章 22: The Escapade

Adrasteia made sure there weren't any guards wandering nearby her chambers and locked the enormous door behind her.

As Adrasteia entered her room, she was greeted by the sight of luxurious furnishings and ornate decor that would make any visitor envious. The bed was adorned with silk sheets in a light shade of pink, and fluffy pillows that looked like they could swallow a person whole. The wooden dresser was intricately carved and had several crystal vases filled with exotic flowers. The walls were painted a light cream color and had several paintings and tapestries hanging from them, depicting various scenes from mythology. Adrasteia couldn't help but admire the attention to detail in every aspect of her room, from the golden trim on the curtains to the embroidered patterns on the throw pillows. It was truly a room fit for a goddess.

Walking past the grand four-poster bed, draped in layers of silk and adorned with fluffy pillows and a plush duvet she came to stand beside her brother who seemed to be lost in his thoughts.

"Brother," she called out softly, not wanting to startle him.

Adrien turned to face her, his features quite distant.

"Adrasteia," he turned fully toward her, his whole attention on her. "We need to talk."

By the looks of his, it was obvious that the matter was nothing but serious. Adrasteia's heart sank at the seriousness in his tone. "What is it?" she asked fearing the worst. Adrien took a deep breath before he confessed all that he knew of.

Adrien saw his sister's eyes widen in shock. "What? How could this be? Father has always been against the which craft."

"I know," he replied, his voice grim with intimidation. "But I don't think she was lying. That's for sure. It was clear Ms. Taylor was confessing everything that she knew."

"But brother, how come it is related to the new case?" she questioned as she settled herself on the plush sofa which was situated in the comfortable sitting area along with a set of armchairs, arranged around a low coffee table adorned with a vase of fresh flowers, adding a touch of natural beauty to the space.

"Way back, when I was on the outskirts of the Massacred village, I had a visit to the barren land for my own purposes," he said and took out something from his pocket, "-and found these in there."

He took out a small box and gave it to her sister.

"What's this?" She questioned as she observed the box which was a little larger than her palm size.

"Open it," he said.

Untying the rope hooked around the knob, Adrasteia opened the small brown box given by her brother. A loud gasp left her lips as soon as she tilted the box and opened it to find a silver pendant in it. It looked so much like a delicate piece of jewelry, crafted with exceptional skill and artistry.

The crescent moon and star carving on the front of the pendant were intricately detailed, with each curve and point of the celestial shapes etched with precision. The glowing stone in the center of the pendant shimmered so beautifully, its blue hue dancing with light and shadow as she titled the box toward the light. The silver chain that holds the pendant was thin and elegant, adding to the overall delicacy and grace of the piece.

As Adrasteia gazed at it, she could not help but be drawn in by its beauty and allure, feeling a sense of wonder and fascination that she could not quite explain. She stretched her fingers forward to feel the textures of the alluring pendant in her hands.

Adrien swatted her hands away and took hold of the box along with the pendant in it.

"Don't be stupid!" he scolded and flickered her forehead.

"Ahh!" she rubbed her forehead and glared at her brother. "What was that for?"

"The pendant has silver in it."

"Oh my!" A dreadful look washed over Adrasteia. She could feel goosebumps forming. "I didn't mean to do it. I didn't know what came over me. It's just that the pendant... it's so beautiful and the stone... it's like nothing I've ever seen before. I could not take my eyes off of it."

Adrien studied his sister for a moment before sighing and closing the box.

"It isn't a normal pendant is it?"

"It's a talisman," Adrien replied. "I'm guessing this is the same talisman used by the witches to perform their magic. I found a similar one around the dead rogue's neck."

Adrasteia was stunned.

"That explains why you contemplate both the cases may be connected."

Adrien hummed in acceptance and they both were left in silence, their thoughts accompanying them.

As in thought, Adrasteia called out her brother, "Do you think this could mean that there are more Elves alive and the witches are planning to recreate the massacre?" she questioned, plantinga seed of suspicion in

"It's possible," Adrien replied. "But we can't jump to conclusions just yet. We need more information before we make any assumptions."

Adrasteia nodded her head understandingly.

"So... you aren't here only to tell me about this, are you?" she questioned knowingly.

"Right, I want you to keep a close eye on Father, his close subordinates, and his close companies. They'll likely discuss and prepare for all of it if they truly were involved in it. Unless-"

'Knock! Knock!'

"Quick! You got to hide!"

Yelled Adrasteia looking around the room, searching for a place to hide. She spotted the large wardrobe near the bed and gestured for her brother to hide inside it.

But Adrien had other thoughts. He opened the large window and peeked outside.

"What are you doing?" Adrasteia asked, confusedly.

"The trellis," Adrien whispered. "I can climb down it and escape. You stay here and act natural."

"But what about the pendant and the box?" Adrasteia asked, holding them in her hands.

"Hide them somewhere safe," Adrien said. "I'll come back for them later."

Before Adrasteia could say anything else, Adrien climbed out of the window, grasping onto a trellis made of sturdy wooden beams, intertwined with green ivy vines. The trellis creaked softly under his weight as he made his way down to the ground below.

Once he reached the ground, he looked up at the window to make sure his sister was safe. Adrasteia waved at him, and he disappeared behind a cluster of tall, slender trees with lush green leaves. They seem to sway gently in the breeze, their branches rustling together to create a soft whispering sound. The scent of blooming flowers fills the air, mixing with the cool freshness of the air.

Adrasteia let out a sigh of relief and turned to hide the pendant and the box. She quickly stashed them in a secret compartment at the bottom of the wardrobe and made her way back to the sitting area, trying to act as if nothing was wrong.

Just after she sat down on the sofa, and took a deep breath, she let the person come in. Just as she did so the door opened ever so gently and in came her handmaid, bowing her head respectfully.

"Greetings, your Highness," the maid said, her voice low and respectful.

Adrasteia smiled at her and gestured her to rise. "Where have you been? I've been waiting for you for a while now."

"I'm sorry, your Highness," the maid replied, still bowing. "Her Majesty the Mother Queen had me fulfill some tasks of yours before the upcoming council meeting. Is there anything you need?"

"Yes, actually," Adrasteia replied, rubbing her neck, "I need you to massage my nape over here. I feel quite a sorrow for no reason."

The maid nodded her head and immediately was on her feet, making her way to Adrasteia. The maid took off the heavy overcoat and slid her hair aside before she began to massage her neck with an ointment applied over her milky white skin, her fingers working the tension out of her muscles.

Adrasteia let out a sigh of relief and leaned back into the chair, but her mind kept reeling from the conversation with her brother. She wondered whether had her brother escaped from the premises of the castle.

She slipped out her phone from the little pocket that was hidden under the layers of the beautiful heavy gown and texted her brother.

The maid who had her fingers moving over Adrasteia's nape froze for a spare second before she continued working. But her eyes stealthily took a glance at what the princess was up to.

Adrasteia waited for a few moments, her heart pounding with anticipation, hoping for a response from her brother. She was lost in her thoughts when her phone vibrated, indicating a new message. She quickly checked the message and let out a sigh of relief. Her brother had managed to leave the castle undetected and was on his way to safety.

The maid, who had been glancing at Adrasteia's phone, quickly averted her gaze when she noticed Adrasteia looking up at her.