finding out 57
1055 Words
Chapter 57
Court POV
Something’s off. I’ve known it for a few days now… but today? Yeah. Today confirms it. Mom’s acting weird. And not her normal “don’t touch that, don’t burn the house down” weird. No… This is different. Sneaky weird. She came home late again last night. Didn’t even check on me right away. That never happens. Mom always checks on me. Always. Instead, she went straight to her room, shut the door, and stayed there for hours. No talking. No movement. Nothing. Like she was… thinking. Planning.So yeah. Something’s going on. And I don’t like not knowing things.
“Alright,” I muttered to myself, pacing my room. “Think, Court. What do we know?” “”Mom leaves a lot lately.””My dragon had said ”Comes back late ,Acts distracted.””
And every time I bring up her, the girl, she shuts it down. Fast. Too fast. I stopped pacing.“…She’s hiding something.” That’s it. That’s the answer. So today, I’m finding out what. I waited. And waited. And waited. Until finally. The front door opened. Mom was back.
I stayed in my room, quiet, listening. Her footsteps moved through the house… slower than usual. Tired. Or distracted. Good. That makes it easier. Her door closed. Perfect. I slipped out of my room, moving as quietly as I could. (Which, by the way, I am very good at)
Down the hallway ,past the stairs. Straight to herdoor.,I paused.
Listening. Nothing. “…Okay,” I whispered. “Let’s do this.” I turned the handle slowly. Carefully. Quietly. Unlocked. Even better. I slipped inside and shut the door behind me. Her room was dim. Curtains drawn. Everything looked normal. " Too normal. “Where would you hide something…” I muttered.
Desk? No. Too obvious. Closet? Maybe. Drawers? Definitely. I started searching. Carefully at first. Then faster. Clothes. Papers.
Nothing. Nothing. Nothing,then ... .I found it. A small pouch.
Hidden under a stack of folded clothes. My heart started beating faster.,“…What is this?” I opened it. Money. A lot of it. More than usual. And…. A folded piece of paper. I hesitated for a second.
Then I opened it. My stomach dropped. It wasn’t just random notes.
It was… detailed. Times. Places. Descriptions.
“Amber leaves the castle around mid-morning…”
My chest tightened. “…usually accompanied by one boy…”
I felt my grip on the paper tighten. “…guards rotate every..”
I stopped reading. “No way…” I whispered. I read it again. Slower this time. Every word is hitting harder. She’s watching her. No…
Not just watching. Tracking. Planning. “…Mom,” I muttered under my breath. This wasn’t just curiosity. This wasn’t just a concern.
This was.. Spying.,On her. I felt something twist in my chest. I like her.,She’s nice. She didn’t have to be, but she is. And Mom is,
“Why would she do this?” I whispered. Footsteps.,My head snapped toward the door. Oh no. I quickly folded the paper, shoving it back into the pouch. Back under the clothes.I'm trying to make it look untouched. The door handle moved. I froze. The door opened. And there she was. Mom. Her eyes landed on me instantly. The, he flicked around the room. Then back to me. Silence.…Court,” she said ,I swallowed.
“…Hey.” Smooth. Real smooth. Her eyes narrowed slightly. “What are you doing in my room?”
Think..Think…Think. “…Looking for you?” Yeah. That sounded bad.
She didn’t move..Didn’t blink. Just watched me.
“You were searching,” she said. "Not a question. A statement. I didn’t answer. Her gaze sharpened. “…What did you find?”
There it is.mI could lie. Say nothing. Walk away. But instead… I looked right at her. “You’re spying on her.” The room went cold.
For a split second… Something flashed in her eyes. Surprise. Then it was gone.,“Where did you hear that?” she asked calmly.
Too calmly.,“I didn’t hear it,” I said. “I saw it.”,Silence.,Her expression hardened slightly.,“You shouldn’t be going through my things,” she said. I stepped forward..“You shouldn’t be spying on a twelve-year-old girl.” That hit. I saw it. Just a little. But she didn’t back down. “You don’t understand,” she said.,“Then explain it,” I shot back. Another pause. For a second… I thought she might.
But then, “No.” My chest tightened. “No?” I repeated.
“This doesn’t concern you,” she said firmly.
“It does concern me!” I snapped. “You’re watching her like she’s some kind of threat!” She didn’t answer.,And that…,That scared me more than anything. “…She is a threat, isn’t she?” I said quietly.
Her silence said everything. I shook my head slowly.
“She’s just a kid.”
“You don’t know that,” she replied.
“I do know that!” I argued. “I’ve talked to her! She’s nice, she’s—”
“She fooled three grown people,” my mom cut in sharply.
I froze. “…What?” Her eyes locked onto mine. “She’s not what you think she is.” The room felt too small. “And what does that make you?” I asked quietly.mThat one… that one landed. Silence stretched between us. Heavy. Uncomfortable. Real. “I’m protecting us,” she said finally. “From what?” I asked. She didn’t answer.
Of course she didn’t. I clenched my fists slightly.“I’m not staying out of this,” I said. Her expression hardened instantly. “You will.”
“No,” I said firmly. Big mistake. Her aura shifted. Not loud. Not explosive.,But enough. A warning. “Don’t push me, Court.”
I held her gaze.,Didn’t back down. “Then stop lying to me.” Silence.
Long…Heavy…Then finally..“…Go to your room.”
“…No.”Her eyes darkened. “Now," I hesitated. Just for a second.
Then I turned. And walked out, but this isn’t over. Not even close.
Because now I know the truth. And if she won’t stop.. Then I will.
Even if that means… Warning her." The princess.
- Writer
