Chapter 4 Chapter Four

Chapter Four

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Mirah

The danger…

As the days passed by, I could feel it. It was so thick that it bore into my being. I hadn't been allowed out of his room in days.

And I still didn't know his name. I curled the duvet around my body, ignoring the rumble of my stomach.

I didn't want to admit it, but I was already regretting my impulse of asking a stranger for help. Clearly, this place wasn't normal. As someone who'd been born into a bustling environment and wealth, I didn't do well with gothic architecture.

I hadn't even gone on social media for days. But without checking, I knew the news of what'd happened would be plastered everywhere on the internet.

The daughter of CEO Aurel who'd escaped on her own wedding day? The headlines were sure to be a hit.

But then a little part of me- the Mirah who thrived in adrenaline inducing situations, loved every single bit of what was happening. The fear, and strangeness.

The door opened at that moment. I adjusted my position on the bed, looking at him with a startled expression.

In his characteristic black shirt and equally black pants, he- whatever his name was, gave off the vibe of a cold icy king. Dashing as always.

He was holding a tray on which different dishes were balanced. I began smiling,  but it wiped off, before it could spread on my face.

“Thank you.” I muttered in a soft voice. But I knew he heard, even though he gave no reaction.

I lifted the tray and placed it on my lap. It was a bit hot and looked freshly cooked. A piece of freshly baked bread was halfway to my mouth, when he interrupted me.

“I'd be away tonight.” He simply said, going over to sit on the sofa a few meters away from the bed. He crossed his long legs, and looked at me directly.

I arched my brow in confusion. What did it matter?

“You'd be coming with me. We have a royal ball here, at the castle.” He continued, flicking his fingers gently.

I placed the bread on the plate. “Why should I come with you? Didn't you say I wasn't allowed to go out?” I asked.

Ever since he'd brought me here, which was six days since I'd gotten away from my own wedding, I hadn't stepped foot outside his room. Neither had I set eyes on any other person aside from him.

That was aside from the time that a weird looking handsome man had looked at me like he'd wanted to bite my neck. I felt my soul leave my body.

“You'd be coming with me, as my plus one.” He said, and my eyes went wide as saucers.

“But-” I began saying, when he clapped his hands. It was three short precise moves. The door pushed open, and two women walked in. They held a package in their hands, and bowed as they came in.

“They'd get you ready.” He gestured towards the women.

I swallowed, afraid of being left alone with them.

As if reading my thoughts, he added, "I'd be here.”

Maybe I'd been hallucinating, but I thought I saw a brief smile cross his face.

“I don't care if you are.” I said, observing the women without appearing to. They gawked at me in a strange manner, and I felt a nauseous feeling envelope me.

He rose to his feet. “I'd be back. Let them dress you up.” He walked towards the door.

“Hold on,” I called out. He halted, but didn't turn to look at me.

“What?”

Just a single word of his was enough to send the butterflies in my belly dancing. “Can I get a phone, please? I left everything at home, including my-” I didn't complete my words, but I knew he got the drift.

I'd been making use of his clothes ever since I got here. And since I didn't see him that much, I couldn't ask him for some female clothes.

He was always out of the room before I woke up, and he didn't come back until it was late at night. By that time I'd already slept.

Oddly enough, breakfast, lunch and dinner were always served dutifully. By someone unknown of course. I'd never gotten to see who the person was.

I waited for his reply, subconsciously holding my breath. He finally turned to look at me, with an unreadable expression on his face.

“What do you need a phone for?” He asked, calmly.

I gulped. “I just want one.” That wasn't the reply I'd intended to give. But my mouth and mind were the antithesis of each other.

I almost thought he was going to refuse.

“After the party.” He said, and I sighed in relief.

“Wait up, didn't you say the party was tonight? Why-” He was out of the room, before I could get the last words out.

An hour later, I walked into the ballroom alongside- for the sake of my sanity, I decided to call him Cold eyes. It turned out the party was mask-themed.

The golden mask I wore matched my golden dress. The women had surely done a lot of work, and when I'd stared into the mirror earlier on, I hadn't recognized myself.

When Cold eyes had come to pick me from the room, his expression had given nothing away. But I thought I saw a brief dark look cross his eyes.

I wasn't sure though, since he always had a dark look on his face. An icy king, indeed.

At the moment, as I clung to his arm, my heart raced. There were many guests scattered around. Occasionally, I felt their stares on me, and it wasn't your normal I-admire-you kinda look. It was a stare you gave a stranger.

I felt so out of place, as he pulled me over to a table at an obscure corner of the ballroom.

“Stay here, and observe if you want to. I'd be back shortly. Don't eat or drink anything.” And then he disappeared.