The Theodoran Traitors

Chapter Four ~ Athena

I woke up to sunlight streaming through the window, squinting as I sat up. The pile of books that had somehow made their way onto my bed toppled off, joining the scattered ones on the floor or nestled beside me. I blinked in confusion, trying to piece together the chaos. 'Why are there books here? Did someone move them?'

While my groggy brain wrestled with that mystery, I glanced around the room. The second my eyes landed on the man sprawled by the desk, last night's events hit me like a brick to the face. I groaned and grabbed fistfuls of my hair in pure frustration. 'Why couldn't it have been a dream?! Why, God? WHY?!' As I mentally cursed the heavens, Harald started to stir.

My poor heart, already running on fumes, decided now was the time to enter full panic mode. 'This is it,' I thought. 'My heart's finally going to quit, and frankly, I don't blame it.' If my heart had a voice, I'm pretty sure it would be yelling at me like an overworked nanny right now. And believe me, they sure could yell.

I watched silently as Harald blinked groggily, trying to adjust to the bright room. At first, he just lay there like a confused newborn. Then his eyes met mine, and I saw the exact moment when the memories of last night came flooding back. Panic flashed across his face, and he immediately tried to stand-only to collapse face-first into the floor like a poorly thrown sack of potatoes.

A snort of laughter escaped me before I could stop it. Harald shot me a death glare from his position on the floor, and I was pretty sure I'd just sealed my fate. Flashing a nervous grin, I turned my attention to the window, suddenly pretending that staring outside was the most interesting thing I'd ever done in my life.

"My lady... don't you think it's about time you untie me?" Harald asked, his voice dripping with fury, sending delightful little chills down my spine. I turned to him, plastering on the most innocent smile I could muster. "No~" I chirped, standing up and starting to gather the books strewn across the floor. "I'm not getting anywhere near you until Her Highness explains why she thought it was a brilliant idea to send a complete stranger to my room in the dead of night."

Harald snorted, leaning back against the desk. He didn't even bother trying to break free from the ropes. I mean, sure, I was confident in my knot-tying skills, but I knew if he really wanted to, he could snap those restraints like they were made of spaghetti.

We fell into an uneasy silence. I continued picking up the books, while he gazed thoughtfully out the window. The stillness felt like a thick fog pressing down on me. Just yesterday, he couldn't stop hurling insults, and now he was calmly sitting there, like a serene painting of a philosopher pondering the mysteries of the universe. I paused and stared at him. 'He is way too calm... something's off.'

My heart began to race, pumping faster than a rabbit on caffeine, while my brain whirred. The scene before me seemed almost idyllic: a handsome man calmly basking in sunlight, gazing out of the window. So why was I feeling like I was about to walk into a bear cave? It wasn't as if he could just leap up and attack me-well, he could, but he wouldn't. I had done my homework on him, and his track record was as clean as a whistle. He never killed or harmed anyone without a good reason. Plus, as a guest of the Princess and a candidate for the First Prince's fiancée, he'd only land himself in hot water if he decided to get revenge for my little stunt yesterday.

Sensing my scrutiny, Harald turned to me, and when he caught sight of my troubled expression-probably as pale as a ghost-his smirk widened. "Oh, so now you're afraid? With me all tied up and practically harmless?" He chuckled softly, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "I'm curious-where did all that courage of yours go? Did it run off with the last of my sanity?" As his words left his mouth all of my worries only doubled.

Before my mind could spiral into worst-case scenarios, I slapped my cheeks three times-hard. The sharp sound echoed in the room, and Harald visibly flinched, staring at me like I'd just sprouted a second head. My cheeks were throbbing, but the sting brought me back to my senses. Rational thoughts were back on the menu, though my face felt like it had just been in a boxing match.