Dark Halls, Stone Walls

Chapter Nineteen and a Half

It took awhile for him to come to, but I barely noticed the minutes that passed by—I was too busy thinking while I waved him with a fan. My eyes remained fixated on the dresser ahead, though I'd already studied every needless detail, it was better than staring at his angel-like face.

I was surprised at how different he looked compared to before, but what was even more surprising was how pretty I thought he was despite how much he looked like hell.

I am a woman. I can admit when someone looks handsome or beautiful. I can look at someone and think that they have an attractive feature, be it genetic or through hardwork. Yet as a grown woman, I could not bring myself to look at this particular man without feeling embarrassed.

The same words kept on popping into my mind, despite my efforts to push them away, they remained in the crevices in my mind.

Beautiful. Playful. Unfaithful. Angry. Judas.

Judas.

Judas.

My beautiful Judas.

I glanced down in shame, only to realize that his careful eyes had already studied my face. Not wasting a moment, he spoke with a cool formality. "Good evening, Duchess Doller."

I swallowed hard. A tiny voice in me whispered that he already knew what I had thought, but the louder, more rational part of me snuffed it out. That's impossible, I never said anything. Besides, this man has known me for a mere few seconds.

I avoided his gaze—The proper thing to do. "Good evening, your Highness. Are you feeling better?"

He sat himself up. "Afraid not." He glanced at the door. "How long have I been out?"

I shook my head and responded quietly, "About thirty minutes, if I had to guess. For some reason, there are no clocks in here."

"Huh." He said no more for a moment, then, "I thought every room had a clock of some kind."

I let out a hoarse laugh. "You'd think so, but I suppose not for someone as I."

He looked over at me with a raised eyebrow. "Have the maids played a prank?"

"No, goodness no!" I said quickly. "It's just—" What, that he's had me isolated from the castle for days if not weeks? I thought bitterly. And that prisoners such as I don't get the luxury of knowing what time of day it is?

I plastered a smile on my face—a talent that women far beneath and above my position have mastered before me. A talent to face unpleasant things with a lovely, doll-like smile on my face. "It's just I don't think the maids could have done such a thing. Laura is so kind, you see, and she would have no reason to instigate such a silly and laborious thing."

He nodded with a frown. "I suppose she must be if you said so." It almost sounded mocking, but it was professional enough that it made me doubt my knee-jerk observation.

He went to stand up, but his eyes went blank and he fell back on his knees. "Damn!" He flinched. "My apologies, Duchess Doller. Such words are not—" He faltered, his face going slack, his eyes darkened.

Did this happen in the past as well? I thought with a shiver. Forget his illustrious personality, why would I marry someone who is clearly up to the knees with danger and issues? Surely becoming a princess wasn't worth this mess!

I reached out and touched his shoulder. "Your highness?" I inquired with as much heartfelt goodness as I could muster. "Are you—"

"—suitable for ears such as yours, please accept my humble apologies—" His now lively eyes slowly gazed up from my knees and into my brown eyes, where I was rooted in place. "... Did you say something?"