39: Flame under the blade

Flame under the blade

Princess Emily decided to leave after seeing her brothers and informed Prince Dante, "I will be returning to the palace now, Brother Dante."

Dante nodded and said, "I will have my men accompany you."

"It is fine. The palace guards accompanied us here, and I have Anna with me," Princess Emily turned to look at Anastasia, and suddenly, the latter felt Dante's gaze that burned more intensely than the sun above them. 

"You speak as if your maid has the ability to turn into someone else," Dante briefly paused his words before continuing, "One who has skill in combat."

Anastasia felt sweat trickle from the nape of her neck and down the back of her dress. She felt like a mouse constantly being dangled above the fire at the mercy of this person. 

For a moment, Prince Aiden leaned closer, wondering if his brother had caught on to the maid's lie. But that was not possible. If his older brother had found out, the sword would have already been pressed against the maid's neck by now. He said, 

"You are right. Lily needs someone capable to escort her back to the palace. I will make sure to personally see my sister back safe and sound." Dropping his sword on the ground, he quickly made his way in the direction where the palanquin was waiting. 

Dante's eyes narrowed at his younger brother, and he muttered, "I will have someone drag him back here later." He then turned back to look at his sister and said, "Don't wander around at your brother's or anyone else's words." His eyes fell on Anastasia as he ended his sentence. "You don't want to get into unnecessary trouble."

Princess Emily bowed and said, "Yes, Brother Dante. I will see you later." She looked at the tent behind which her brother Maxwell had disappeared, but not seeing him, she smiled at Dante and walked back to the waiting palanquin. 

With the palanquin having only enough space for one person to sit in it, Princess Emily made her way inside and sat down, while Anastasia and Prince Aiden walked at the back. 

"So your name is Anna," Aiden stated, who had finally found the opportunity to talk to this mysterious maid. 

"Actually, it is Anastasia, Your Highness," Anastasia replied, and it took Aiden a few seconds before he finally linked the two names she had given him. 

Aiden bobbed his head, impressed, and said, "That is smart of you. Breaking your name up in a way that there is still truth to it when introducing yourself. If only my name was long enough," he laughed. Anastasia quickly brought her hand to her lips, and the prince lowered his voice and said, "Sorry. I'm excited that we can speak again."

Princess Emily was in the dark, not knowing that Anastasia could speak. 

After a few seconds, Anastasia thanked him properly, saying, "Thank you for keeping my secret, Prince Aiden." 

"We became friends the moment you helped me pick out the hairpin for my mother. It would break the laws of friendship if I were to expose you after that, right?" Prince Aiden offered her a carefree smile, putting his hands in his trouser pockets. "Though I have been curious to know what has prevented you from speaking."

Anastasia recounted the time the Mother Queen had caught her and her sister when they had first arrived at the palace. Prince Aiden nodded before he said, "Your sister was right in what she did. As sweet and strange as Grandmother is, she won't tolerate anyone who looks down on our family. She would have ordered the executioner to rip your tongue out of your mouth. Though I must say, you are brave. In a way, our situation is the same."

"It is?" Anastasia asked in a lowered voice, even though they walked a few steps behind the guards. 

Prince Aiden nodded and said, "We both have two personas and are hunted. In my case, to return to the palace and you to be put on death row." He said it casually as if there was nothing to worry about, while in truth, it only raised warning bells in Anastasia's mind. "Don't worry, though. With Maxwell's upcoming wedding, you will be forgotten. But it seems like you left a lasting impression on Brother Dante."

Anastasia's shoulders drooped. She wished she hadn't, because he seemed peeved at her. 

"You are quiet. Is it because the difference in our status hinders our friendship?" Prince Aiden asked her curiously. "You don't have to call me Prince Aiden. Just Aiden would do."

That was equivalent to offering someone a sword to behead her. Anastasia didn't want to take liberties with the prince when her life was hanging loosely by a thread that could snap any moment once a third person within the Blackthorn family discovered the truth. Or Mr. Gilbert or the Vizier!

Princess Emily suddenly stuck her head out of the curtains and turned back to look at them. She said, "Don't chase my maid away by talking her ear off, Aiden."

Prince Aiden huffed, "I was doing nothing." And once his sister put her head back inside, he whispered like a thief, "Tonight I am going out to look at the celebration being held in one of the shops." He placed his finger on his lips with an excited smile before looking ahead as they returned to the palace. 

Once they reached the palace and entered the corridors, they met Mr. Gilbert, who offered a deep bow and informed Princess Emily, 

"Princess, the tailor has arrived and is waiting in the fitting room as per your orders."

Anastasia turned back to look at Prince Aiden, only to see that he was gone. 

"Excellent," Princess Emily said, looking pleased. 

Anastasia gingerly followed Princess Emily to the fitting room. Upon entering the room, the tailor stood next to a tall mirror. He was a man in his late thirties; his moustache was thin and curled. His shoulder-length, straight hair was tied at the back. 

"Princess Emily! How wonderful to see you!" The tailor greeted the princess with a bow. 

"Mr. Rooke, you are as enthusiastic as the last time I saw you," Princess Emily smiled, and she turned to look at Anastasia. "This is Anna. I want you to sew seven dresses for her. Make sure they are of good taste."

The tailor turned to Anastasia and ordered, "Stand here and raise your arms. I will take the measurements." He extended his measuring tape and asked, "Milady, what colours of fabric would you like them made in?" 

Princess Emily's lips pursed, and she replied, "I was thinking pastel colours. Grey, blue, orange, yellow? Oh, not to forget green!" While the princess was excited, she failed to notice her maid's drooping shoulders and pale face. 

In the night, after the guests and the royal family members retired to their rooms, Anastasia stepped out of Princess Emily's room after wishing the princess goodnight. She needed the tailor to sew dull-looking clothes for her, and she knew only one person could overrule Princess Emily's choices. 

Anastasia's footsteps were soft against the ground as she walked in the corridors until she came to stand in front of one of the rooms. Hesitatingly, she raised her hand and knocked on the door. 

"Who is it?" She heard Dante's rough and slightly irritated voice from the other side of the door. 

Anastasia looked down both ends of the corridor before quickly replying, "It is Anastasia… the maid, Prince Dante." Upon not receiving any response, her lips parted once again, and she said, "There's somethi—"

Suddenly, the doorknob clicked and the door opened, revealing a shirtless Dante in front of her. 

Anastasia stopped mid-sentence as her eyes fell on his broad shoulders and taut body, which tapered into his loose, black trousers. His body showed the results of the rigorous training it had gone through over the years. But her eyes also caught the scars on his body, some faded and some still prominent, which made her frown. 

"What did you want?" Dante's sharp tone made Anastasia snap out of her thoughts. She looked up to meet his narrowed, cold eyes before quickly lowering her eyes to the ground. 

It took a second before Anastasia said, "I—I have a request to make." Dante only stared at her, and she took it as a sign and continued, "Princess Emily had the tailor come take my measurements today for my new maid dresses."

"So I heard. What about it?" Dante slightly tilted his head, raising his eyebrow. 

Without looking at him, Anastasia began, "The thing is, the fabric colours Princess Emily chose are ones that stand out and I don't want that. I was hopin—" she stopped when she heard another door in the corridor open. 

She had turned in the direction of the sound when Dante sighed. She heard him say, "Get in." 

Anastasia's head snapped back to look at Dante, who had stepped away from the door to let her in. 

She contemplated what to do, and before he could close the door in her face, she quickly stepped inside the room. 

Lady Amara had stepped out of her room when her eyes fell on a maid's back who disappeared behind Prince Dante's bedroom door. Her eyes narrowed, as it was rather late for a maid to visit now. She murmured, "Let me stand here and wait. To see if the maid is attending the prince for something else," and she clutched her handkerchief. 

Inside Prince Dante's room, Anastasia stood near the door while Dante walked past her after closing the door. The room was lit with many candles burning on candle stands, while the ceiling held a round chandelier with more burning candles. 

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The room was bigger than Princess Emily's room. Anastasia's curious eyes moved to notice the walls near the bed weren't built straight but were curved. The room had long windows draped in white curtains. 

"I hope you didn't come here to talk about the colours of your dresses. But about something significant." 

Anastasia looked over at where Dante had taken his seat at the table. He held a dagger in his hand, its blade above the burning flame of a candle. 

"No… it wasn't about the particular colours," Anastasia replied. "Princess Emily has been very enthusiastic about having my new clothes made, but she chose colours that I worry will bring attention to me."

She watched Dante bring the hot blade to his arm, placing it on the wound he had received this morning. She clenched her hands, feeling the pain even though it wasn't her skin that had burned. Did it not hurt?! When she looked up at Dante's face, his composure hadn't changed, and he brought the blade forward. 

"Let me guess. One of the colours she chose is green. A colour to envy," Dante glanced at Anastasia, who was staring at the dagger in his hand. "Looks like your time is limited," he remarked.

Anastasia bowed and requested, "I was hoping you could let the princess know that a maid doesn't need good clothes. Not bright or colourful, just dull ones. Please, Prince Dante."

"For someone who committed a series of mistakes, you sure have quite the nerve to ask for a favour," Dante's words were cold. He placed the blade above the flame again before questioning, "One of my younger brothers seems close with you… and in such a short duration. Something I should know about?" 

"One of your brothers?" Anastasia repeated his words, as it was hard to frame her thoughts when the person in front of her was heating a blade. 

"Mhm," Dante hummed. 

When Dante stood up from his seat, continuing to heat the blade, Anastasia was ready to bolt from the room. But if she needed his help, it was clear that she had to answer him. She explained, 

"It was only by chance that I met Prince Aiden in the Bazaar. He wore commoner's clothes and I didn't recognize him at that time. When we met at Queen Sophia's celebration, he identified me. It's how he knows. There's nothing more to it, I swear!" She omitted the part where Prince Aiden mentioned leaving the palace tonight. After all, it had nothing to do with her.  0

When Dante left the table and moved towards the mirror, he raised his hand and moved it back. Knowing where he was going to place the blade, Anastasia offered, 

"I can help with that… if you want…" Her voice was gentle and soft, not holding a hint of greed or manipulation in it. 

"To be burned?" Dante's voice held no humour, but that didn't mean his eyes didn't hold mirth. Anastasia's eyes widened at his words. He then stated, "As you are here," and he stretched the dagger towards her. 

Anastasia padded across the room to come and stand in front of Dante. She was careful when she took the dagger from his gloved hand and heard him order, "Heat it again."

She did as she was told, and while the dagger was getting hotter, she asked him, "May I ask something, Prince Dante? Not another favour," she added before he would misunderstand. 

"That is enough heat," Dante instructed her, and he turned his back to her, so more light fell on him. She was greeted by the sight of more scars on his body and the fresh wound he had received today. She guessed they were from the training and wars he had been in. "Be firm and quick." 

Anastasia took a deep breath before placing the hot blade on his skin and pulling it away. 

"What did you want to ask?" She heard Dante ask her, and he turned to meet her gaze. 

"Your gloves…you always wear them. Even when you are alone in your room," Anastasia said curiously. She had noticed other royal family members wear gloves but had never seen Prince Dante without them. Not once. 

Dante turned around completely to face Anastasia, towering over her, and when he stepped forward, she gulped. He said in a low voice, 

"There are some things I am quite attached to…" Dante leaned forward with his eyes still on hers, and Anastasia touched the edge of the table behind her when his hand grabbed his shirt from it, "and don't seem to let them go that easily."

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