The Duke's Secrets

Chapter 27 - The Boy In The Garden

Elizabeth ventured deeper and deeper into the castle's winding hallways with Celestia firmly nestled in her arms. She had previously explored the entirety of the fourth floor, confident she knew every nook and cranny of the layout. Had it all stored in a mental map she could conjure up at will.

The stark realization dawned on her then, like a heavy shroud, that such a map would be useless—not solely because of last night's ever-expanding labyrinth, with its network of doors and hallways that defied all logic and spatial restrictions. But due to Celestia, who pointed out and guided her through hallways she was certain did not exist until they were pointed out to her—until Celestia made her eyes look directly at them.

A sense of dread, like icy-hot fingers, tightened its grip on Elizabeth's legs, causing her steps to grow slower and slower. The fear that the labyrinth had somehow ensnared them once more dominated her thoughts. Each step forward felt heavier, as if she were trudging through mud that thickened with every passing step.

Her heart pounded with uncertainty, the rhythmic thud of her heart drowning out all other sounds. She was torn between the impulse to retreat and the fear of discovering that the hallway they had taken had already vanished. The walls seemed to close in on her. The air grew stagnant, heavy with the weight of her anxiety, each breath a grueling effort. A suffocating fog of worry clouded her mind, making her limbs lifeless and her thoughts sluggish—

"The labyrinth only opens in emergencies," Celestia reassured, her tone calm and steady, breaking through to Elizabeth's anxious mind. "This is normal. These passageways can only be seen by those who know how to look. We're safe, Elizabeth! This is just how we get to the heart of the castle—ah, turn right here!"

Elizabeth turned to find only a solid wall. Blinked. Then saw yet another long hallway simply appear before her eyes as if it had always been there.

"Is that where we are going? To the heart of the castle?" Elizabeth asked, trying to push the lingering anxiety from her mind as she walked through the used-to-be wall hallway.

"Yep! That's where my friend told me to bring you," Celestia replied cheerfully. "But it's not easy to get there. You need to really know the castle. Know where to look for the hidden hallways that play tricks on your eyes, and always mindful not to make a wrong turn and end up where you started. But don't fret! The labyrinth is hard to memorize because it changes all the time. But I've been to where we are going many times! I have it all in here!"

Celestia tapped her head, her expression full of determination. Elizabeth couldn't help but smile, feeling a surge of affection swelling up within her. She playfully ruffled Celestia's golden-lemon hair, drawing great comfort from her unwavering confidence.

"Then, I'm glad you're here to guide me!" Elizabeth declared, making Celestia beam and puff out her chest proudly.

The anxiety that had gripped Elizabeth's mind, the fear of the unknown and potential dangers, began to wash away—at least the outer layer of it.

Elizabeth's pace returned to normal, and she even attempted to figure out where they were by peeking through the windows. But she had forgotten that the view outside was largely the same from any window, offering no real clues to their location within the sprawling castle.

Soon, though, even that became impossible as the number of windows dwindled. The warm sunlight that once bathed the hallway, casting a golden glow on the floors, faded to nothing, replaced by the flickering orange glow of torches. Their lights cast dancing shadows on the walls and were the only source of illumination in the otherwise dark and stale hallway.

It might have created an eerie sensation in most, but it only fascinated Elizabeth now that she knew there was no danger. Her initial fears and worries had all but entirely dissipated, replaced now by a profound sense of awe and curiosity, traits inherent to her very nature.