Beauty and the Damned

34 | Cryptic Warnings

Later that afternoon, she still couldn’t see any signs of Rowan that she’s starting to get worried. She couldn’t ask anyone and f if one of the brothers would ask where Rowan was, she just told them that he was out taking care of some matters. Thankfully, they didn’t pry much during breakfast.

She spent all her morning inside the chamber, receiving her lunch delivered by one of the maidens. It was when she was sure that all four brothers were gone that she went out of her chamber. She couldn’t stand staying inside while being worried sick about Rowan’s whereabouts.

Ariadne went straight to the gardens. Within the walls of the palace, it was the only place acceptable for her where she could find peace and she could think clearly. She sat on one of the benches and looked up at the sky. Where could Rowan be? How could she leave and not tell her where? But then again why should he tell her? She is not Queen yet. They are not husband and wife yet. She doesn’t have the right to demand.

She brushed the thought away. She does have the right to demand. After all, all their actions would result in something that could either help or destroy them. But she couldn’t help but be worried as Rowan had been acting strange and quiet yesterday.

“So it’s about this time of the day,” someone said behind her. She whirled only to see Leo standing in the middle of the rose field. Ariadne couldn’t help but grimace at realizing that the man must have stepped on the roses while standing there.

Ariadne muttered a curse under her breath as she saw him walking towards her. Leo is younger than Rowan. She just doesn’t know how many years. Leo doesn’t look younger, though. If anything, he looked like he was just about Rowan’s age. He is also as tall as Rowan and also bulky. AS if he had spent his entire childhood holding swords in one hand and books in the other. 

“What do you want?” she asked the moment he was in front of her.

However, Leo let out a small smile before he said, “I wasn’t aware I am forbidden in my own garden,” he said she couldn’t help but feel ashamed.

“This is your garden?” she asked, making sure she understood it right. Leo just nodded and sat on the opposite bench. He crossed his legs and rested his arms on the headrest.

“That’s right. This is mine. I planted these flowers.” He looked around and pointed towards the yellow daises with white splotches on the petals. “I got those when I traveled to the south.”

She has never heard of Princes planting flowers. Ariadne could not help but wonder if Leo was telling the truth. She couldn’t see any reason why would he lie about liking gardening.

He’s Rowan’s enemy and also mine. He can lie to me about almost anything. Do not trust him. Her mind screamed warning bells. And yet for some reason, she couldn’t get herself to walk away.

“No surprise attacks today? No seductions or bracing your arms around me to corner me? What should I expect today, Your Highness?” She gave him a mocking bow. She could see how much his jaw had clenched just by looking at her.

“You have a sharp mouth and I wonder how are you still alive,” he said, not tearing his gaze from her.

“You have an awful personality and I wonder what did that poor maiden do to deserve such an awful person like you,” she spat back. Ariadne saw how Leo’s brows furrowed while looking at her.

“Again with the maiden. What is it with the maiden? What are you talking about? Are you making stories now?” Leo looked at her with furrowed brows.

She scoffed. “You are not a very good liar, Your Highness. Nice try,” she said and was about to walk away when Leo said something that made her stop.

“Rowan hasn’t been here since yesterday evening, has he?” he said. She stood frozen but as soon as she realized she doesn’t have any more excuses, she faced him.

“You already know that. I told you and each and everyone in this castle who seem to be so interested in his whereabouts that he has gone to care of some matters—“

“Did he tell you what it was about?” Leo said. His eyes were serious as he looked at her. She couldn’t help but feel pissed.

“What is it to you? Besides, I wouldn’t tell you what it is all about,” she said and was about to walk again when Leo stopped her.

“You won’t tell me because you don’t know,” he said, and the way he says it makes her think that he knows something about where Rowan is. She faced him again. There was no mocking grin on his face or any trace of smugness. If anything, Leo doesn’t look like he was feeling anything at all. He is a master of concealing his true intentions. That’s what makes him dangerous.

“Yesterday is the day that his mother died,” he said and it seemed like she stopped hearing for a few seconds. “He must have gone where his mother was buried.”

She found herself walking close to Leo. However, when she was almost close enough, Leo held up a hand and looked at her. “I’ll tell you where it is if you tell me what is this maiden talk all about.”

Ariadne gritted her teeth. Of course. Someone like him would never give things for free. She wanted to go to Rowan so she sat back down on the bench and looked at Leo. He was patiently waiting for her to say what he wants to know. She isn’t sure if he was genuinely clueless or if he was just trying to snare her. She had to be careful.

“The maiden with round emerald eyes and brown hair. She was wearing a necklace and she claims you gave it to her. If you are ashamed of her being in a romantic relationship with you then you shouldn’t have started it in the first place—“ She was cut off when Leo held up a hand and looked at her, confused.

“Round emerald eyes?” he asked. She rolled her eyes.

“Come now, Your Highness. It isn’t polite to deny your lover in front of other people who knows about it—“

“I am not involved in a romantic relationship whatsoever to anyone. Certainly not to that woman you are talking about,” he said and crossed his arms. She gave him a bland look.

“I know you are an asshole but I never thought you have reached this level where I can’t even fathom my disgust towards you,” she said and remembered how the poor maiden was scared shitless the moment she threatened her. She could see how he was trying to protect Leo by keeping his secret but it was useless. She knows now and she is not letting go of whatever he had learned.

“I don’t know any maidens with round emerald eyes and I am certain that I am not, in any way, involved with her.”

Ariadne let out a sigh before she stood. “You know what? I can’t believe I am talking to you. Who knows you would stab me or kill me right here and right now since you are so hell-bent on removing me from this castle. I won’t believe anything you say and forget about the deal. Don’t tell me where Rowan is. I’ll find him myself.” She stood and started to walk away.

“I don’t know what Rowan has told you or has fed you but believe me when I say he is dangerous and you shouldn’t be here Ariadne,” he said that she stopped walking and faced him.

 She gave him a sweet smile before she said, “He told me you are all liars and that you all murdered your father and your brother. He told me you chased him and accused him of doing the murders. He’s got a point and you proved it right to be the first day, Your Highness. Why should I believe the words of the one who harassed me the first day?”

Ariadne did not wait for his response and immediately walked inside the castle. She’s mad. She’s mad at anyone. She’s mad at Rowan for just disappearing and not telling her it was his mother’s death anniversary. She’s mad at Kali for showing up in front of her chamber early in the morning and telling her cryptic messages. She’s mad at Malik and Marcos for giving her glares filled with ill-intent as they ate breakfast. She’s mad at Leo for telling her something about Rowan that she knows isn’t true and will never be true. She’s mad at how easily they can turn the tables against Rowan when he is absent to defend himself. She hated that she even listened to Leo.

She found herself in the kitchen and found the kitchen workers busy sorting out foods and other ingredients that could be used for the meals. All the workers there looked at her and the moment they realized who she was, they all bowed their heads. Good, she thought. At least they knew how to be polite.

“I want meat, vegetables, and fruits to be placed in a wagon and be delivered to this place the soonest possible,” she ordered. She gave the piece of paper to the man nearest her. The man hesitantly took the paper and looked at the others. They were all silent and none of them were moving to what she asked them to do. She has given every food in her castle to the villagers. She has to put food again in her castle so Delilah will have something to eat.

Much to her surprise, the man she gave an address to suddenly kneeled and bowed. “Forgive me, Your Majesty but I can not follow orders from anyone except the Princes,” he said and she gritted her teeth. She wanted to at least rob their food for what the Princes had done to her the past few days.

“I had permission from the Crown Prince himself. Put the food in the wagon and deliver it to the said place,” she repeated but the man did not look to meet her eyes.

“I can’t, Your Majesty,” he said. “As the head of the kitchen, I am not allowed to accept orders from anyone except the Princes. His Royal Highness Rowan should come here and confirm,” he said as if it was his final answer and that it wouldn’t be changed.

“Are you saying you don’t believe me?”

“It is what we’ve been ordered, Your Majesty.” He bowed deeper. She looked at the other workers who also cast their heads down, refusing to meet her stare. It made her even more frustrated. But then something flashed in her mind. A familiar scene. It was here on the throne, with all her people casting their eyes down to the ground, refusing to meet her stare as looking at her in the eyes means they wish to forfeit their lives.

She blinked and brushed the memory away. Is she doing it again? Did she just do it again? She felt her hand tremble and she held it to stop it from trembling. She swallowed hard and she suddenly felt the urge to throw up.

“It’s…It’s fine,” she said, almost a whisper. The people still fear her. She has not changed. Everything she did to change was useless. People still cast their eyes down whenever they see her.

“Do what she says,” said someone behind her. She whirled to see Leo standing not too far from her. He wasn’t looking at her but at the people in the kitchen. They now have their eyes up at him, listening to the words that were about to come out of his mouth.

“Fill the wagons with meat, fruits, and vegetables. Make it two wagons. Make sure to choose those fruits and vegetables that don’t rot easily. Take six people, three for each wagon. Do not waste the food. Do your best to make sure it is still as fresh as it was the day it was transported,” he ordered and he could see how the kitchen workers listen to him intently. She couldn’t help but marvel and wonder at the same time.

Why is he helping her?

Leo did not look at her while the kitchen workers were busy putting food on the wagon. It took them almost an hour to finally fill the two wagons with meat, fruits, and vegetables. By the time the wagons left, Leo looked at her. She still couldn’t figure out why he was helping her.

Then he said, “I know I have been an asshole at the beginning, and helping you give food to your kingdom would not suffice for what I did but that is my way of apologizing. I apologize for what I did,” he said and bowed slightly. She was even more confused.

Leo was clearly not waiting for her answer of whether she accepts his apology or not as he was already walking away from her.

“Wait!” she called and walked towards Leo. The moment she was close enough, Leo faced her. “Why are you doing this? Why are you apologizing? Why are you helping me?”

Leo just looked at before he said, “Because before I thought you were like him. But I realized you are not. I am helping you because you have a kingdom to save. You won’t be able to save your Kingdom if you die,” he said and walked away.

Another cryptic message. Only this time, it was creepier. She couldn’t understand what Leo and Kali were talking about. The memory of their grave faces that morning during breakfast flashed in her mind once again. Why do they seem worried? They’re supposed to be hostile towards her. They’re supposed to hate her. But why is Leo helping her now?

Why was he talking like she’s going to die if she doesn’t do something? What does she need to do?

She couldn’t brush the thought off no matter how much she tries. Her mind was so occupied that she didn't notice someone was already in the chamber.

“Where have you been?”

She almost jumped to her feet when she heard Rowan’s voice in the dark corner of the room. He was sitting on the chair, legs crossed, and hands folded on top of his legs.

All that Kali and Leo told her echoed in her mind. She gulped in an attempt to shake the voices off in her head.

Then she gained her composure and looked at Rowan dead in the eye before she said, “Shouldn’t I be the one asking that?”

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