26 Secrets Are Unlocking

After a few days of begging and proving to Judith that I was as good as someone that can run from the castle to the end of the Kingsto woods, she had finally allowed me to train and live the life I used to before the festival.

It relieves me because I'm no longer lying on that bed alone in complete silence; even if maids delivered my meals to me three times a day, I found it a bore. I'm not used to slacking around. Even back in that household, I would always have chores to do.

Tucking the stubborn strand of hair behind my ears, I secure it with a lovely golden pin. A smile creeping up my face seeing my reflection in the mirror. My hair is braided up neatly, which reminds me of how long it has grown that I have to tie it every day to keep it from bothering me whenever I train. I think whether I should have it cut short.

While I place the comb down on the vanity, my eyes travel to the second drawer with a lock on it. It's always bothering me how it's locked; curiosity is tugging on my mind. The other day after seeing it again, I had planned to break it open. My mother could have kept something important in there.

Once again, I searched through all the room furniture for a small key to fit in the lock. I've found two which brought my hopes up, but neither works.

I drop on my bed with a frown on my face. My eye squints at the drawer that's staring at me. I must be going crazy, but it's urging me to open it.

"I'll get to open you soon," I guarantee with a determined face before getting up.

I've been here for weeks now, yet my knowledge about this place is still not enough. So I decided to visit the library today. It's too late in training right now since it's past noon.

I'll have to postpone training until tomorrow.

Slowly and quietly, I shut the door behind me, and I scan the usual empty hallway. There are so many rooms with only a few creatures in this castle. Some days this castle can be lively and a bit loud, but I barely see anyone. I wonder where the knights stay or the cooks and the servants.

I make my way through the hallway, my long dress dragging behind me. There's a lot of gorgeous looking dresses inside the wardrobe which belong to my mother.

This lavender-colored, flowery off-shoulder dress caught my eyes for today. It's silky soft with purple petals scattered on the skirt. It also matches my necklace, which I don't try to hide anymore; they don't seem to take suspicion on it.

The necklace hasn't been performing abnormally for all I know, except for a thought that has been bothering me. My mind has been a bit distorted ever since the attack and when my head was hit. I feel like something big had happened that night, but I can't grasp it.

Something happened, and it has to do with my necklace. This is why I want to visit Frida to find out; there's a missing piece in this puzzle I'm trying to form. But, they won't let me out of the castle.

Upon reaching the staircase leading down, I stop, eyeing the door where the weird flower is in. I hate the feeling that's making me get in that room to check it.

And as I was about to turn away, I hear the creaking sound of a door opening, sending me goosebumps. My heart starts beating frantically, afraid that I'll hear the lady's voice again, but nothing came. I stare at the slightly opened door, which mysteriously opened by itself. What if that room is haunted?

However, I can't refrain from being too inquisitive. Have I always been voyeuristic? I do know that curiosity would get me killed someday.

No matter how much my safe part of the brain is trying its best to pull me away from this possible danger that I might encounter once I get inside, my body is moving on its own.

I touch the doorknob, which felt surprisingly cold even though it is in the summertime in this realm. I don't even know if they have four seasons, but sometimes it gets excruciatingly hot.

Nevertheless, I push the door gently, and it makes that creaking sound. Other entries in this castle don't make any noise. I don't get why this door differs. I don't plan to step inside, but instead, I take a peek and gasp loudly from what I see.

The huge window in the middle of the room was now covered, preventing any light from passing through, making the room dark and cold. And what's more shocking is that the Dahlia flower that once bloomed ever so brightly was now dead. The flower looks like it was cut in half and had turned the color of decaying brown.

There isn't much to see anymore, so I shut the door quietly and turn around. I start walking down the staircase, still unsure of what I should feel. Maybe Blossom had known about it and decided to silence it. She did mention that it was dangerous.

But I never knew the secret about it. It did know who I was, my mother and my grandmother. Whenever I'm in this castle, mystery always rises, yet I never find the answer. What if the answers aren't here? What if it's outside. Like Frida, she's a stepping stone to knowing my mother's secret. What if there are others like Frida that knows more than Blossom and Faye.

Then this would mean that I'll have to get out of the castle to find out. Even if it's disobeying Blossom and Rhys, I'm eager to find out. It appears that there's something dubious going around here.

I'll have to investigate this by myself and quietly.