CHAPTER FIVE

FOUR DAYS LATER

For the past few days, Anna and Kai's relationship has been improving. Anna is no more awkward around Kai and they can are now friends? At least that was what Kai declared them as last night. Yes, they kept meeting every night, and the night after and the night after. Funnily enough, Kai doesn't want thier friendship to stop but he knows it has to at some point. He's getting married in approximately two weeks. He's not happy about it one bit but what can he do? He can't rule without a queen, they say. And if he doesn't take over the throne, other greedy people will. 

It's another night and Kai and Anna are at the garden as usual, chatting. 

"But I'm not wrong though. You're pretty short." 

Anna shot Kai and glare and gave him a soft punch on the shoulder. 

"I'm not! You're the tall one." 

"Just accept it, Anna."

"You're the tall one here, Prince Kai and you're not even that taller than me. Stand up, let's see."

The both of them stood up and stood in front of eachother. As expected, Kai was towering over Anna. Anna had to raise her head up to look at him.

"Are you ready to accept defeat?" 

Anna scoffed and shook her head. 

"Shortie." Kai teased and Anna pushed him to the ground.

"Oh my gosh! I'm sorry." Anna immediately apologized. She was mentally scolding herself. She must have gotten too comfortable with him. He's still a prince, she shouldn't have done that.

"I'm gonna revenge." Kai stood up and made to hold Anna but she ran away. Kai ran after her and began to chase her. In the course of thier play, Anna tripped on a vine and almost fell but Kai was fast enough to pull her to himself. He made to hold the wall for support but they ended up falling. Kai didn't know how it happened but he found himself roll down something like a fleet of stairs with Anna in his arms. They finally stopped rolling and when Kai reopened his eyes, all he could see was darkness. Where were they?

"Prince Kai, where are we?" Anna asked fearfully. Kai could feel her grip on him tighten in fear. 

"I don't know. Wait here, okay? Don't move."

"But...where are you going?" Anna asked in worry as Kai got off her. 

"I'll be back, I promise."

Anna sat there, on a spot, terrified to say the least. Everywhere was dark so she couldn't see anything. And her leg hurts too, she tried to move it but it ended up hurting her more. She hugged her legs to herself, anticipating for Kai's return. Where is he? Did he go back out? Anna placed her head on her folded legs, trying to calm down. If there is one thing she's afraid of, it's darkness. 

"I'm back." She heard Kai's voice and she back and forth to know where he's standing. 

"I'm in front of you. Here, 

Kai stretched his arm out and Anna took it. The moment she felt his hand, she breathed out in relief. 

"Where did you go? Where are we?"

"Calm down, Anna. Firstly, let me get you up." 

Kai pulled Anna up and tried to make her stand but Anna's small scream stopped him. 

"What? Are you okay?"

"I think I sprained my ankle when we were falling."

Kai swooped Anna off her feet and carried her in bridal style. He began to take careful steps forward until they stepped into the light. He looked around the strange place they were in. There were fire torches hanged at every corner of the room and the room was occupied with a old and dusty shelf containing only a book, a wooden table, a stool and a bed. Everywhere was dirty and full of cobwebs. 

"What is this place?" Anna asked as she looked around. Kai walked to the stood and placed Anna down carefully. Anna raised her sprained ankle up and held Kai for support. Kai cleaned the stool with his palm and made Anna sit on it.

"You need to rest your legs." 

Anna nodded and Kai stood upright. He walked to the old shelf and took out the book. He dusted the front and read the title out loud, 

"The tormented."

"Huh?"

"That's the title of the book." 

Kai put the book back and went to the bed. The bedsheet was very dirty. This still doesn't feel real to Kai. Does anyone else know that this place exists in the palace? No, he doubts it. He looked up and he saw an old clock. It was still ticking and he could tell it was telling the correct time. 

"How will we get out of here? Who will be call? There is no possible way people will hear us if we scream and even if they do and they come rescue us, they'll see the both of us together and that's another problem. What are we gonna do?" 

Seeing Anna's worried expression and restlessness, Kai really wanted to tell her that he knew a way out but he doesn't know why he decided not to tell the truth.

"I don't know. Maybe we'll try to find a way out." 

Anna sighed sadly and stared at her feet. Kai went to her and bent in front of her. He took her sprained ankle and observed it for a while. 

"You have to massage this."

Kai made Anna sit on the table and he sat on the stool. He placed Anna's injured leg on his lap and began to massage it softly. He was trying his best not to be too hard but Anna was still feeling pain.

"Ouch!"

"Am I too hard? I'm sorry."

"No, it's fine."

"I'll go slower then so it won't hurt you much." 

Anna's face flushed red as he said that. She knows he's talking about her leg but the way he said it, she couldn't stop but think otherwise. "Gosh, I'm so dirty minded" she said to herself. Kai finished massaging Anna's legs so he set in down. He looked up at the clock for the time.

"8.30"

"And we don't have a way out." 

"Why don't we talk and use that to pass the time?"

"Okay."

"So...tell me about you." 

Anna smiled and thier conversation began. Anna told Kai almost everything about her. How her parents died, how she had to survive alone in her village, the things she faced and Kai sympathized with her. He didn't know that behind those happy smiles of Anna held so much pain.

"I shouldn't have asked."

"No, it's okay. How about you? Tell me things about yourself. Even though I might know everything about you."

"Really? How so?"

"I may or may not have been digging information about you."

"Why would you do that?"

"It's a secret."

Kai smiled and decided to see if she really knew things about him.

"What's my best type of tea?"

"Honey tea."

"My best snack?"

"Brownies."

"Best colour?"

"Ombre."

"Favourite time of the day?"

"Night time.'

"Wow."

Kai was obviously impressed. "See? I told you I know many things about you." 

Kai clapped his hands and Anna gave a smug smile. Kai's eyes went to the clock and he gasped. 

"9.30."

Kai sighed and stood up. He carried Anna and began to walk.

"Where are we going?"

"Back up."

"Huh?" 

Kai smiled and walked up the stairs they used in getting into this place. They reached a wall and Kai pressed a brick in. Anna watched in shock as the wall rolled to the side, creating an opening. Kai walked out and back to the garden they were. Anna was confused. What was that? How did he know what to do? How are they back at the palace?

"What was that?"

"I'm sorry. When I left the other time, I went to investigate what had happened. I got to know that when I tried to hold the wall to stop you from falling, I accidentally pushed that brick in which opened up the wall and we fell in that strange room."

"Then, why did you say you didn't know a way out?"

"Because..." Kai paused. "Because I wanted to spend some alone time with you." He said, his stare lingering on Anna's face.

"You wanted to spend time with me?"

"Yes. I'm sorry I scared you."

Anna nodded and Kai smiled. Kai walked back to the palace with Anna in his arms. When the reached the point where they'll go separate ways, Kai said,

"We'll be meeting at that place now, okay?"

"Yes. Goodnight, Prince Kai." Anna made to turn around but Kai stopped her. He pulled her closer and hugged her.

"Goodnight and be careful."

Anna hugged him back and smiled, "I will." 

Anna waved Kai goodbye and went back to the maids quarters. As she entered the room, she met Prudent awake. 

"Where are you coming from?" Prudent demanded. 

"I went to the restroom." Anna said, not taking a glance at her.

"I see. What happened to your leg? Why are you limping."

"I tripped on a twig and sprained my ankle."

"Hmm." 

Prudent was unconvinced but she let Anna be. She'll catch her some other time.

THE NEXT DAY

Kai is in a good mood this morning. He remembered last night's event and he smiled. Finally, a place to be alone with Anna. Why does this make him this happy? He has no idea but he likes it. 

Anna too wasn't left out. She couldn't stop thinking about the hug Kai gave her last night. His arms were so comforting and tender. She's craving for his hug again. 

"Why are you smiling to yourself?" Ivory asked, jolting Anna out of her thoughts. Anna shook her head and got off her bed.

"Is there any reason I shouldn't be smiling?"

"No, but this seems different. You're smiling to yourself. Not just smiling but blushing too. Is everything alright with you?"

"Everything is, Ivory. Come off the topic and help me to the nurse's office."

"Why?"

"I sprained my ankle last night."

"You sprained your ankle? How?"

"I was returning from the toilet when one stupid twig stood in my way. I tripped and tried to land safely but I landed so bad and sprained my ankle in the process."

"Sorry. Must hurt a lot. I really hate sprains or any type of bone injury."

"Sprain isn't a bone injury, Ivory."

"Here we go again with your this isn't that. You don't have to correct me all the time, you know?"

"I have to so you wouldn't embarrass yourself like you did in front of...

"Shhhh! You said you wouldn't talk about that again!" 

Anna laughed and stretched her hand. "Just take me to the nurse."

    Ivory helped her friend to the nurse and left afterwards. She would have stayed but she had loads of work to do today. The nurse examined Anna's ankle and applied ointment on it. She massaged it and advised Anna not to stress her ankle too much. It's a minor sprain so it would heal faster if she doesn't stress it. Anna thanked the nurse and left the office. Guess the nurse was right. She could still manage to walk with her sprained ankle so it isn't a serious issue. 

    Anna went back to the maids quarters to take her towel. She went to stream, took her bathe and dressed up in her uniform for the day's work. She checked the chore roaster and turns out she's on garden duty. That means she has to take out the weeds in the garden and plant new flowers. She has to trim the outgrown flowers too. This should be the work of the gardener but Cornelius us currently sick so she has to take over for today. Tending to flowers, that's one of the things she likes best.

    She was busy trimming the flowers when she heard a voice call her name. She recognized the voice to be Princess Courtney's. Anna turned and turns out she was right.

"Anna!"

"Princess Courtney, what are you doing here?"

"What else? I'm here to see my friend. I know our session is still on the afternoon but I miss you already."

"But you'll only get bored here because I'm currently working and..

"No problem. We can work together."

"Huh?"

"Yes! Come on, what can I do?"

"Nothing, just sit on that bench and...

"Aish! Come on, let me help, please?"

Anna couldn't resist her cuteness so she gave in. "Okay. You can wet the flowers. I've already filled the.       with water."

"Okay." 

Courtney lifted up the.       and began to water the flowers. Everywhere was once quiet but not anymore. Courtney the talkative is now here.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. I went to one of my friends birthday party yesterday and I showed them how much I've improved. They were really impressed."

"That's the reward of your hard work."

"No, it's all thanks to you, Anna. Without you, I would still be sounding like a pregnant frog. Even though I'm not really good at singing yet, I've improved so well. Even Kai complimented me when I sang for him this morning. He said my voice was great."

"Don't exergerate, Courtney. I didn't say it with that much enthusiasm."

"Prince Kai?"

"Kai, what are you doing here?" Courtney asked Kai who was approaching them. Anna gave a little bow and Kai smiled.

"How is your ankle?"

"It's fine." Anna replied shyly. Courtney smirked and pointed at Kai, 

"What was that? And why are you smiling sheepishly?"

"What do you mean?" Kai asked as he sat on the bench. 

"You're smiling sheepishly at Anna. That's suspicious."

"There is nothing, Princess Courtney. Let's continue our work."

"I never said there was something, Anna." 

This little...

"Let's just continue, please."

"Fine."

Kai also offered to help but Anna blatantly refused to let Kai touch anything so Kai and no choice but to watch the both of them work. He felt happy just staring at Anna's happy face. His happy moment got ruined by an interrupting guard,

"Your Highness."

"What do you want?"

"The Queen seeks of your presence."

"I'll be there." 

The guard bowed and walked away. Kai stood up from his seat and waved at Anna. "I'll be going now."

"Bye."

Kai smiled and folded his hands behind his back as he walked away. "Now that is more suspicious."

"Princess Courtney."

"Fine fine. I won't say anything again."