Chapter 3

I slammed the door so hard that it almost flew off its hinges. I really wanted to yell at someone, but I saved my strength and ligaments to properly yell at the prince afterwards.

I sat down next to the door on a rough carpet with the coat of arms of the kingdom embroidered on it. Teeth gnashed in a fit of hatred. His hands were shaking, unable to clench into fists. Her hair was already unraveled and now curls touched the floor.

Cry.

I really wanted to cry. Howling, choking in tears, just to forget everything that I just saw and heard. Throw it all out of your mind. It turned out badly.

I hadn't slept for a week, my eyes sometimes closed by themselves, but I was still sitting in the library, learning new rules and terms. I was so busy with exams that I didn't even notice the obvious factors right in front of my nose.

I lightly banged my fist on the floor. Maybe I am strong, but only in the eyes of other people. The only ones who saw the real me were Oleg and Jeanne. But both that bastard and the maid don't mean anything in my life anymore.

An empty place.

I brushed the strands from my face and took a deep breath. I was finally able to calm down and pricked up my ears. I didn't need support, as they say, a psychologist for myself, but it was interesting to find out who wouldn't leave me in this state. So far, no one has followed me.

I got up and, brushing the dust off my skirt, sat down on a chair next to the table.

Maybe studying will help me somehow distract myself from these thoughts?

"Your Majesty! You can't leave Jeanne alone with the baby, where are you going?!" - Somewhere at the level of one of the nearest turns, muffled voices could be heard, but this one was bright and loud.

I looked up from my book and turned my head towards the door. Now you don't even have to strain your ears — everything can be heard as if I'm right there.

"Alla, I already kind of told you to go and take care of Jeanne and my son, didn't I?" - I would recognize this irritated voice out of a thousand, even if Oleg spoke in a whisper.

Apparently, he struck a nerve with Alla, and she, with a yell, rushed off, rustling on the parquet.

Judging by the direction of the steps, they were heading towards me, since there was no one in this corner, only a lonely me.

I slammed the book shut, feeling my whole body tremble, getting ready to meet Oleg. Even, it seems, the ligaments strained, realizing that I would scream and tear everything to shreds. And most importantly— I will be able to look into the eyes of the prince, this insensitive goat. To know his feelings and emotions, but something told me that there was no pity and guilt in him.

The footsteps stopped. It looks like the toes of the shoes fit snugly against the door.

I snorted, not appreciating Oleg's indecision. I'm just a friend to him, a training partner. Yes, there was something between us, but I don't think that some peasant woman will be able to fall in love with a prince. And even more so— won't he send Jeanne and his newborn son out of the palace for me?

Knock.

I took a deep breath. Looks like he came after me after all. Well, if he needs a scolding with me— he'll get it, because I'm mad as hell.

The steps became uneven. I jerked my hand away from the door handle. Maybe I just imagined it.

Who could Oleg have dragged along with him?

I still didn't understand how many people were there and pulled the door open.

Trustfully.

Rashly.

Stupidly.

And yet I underestimated Pavel. In training, he never allowed himself to harm the girls or even his teammates. For this, he was appreciated, loved and respected.

But on the prince's orders, he is capable of a lot.

I barely had time to recoil to the side, as a savage Pavel would have attacked me. His green eyes were no longer green, but some kind of swamp. She fell face down on the carpet, and I grabbed the door.

Oleg wasn't even close.

My heart was relieved, but immediately lay back down. Pavel growled and tried to grab me by the neck with his hands.

I twisted around and flew out of the room into the corridor. Pavel grabbed my sleeve, trying to stop or at least grab my hair. For the first time in my life, I regretted that I didn't tie my hair in a braid or a ponytail.

I was able to grab Pavel by the shoulder and kicked him in the stomach. Either I didn't calculate the blow, or my strength was much higher than what I knew, but the guy was thrown back to the bedside table and, apparently hitting the corner of the same unfortunate pedestal, fell sideways.

I was breathing hard. Of course, one could assume that Pavel was just testing my abilities, but these "tricks" are not for him. He is, of course, a warrior, but it would be better to test someone's abilities in training and in real battles, rather than in a "corridor" fight.

I slammed the door shut. There was a key hanging on a string around my neck. It wasn't the first time (my hands were still shaking), but I put the key in the lock and firmly closed the door. I don't know how long she will last, but I think Pavel won't wake up soon.

I hid the key under the collar of my shirt.

Apparently, no one heard a scream or the sounds of a fight — everything was quiet and no one rushed here rattling armor.

And then…

Then I heard what I was most afraid to hear. My knees trembled, my vision went dark and I clutched the door convulsively.

"Vlada Ibrazumtseva, what a meeting! And it's not the first one already."

There was a frank grin in the voice. Apparently my condition was noticeable, as Stanislav narrowed his eyes, mocking me.

His footsteps echoed loudly all along the corridor. He looked at me with a condescending grin as I tried to control myself and even managed to push off from the support (door).

"I see you haven't realized that it's useless to argue with me?", - he raised his eyebrows.

The question was purely rhetorical, but I was able to answer through clenched teeth.

"Are you trying to seize the palace or annoy me?"

Stanislav nodded. It wasn't an answer to the question, rather he made sure that I hadn't lost my humor and sarcasm.

"You know perfectly well that I don't need a palace. And to annoy you is like setting fire to a time bomb - undesirable, because it is deadly dangerous."

I forced a weak smile. He was still making silly but funny jokes. And he knew me better than anyone, even better than myself.

I was finally able to stand up calmly. Stanislav raised his eyebrows, looking down at me, examining my face, my clothes, and my figure. I wanted to punch him in the face. I liked to notice the interested looks of men and guys, but not Stanislav. He was handsome, smart, no doubt, but not my type.

"So why did you come here?"

"To kill Oleg Razumovsky", - Stas simply answered.

Kill Oleg.

Stanislav came to kill Oleg, the prince.

My heart sank. Although it was rather torn to pieces: I hated Oleg now so much that I wanted to strangle him, but the thought that Stas would kill him terrified me. Pain, resentment, sadness, a heart broken into fragments - all this passed, my head was filled with only one thought.

I

want

to kill

Stanislav

Until he got to Oleg. Or at least detain him until the guards come running here.

I stroked the door with my fingertips. Probably Pavel has already started to come to his senses.

"What did you do with Pavel?" - I managed.

"Is his name Pavel?" - his face showed true surprise, apparently Stas did not know the names of those close to the royal family. - "I just made him feel like he was serving me. This Pavel, like a dear, hurried to fulfill my order…"

"Kill me," I finished.

"No", - the guy helped with his head. - "To lure you out of the room."

The meaning of the words reached me. I took a step back.

Stanislav smiled rapaciously. Bright brown eyes glared at me, trying to hold my gaze longer.

Look away!

Take him away!

He's trying to tame you, hypnotize you.

The voice in my head was screaming so that my consciousness was blurred. I couldn't physically take my eyes off his eyes anymore.

Stanislav patted me on the cheek. I shuddered. The brain did not understand what was happening, the consciousness had already stopped beating in hysterics. He was completely captured by Stanislav. I saw everything with my own eyes, my ears heard, I breathed with my lungs, but the rest of my body did not belong to me.

Now my master is Stanislav.

He walked slowly, and I walked just as quietly and carefully.

Now any of his orders are like thunder in my head for me.

Can…

Will Oleg be able to save me from the hands of this terrible man, whom I have been trying to avoid for ten years?