Unmasked

Chapter 35

-unedited af-

Chapter 35:

I woke up earlier than usual, which to me was strange but rather fight to go back to sleep I simply stood up from my bed and made my way out.

The halls weren't empty, as I thought they would, instead there were simply other maids that roamed around to make sure everything was in place. Some maids I've never seen before.

Mariah must still be asleep, she can't tell me where to go and I don't know of anyone else to look to for instructions. Despite all the stares I'm given I find myself walking outside, through the entrance the help find themselves coming in through.

I remember when I would sneak out whenever I was free and coming out to explore the town or play with Michael, it was a time long before now when I still lived where my father did.

My heart drops at the thought.

Where my father lived. I miss home. The home before all of this, before my father went away and my mother turned cold. I miss seeing Michael, I miss Harriet, I miss my father...

There weren't as much help out here as there were inside, that was probably because it's too dark to see properly.

I walked until I reached the gate, the stone walls that protect the castle from the outside as well as keep me in- not that I would want to leave... Do I?

There was a garden, one that I saw the first time I came here that night, with a fountain. It was the first thing he showed me when I was too nervous, too afraid to do anything.

I walked with no direction in mind, my fingers trailing along the jagged wall, keeping my mind anchored to reality. This castle isn't home to me but it's where my prince is, so maybe it's okay.

More memories flash through my head, one of my small garden, the nearby woods, the small yet comfortable house that was perfect to have two sisters in along with two parents.

Home.

Why? Why am I suddenly missing that place? I'm here now, this is my home.

"Mary?" I look up from my feel before he could tell me to and smile at him. How does he know to find me at times like these?

"I couldn't sleep," I admit to him, my eyes drifting off to admire his face, clothing, everything.

He's so certain about everything, then again he has to be, as the future king...

"I haven't been able to lately as well," his hand comes up to touch mine, gently lifting it from the wall, "so I take a stroll out here and admire the stars."

At that I gaze upwards for a moment, taking is the small bright lights, then I look back to him who's staring back at me. I don't look away from him.

"How long have you slept?" he asks me, his hand still on mine.

"I'm unsure," maybe that why nothing feels real right now, "I just knew that I wouldn't be able to keep at it so instead I got up."

"There's still enough time," he steps closer to me, "you're not acting like yourself."

He right, he's so close to me now, his body nearly inches from mine. My heart would be racing, and it is, but I'm still calm, what could that mean?

"Do you miss being outside the castle?" I ask him without a second thought, looking down as I do.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean," I take a moment "do you ever miss living anywhere else?"

When I look back at him, I notice that there's a change in his expression. What was once soft and calm was now tense and uneasy, maybe I touched a sensitive subject.