𝐌𝐘 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐓

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍

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     Feeling her eyes start to flutter, a wave of drowsiness seeping into her, (Y/N) had to constantly dig her nails into her skin or pinch herself just to stay awake. While she was sure that she wouldn't have to oversee Adrian every night, just the thought of doing something like it again irritated her. Adrian had been sleeping for five hours by then, having finally closed his eyes after thirty minutes of restless tossing and turning.

    (Y/N) blearily blinked her eyes.

    I'm so tired...

    Yawning, covering her mouth with her hand, she then flinched when the Adrian groaned and turned over in his sleep. Sighing, knowing she couldn't go on like how she had been for much longer, she glanced around the spacious room and spotted a small table sporting a chess board on top with two wooden chairs beside it. Cautiously picking up one of the chairs, she hoisted it in her arms before setting it down beside Adrian's bed, relief flowing through her as she sat.

    That's so much better.

    Folding her arms over her chest, (Y/N) turned her head so that she was now observing the sleeping royal, finding that he looked much more relaxed and peaceful than he did when he was awake.

    I wonder though...

    Why exactly is he so... peculiar?

    One minute he's kind, and then the next he truly acts like a 'tyrant prince.'

    Shaking her head and exhaling softly, she then shot upwards when a small knock rang within the space, slight fear running through her when it progressed, knowing for certain that it would wake Adrian. Bolting towards the door, she hastily unlocked it before opening it, shooting the servant opposite a deadly glare.

    "What?" She snapped. "Can't you see that His Highness is resting?"

    "I-I apologize," the servant stuttered, holding his hands up in defense. "H-However, the Queen and Princess have urgently called him since the King... h-he has passed away!"

    "He what!?" She exclaimed in bafflement, her jaw dropping from the stunning news.

    "Mm," the servant nodded, glancing around nervously. "T-The guards that found him... they found his throat slit and his room disturbed... as if a thief was there!"

    "A thief..." she murmured, thanking the man for his news before closing the door, pressing her back against the wood and placing a hand to her forehead. "How... did this happen? We had the antidote... we were going to save him..."

    Shit...

    But, now that I think about it...

    Why would a thief first head for the medical wing? That wouldn't be a thief, then...

    Her eyes widened at this realization, quickly rushing over to Adrian's bedside so that she could shake him away. Her hands clutched the silk sheets as she debated touching him, however disregarded her usual composure due to the situation. Unfortunately, as soon as her fingers brushed his shoulder, his hand came flying out to grab her wrist, flipping her into the bed and on her back so that he was hovering over her.

    "Who... the hell disrupted my sleep?" Adrian muttered with the pure malice to his tone.

    "I-I'm sorry, Your Highness!" (Y/N) gasped out, trying to twist her arms out of his tight grip. "But something urgent needs to be brought to your attention immediately!"

    Adrian didn't say anything at that, instead his hooded amber eyes continuing to look into her own—as if wanting to identify something. His grip loosened however remained firm, his lips parting and his head tilting. As he leaned in closer, so close she was sure if she lifted her head their noses would touch, she froze, her blood seeming to freeze in her veins from the way he looked at her.

    What... is he doing?

    "Oh... it's you, (M/N)," he finally sighed, removing one of his hands to brush a strand of her (H/C) hair off her face. "I should have known." Pushing himself up, the shoulder of his robe falling off to reveal part of his arm as he did so, he then sat on the edge of his bed, asking, "So? What do you need that you had to wake me up like this?"

    "Right," (Y/N) scrambled upright so she could quickly remove herself from the bed. "I apologize for my discourtesy, however something terrible has happened to the King. His Majesty... he has..." She cut herself off, biting her lip, wanting to force the words out as she uttered, "He..."

    "He's dead, isn't he?" Adrian instead spoke for her, his gaze lowered to the ground while he crossed his over his chest. "Isn't he?"

    "Yes... he is..."

    "I see," he nodded, standing up before setting a hand firmly on her shoulder. "By the poison?"

    "No... he was found with his throat slashed..."

    "Tch..." he clicked his tongue in distaste before discarding his robes—(Y/N) was quick to look away—and shrugging on more proper wear, beckoning her to follow him as he started walking swiftly down the hall. "Traitorous bastards..."

    "I had a feeling as well that that would be the case..." (Y/N) nodded mournfully, almost jogging by then trying to keep up with him.

    "You have good insight," Adrian commented as he turned down the hallways leading towards the medical wing of the palace. "Whoever did this—the most obvious suspect being Chalar—knew where the King was, knew how to get past the guards, was trusted enough to be in the palace, and is skilled with hand-to-hand combat as well as swordsmanship."

    "Wait... what makes you say that?" She furrowed her brows. "That servant told me nothing of such information."

    "Just take a look for yourself then," Adrian shook his head in disbelief as he stepped out of the way to reveal a gruesome sight.

    One guard lay dead on the ground. Two sat on the cots each bandaged with bruises spotting their faces. And then there was the King. As (Y/N) looked around at all the crestfallen expressions, she realized something important: whoever did this was prepared to do anything to get what they wanted, no matter the cost.

    Even killing a King.

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