1 Chapter 1

Octavian pov.

I dreamed of food. Crispy baguettes, with an immaculate white core, still steaming out of the oven, and cheese with an excellent taste dripping to the edge of the plate. Grapes and fragrant plums, piled in piles, their aroma spreading in the surrounding air exactly when I reached out and took one when something stopped me.

"Leave me alone," I murmured. "I'm hungry."

"Wake up, Octavian "

I could taste the cheese on my tongue. I just wanted to bite out that corner of warm bread and then take a bunch of grapes in my mouth. I could already taste it.

Only everything fades, waking me up to reality.

"Octavian?"

"What?"

"They brought last week's thief."

I looked at the clock on the wall of my room that indicated only 4 in the morning. Who's awake at this hour? You have to sleep at night, not to run after thieves and robbers, I told myself.

I turned to one side and blinked a few times. All the thoughts from the previous day came to mind. I put my hand on my forehead and scratched slightly.

In the dim light of the candles, Andrew, my helper, and at the same time, my friend seemed to have no blood on his cheeks and was looking at me with frightened eyes.

"They brought the thief from your last party. On the ground floor."

My mind began to clear. Somewhere below us were the cries of men, their voices echoing in the halls of the castle.

I stood up and adjusted my blouse and struggled to light the candle on the nightstand.

I stumbled to the window and watched in surprise in the courtyard as a crowd of soldiers stood at the castle door.

"How did it happen?"

"It was the workshop. I guess she just wanted to steal some valuables like she did the last turn.

"And who managed the miracle?"

"Monsieur, I don't want to brag, but I caught the girl. Good luck with the guards. We threatened this thief that if she doesn't return our goods, we'll take her to the guillotine."

"She won't say a word," I said.

Andrew snorted briefly. I waited for three months to catch the thief from the workshop. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I found out she was a girl. And a pretty bad one.

Since my dynasty was in power, I have not had thieves, and those who have tried have quickly become acquainted with the guillotine.

I closed my eyes. Then I opened them again.

"Go downstairs," I said. " I'll get down right after you."