Chapter 51: Chapter 51
Gina appeared by Alia’s side as they walked back to her room. "Princess, that was quick. Did sothing happen at dinner? Do you need
to run to the kitchen to get sothing for you to eat?"
"No, I’ve eaten enough. I do need a fresh jug of water in my room in case I wake up in the middle of the night," said Alia.
"I’ve taken care of that while you went down for dinner and I’ve placed fresh fruits in your room. I’ve already washed them and I placed the knife right beside them just as you like. I’ve placed a book for you to read and a cup of rum to help you beco sleepy," Gina whispered in the last part so no one would know Alia had been drinking rum.
"Thank you. What would I do without you, Gina? I am going to miss having you by my side."
"Miss ? Why?" Gina didn’t understand what Alia ant.
"You have dreams of settling down and not being a maid forever. I will not let you follow
to a foreign land, Gina. Your family and friends are here. I cannot take you away from them," Alia replied, continuing to act as if she was ready to leave.
"I don’t want to be left behind while you go sowhere without any friends. Although you are a princess, they might not treat you well. You at least need
there to cheer you up. We shouldn’t ignore the chance that I could find my soulmate there. I never claid the man I married would be from the Blackwell kingdom. Do not leave ," Gina begged. "I can always be sent ho if I change my mind."
"I will think about it, Gina. Send Cyrus to my bedroom whenever you see him. You can go have your dinner before it gets too late. I retire to my room on my own. Good night Gina," Alia picked up her pace to walk to her bedroom. There was a lot she needed to plan with and without Cyrus.
"I will. Good night," Gina bid goodbye.
Alia chuckled as Gina ran away as if her life depended on it. She was in a rush to eat before the food got cold or other servants tried eating her portion. "I should have eaten a bit more," she opened her bedroom door with a sigh.
"Princess," said Cyrus.
"Ah!"Alia released a terrified scream as she was startled by Cyrus’s presence in her bedroom. "What the hell, Cyrus?" She closed the door before anyone who heard her scream would co looking to check on her. "I’ve told you many tis to find better ways to alert
of your presence. What are you doing here?"
She had not seen him since they discussed killing her father. Cyrus left her room with the intention to look for a quick poison from the north. The black market here was certain to have plenty because of the wave of north slaves being brought into the kingdom.
"I’ve done as you requested," he dug into his pocket and took out a small bottle with a red liquid. "This will kill the king instantly. Be careful with how you hold it. It is extrely dangerous."
Alia eyed the small bottle with surprise. She expected Cyrus to take a day or two to find her poison. "Where did you get this, Cyrus? Or have you always had it?"
"I got it from the black market. It is more efficient when it is freshly made so it is sold quickly," Cyrus lied. He could never let her know it was his own blood he placed in the bottle. Demon blood was like poison to humans.
"Really? That is concerning," she said while taking the bottle from Cyrus. "It’s bad if everyone can have access to buy sothing like this."
"Not just anyone would be able to buy this, princess. The black market is incredibly expensive and many are scared to get themselves involved in it. Anyone willing to spend money to buy this poison must either be rich or throw away all that they own to kill soone. Still, it would be good for these poisons to disappear from your kingdom."
Truthfully, the only reason demon blood was on the black market in the Blackwell kingdom was before the war between the two kingdoms escalated, people from the north would sell drops of their blood to make money. Now, either soone in the Blackwell kingdom knows this secret and buys slaves to use their blood or a northerner was in on the business. Cyrus had heard of this special poison going around.
"If it is pricey, it must be targeted to the rich. The court minister will not look to get rid of it unless one of them almost experiences near death because of it. They are lucky that I am only targeting my father. I hope you were not seen leaving the castle, Cyrus. I don’t want anything to be linked back to you," Alia walked away to hide the small bottle.
"I was not, princess."
"What would it take for you to call , Alia? There is no one here but us. Clearly, after I’ve tasked you to bring sothing like this to , I view you more than a guard therefore you should be able to say my na. Have you eaten already?" Alia asked though she knew the answer.
"I have not, Alia," Cyrus used her na as she requested. "I am not hungry."
"You are only saying that because you don’t want
to leave the room to find you sothing to eat. After all the ti we’ve spent together, I can read you like a book. Though there are many things that I do not know about you and I am curious about but I have to give you your space," Alia turned to face Cyrus after she hid the bottle in a secret compartnt. "After everything has settled down I will make sure we find the woman you are looking for. I promise."
Cyrus had done so much for her to not repay the favor. She would search every inch of the kingdom in order to reconnect him with his loved one.
"You are not going to let
go down to the kitchen to get food for you and I am sure Gina will be tired. There are fruits, water, and a bit of rum here. You can have so and in the morning I will have Gina bring us a big breakfast to eat here. Sit down, Cyrus. I’m not going to let you leave until you at least eat so fruits," Alia tapped her hand against a chair for Cyrus to sit.
Without a word, Cyrus walked over to the chair Alia wanted him to sit in. The way she looked out for the people around her was what made him be so loyal to her. They were enemies because of their different blood but Alia never treated him as one.
"You are too caring, Alia. The world will do everything it can to change you," said Cyrus.
"I guess the world is doing that through my father. After all these years living in this castle, I have managed to stay true to myself and my principles. The world can keep throwing whatever it wants at . I will not self-destruct. Now, I am going to indulge myself in a bit of rum," Alia sat down in a chair. "I am in need of a good night’s sleep. I should have let you search for sothing to help
sleep from the black market."
"I truly believe you should not trust using anything from the black market to help you sleep. There is a reason it is not available to you from doctors. I’ve heard counting sheep is a good way to fall asleep," Cyrus half-joked. He wanted her to try everything other than drinking to fall asleep.
Alia’s mouth fell open unladylike. "I’m shocked. You do know how to tell a joke. Who knew? If only Gina were here to witness this. Ah," she grimaced after tasting the rum. "I can never get used to the taste. My father would have a fit if he knew the cook gave
so of their imported rum. One drop of this is enough to make
feel drowsy."
Alia placed her empty glass down on her table and stood up to head to bed. If she continued to sit down, Cyrus would have to lift her to bed and she did not want him to have to do that.
"What is it that makes you unable to sleep?" Cyrus asked. He didn’t know if it was due to missing her mother or feeling uncomfortable in the castle altogether.
"I have no idea," Alia replied after a mont passed. "I can only say it started after my mother’s death but I don’t think that’s completely the reason I can’t sleep. I do hope I find a cure for it one day. Oh," Alia stretched her arms and yawned. "I am too tired to change into my nightwear. Goodnight," she collapsed onto her bed and fell asleep right away thanks to the rum.
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