Her Devious King

Sinner's hears you

Adeline slowly walked down the hallway, terrified of what could be waiting for her.

The more she walked, the more it felt like an eternity. There wasn't a single door here. To her left were enormous windows, but when she approached it, there was nothing to see.

It was just the same gardens that surrounded the ballroom. She couldn't open the windows either, to signal a guard that was likely stationed beneath her.

"Why would this place be opened to the public, then locked?" Adeline mumbled. Surely, someone had seen her walk through the doors. Did she make an enemy already? For the doors to be locked the second she walked through… it was too suspicious.

Adeline wondered if she should tell Elias of this issue. But why would he care? She let out a small sigh. It was not like he viewed her as anything more than a toy to tease.

"He promised freedom…" Adeline nibbled on her bottom lips. In exchange for a life in the palace. What did all of this mean?

He did not want another palace made. Did not want a mistress. Then what was he going to make out of her?

Adeline prayed it would not be a blood-servant. It was told they were always being fed to have enough blood in their system. As much as Adeline was starved, she could only stomach so much.

Lost in her thoughts, Adeline didn't realize the cloaked figure in front of her. That is, until she lifted her gaze and came to a startling pause.

"Hello…" Adeline warily said.

Adeline began to take small, slow steps backward. The stranger was shorter than her. It was not Aunt Eleanor nor the gentleman she left with.

"Hello child," a wise voice said.

Adeline blinked. The silhouette pulled their hood down, revealing a face of wrinkles and aging spots. An old woman was standing in front of her.

"It seems fate has brought us together yet again, Addison."

Adeline tilted her head. Addison? As in… her mother, Addison?

"Oh my," the woman croaked out. "It seems I've grown old."

The old woman touched her eyes, revealing one of them was shut. But there wasn't a visible scar over the closed one.

"You're not Addison," she softly said, her voice becoming more kind. "For a split second there… I through—" she sighed with a shake of her head.

Adeline was intrigued. "Y-you knew my mother? Her name was also Addison. To be more exact, Crown Princess Addison of Kastrem."

The old woman's lips parted. It was weathered out, like worn leather. There was a distant, sorrowful look in her eyes.

"Yes, I knew your mother, small child."

Adeline opened her mouth, to say something else, but the woman quickly hushed her.

"The Gods above are playing with the fate of an innocent life yet again," she quietly murmured. She shifted her only good eye towards Adeline.

"The love of your life is not destined to be yours, Little Rose," the old woman added on. She slowly shook her head, as if disappointed with the works of the world.

"Would you mind elaborating?" Adeline gently asked. She ignored the nickname. Since this woman knew of her mother, surely, she would also know Adeline's surname was Rose.

"You have all the descriptions of his beloved, but you're not her," the woman mumbled out.

Adeline blinked once. Twice. Beloved? Who?

"Oh goodness me," the woman softly sighed. "I've spoken too much."

"No! Please continue." Adeline took a step closer, wanting to hear more of this conversation.

"Dearie," the old woman murmured. "Do you not understand?"

Adeline shook her head.

"You are not the Golden Rose he is looking for."

Adeline did not understand what the "Golden Rose," was. It sounded oddly familiar to her ears, but time played a role in her forgetfulness. She tilted her head and waited for the old woman to explain more.

The grandmother's leathered lips pulled into a fragile, concerned smile. Her eye softened, the skin so old, it sunk over the light grey of her pupils. She folded her hands in front of her, revealing tarnished gold bracelets. There were even a few beaded ones, of all sorts of colors, adding a mystic touch to her abrupt presence.

"Like mother, like daughter, both of you have chosen a fate that goes against heaven's wishes."

Adeline blinked. "You knew my Mother right? What—"

"You see, your mother once stood in these very hallways, chasing after the darkness, whilst forgetting she was a child of the light."

Adeline's brows drew together. The old woman spoke in confusing circles. Child of the light? She opened her mouth to speak more, but the grandmother placed a weathered finger over her lips.

"The more you speak, the more the sinners hear you."

Adeline was bewildered. Sinners…? But the only two people that went down this hallway was Aunt Eleanor and the gentleman in black and white. Who was this woman referring to?

"If you wish to remain in the past, then you can continue walking backward."

But Adeline had been walking forward the entire time…

"There," the old woman pointed over Adeline's shoulders.

Adeline turned her head and looked. Sure enough, the dark hallway had a glimmer of light. It seemed the double doors were open by a small c***k. But when she glanced back to thank the grandmother, the woman was nowhere to be found.

A chill ran down Adeline's back. She was unfamiliar with this place and its bizarre people.

"T-thank you," she finally managed to stutter out.

Spinning on her heels, Adeline rushed down the hallways and towards the double doors. Her hands lightly pushed it open, and her eyes widened in surprise.

The ballroom was empty.

Where did everyone go?

Adeline stepped out of the darkness and into the light. She peered around the enormous ballroom, with its expensive curtains and ever-expanding ceilings. When she peered up, she saw the beautiful depictions of angels and gods. Soft, rolling clouds of cotton, faded pastel dresses mingled with white, golden trimmings, everything about this place was picturesque.

Except, when she blinked, the angels spurted wings of black, as little horns flicked upon their golden-hair. Suddenly, the gods and goddesses were at war, their beautiful smiles twisted into sneers.

"What…"

Just as she blinked again, everything went back to normal.

Adeline was afraid. She had just walked down a haunting hallway then returned to an empty ballroom. What exactly had happened?

In the corner of her eyes, she noticed a few servants hurriedly walking into the ballroom. Their footsteps were light and quiet, moving with great ease and efficiency. They carried brooms, mops, buckets of water, dust fluffers, vacuums, and so on.

"U-uhm, excuse me…" Adeline trailed off as she approached one of them. Men and women alike wore pants, as it was easier to move around in.

"Oh goodness," the male servant breathed out.

The male servant was shaken by the sight of the guest. He was informed by the Head Butler that every guest had departed from the castle an hour ago. He didn't expect to see such a beautiful woman.

There was something so elegant about her timid expression and shimmering eyes of green. He had to blink a few times to regain his composure. So, she was a human.