𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒

40. 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲

𝕱or all of Rilynn's childhood and the beginning of her teenhood, she rarely got to see the world. She spent her time concealed away in her family's castle in Corona, wondering what it would be like to leave the safety of the walls that kept her hidden. Rilynn spent all those tedious hours reading in the nook of her bedroom, usually perched on the bench by the tall window. She read so much that she read the entire library twice.

Rilynn had never yearned to explore outside of the kingdom; she wanted to visit all of the realms, all the kingdoms around her. She wanted to have friends who were anyone other than the royal staff. She wants to hang out with people her age, go out, and experience the world beyond these brick walls. It was starting to become depressing.

Going to the Isle was one adventure Rilynn never expected, but it still gave her a rush of adrenaline that she never felt before. It was the most outlandish thing Rilynn could've done, and she wouldn't hesitate to do something like that again.

But as Rilynn sat on the floor of Fairy Cottage, stuffed back in the pantry with her hands bound by the vines that Audrey magically sprouted. Her parents' nightmare finally came true; the one main reason they kept watchful eyes on Rilynn was now a reality.

Audrey didn't care when Chad got away when he had the chance; it was as if he never mattered in her new take on being an evil sorceress. The last time Rilynn saw him, Chad disappeared into the abyss of the woods--hopefully, he found Jay and the others and told him where she was.

She jumped at the loud slam coming from the other room. Rilynn froze in a panic, holding her breath as if it would keep her hidden. She watched the small window for any signs of Audrey; seconds passed, and they turned into minutes. What was she supposed to expect after all of Audrey's plans weren't going the way she hoped?

Rilynn was locked away for so long that she didn't even know what time it was, let alone what day. She'd be stuck in the pantry since she and Chad tried running away, and since then, Audrey hasn't bothered to let her out. It wasn't like Rilynn had been eager to get out anyway; she didn't trust being around Audrey while she had the scepter controlling her consciousness.

She focused on the murmuring from behind the door, footsteps fading in and out of the room, but Rilynn couldn't count how many there were. Could it be? Rilynn rose to her feet but kept her head down, and she listened to them talking outside. The princess faced the wall or food, and a fleet of panic settled in her chest when there wasn't anything she could use to protect herself. Rilynn wasn't going to be Audrey's golden goose in her plan of taking over the world.

French bread will have to do. Rilynn reached for the loaf and held it up like a baseball bat, ready to swing and catch Audrey off guard. Just swing and run. The princess kept her head low and her back pressed against the wall by the door, waiting for the right moment when Audrey walked inside.

A shadow cast over the door loomed in the pantry. Rilynn controlled her erratic breathing and tried to quiet her beating heart. It beat loud in her ears, almost deafening her. But Rilynn didn't dare move as she listened to the lock sliding up and away. A loud thunk vibrated against the floorboard. Rilynn braced herself for what was about to happen. Here goes nothing.

The door creaked open, and a shadow formed. Rilynn gripped the French bread without smashing it in her grasp. She watched the shadow as it grew bigger, their footsteps creeping closer inside; Rilynn gave herself another motivation before she went into attack. Rilynn launched the loaf of bread at Audrey without a second to lose because if she waited any longer, Rilynn might've never had the courage.

"Whoa!"

The bread ripped when it hit the wall, just missing the person because they managed to jump out of the way from the oh-so-threatening French bread. Rilynn dropped her end of the bread when her plan failed, but the princess turned around and grabbed anything and everything around her, flinging at the person. Rilynn wasn't going to let Audrey get away with this anymore.