Dusk at Midnight

{ 4 } A Queen in Turmoil

Faylinn

"Where did you go yesterday?"

Kieran glanced up from his post in the corner of the room and raised an eyebrow.

"I also have things to do when I'm not babysitting you," he replied smoothly, and I scowled at his jab.

"It's not like I ask you to..." I trailed off, frowning as I realised he was dodging the question, "and that's besides the point."

"So what is the point?" A smirk crossed his face and I nearly threw my hands up in frustration.

"The point is-"

"No point," Kieran stated, pushing off the wall and coming around to peer over my shoulder. "Besides, I feel like it'd be more in your interest to pay attention to what you are doing."

I glanced down, my eyes widening in horror as the report I had spent hours on was stained with a large drop of ink from my quill.

"You-!" I tried to say, my mouth opening and closing as I glanced from his cheshire grin to my soiled report and back again.

"...are very handsome? Why thank you, Your Majesty!" he exclaimed with fake enthusiasm, grin widening when I glared daggers at him.

Sighing, I rubbed my temples--I could feel a headache brewing. My only real job was keeping Xylia happy, but I even had problems with that.

"Do you need a nap?" Kieran asked, face unusually serious.

"Since I am not a five-year-old, I will go take a walk instead... meanwhile could you check up on Ysaim? I was thinking of travelling there tomorrow." I glanced back down at my ruined report, hoping that he would not see through my lie.

He raised an eyebrow at that but complied, letting the door swing shut behind him as he left.

I let out a sigh of relief, able to breathe now that he was finally gone.

After a few minutes, I decided to brave a peek out the door, a feeling of mischief filling me as I saw that the hallway was empty.

I began tiptoeing down the corridor, before clearing my throat as I remembered to walk normally in case anyone were to walk past. Reaching the large oak door of the Royal Guard's quarters, I hesitated for a second before pushing it open.

"Your Majesty?" I jumped, face blanching as I was confronted by Steiv--the Vice Captain of the Royal Guard. "What are you doing here?"

 "Is there a reason to why I cannot be here?" I asked back, lifting my chin in an attempt to be more queenly.

"Of course not, Your Majesty." He bowed swiftly, and I could see his large muscles rippling underneath his shirt. Restraining a shiver of fear for anyone who got on the wrong side of him, I turned away with only one goal in mind.

Kieran's room.

Something in there may just give me an upper-hand over him and find out where he always snuck off to every now and then. Smirking at my own ingenious, I turned the knob to the Captain of the Guard's room, eyes widening in horror as I realised that it was locked.

Had I really been that dense to think that Kieran would leave his door open?

I sighed heavily, resisting the urge to stomp my foot in frustration.

"Need this?"

I spun around to the sound of Steiv's voice, almost losing my balance in my panic. He held out a silver key, smile playing on his lips.