The Devil's Warrior Queen
Chapter 366: Detained

Chapter 366: Detained

"I see." She muttered dryly as she continued climbing up, but he didn’t give any sort of reply or reaction.

"Are you ignoring me now?" She spouted out, but he didn’t reply. The more silent he kept, the more annoying it became.

"So in private you’re the concerned Aldric for a witch, but in public you are the tough warrior with no feelings." She muttered loudly with a scoff.

And then, he turned around to face her slowly, his icy blue eyes boring into hers as he said "You know nothing of me, if I want to stay silent, I shall and if I want to talk, I will."

"Why did you tell me that I won’t face it alone, why do you show concern and act as if you care for me? What’s it to you if I’m being executed or not?" She suddenly blurted out.

For a moment, silence danced between them before he broke it. His eyes turned ice cold as he spoke with a steely tone "I won’t anymore, let’s go."

Her lashes fluttered as she swallowed softly, not expecting the sudden, cold change from him. It was strange how he suddenly acted indifferent to when he was trying to help her, but now, it seemed as if he was possessed, but she should have seen it coming, she wasn’t his priority, East Ravka was.

Her soft breath came out shakily as she proceeded behind him in silence and until they arrived at the end of the stairs, not a single word was uttered between them.

As he led her through the hallway, she finally broke the heavy veil of silence between them as she spoke "Can I at least have a bath first before you take me to the detainment room?" She asked politely.

He halted as he veered around in a robotic motion to face her "You’ve made me say more in a minute, than I’ve said in weeks." He muttered under his breath.

"I’m so sorry if I exhausted you, can I have a bath now? At least, I should look more presentable before the council of elders." She said in a sarcastic tone.

He sighed heavily as he said "Follow me." And then, he started walking towards an unknown path while she followed behind without a word.

It was quite strange that the corridors were empty, not a single soul was seen walking through.

Unable to hide her curiosity, she asked "Why is it so quiet?"

Without turning to face her, he said "Only the council of elders live here, the servants quarter are separated."

"The order of the silver dawn lives here too, right?" She asked and he nodded with a grunt.

"But they aren’t here either." She murmured.

"They’re at the training ground." He replied stiffly and she nodded.

"It’s best if you take a bath in my room." Aldric said as they finally halted in front of an expensive oak, wooden door.

Her lashes fluttered in confusion as she darted her eyes between the door and him.

"What do you mean? I could take a bath in the servant’s quarters." She suggested with a nervous chuckle. It was an awkward situation to be in.

She was supposed to swiftly go in and out of East Ravka with her purpose being served, but now she was in the situation.

"You’re a prisoner, I’m doing you a favor, take it or leave it." He said, waiting for her to make her choice.

"Fine." She muttered and then, he opened the door.

"I’ll wait outside the washroom." He said as they proceeded to step in but then she halted.

"Not outside the room?" She argued.

"No, you keep forgetting that you’re a prisoner and if you were to escape, it would be my fault." He noted and she sighed before walking through the door.

As she walked in, she heard the door shut close behind her with a loud slam that made her jerk softly, but then as she walked into his place of comfort, her eyes scrutinized widely.

As she stepped into his domain, the air was thick with the scent of leather, sweat, and the faint hint of smoldering embers from a nearby hearth.

The chamber was spacious yet intimate, adorned with trophies of Aldric’s countless victories lining the walls. Swords, shields, and armor gleam in the flickering firelight, each bearing the scars of battles long past. Above the hearth hung a massive, intricately crafted greatsword, its blade etched with ancient runes that seemed to shimmer with a mysterious power.

At the center of the room stood Aldric’s bed, a massive oak structure draped in rich furs and tapestries depicting scenes of heroic triumphs. Behind it, a set of heavy curtains concealed a private alcove where Aldric keeps his most prized possessions and secrets hidden from prying eyes.

Near the window, a sturdy wooden desk is cluttered with maps, scrolls, and parchments bearing the seal of the kingdom. Here, Aldric plans his next move, strategizing with the precision of a seasoned tactician. Quills and inkwells stand at the ready, their presence a testament to the warrior’s commitment to his craft.

Opposite the desk, a collection of weapons hangs from a rack, each one meticulously maintained and ready for battle at a moment’s notice. From gleaming longswords to deadly daggers, Aldric’s arsenal is as diverse as it is deadly, reflecting the versatility of his fighting style.

A roaring fire crackles in the hearth, casting a warm glow across the chamber and casting shadows that dance along the walls. Above the mantle, a fierce-looking helm rests atop a polished wooden stand, its eye slits seemingly fixed on anyone who dares to enter uninvited.

Despite the aura of strength and power that permeated the room, there were also touches of elegance and refinement scattered throughout. Fine tapestries adorn the walls, depicting scenes of chivalry and honor, while delicate vases filled with fragrant flowers add a touch of beauty to the otherwise austere surroundings.

In one corner of the chamber, a small training area had been set up, complete with wooden dummies and practice weapons. Here, she figured Aldric honed his skills with relentless dedication, pushing himself to the limits of his endurance in pursuit of perfection.

As she stood in Aldric’s chambers, surrounded by the trappings of his life as a warrior, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe and reverence for the man who calls this place home. For in this room, amidst the relics of battles won and lost, lies the essence of Aldric’s strength and indomitable spirit, a testament to the power of the renowned warrior he had become throughout his long and perhaps bitter years.

"Your chamber quite suits you well." She said as she walked past him to scrutinize the room more observantly while tracing her finger against a wooden table.

"The washroom is over there, witch." Aldric said in a not so amused voice, disrupting her from her observation.

Turning around with a scoff, she murmured under her breath distastefully "You’re so uptight, your room is more interesting than you are." She snapped as she pouted and her reaction sort of took everything in him not to be swooped off his feet by her radiating ethereality.

"You are a prisoner, I can’t risk you being seen by anyone and that too, taking a bath in my chamber." He pointed out.

"I understand, rumours of the great warrior of East Ravka having an affair with his prisoner could be quite detrimental and desecrating, don’t want your hard earned status to go down the drain." Zoya spewed out with a neutral facade.

His expression suddenly turned puzzled and frustrated at her choice of words "Do you ever keep quiet or better still keep your thoughts to yourself?" He scoffed as he averted his gaze from hee.

"Am afraid I cannot, life is too short and unpredictable to pretend and keep your thoughts voiced in, I’d rather my thoughts out and do exactly as I wish." She remarked with not a care in the world.

For a moment, he digested her irrational but true word, oddly it made some sense to him, but he wasn’t a free bird like her, he was a warrior bound to his duties to his kingdom, never to have a weakness or a distraction and unfortunately, she was one bloody hell of a distraction he had grown attracted to.

It was time to severe that growing bond between them, but it wasn’t as easy as he played it out to be, it was surprisingly pulling him deeper, to the extent he started taking notice of things about her, of how her eyes dilated when she portrayed an emotion, or how her lips twitched when she was slightly nervous, or the way she flicked her hair whenever she tried to indicate her confidence.

Lost in his thoughts for a moment, he suddenly heard her voice ring softly in the room, like an angel’s halo, it was soothing and mellifluous, but the words rolling our of her lips at that instant suddenly threw him aback, and for the first time, he lost his composure.

"Do you like me, Aldric?"