Determined to get to know Kael better, Elara made it a point to seek him out every day. She would linger in the halls, hoping to catch a glimpse of him, or visit the kitchen, where she had first seen him. Each time she spotted him, she approached with a friendly smile, ready to strike up a conversation.
"Hey, Kael!" she would call out, her voice bright with enthusiasm. "What are you up to today?"
But each time, Kael would glance her way, his expression unreadable, before simply turning away and walking off. He often seemed preoccupied, as if he was lost in his thoughts or too consumed by whatever he was doing to engage with her. Elara felt a pang of disappointment each time he ignored her, yet she refused to give up.
She tried different approaches, asking about the palace, the customs of the Monster World, or even sharing little stories about her life outside the palace. "You know," she said one afternoon, "I've never met a monster quite like you. Don't you want to tell me about yourself?"
Kael would merely shrug or offer a noncommittal grunt, his eyes not meeting hers. "Not really," he would respond before quickly retreating to his room or slipping away down a side corridor.
Despite the setbacks, Elara remained undeterred. She sensed that beneath Kael's aloof exterior lay a depth she wanted to explore. There was something in the way he moved, a quiet strength that intrigued her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that he was more than just the Master's nephew. Perhaps he, too, felt trapped in this world, just as she did.
Elara decided to change her tactics. Instead of directly approaching him, she would observe from a distance, hoping to catch a moment where she could connect. She made mental notes of his routines, noticing when he ventured out to the gardens or wandered into the library. Perhaps, she thought, if she gave him a little space, he would eventually warm up to her presence.
In her heart, Elara believed that even the most guarded souls could find companionship, and she was determined to be the one to break through Kael's walls.
4o mini
YOU ARE READING
The Prison of Lies
AventuraIn a realm where monsters and humans exist in perpetual fear of each other, Elara is a young girl kidnapped at birth and raised in isolation, believing the outside world to be dangerous. On her birthday, driven by an unquenchable thirst for freedom...
