Aria's POV
I wasn't sure why I kept trying to turn the door knob every morning, trying to open it. I was always far from being surprised whenever it refused to budge. Elara or Ryker always locked the door unfailingly every day.
I let out a sigh. I've been here for almost a month or more, I want sure. I lost count of the days where time blended together in an endless blur leaving me bored out of my mind.
My mind wandered back to my father and I wondered if he sent men to search for me, to bring his "beloved" princess home. Or had he made up some lies, told the kingdom that I had been killed or poisoned? With my father, I could never be sure. He was a master manipulator and a cunning ruler who stood at nothing to get what he wants.
I shook the thought off, trying to clear my mind. I didn't want to think about my father, or the life I had left behind. I wanted to focus on the present, on finding a way out that involved me not being killed.
But for now, I was stuck in this room, waiting for Elara to bring me breakfast. I paced back and forth, trying to burn off some of the excess energy that had been building up inside me.
Instead of going on my usual walk I decided to take Lyra's advice and go to the library. Maybe I could find something about obsidian there, or at least distract myself from the turmoil that was brewing inside me. But first, I had to wait for Elara to bring me breakfast and unlock the door.
The sound of footsteps outside my door broke the silence. Elara. I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. I didn't want her to suspect that anything was wrong.
The door opened, and Elara smiled at me, her eyes lacked their usual shine, her smile felt strained. Probably from yesterday's ordeal, I decided not to bring it up.
"Good morning, I brought you some breakfast."
I forced a smile, trying to act like I hadn't noticed her flighty mood. "Thank you, Elara. I'm starving."
As Elara set the tray down on the table, I dug in. As I ate, I thought about my plan. I was going to ask Elara to take me to the library, to let me browse through the books and maybe find some answers.
I finished my breakfast, and turned to Elara.
I asked her if I could go to the library, and she hesitated, her eyes darting back and forth as if she was searching for an excuse. "I'm not sure," she said uneasily, her voice barely above a whisper.
I tried to appear nonchalant. "I just want to read a book. I'm getting a little bored of the garden."
I raised an eyebrow, surprised by her response. "What trouble could I possibly get into at the library?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light and playful.
Elara's expression turned serious. "It's not that," she said quietly. "It's just…that Kael…." She trailed off.
I stared her down daring her to finish the sentence.
Elara sighed, her shoulders sagging in defeat. "Fine," she said defeated. "I'll take you to the library. But please, be careful. And don't go wandering off on your own, Kael would have my head."
I grinned, feeling a sense of triumph. "I promise," I said, holding up my hands in a gesture of surrender. "I'll be good, I swear."
Elara nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Very well, let's go." Elara said, her voice low and even as she gestured for me to follow her.
I nodded, falling into step behind Elara as we left the room behind. Thankfully Ryker was nowhere to be found which meant I could sneak around with his mammoth body hovering over me, monitoring my every move.
Elara led me through the east wing of the castle, which she told me was dedicated to the royal family's private quarters. I was confused about how this castle went unnoticed by my father. He was not one to allow anyone to undermine his rule and this castle was doing just that. The floors were covered in plush carpets that muffled their footsteps, but I could still feel the cold stone beneath my feet.
We turned a corner, and I caught a glimpse of a stained glass window that filled the entire wall. The colors were muted and subdued, casting a somber glow over the corridor. I barely noticed it, my eyes fixed on the path ahead as I followed Elara.
As we walked, the corridors turned into stairs, leading us to the upper floors of the castle. The windows they passed by looked out over the castle gardens, the sunlight that streamed in was brighter than the other parts of the castle.
Finally, we reached the top of the stairs and turned into a long, narrow corridor that stretched out before us. The walls were lined with bookshelves, and the air was thick with the scent of old parchment and leather.
Elara pushed open a large wooden door, and I stepped through it, my eyes adjusting to the bright light within. The library was a vast space, with towering shelves that stretched all the way to the ceiling. The air was filled with the scent of old books.
I followed Elara to the far end of the library, where a large wooden desk sat, surrounded by comfortable chairs and an unlit fireplace.