CHAPTER TWO — THE PRINCE'S CORRIDOR
896 Words
"Who gave you permission to enter my private corridor?"
The voice was quiet.
Calm.
Yet it struck Finnian harder than a shout.
His body reacted before his mind could.
He spun around too quickly, his heel catching against the uneven stone floor. His balance slipped, and he stumbled backward, landing hard on one knee.
A sharp sting shot through his palm as it scraped against the cold stone.
His heart hammered.
Someone stepped out of the darkness.
The dim light filtering through the crack beneath the door revealed polished black boots, followed by the hem of a navy-blue coat embroidered with silver thread.
Finnian slowly lifted his eyes.
His breath caught.
Prince Alaric Beaumont.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Alaric stood with perfect composure, one hand resting behind his back. There was nothing threatening about his posture.
Yet somehow, he was the most intimidating man Finnian had ever seen.
The prince's blue-grey eyes settled on him, studying him without a hint of emotion.
"So," Alaric said at last, "the new servant."
Finnian immediately lowered his gaze.
"My apologies, Your Highness."
"You know who I am."
"Everyone in the palace does."
Alaric took another step forward.
"And yet you still entered a corridor marked as restricted."
Finnian swallowed.
"I... I got lost."
Silence.
The prince looked at him for another second before speaking again.
"You are lying."
The words were simple.
Matter-of-fact.
As though he were commenting on the weather.
Finnian forced himself to remain calm.
"I have no reason to lie to Your Highness."
"No?"
Alaric's voice remained even.
"Then look at me and repeat it."
Finnian hesitated.
Mistress Elowen's warning echoed in his mind.
Don't look directly at members of the royal family.
Slowly, he raised his head.
Their eyes met.
For the briefest moment, Finnian forgot to breathe.
The prince's gaze was piercing—not cruel, not cold, but unsettlingly observant, as if he could peel away every lie without saying another word.
"I got lost," Finnian repeated.
Alaric held his gaze.
"You walked through three guarded corridors."
"Passed two servant routes."
"Ignored every sign."
"And somehow..."
His eyes drifted toward the hidden door.
"...you arrived at the only place in this palace where no servant is permitted."
A faint pause.
"Still lost?"
Finnian had no answer.
Alaric sighed quietly.
"You lie very badly."
Heat crept into Finnian's face.
"I didn't intend to come here."
"No?"
"No."
"Then why did you open the door?"
Finnian's fingers instinctively brushed against the pocket hiding the broken seal.
A small movement.
Almost invisible.
But Alaric noticed.
His gaze dropped briefly to Finnian's hand before returning to his face.
"What are you hiding?"
"Nothing."
Another lie.
Another silence.
Finnian suddenly became aware of how close the prince was standing.
One more step...
That was all it would take.
"I'll ask once more," Alaric said softly.
"What brought you here?"
Finnian shook his head.
"I can't answer that."
"You can't..."
Alaric corrected him.
"...or you won't?"
Finnian remained silent.
For the first time, something changed in the prince's expression.
Curiosity.
Not anger.
Curiosity.
"You intrigue me, Finn Vale."
Hearing the false name from the prince's lips made Finnian's stomach tighten.
"You don't behave like a servant."
"I am one."
"You speak too carefully."
"I choose my words."
"You observe everything."
Finnian blinked.
Alaric continued,
"When you entered, your eyes measured every exit before you noticed me."
Finnian's heart skipped.
The prince had seen that?
"You carry yourself like someone expecting danger."
Alaric took one final step.
There was nowhere left for Finnian to retreat.
His back met the cold stone wall.
The prince rested one hand against the wall beside Finnian's shoulder, blocking the only path to the door.
It wasn't violent.
It wasn't forceful.
But it made one thing painfully clear.
Finnian wasn't leaving until the prince allowed it.
The corridor suddenly felt much smaller.
"You've been watching me," Finnian murmured before he could stop himself.
A faint smile appeared on Alaric's face.
"No."
"I've been reading you."
Their eyes met again.
Neither of them looked away.
For one strange moment, the silence between them spoke louder than words.
Finnian couldn't understand it.
This prince should have called the guards.
He should have demanded punishment.
Instead...
He was simply looking at him.
As though trying to solve a puzzle.
Alaric finally broke the silence.
"I should report you."
Finnian's chest tightened.
"I know."
"You entered a forbidden corridor."
"Yes."
"You lied to the Crown Prince."
"...Yes."
"And yet..."
Alaric tilted his head slightly.
"I don't think you're a criminal."
Finnian frowned.
"Then what do you think I am?"
The prince didn't answer immediately.
His gaze lingered on Finnian's face, thoughtful.
"I haven't decided yet."
Before Finnian could respond—
A knock echoed against the hidden door.
Three sharp knocks.
Both men froze.
A familiar voice sounded from outside.
"Your Highness?"
Another knock followed.
"The council meeting begins in five minutes."
Alaric didn't answer.
The servant outside continued,
"...Your Highness? Are you alone?"
Finnian's pulse quickened.
If the door opened now...
If anyone found him trapped inside the prince's private corridor...
His first day in the palace would also be his last.
Alaric slowly turned his eyes back to Finnian.
Then, to Finnian's astonishment, the prince leaned closer and spoke in a voice barely above a whisper.
"Not a word."
Outside, the handle began to turn.
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