Once Upon A [Hidden] Time - [Stolen] Series IV

CHAPTER 56

EDWARD
1 JULY 1415

"Where is your aunty?" I asked Emma after searching the entire chamber again.

"She has not returned since the class this morning," she answered, concerned.

"Then what have you been doing all day?"

"Writing stories." Shrugging, she continued her work. "Writing the stories aunty has told me so far, so one day, I can have my own storybook."

I glanced at her work. The stories had sketches to go with them, the characters forming their shape through her little imaginative mind.

"Your aunty will love it," I added with pride.

"But where is she?" she asked. "Last time I saw her, we left her in the classroom with her friend."

"Which friend?"

"Lord James," she answered, making a sour face. "But he looks more like a lover than a friend."

"No gossip, Emma," I warned her.

"It is true, Uncle Ed," she argued. "If you do not court her soon, someone else will." She continued her drawing.

I took my time to grasp the meaning of her honest words. What had I done to court her? And the words I spitted out last night—about my true feelings—I thought she'd understand. I truly loved the woman of my dreams, but I no longer had any grain of doubt that Myra was not that woman. But considering that my love would take her life one day, how could I let her accept me? How could she ruin her life to live with a monster like me?

She was not cursed, so why should I make her life cursed? She came from a world full of knowledge and surprises. Why should I keep her in my darkness when she could do well in the light? Why should I kill her with my death?

I was indeed a stone-hearted bastard, but I also loved her enough to not let her ruin her life. I would not let her do this to herself.

"Are you going to be fine on your own, Emma?"

"I have been doing just fine all day," she answered quietly. "Besides, you are only showing your concern now?" I stared at her. "Where have you been all day?" I stayed quiet, not sure what to tell her. I had been avoiding her aunty because I had no strength to face her. "Go and find aunty," she ordered, diving into her sketches again.

Huffing, I left the room. I had searched the entire castle and had asked many guards, but she was nowhere to be found. Now it was too late to look for her. Although the Venetian ball would be held after the King returns, some of the guests had already arrived, and I had to attend a formal dinner to welcome them. Perhaps she was already at dinner. But according to Emma, she had not visited the chamber to change her gown since morning.

"Prince Regent," announced the bellman as I entered the Great Hall.

The nobles around me bowed and curtsied as I walked to my seat. The courtiers kept coming as the bellman announced their names and titles. My eyes kept looking for her, but there was no sign of her.

After the arrival of hundreds of nobles, my patience ran out. I stood up and left the hall to look for her. As I headed to the stables, I noticed a carriage approaching the main door. Lord James stepped out, holding Myra by his side.

"Easy, my lady," he said, steadying her.

"What happened to her?" I asked James.

"Umm...drunk, Your Highness," he answered, blushing like a girl.

"Where did you take her?" I grunted.

"Ha!" Myra exclaimed. "I am back in the world of darkness."

"Indeed." Seething, I held her by her other arm. "Where have you been since morning?"

"Who are you to ask me?" she snapped. "I can go wherever it pleases me. I have King's favour, after all." She was indeed drunk.

"Indeed," I answered, glaring at Lord James. "But you are forgetting that I am the Regent in his absence."

She stopped in the middle of the stairs. "Then I am your humble servant, Your Grace," she hissed, trying to curtsy, but failed as she lost her balance. Steadying her again, I rolled my eyes at her behaviour. She was unfit to attend the court.

"Where did you take her?" I asked Lord James.

"Oh, cut it, you moron!" she interrupted. "I went to a tavern to get drunk. I asked James to take me." Lord James turned beet red on her words.

"I tried to stop her drinking, Your Highness, but—"

I raised my hand to shush him. "We shall take her to bed. She is unfit for the court."

"Why the hell am I not?" she interrupted again, shrugging me away as we entered the castle. "I will attend it, and I will meet the guests." She turned her head towards Lord James. "You will accompany me for a dance." She tossed her drunken head to look at me. "And you go and see your guests."

Pulling away from me, she walked in like a spoiled harlot, leaning on Lord James.

Cursing, I followed her and entered the hall.

"His Royal Highness," announced the bellman again upon my arrival. "Prince Regent." The music continued as the courtiers entertained themselves with wine, women, and dance.

Lady Elizabeth approached me. "Your Highness," she curtsied. "I had not seen you since morning."

"Come, dance with me," I ordered, holding her arm, bringing her to the centre.

Myra was dancing slowly with Lord James, her arm entwined with his as they moved in a slow circular rhythm. She was laughing at something. Lord James made her happy.

Lady Elizabeth tracked my gaze and continued, "If you do not let her enter your world, someone will eventually claim her."

I snapped my head at her.

"I apologise, Your Highness, if I may be so bold, but..." Glancing at them, she continued, "You are giving her away, yourself." I inhaled sharply at her words. "He will not be the only man to love her. The whole court has their eyes on her since she has the King's favour." Myra snaked her arms around Lord James' neck, laughing again at something. He was making her giddy and drunk with joy. "Open your heart to her before it is too late. Dancing with me will not help."

I pondered her words. Pulling away, she curtsied and took her seat.

Mustering my strength, I started to approach her, but before talking to her, someone approached me.