Chapter 8: I'll just help out a little

Astin watched Felix retire and once she was sure he wasn't being stubborn and clinging around, she sighed and retired to her room.

She changed into her night gown and was sitting on her window panel. She wasn't a fan of looking through the window or staring at the night sky, that was why she didn't have a balcony.

She sat there, staring into her family's photo album. It sounded crazy but that was the only way she could remember how her parents looked like and what she did when she was young.

Both in her previous and present life, she couldn't get out bits of what happened before the accident. She concluded it to be because she had grown too old to remember but thinking back now, she had actually lost her memory in her last life and her saviour was still unknown. He or she didn't even show up in her last life.

"Forget it. It's possible they might've have been dead already." She said to herself and dropped the album, looking through the window. The moon was full, silver and stunning. She smiled. "I can't believe I never liked to savor the sight of the night sky. It's… beautiful." She got up determined and took a closer and clearer view.

Astin peeped out of her room and scanned the hall. No maids, no guards, which was funny because the palace was heavily guarded. She chuckled feeling like a little kid before running out with her bare feet. She didn't mind and didn't care.

"Now, which room has the best view so… ah," She snapped her fingers. "...grandfather's study room!" She snickered and went there.

It was locked but she knew the password. On his study table were scattered books. She shook her head and tsked.

"Grandfather just doesn't know how to clean up after himself." On the table there was also a picture frame. It consisted of him, her father, mother and herself when she was still little. She felt familiar and warm.

Nevertheless, she walked out to the balcony and looking up, she saw what she had missed for so many years.

The stars were twinkling and the moon was shining stunningly. She loved the sight of it and then, she saw a shooting star. She closed her eyes, as she had heard, and made a wish.

"I always thought that there was nothing to the night sky because of how depleted the ozone layer is but looking up now, I was so wrong. It's...still so beautiful even like this." She said to herself and felt chilly.

The night was cold and she only wore a thin layer of night gown. Her golden glimmering eyes,sparkled with the sight of the sky and locks if her silver-white hair danced with the wind. She felt free and relaxed but then, someone put a cloak around her. She turned to see Quinella.

"Quinella, what are you doing here? I thought I told you to retire early." She asked sternly which got Quinella a little scared.

"I'm sorry, your highness." She bowed her head. "I did sleep but later I went to check up on you to make sure you were okay but you weren't there, that's when I found you here. Please go inside, your highness. The night is cold, you'll get sick." She said.

Astin clutched onto the cloak and thought Quinella was right. With the way the night breeze blew, she wouldn't have fallen sick. Wait, something wasn't right.

"How did you know I was up here? This is my grandfather's study room balcony, your king!" She slammed and Quinella started feeling anxious. "How did you know the password?"

"This..." She didn't know what to say. She promised not to let the Intel out. "The door was not locked." She said but Astin wasn't convinced.

"There are two things involved. One, you've been snooping around here which makes you a spy..."

"No, your highness! I swear I'm not a spy." Quinella interrupted.

"Two," Astin said not minding her plea, "...you disobeyed me and instead of going to bed, you followed me."

"I..." Quinella was feeling more anxious. 'Should I tell her that brother sent me because he was worried? No, I can't let her know. She'll punish brother!' She thought.

Astin observed Quinella's expression carefully and concluded it to be the latter. If that was the case, then there was no problem. She sighed.

"Alright, just go back." She said getting Quinella surprised. She just stood there. "Didn't you hear?"

"Oh, right! Thank you,your highness." She said, bowed and hurriedly walked away.

After she had left, Astin glanced at the sky once more. Her mind wandered to all corners of the earth. She thought she was alone but little did she know that there was someone watching her secretly. She sighed and walked back in. Looking at the study table, she was tempted to help.

"I'll just help out a little. After all, I was once a queen." She said and sat down to sort out the problems, writing down their solutions, suggesting helping ways and pitting two and two together. It was tiring but she managed to finish on time. What her grandfather would take months trying to sort out, she sorted them out in one night.

In the early hours of the morning, around 5 a.m., Fedrick went to his study room to start the day's work but never expected to see his sweet and lovely granddaughter sleeping there.

She rested her head on the cleared table. Her cloak was almost off. He smiled and helped her arrange it. He wanted to work but couldn't push himself to wake the sleeping Angel. Then his eyes caught the pile of arranged work. He took one and took a look. His mouth fell in awe. He looked at Astin still sleeping and smiled.

"You'd live to become the greatest queen if you're already this good." He said. Then he saw the picture in her hand and sighed. "It's too bad your father and mother aren't here to see this. You've grown so much. They'd be proud." He kissed the side of her head and left her to sleep.

Astin was having a nice dream. She smiled out and overslept. By the time she woke up, it was already 10. Not too alarmed,she stretched her long and fair arms and yawned.

"So much for spending quality time in the study." She said and heard her stomach grumbling. She covered up with the cloak and went to her room. The guards and maids bowed but still stated shocked. Yet no one could utter a single word. Gossip spreads really quick but none of them dared to gossip because if the princess got angry, she'd punish all those involved, brutally.

Astin got to her room, took her bath and dressed up. She was still brushing her slight wavy silver hair when she heard a knock.

"Come in!" She yelled and Quinella walked in.