Color of Roses

Paint For Me?

Chapter 29

I wake to the sun beaming against my eyes through the open balcony doors. My dream last night felt so real. I sit up in my bed and rub my eyes groggily. My eyes focus to the floor and I see a clump of silk lying on the floor. I look down and realize I've slept with nothing but my bare skin. So last night wasn't a dream it was real. I wrap a blanket around myself and run to the balcony. No trace of Alyn's visit is evident. I'm not sure if I should feel relieved or assume I'm going insane.

I shake it off and get dressed for the day. I let my hair hang loose the tip of it resting against my middle back. It's gotten longer since I started my journey as a princess. I wait for Nico to arrive and escort me to breakfast. I enter the large dining room to see breakfast foods from different countries arranged on the huge table.

"Where is everyone?" I ask noticing the room is entirely empty.

"His Majesty is busy. He's asked you to eat without him."

I take a seat at the table and reach for some food and force myself to eat some. I take a few bites of some scones filled with raspberry jelly and some omelet with a variety of cheeses grated on top. I stare at my half empty plate and sigh.

"I'm ready to return to my bedroom," I say as I rise. Nico looks at the plate then back to me. "You're not eating anymore?" I shake my head before following him back to my bedroom. I've asked for some books or painting supplies to read to make the most of my prison. I've painted the sunset at least a dozen times now and even sketched a bowl of fruit that's been on my table since the day I arrived.

I lean against the balcony and stare out at the wall I hopes of spotting Alyn. He won't come in broad daylight. You know that. I frown and rest my head on the palm of my hand. I hear a light tapping at my door and it opens to reveal Nico and Albert.

"King Byron would like to see you, Aria," Nico says.

"Why?" I say more as a demand than a question.

"He doesn't need a reason," Albert says with a scowl. "He's the king. You bend to his every whim no matter what."

"I'm not some toy he can play with when he wants to!" I retort.

"You're nothing more than a pawn to him. Your feelings mean nothing," Albert scoffs.

I glare at him and grind my teeth. If I wasn't a prisoner here I'd mocking grin off his damned face.

"We're wasting time," Nico says to the both of us. "Let's go."

I let out a disgruntled sound and head for the door. Albert walks behind me and I'm sure he's there in case I decide to make a run for it. We turn down the hall leading to the large room where I first met Byron. Nico opens the door and ushers me inside followed by himself and Albert. The door shuts behind us and Byron raised his head from the document he was reading.

He glances at me before focusing his silver eye on Nico. "Thank you, Nico." Nico bows and leaves while Albert remains standing behind me. He narrows his eyes at me. I look away before he turns me to stone and realize Byron's risen from his chair and has stood in front of his desk.

"How did you sleep?" He asks. Flashes of Alyn's body go through my mind and I stare at the floor to hide my blushing. "I-I slept alright," I sputter.

"Good. I have something I'd like to show you," he says and reaches for my hand. I hold my hand to my chest. His eye widens slightly surprised but he continues. "Follow me."

He nods at Albert who opens the door for us. Byron leads me around the corner from his office and down a long corridor. He pulls out a silver key and unlocks a door at the end of the hall. My heart begins to beat faster in anticipation for whatever lurks behind that door. The lock clicks and the door opens with a slight creaking.

"Go inside," he says making hand motions. I turn to look up at him and his silver eye subtly shines. I steps inside the room and I freeze. Canvases of all sizes line the room along with murals of the castle garden and other places hang on the wall. A large desk decorated with paints and chalks and pencils sits against the far wall.

"It's my wedding gift to you," Byron says taking a step to my side. I look over the room, part of me happy for the gift and the other saddened that he still wants to marry me. Byron grabs my hand and pulls me to a large, blank canvas resting on an easel. "Paint something for me."

He releases my hand and takes a step back. I gaze at the white canvas and my fingers brush the ridges of the paper. "I'd like to paint privately," I say turning to Byron.

"I can't wait to see what you create," Byron says with soft eyes. It's a big strange compared to his more commanding demeanor. He whispers something to Albert whose eyes are on me. He nods at Byron as they both exit the room. I assume he's been told to keep an eye on me.

I spend the next few hours mixing paints and letting my hands move across the paper at their own accord. The sunlight is slowly fading from the room and I decide it's time to finish up. I wipe my dirty hands against my paint stained dress and glance over the image. The background is a dark shade of blue with streaks of white for the moonlight. A face is half shaded with crimson eyes gazing back at me. Tears fill my eyes and I grab a brush and paint black over the canvas. The image of Alyn's face illuminated by the moon in my bedroom last night runs over and over in my head and it only makes me yearn for him more. How would I know if I'll ever see him again?

The door opens and Byron steps inside with Albert at his side. They both gaze at the painting and their eyes grow wide.

"What is that?" Albert snickers.

Byron steps closer and examines the image. "Explain this?"

"There's nothing to explain. It's just a painting of blackness."

"You spent all afternoon in here to paint this?" Byron eyes the canvas again and presses his thumb and finger to this chin. "You covered something up that you did not wish for me to see?"

I look back at the painting and see some of Alyn's face barely visible beneath the layer of black paint. "It doesn't matter."

"Who is that?" Byron's eye watches me and I look toward the floor. Albert steps closer and examines the painting also. "It's that knight I told you about who interfered with our plans before."

"I see," Byron says. "He was your lover?"

My eyes widen and my cheeks burn. It was strange hearing someone say it out loud. "I-I'd like to go back to my room."

"Very well," Byron says. We leave the room and he turns to lock the door. I follow him back toward my bedroom and he turns to face me once we reach my door. He places the silver key in the palm of my hand and holds it briefly. "Feel free to paint when you are up to it. I'd like to see more. Perhaps you could paint me next time."

I watch him as he walks away with Albert right beside him. I stare at the key in my hand for a few seconds before entering my room. I place the key on my dresser and remove my dirtied dress. I toss it over a chair and walk into my room where a hot bath is waiting for me.