The Crown and The Rose
Chapter 23: Sleep With Me

Chapter 23: Sleep With Me

The Crown

"Your Highness, you have bags underneath your eyes," Edward remarks as he, Erick and I walk to our class.

Erick is an upperclassman so he will part ways once he is in front of his classroom.

"You do, Your Highness." Erick hums too.

I have another companion now.

I sigh and rub my temple where a numb ache is blooming. I can’t sleep at night when Seraphina is with me. Gods know if she will take a chance on my vulnerability and then stab me to death. I am always on guard these days, so I feel even more tired. And now that Erick is here with us, I need to keep an eye on him too.

It couldn’t get any worse than this.

"Your Highness, you have a badge now." Edward’s eyes linger over the badge pinned on my shoulder tassel.

"Seems so." I look at the badge and Vermilion’s face flashes over my eyes. I wonder what he is doing now. Is he thinking about me just like I am thinking about him?

Do I miss him?

My heart rate starts to escalate at the thought and I turn slightly pink. What am I even thinking? Why would he think about me? I am just a lowly servant to him, who holds no value in his eyes. I am just a nobody to him, he is ready to throw out at any time. I am nothing to him...

The thought is like a sharp arrow piercing my heart. And it hurts...

"Your Highness, are you alright?" Edward asks worriedly, snapping me out of my internal monologue. "You are zoning out."

"Oh." My eyes dart slightly before they relax a little, "I am just a bit tired." I rub my face wearily.

"You really look worn, Your Highness." Erick chimes in, "Wanna take a nap with me?" He grins and wink at me playfully.

"You are such a nasty guy..." Edward wrinkles his nose. "But Your Highness, he is plenty right. You should indeed take a nap. It will help you clear your mind."

"I know, but where should I take it?" I huff a sigh at their pointless advice. They know that I have nowhere to sleep or even relax still they keep telling me that I need to take a nap. "Will you build me a house to sleep in?"

"You can sleep in my arms, Your Highness." Erick bites the underside of his cheeks and grins broadly. I want to roll my eyes so badly at this but I keep my frustration in check.

"I would rather die in my lord’s arms than sleep in your arms," I answer curtly.

"Aw, Your Highness, you are so cruel." Erick puts his hand on his chest and acts like he is hurt. "You hurt me."

And this time I actually roll my eyes as I can no longer hold myself back. Edward opens his mouth to chide me again but our attention is caught by a commotion going before the school notice board.

"What’s happening there?" I cock my eyebrow and the three of us approach the crowd in front fo the large noticeboard.

And just as I suspected there is a large poster pinned on there with just a huge headline and another set of words.

THE MOCK BATTLE FESTIVAL

~Coming in three days~

I am not at all surprised that the notice is here or rather I was wondering why it wasn’t still here. But I am intrigued that there is nothing in that poster except those few bold words written in golden ink. The handwriting is neat and clean. And... beautiful. I feel like these words are written by Vermilion. They have the same commanding aura as him.

"What?! Only in three days?!" Erick exclaims in horror. There is no hint of playfulness in his voice.

"Oh Gods..." Edward’s brows are knitted together in tension and worry, "What is the lord planning now?"

I didn’t tell Edward about the dangerous plan I was plotting because he would freak out and worry too much about me. I don’t want to worry him like that.

"My head hurts." I do not comment on the notice as I would be lying if I say I am infuriated by the news and I want to avoid lying to Edward as much as possible.

"Every class has been canceled!" A familiar tiny man shouts as he comes this way, a stack of paper clutched in his hands. "Everyone, go to the training grounds! Your professors are waiting for you!"

"Hey, Peter!" Erick suddenly lightens up and the sight of the man. This was the man who bumped into me last night. "How have you been?" He grins widely.

The crowd slowly dissipates and Peter approaches us. Just one look at him and anyone can tell that he hasn’t slept for days, "How have I been? I have been as bad as one can be! There is no one left in the council anymore! You went missing. Eliana went missing! Seraphina was banished! The only person who is left is me! I am working my ass off to do all the things! And the lord refuses to appoint new members before the festival."

"Seems like you are having a hard time." Erick snorts.

"Wait, wait, aren’t you the one who bumped into me last night?" I interrupt them, "You were in a very hurry last night."

"Oh sorry, sorry." Peter turns to me and smiles mildly, but this smile...seems fishy, "I was in a rush back then. My name is Peter Clearwater by the way."

"My name is Jonas Collins. Nice to meet you." I smile back. "And he is my friend, Edward Millers."

"Nice to meet you guys." Peter greets and then turns to Erick, "You come with me. You are not slacking off anymore."

"Okay, okay." Erick sighs in defeat and then turns to us, "I will go with Prter for now. You guys go to the grounds. And Jonas, there is a secret spot where you can take a nap." He winks.

***

The area is really great

I say in my mind as I wander around the lush greenery. This is the outer side of the training grounds where all the students are working heart and soul to survive the looming danger. There is no one to see in this area. It’s completely secluded from the crowded ground. Even not a single sound can be heard here.

The sun isn’t showing its face as always today but the area is still warm for some reason as if it has a warmth wrapping it in its embrace. I wander deep inside the woods. They are unnaturally normal. They are nothing like the trees in the dark forest. I wonder why. Maybe because the trees have been taken care of properly here.

I find a wooden bench just where Erick told me it should be. I take in a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the fresh grass, and take a seat on the bench, the wood squelching beneath me. I rest my back against the headrest and fold my arms across my chest. My eyes start to fall shut on their own. And in a few seconds, I drift off into a deep slumber.

I have always been a light sleeper. I can hardly fall asleep but it seems that exhaustion is making some exceptions in my body.

An unknown amount of time passes and I feel a comforting warmth lurking around me. I subconsciously scooch closer to the warm and lean my body against it.

It feels so nice...

But then suddenly my eyes snap open at the thought that the one I am leaning my body against could be the one to kill me. My head snaps toward the person next to me and my whole body shudders beneath the pointed gaze of two dazzling ruby eyes. My heart skips several beats at once dangerously and my eyes widen so much that they will roll out of their socket any moment now.

"M-My lord...?" I stutter as if the cat has got my tongue.

Vermilion stares me down for another moment before turning his gaze away from me, "I often come here to get some fresh air. This area of the grounds is fueled by my fire." He states in a nonchalant tone.

"O-Oh," I scooch away from him to a respectable distance, "I was wondering why the area is warm. So this is the reason..." I blurt out.

"The night is almost here, why are you here right now?" He asks, eyeing me from the corner of his eyes.

"Was it this late?" I wonder aloud, "Actually I haven’t been able to sleep lately. So Erick told me no one comes here and I can take a nap if I want to."

"I see," Vermilion responds, surprisingly his presence isn’t as cold as usual, it’s rather warm I’d say. "Is there any specific reason to say why you can’t sleep?"

"I am a light sleeper." I shrug, "And sleeping here is an impossible task."

"Hmm." A contemplating expression crosses Vermilion’s face, "Then come to my office every night. I presume you will be comfortable there."

"Heh?" My face is blank so is my head.

HEH?!