Chapter Eight
1260 Words
SNOW (Before we begin)
Father would kill me if he knew I snuck out tonight. I couldn’t help my curiosity and it was all my stepmother Hannah’s fault. School for me was boring. It wasn’t that I didn’t understand things but, more like I understood things too well. I excelled at many things, so Dad added extracurriculars to keep my mischievous nature at bay. If he thought that would stop me, Hah good luck with that!
There were some weird rumors going around the palace about my stepmom that piqued my interest. To be honest, I was jealous. If she was a teacher, why didn’t she teach me instead of the annoying teachers in the academy? I was so glad to be finishing the few months left in my final year at home within the palace, but the tutor I had was a dud. I was craving some excitement or even some new material, but so far nothing. So, when I overheard my stepmom's student talking to her friend about the special lessons she enjoyed so much, I was miffed.
There was a hidden passage in the residence where my stepmom taught. A happy accident led me to find this place from one of my previous attempts. Uncle Gill had caught me that time. I was smart enough to run but I tripped, rolled, and landed on a secret pathway that led to a hidden hatched crawlspace.
It opened up to a hollow opening in between her special classroom and her adjoining chambers there. It was perfect for me, with a clear view of her class yet out of sight from exposure. All I had to do was wait. Hannah's classes were always late at night, which I thought was strange, so I made sure I arrived earlier.
The student from earlier that day entered the class, followed by my stepmother. My breath hitched in my throat as she removed the cloak that covered her. She looked amazing in red, but what kind of teacher's uniform was this? Wait, why was her student getting down on her knees?
My seventeen-year-old brain at the time was confused as f**k, but I couldn't leave nor did I want to. That night blew my mind as a whole new world of things was shown to me. I didn't know what to think or feel at first, but what stood out above everything else was my body's reaction.
I had read a book about this before but the visual was so much better. I knew then that I had to become her student, but she was married to my Dad. Did Dad know about this? I turned 18 in four days. If I gave hints, would she accept me? Oh, man! What was I thinking this was bad. I couldn't think of her that way, but I couldn't help myself. After I left the secret passage, my mind was in a daze.
I had no idea how I got back to my bedroom unscathed nor did my mind take notice as I watched my stepmother and the scene before me that she had purposely positioned everything for me to see and the smile on her face when I left the hidden crawlspace…………….
I shook my head, coming back to reality. Dad died six months later. The sadness in my heart over my Dad's death hung heavy on me. It was only Hannah and me now, with the exception of the Seven. , sure we had the palace, and the people in our kingdom, even the staff who were close to family, but without Dad it was different.
I had to calm down and talk to my stepmom about my suspicions. She was away with the special guard and wouldn't be back until later, so I planned to wait for her in her chambers to talk with her then.
I wanted no regrets, as I looked at the unopened letter on my bedside table. I stared at it for a while, afraid that reading it would make things even more final. I had to be brave, especially if there were things he needed me to do as his final wishes.
Finally, mustering the courage, I grabbed the letter, opened it, and began to read. I didn't realize I had started crying until the warmth from my tears touched my skin. Dad knew! He knew everything! I really thought I had hidden my deepest, darkest desires for Hannah, but he had known from the first day we met on my birthday.
What shocked me, even more, was that he was okay with it. It was almost as if he were there in my room with me, comforting me, talking with me, giving me advice, helping me sort through my feelings. He wrote it was my choice to follow my heart and that he understood more than I thought. Wait holy moly, what! My dad was gay!
I sat back down after reading that and then smiled. That actually made so much sense though. When I read that Uncle Gill was his lifelong partner and the truth of why he married my mom Selene, everything kind of snapped into place. I had guessed a long time ago that Dad wasn't my biological father. For one, we had no similarities, but he would be my Dad forever in my heart. As for my real Dad, he wrote it wasn't time to know yet, so I would leave it at that for now.
The letter was five pages long front and back and with each word written a weight I never knew was on my shoulders had been lifted. He had a plan even after his death. What about, he did not say, but I had to trust my stepmother and the Seven from this point on. My safety and that of the Queen were paramount. I hoped my Dad could rest in peace soon from whatever plans he had set.
I wondered how Uncle Gill was doing through all of this. He had loved my Dad sincerely and even stayed by his side within the kingdom all the while as his special guard, but I felt sad for him as well because the kingdom would never be able to see and recognize their love unless the laws changed.
The royal heir. There were dumb in my eyes, there were too many power-hungry people around with screwed-up morals It happened if one didn't want children or if that child was adopted. I took a deep breath to calm down my thoughts. My stepmom should be back soon and Dad's letter said I needed to talk with her after reading it as well. So my plan to wait for her in her chambers was spot on. I reached her chambers in no time, it was already night time so I changed into my sleeping gown a while ago.
Her door had left a jar slightly, but I knocked anyway. There was no answer, yet I carefully went inside. She had left the small lamp on her bedside table so I could see around her room just fine. I sat on her bed and waited, I don't know how long I waited, but soon I found myself getting sleepy.
I yawned and then scooted myself further onto her bed. The pillows on her bed looked so comfy if I laid down for a bit she wouldn't mind, right? Soon my head hit the pillow and I was out. Her bed was so comfortable, so much so that I began to dream........
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