Prince."

"Who are you calling little!?" Alexander exclaimed.

"I- I didn't mean to offend you..." Arianna stuttered. "I'm sorry."

"I'm only joking with you! Lighten up a little!" The Prince giggled.

Arianna found herself thinking of Jezamine again, trying to imagine what her daughter would look like now.

Was she beautiful as she pictured she would be? Was she strong? Brave? Kind? Curious?

All she knew for sure was that the girl would be raised a thief and by Caine, the man who wanted one thing and one thing only: the jewels of Arondale.

Arianna worried Caine would send their daughter on the same mission that got her in this mess to begin with. That was why she had to get back to Jezamine, she had to save the girl from suffering the same fate or worse...

"Since we're sharing the hideaway we might as well get to know one another." Alexander stated, telling her a little about himself and his burden of being heir to the throne.

She didn't expect the boy to completely open up to her, but she appreciated his honesty. She decided it wouldn't hurt to tell the Prince a little about herself. Telling him about life at the Apothecary or stories she heard from Teigen. The Prince listened intently, wanting to hear more but she had to go. Arianna has been more than ten minutes and Venus May would be wondering where she was.

"I will tell you more stories next time, I have to go back to work." Arianna bided him farewell, climbing down the stairs and returning to the infirmary.

Venus May was worried like she predicted, wondering where she wandered off to. Arianna didn't tell her best friend about her run in with the Prince nor revealed his hideaway place. She told the other healer she got something to eat from the kitchens before returning to the infirmary. Venus believed her lie, continuing to mop the floors while Arianna checked the medicine storage and mixed herbs together. For a Royal Healer's duties never stopped after all. Working long into the night and early hours of the morning.