"I can manage, my lord." She said with a small smile. Leonard didn't reply to her and left the room, closing the door softly behind him. With his unbuttoned shirt, he walked through the corridors of the royal castle. The night maids are leaving the castle one by one, leaving the corridors scanty. Most of the maids that are remaining are a bit older and didn't pay attention to the crown prince's fit, and just bowed their heads in respect. Leonard walked to the East side of the castle, that looked dusty, as not many people go there. He stopped at a wall, with a single torch holder. Taking his hands out of his trouser's pocket, he pulled on it, a loud rumbling came from it.
All of a sudden, a staircase appeared on the floor. Leonard wasn't startled by this at all, as this wasn't his first time. With long strides, he started to climb down the dark staircase that led to a little study. There was a large bookshelf that rested on the wall, with a chair and table not too far from it. Parchments and books were neatly arranged on the table, with a bottle of wine, with a clean wineglass.
There was a balcony that had an ocean view, which served as the only ventilation for the room. Leonard casual took off his shirt, tossing it on the only couch there, that resting against the wall. He pushed open a door, that led to a wash room. There was water in the tub with steam generating from it. He took off his trouser and boots before stepping into the water. A young maid that blended with the wall, suddenly came to his. Her eyes were dim, lacking any sign of life. Her long black hair covered half of her face, with her skin as which as snow, making her appear very eerie and ghost like. And her voice didn't do her any better.
"Welcome, my prince." She greeted with her voice sounding very husky. She had a sponge in one of her palm, and she dipped into inside the water, and brought it to the prince's body, scrubbing it softly.
Leonard wasn't puzzled by this, as that was what he brought her there for. Aside for him and the maid, no one else knew about the place.
He discovered it the day his mother was to be buried. He was devastated, blaming his father for not taking care of his mother. He wanted to escape from it all. He wanted to escape from the people's pitiful gaze, and dry sympathies. He knew none of them really felt bad, as most women and ladies were coming up to him, so the King can notice them, and perhaps make them the new queen.
He had sneaked out of the burial ceremony, going to the East side as he knew they wouldn't think to find him there. As he hid from the people who came to find him, he rested on the wall, while leaning on the torch holder. His weight on it was too much and it suddenly bent, making him loose balance. The staircase had appeared and he followed it. After he got down, he was greeted with dusty a bookshelf, rotten wooden chair and table, with dusty walls and floor. Over the years he transformed it, and made it a place he could go to and clear his mind. It was his lair of thoughts.
He shut his eyes tightly as he gathered his thoughts. The image of the red-head bear back pop in his head, causing him to open his eyes. Why was she in his thoughts? He would need to go to the royal court in the next few minutes and discuss very important things, but why was he only thinking about the girl? Did she do something to him? He wondered, but pushed the thoughts away as he knew that can't happen.
The chances of the King being alive till the next winter are slim, and the court will be discussing who will wear the crown after that, as the King bore two sons. Though the next candidate is very obvious, they still needed to discuss it.
After a while, the maid stopped scrubbing and he got out of the water. She handed him a dry towel with her eyes down. He took it and wrapped it around his lower body. Stepping on the wooden floor, he strolled out of the wash room, and went to the bookshelf. He reached out and pulled a blue book. A part of the bookshelf pushed itself in, before slidding completely behind the other part.
Inside were nearly arranged paired shirts and trousers. He took a pair and put them on, with his boots. His long curly hair was packed in a neat bun. He took a seat and signalled the maid to step close. She walked toward him like a zombie and brought her wrist close to his lips—she knew what he wanted to do. The prince's fangs pulled out and he bit into her wrist. His eyes were tightly shut as he felt the blood slid down his throat.
After a while, he pulled away, and stood to his feet, walking out of the room, as it was time for the court meeting.
Dydra put on the prince's clothes and quietly left the room. Being new to the castle walls, the young witch didn't know where to go. She looked around and was mesmerizing by the design of the hallway. Beautiful paintings hung on the walls, with different style of vases at each corner. She headed anywhere she saw a doorway, peeking out every window she stumbled upon. She noticed there were no maids or servants around and breath a sigh of relief. If people say her with a confused expression and expensive male clothes that swallowed her, they would get the wrong idea. The prince's clothes didn't fit one bit, as every now and then, she pulled the trouser up, as the waist was way bigger than hers. And the pulling the collar upwards, trying to sit it properly on her collarbone.
Unbeknownst to her, she headed the same way the crown prince was coming from. And as she was looking around, she didn't see who was coming before her. The crown prince too, didn't realize as he was in deep thought. They both collided, and Dydra ended up staggering, loosing her balance, landing hard on her bum.