章節 44: Overtime
Queen Kathy expected her daughter to avoid her, but she did not expect this to happen--- Alyssa visited her more often than before.
Queen Kathy might have to thank Duke Emil after all.
If it was even possible, Kath felt that she and her daughter became closer in the process--- ignoring the possibility that her daughter had an ulterior motive with her visits.
"Mother," Alyssa said, a tone she uses to reveal her real motive. "the request that I've said. Was is approved?"
"What request, my love?" Kathy was oblivious from what her daughter wanted.
"About my curfew, and the forbidden areas in the palace." Alyssa was inspecting her mother's shelves, looking for any sign of abnormality, but found nothing.
Kathy tapped her fingers on the table. "That…" She did not open the topic to the royal council, nor did she intend to do so in the future. "Of course, It's granted." She believed that this was a small matter between her and her daughter and it did not need the royal council's approval. "You are right, there's no reason for the restrictions anymore." she decided as a parent and not a Queen.
Duke Emil had gotten what he wanted, even before they actually amended the law--- Kathy shoved this thought away.
Alyssa was about to inspect a small figurine on the shelf but turned around to face her mother instead. "Really?"
"Yes," Kathy smiled, spreading her arms for her daughter. "They're lifted beginning today."
"Thank you!" Alyssa skidded to her mother's embrace. "You're the best, mother." She mumbled to Kathy's chest.
"Anything for you." Kathy patted her daughter's back. "As long as… you understand the circumstances the other night." Maybe, at the back of Kathy's mind, she gave her daughter a freedom in the palace as a truce between them--- to evade her daughter's wrath.
Alyssa lifted her head to meet her mother's eyes. " You know I could never hate you right?"
"Really?" Shock was on Kathy's face; it was as if her daughter read her mind.
"Yes, how could I, you're my mother. I was born to love you."
"You are my heart, my life, my everything." Kathy looked at lovingly to her daughter, all grown up--- free from the cradle of her arms. That maybe it was the time to share to her daughter her legacy, maybe it was time to treat her daughter as an adult.
"But, mother, one more thing."
"What is it?"
"What about Eli?"
"What about him?'
"If I don't have a curfew anymore, might as well he won't have too, you know to accompany me during the night."
Kathy looked at the side, thinking about it. She was not inclined about this idea, but Alyssa walking alone in the dark would be worse. "Then he won't have curfew too beginning today."
"Thank you, mother." Alyssa landed a kiss to her mother's cheek. "I better tell Kiva the good news." She bolted out of her mother's chamber.
"Is anyone there?" Queen Kathy called for her guard.
"Yes, my queen." A guard answered from outside.
"Call Barn to me." Queen Kathy had to inform Barn of the new arrangement.
"Understood." The guard bowed curtly outside and walked away.
Queen Kathy was alone in her chamber, but she was happy.
***
Elion was standing on his usual post at the door when the princess and Kiva was talking to each other.
Maya was inside the princess' s room too--- mostly because of him. The princess had put it to herself to give the two of them some private time, which was impossible outside of her room.
While at it, seeing that the room was in chaos and in need of organizing, Maya ended up cleaning up the room.
"I can sleep in here every night then." Kiva was bouncing on the bed.
"No," The princess pointed a finger at Kiva to prove her point. "that would not be a good idea."
"Why not?" Kiva pouted. "You don't have a curfew anymore, maybe you can sleep in my room."
"No," The princess shook her head. "still a bad idea."
"Whyyyyy." Kiva shook hear shoulder side to side, protesting. "You already know the royal dinner, and we eat---"
The princess suddenly pressed a hand on Kiva's mouth. "Okay, that's enough." Her eyes traveled to Elion and Maya. "We don't need to talk about that in here, right now."
Kiva's eyes widened, understanding the circumstance. She nodded and mimed her hand in a gesture to zip her mouth.
Elion and Maya looked at each other for a second, confirming their suspicion that something had happened—and it was Elion's job to know about the details.
"You cannot be in here every night. First," The princess lifted a finger in the air. "I need to sleep. Second," Kiva was about to say something, but Alyssa zipped her mouth, Kiva pressed her lips together in return. "I'm having nightmare with you staring at me all night. And third, Eli and I might need to do something once in a while."
"What kinds of things? What you and Levi will do that I don't get a part of?" Kiva pouted her lips. "I want in too!" She crossed her arms on her chest in protest.
"To study." The princess said flatly.
"Oh," Kiva relaxed her hand, scratching her head. "I hate studying."
"Precisely." It was the princess' turn to cross her arms on her chest this time. "I don't want you complaining at me forcing you to study."
"Okay, alright," Kiva beamed. "but at least once a week we could sleep together."
The princess sighted. "Okay, I could bare once a week and that is the maximum."
Finished with hear cleaning—and eavesdropping--- Maya walked towards Elion and pressed a hand on his cheek. They had to look the part, after all, they are a couple. "You know what to do." she whispered so that only Elion could hear him.
"Alright," Compared to Maya, Elion was rigid with his reply, not good with acting.
Well, it might have been for the reason that he had not much of an experience with girls. The one closest to be called a girlfriend when he just turned fifteen was Brooklyn. She was his first kiss, if kissing under a tree after burying their kills could be called romantic. Or if hunting together and shopping for weapon could be called a date. But it was already in the past, the older Brooklyn and Elion knew that. And the kiss was had no other reason than curiosity.
"Lady Kiva," Maya bravely called her. "we have to go," she was trying to lure Kiva out of the room.
Kiva was confused with the sudden offer.
"Look at the Princess' eye bags," Maya continued. "It looked so puffy and dark, she would like to sleep early for sure. Right princess?"
"Yes," The princess replied, instinctively touching her eye bags.
"Okay," Kiva stepped out of the bed. "maybe tomorrow I can sleep over."
Kiva and Maya said their goodbyes and exited the room.
"Eli," The princess stood up from her bed and sat at the table. "sit here," she patted the chair next to hers. "We have to talk."
Elion obliged and sat next to the princess, this was good news for Elion, he might not need to awkwardly ask questions after all.
But the bell rang outside, signaling the curfew.
"Princess," Elion stood up from his seat. "maybe tomorrow."
"Wait!" The princess grabbed her forearm, making his sit back down again." You don't need to worry about curfews anymore."
Elion blinked at the princess, not following.
"Consider this as your…overtime." She released him from her hold. "Of course, you will be properly compensated."
"Working, at night?" Elion blinked.
"Yes," The princess looked determined. "I want to verify some things, you have to help me."
Maya and Elion already talked about this, they speculated that for whatever reason, the princess found out the dark secret of the royals. And judging by her unusual behavior, their suspicion was probably right. And thankfully, as a normal human being, the princess not fully trust the royals anymore. This might even be a better chance that maybe, the princess would voluntarily be willing to go to the slumps.
Seeing that Elion was not talking, the princess continued.
"I'm sorry, I know it's beyond your job but… I can't trust anyone anymore, even Kiva." The princess stared accusingly at Elion. "Though I can't trust you fully too, but you can be easily disposed of." The princess said, sounding like a warning.
"Princess, you can trust me." To earn the princess's trust was needed. "I'm not a zombie." Elon blurted out, not realizing what he said.
The princess's brow furrowed. "What did you say?"
"You can trust me." Elion lifting a brow in question.
"And…" The princess pressed on.
"I'm a human." Elion said.
"What makes you say that?" The princess drew closer to Elion, interrogating him.
"There's only a few of us in the palace." Elion explained.
"A few what?" The princess grilled on.
"Us." Elion simply replied.
"Eli, did you know that Kiva eats human brains?" Alyssa asked calmly, but suspiciously.
Elion not thinking much of it, nodded. "Yes."
Seeing the princess not shocked from his answer was enough to know that she knew this too. He got the information he needed---he was getting better at being a spy.
"Anyone else?" Alyssa griped on his biceps.
"Everybody," Elion said, "All the royals… except you."
"Eli, I never told you all of that." The princess said in a low voice. "How did you know all of that?" her eyes, widened. "What else do you know?"
"That your mother eats human brains?" Elion said, words were pouring out of him like drunkard a man, getting farther down the rabbit hole.
Once again, the princess was not shocked about this revelation. Confirming that the princess did not just knew about Kiva, she knew about the royals.
"Eli, I was right all along, am I?" The princess asked accusingly. "My instinct was right."
Elion's eyes widened, elated that the princess finally knew what was happening--- that the royals were the bad guys.
"Eli, tell me the truth…" The princess gripped on his shoulder, hard. "Are you my sworn enemy?"
It was confirmed, the princess was knowledgeable about the royals. And all credits to Elion, she also confirmed her suspicion about him and Maya.
The bell rang once again outside, announcing the last curfew warning.
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